Hotel prices fall, but travelers in for New Year's Eve price shock

The price of a hotel night in Europe this month is three percent cheaper than it was last month, coming in at an average of €108.

The price of a hotel night in Europe this month is three percent cheaper than it was last month, coming in at an average of €108.

In its monthly Hotel Price Index report, Trivago said December 9 that although the cost of a double room in Europe this month has fallen, some travelers are likely to pay considerably more for a New Year's getaway.

A trip to the normally reasonable destination of Prague for New Year's for instance, costs 268 percent more than the €98 December average, Trivago calculated, with revelers likely to pay a whopping €360 for the average double room.

Similar increases over the New Year can also be seen in Venice, where prices have risen from €133 to €308, and Amsterdam, up to €272 from a December average of €124.

Despite the expense of a New Year's room, several cities across Europe have seen healthy price drops for travelers since November -- London is ten percent cheaper this month (€186), Barcelona and Bucharest are 12 percent cheaper (€103 and €72 respectively) and Istanbul is nine percent cheaper (€102).

Destinations seeing an increase in rates included Prague, up 23 percent on last month to €98, Vienna, up 13 percent to €131, and Budapest, up nine percent to €67.

Europe's most expensive destinations - November 2011

Geneva (€211)London (€186)Paris (€160)Oslo (€158)Stockholm/Salzburg (€152)

Data provided by Trivago.co.uk