The most expensive destinations in California

June 17, 2014

The results of a new survey from CheapHotels.org have revealed that California visitors will spend more for their hotel if they stay in Santa Monica than anywhere else in the state this summer. After comparing the hotel rates of California’s top 30 destinations, the beachfront city of Santa Monica came in as the number one most expensive city.

In tabulating the results, the survey specifically compared the average cost of each destination’s cheapest available double. The high tourist season of Memorial Day to Labor Day served as the period of focus. Hotels with less than a 2-star rating were excluded by the survey as were accommodations located far from either the center of each city or the beach.

Averaging $213 nightly per night for the least expensive double room, the resort town of Santa Monica easily tops the rankings. In fact, the second and third spots both averaged under $200 per night. Those honors go to the small Napa Valley town of Calistoga and Santa Catalina Island respectively. These two cities are charging guest an average of $184 and $178 respectively to stay in their most affordable rooms this summer.

The full list of rankings are as follows:

1. Santa Monica $213
2. Calistoga $184
3. Catalina Island $178
4. Laguna Beach $154
5. Coronado $148
6. Napa $139
7. Mendocino $136
8. Pacific Grove $134
9. Carmel $131
10. Santa Barbara $129
11. Pismo Beach $121
12. Los Angeles $109
13. San Jose $104
14. Long Beach $103
15. San Franciso $103

16. Santa Cruz $94
17. San Clemente $93
18. Carlsbad $87
19. Monterey $82
20. San Diego $82
21. Oceanside $78
22. Morro Bay $74
23. Bishop $72
24. Anaheim $69
25. Desert Hot Springs $67
26. Eureka $68
27. South Lake Tahoe $54
28. Fresno $58
29. Palm Springs $46
30. Sacramento $43