Sharp increase in hotel prices in Dublin and Cork according to Trivago

Hotel prices in Dublin and Cork posted some of the sharpest annual increases of city destinations in Europe this month, according to a leading online accommodation booking company.

The survey by Trivago found that prices in Dublin rose to an average €145 this month, marking a 29% increase from November 2014.

Only Milan, where prices in the year surged by 41%, recorded a bigger percentage increase. Prices in the north Italian city cost on average of €188 earlier this month.

Trivago said that Dublin hotel prices have been affected by the band U2, who are half way through playing four gigs in the capital.

Average prices for the four dates is €196, it says, which is 35% higher than the monthly average in the city of €145.

Other Irish city destinations also posted large annual increases, with Cork rising by 14% to an average price of €106 this month, according to booking website.

Smaller Irish cities and towns also recorded some hefty annual price increases, with Dingle prices surging this month by 38% from November 2014 to €119.

Prices in Killarney and Kilkenny increased by annual rates of 8% and 6%.

Trivago said a hotel in Killarney this month costs on average €104 per night, while Kilkenny costs €89 on average.

In Ireland, only Athlone and Tralee recorded annual falls.

Prices fell 11% to an average €76 in Athlone, while a Tralee hotel cost an average rate of €91, down 2% in the year.

Major destinations across Europe recorded large annual price increases.

The website said a London hotel this month costs an average €231 that’s up 5% in the year.

Room rates in Paris were only 1% higher in the year at €169, but prices in the French capital were 13% lower from the previous month. Barcelona prices in the year rose 10% to €117, while Edinburgh prices rose 6% to €132 this month.

Trivago said its hotel price index shows the average overnight accommodation prices for the most popular European cities on its website only.

It says it stores over 1m search queries, and over 1bn hotel offers and says its survey “is the only comprehensive, international hotel index on the market.”

However, the Irish Hotels Federation said Trivago’s survey is based solely on the prices for rooms found on Trivago and does not reflect the whole market.

On Dublin prices, Trivago says this Sunday is the most expensive day, with the average cost of a hotel room €239.

It says the cheapest day in the capital this month was last Monday, at €164.