Survey
The most expensive summer destinations in North America
Updated: August 4, 2014
Nowhere in North America are lodging costs more expensive this August than in Nantucket. Located 30 miles south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the idyllic island ranks as the continent's most expensive destination. A recent survey from CheapHotels.org came up with the rankings after comparing the hotel rates of all destinations in the USA and Canada this summer.
The survey specifically looked at the price travelers can expect to spend for the cheapest available double room during the August 1–31, 2014 timeframe. As a result, the rankings reflect the minimum amount vacationers will have to pay to stay overnight at each respective destination. For comparative purposes, the survey considered only hotels and inns with a positive average client rating and only those located close to the beach or city center.
To spend the night in Nantucket this August, guest will have to spend an average $301 per night. That price represents the most affordable double room on the island, making Nantucket the clear-cut leader as the most expensive summer destination on the North American continent. Trailing right behind in the second positon on the survey is Portland, Maine. This largest city in the state is averaging $276 nightly this August. Rounding out the Top three is Nantucket's neighbor, Martha's Vineyard. Another island destination, Martha's Vineyard ranks third with an average rate of $274 per night.
As for the USA's neighbor to the north, Canada's most costly city this late summer is Jasper, Alberta. Taking the twelfth spot on the survey, the least expensive double room in this town in the Canadian Rocky Mountains is averaging $192 nightly.
The following table shows the 20 most expensive destinations in North America. The prices shown reflect the average rate for each destination's cheapest available double room for the time period spanning August 1–31, 2014.
- Nantucket (MA) $301
- Portland (ME) $276
- Martha's Vineyard (MA) $274
- Montauk (NY) $264
- Cape May (NJ) $243
- Kennebunkport (ME) $231
- Saratoga Springs (NY) $230
- Santa Monica (CA) $226
- Provincetown (MA) $214
- Ogunquit (ME) $203
- Catalina Island (CA) $197
- Jasper (AB) $194
- Newport (RI) $189
- Calistoga (CA) $184
- Boston (MA) $182
- Laguna Beach (CA) $180
- Poipu (HI) $177
- Niagra-on-the Lake (ON) $176
- Rehoboth Beach (DE) $174
- Old Orchard Beach (ME) $164
About the Methodology
For every destination in the USA and Canada with a minimum of 20 regular hotels or inns, the price for the cheapest available double room was established for the following time periods: August 1–3, August 5–7, August 8–10, August 12–14, August 15–17, August 19–21, August 22–24 and August 26–28. Based on this data, an average price was calculated for each destination, resulting in the aforementioned rankings. Only such hotels or inns rated 2 stars or higher and with a TripAdvisor rating of at least "Good" were included in the survey. Moreover, only such hotels located in or less than one mile from the city center/beach were considered for the respective destinations. All prices were established between July 20 and July 25, 2014 via the hotel comparison website Kayak.Top Destinations
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