Patong and Kamala Number One in Hotels.com survey

The recent Hotel Price Index from Hotels.com revealed that Kathu District, where Patong and Kamala beaches are located, is among the top five destinations for low cost 5-star accommodation among global travellers in 2017.

The HPI uncovered the Top 5 most popular destinations for low cost 5-star accommodation – from resorts and high-end chains to villas and luxury boutiques:

1. Kathu (Phuket), Thailand
Best for: Beach chic, infinity pools and mouth-watering food

2. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Best for: High-flying city glam in the heart of Southeast Asia

3. Istanbul, Turkey
Best for: Where East meets West and history unfolds before you

4. Riga, Latvia
Best for: Discovering it before your mates do. A striking city rich in Eastern European culture

5. Bogota, Colombia
Best for: One of the best music and night life scenes in Latin America

Patong is known for nightlife and beach parties, but also famous for food and outdoor adventure accessible nearby. Affordable 5-star accommodation also attracted travellers in 2017 looking for sunsets by the beach and breakfast spreads with their family and friends.

Jessica Chuang, Regional Marketing Director, Greater China, SEA and India at Hotels.com, said: “Interestingly, Taiwan has jumped to 9th most favourite destinations among Thais from 13rd last year. Thai people find that within less than 4 hours of travelling to Taiwan (as compared with a flight to Japan), they could enjoy weather and experiences similar to what they might find in Japan.

“The growth can also be a result of the tourist visa exemption for Thai citizens announced last year, according to Taiwan’s Department of Information and Tourism, which also saw an increase of almost 80% in Thai tourists visiting Taiwan monthly in 2017”.

The region, which includes Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, has also seen an increase in intra-regional travel and intra-regional tourists. Vietnam (ranked 6th overall) tops the list of regional countries for Thais to travel to, spurred by the country’s air and transport infrastructure, picturesque destinations for social sharing, increasing popularity of its local cuisine, and best value for 5 star accommodation, which saw a 4% decrease in prices for tourists from 2016.

Meanwhile, among neighbouring countries, Myanmar still remains behind in popularity among Thai travellers – compared to Cambodia (12th) and Laos (18th) – coming in at 19th position on the HPI despite accommodation prices decreasing by 12% overall. Average accommodation prices in Cambodia and Laos increased by 4% and 9% respectively from 2016.

Johan Svanstrom, President for the Hotels.com brand, said: “The slight increase in average accommodation prices globally combined with numerous markets having record visitor growth signals a strong travel economy and a growing desire from consumers to experience the world. Cultural events have inspired travel more than ever before as we aspire not to just stand by and observe the action, but to be part of it.”

STORY: Hotels.com