Florida and Georgia both saw the biggest decreases in lodging prices among southern states, both experiencing a 14 percent decrease over a year, according to a recent hotels.com Hotel Price Index.
The Index revealed that a pair of Florida cities ranked among the most popular U.S. destinations for both domestic and international travelers. Orlando – home to a number of popular attractions – ranked third most popular travel destination for Americans; Miami was the eighth favorite among U.S. travelers and sixth most popular travel U.S. destination for international travelers.
“Cities up and down the coasts of Florida, from the least expensive cities like Tallahassee to the most expensive like Panama City, are experiencing deep cuts in hotel rates across the board,” Steve Dumaine, senior director of merchandising at hotels.com, said in a news release. “And some of the lowest prices in the country can be found throughout the South, not just in Florida.”
While Florida and Georgia experienced a 14 percent decrease, South Carolina closely followed with a 13 percent reduction. The index also revealed that Knoxville, Tenn., offered the lowest average price per room in the South at $83, placing in the top five least expensive cities in the country.
The decrease in prices in southern cities reflected a national trend, hotels.com said.