DUBLIN, June 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Annual Hotels.com Club Sandwich Index (CSI) names Geneva as the most expensive city for a Club Sandwich

• Geneva knocks Paris off the top spot as the most expensive city for a Club Sandwich at an average of over €23
• Dublin is one of the cheapest cities in Europe to purchase a Club Sandwich at just under €12

DUBLIN: Geneva has taken over from Paris as the most expensive city in the world in which to order a Club Sandwich, at an average of €23.35, according to research released today by Hotels.com. Using the classic hotel staple of a bacon, chicken, egg, lettuce and mayonnaise sandwich as a barometer of affordability, the Hotels.com Club Sandwich Index (CSI) offers holidaymakers an indication of the cost of living associated with their destination of choice.

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The CSI average price is calculated from the real prices paid by guests for a Club Sandwich in 30 hotels in the capital or tourist city of each country surveyed, across five, four and three star hotel categories. In total, 840 hotels globally were canvassed.

In the Swiss city, prices ranged from a whopping €39.78 to a more modest €12.87 for the humble 'Club'. Meanwhile in foodies paradise and last year's chat topper Paris, the average Club will set you back a mouth-watering €21.05.

India's New Delhi remained the cheapest destination to buy a Club Sandwich, with an average price of just €7. Few holiday favourites appeared under the €10 threshold, but those who did included Buenos Aires (€9.11) and Bangkok (€9.08).

Now in its second year, the index reflects not only changes in the actual price of a Club Sandwich across the globe but also the effect of currency fluctuations.

Alison Couper from Hotels.com said: "The Club Sandwich, available on hotel menus across the globe, is the perfect spending barometer, helping tourists factor into their travel plans the everyday cost of simple items such as food and drink.  The price changes when comparing 2013 to 2012 hide a complex story of factors from changes in the local price of basic food items through to currency fluctuations.  The beauty of the CSI is that we are able to offer travellers a simple price comparison to show how far their money may stretch in each country."

The Hotels.com Club Sandwich Index (CSI) 2013:

      Country   City           2013 (Euro) 2012 (Euro) Place Change
    Switzerland Geneva               23.35       24.72           U1
      France    Paris                21.05       25.13           D1
      Norway    Oslo                 20.48       23.16            0
      Sweden    Stockholm            17.72       16.81           U3
      Denmark   Copenhagen           17.18       14.33           U4
       Italy    Rome                 17.13       18.39           D1
       Japan    Tokyo                15.93       21.00           D3
        UK      London               15.88       14.21           U2
     Australia  Sydney                15.8       15.01           D1
     Hong Kong  Hong Kong            15.23       13.94           U1
      Finland   Helsinki             15.19       17.21           D5
    South Korea Seoul                14.27       13.72            0
        USA     New York             13.47       12.85           U2
      Russia    Moscow               12.98       12.44           U3
    Netherlands Amsterdam            12.82       12.63           U1
      Germany   Berlin               12.25       13.49           D3
     Singapore  Singapore            11.87       11.23           U4
      Canada    Toronto              11.74       12.19           U1
      Ireland   Dublin               11.58       11.82           U1
       Spain    Madrid               11.36       12.30           D2
      Brazil    Rio De Janeiro       11.08       13.49           D7
       China    Beijing                9.7       11.00            0
     Argentina  Buenos Aires          9.11        8.13           U1
     Thailand   Bangkok               9.08         N/A           NE
     Columbia   Bogota                8.78       10.70           D2
      Taiwan    Taipei                8.75         N/A           NE
      Mexico    Mexico City           8.11        7.74            0
       India    Delhi                    7        7.27            0

About Hotels.com

Hotels.com is a leading online accommodation booking website with more than 200,000 properties around the world, ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favourites and bed & breakfasts, together with all the information needed to book the perfect stay. Hotels.com benefits from one of the largest hotel contracting teams in the industry, negotiating the best rates for its customers, and offers frequent sales, special deals and promotions. Regular customer e-newsletters provide exclusive offers and advance warning of up-coming sales. There are more than 7 million reviews on the site from users who have actually stayed in the hotels to ensure customers can make an informed choice when booking. Through its industry-leading loyalty program Welcome Rewards, customers can earn a free night for every 10 nights stayed at more than 85,000 hotels. Under its Price Match Guarantee, if a customer can find the same deal for less on a prepaid hotel, Hotels.com will refund the difference. Travellers can book online or by contacting one of the multilingual call centres. Special apps for mobile phones and tablets can also be downloaded at http://www.hotels.com/deals/mobile enabling customers to book on the go with access to 20,000 last minute deals. For the last eight years, Hotels.com has published an award-winning twice-yearly review of international hotel room price trends called the Hotels.com Hotel Price Index which is now produced in 31 individual country editions http://press.hotels.com/en-gb/. Hotels.com is part of Expedia Inc., the largest online travel company in the world with an extensive portfolio that includes some of the world's best-known brands.

SOURCE Hotels.com