Seattle Costliest Destination for Hotel Room This Labor Day Weekend
August 27, 2012
Seattle tops the list of most expensive U.S. destinations this upcoming Labor Day weekend, according to a new survey by CheapHotels.org. The cost of the city's hotel rooms is what has elevated it to the number one position. For comparative purposes, the survey examined hotel rates at 20 popular U.S. destinations. The Labor Day weekend period running from August 31 to September 3 (Labor Day) served as the basis of comparison.
The long holiday weekend that marks the unofficial end of summer won't be easy on the wallets of Seattle travelers. In fact, they'll have to pay at least $312 per night to stay in Washington State's largest city. And that's only if they're willing to settle for the cheapest available 3-star hotel room. At that nightly rate, Seattle ranks as the priciest destination in the USA this Labor Day weekend. Coming in at the number two and three spots were two East Coast oceanfront cities: Virginia Beach and Atlantic City. Labor Day room rates there are $309 and $286 per night, respectively, for the cheapest available room.
The annual Bumbershoot Festival, which takes place over the Labor Day weekend, is certainly contributing to Seattle's's most-expensive status. A widely popular music and arts festival, Bumbershoot annually attracts close to 100,000 visitors to the city. Thanks to the large number of overnighters it draws, hotel rates have risen approximately 65% above their normal price, according to the survey.
A Labor Day getaway isn't out of the question for budget travelers, however. Elsewhere in the country, much more affordable rates can be had. Cases in point are Washington, DC and Miami, where savvy bargain hunters can score a 3-star hotel room for about $100 per night. Orlando is also an affordable destination to celebrate the end of summer. At an overnight rate of only $63, it's the nation's cheapest Labor Day weekend locale.
The following table compares Labor Day weekend rates for 20 destinations in the USA. The prices shown reflect the daily rate for each establishment's cheapest available double room (minimum 3-star hotel) for the time period spanning August 31 to September 3.
| Destination | Labor Day Weekend | Regular Rate |
| Seattle | $312 | $188 |
| Virginia Beach | $309 | $157 |
| Atlantic City | $286 | $187 |
| Philadelphia | $269 | $160 |
| Boston | $246 | $262 |
| New York | $224 | $243 |
| Chicago | $213 | $183 |
| San Francisco | $179 | $229 |
| Portland | $170 | $171 |
| Austin | $163 | $193 |
| New Orleans | $153 | $90 |
| Honolulu | $151 | $114 |
| Atlanta | $145 | $101 |
| Los Angeles | $143 | $149 |
| Myrtle Beach | $129 | $84 |
| Miami Beach | $109 | $103 |
| Washington DC | $107 | $112 |
| Las Vegas | $101 | $91 |
| St. Louis | $81 | $92 |
| Orlando | $63 | $58 |
About the Methodology
For 20 of the most popular Labor Day weekend destinations in the USA, the price for the cheapest available double room (minimum 3-star hotel) was established for the periods of August 31 through September 3 (Labor Day Weekend) and September 7–9 (Regular Rate). These prices were established one month in advance based on research conducted on several leading hotel-booking sites. Only such hotels located in or less than one mile from the city center/beach were considered.