Trivago says that hotel prices during the group stages of Euro 2016 are up an average of 161% compared to the same period last year, and that the most expensive city to stay is Lille on the night it hosts the Republic of Ireland’s Group E match with Italy.
Hotel rooms on the nights of the matches against Sweden in Saint-Denis and Belgium in Bordeaux come in on average at €285 and €312, respectively.
When all 36 matches held across France during the group stages are taken into account, the average cost of a hotel room is €298 - an increase of 161% compared to the same period last year.
“It is normal to see an increase in hotel prices for popular sports events involving multiple countries; for example, hotel prices increased by up to 1095 per cent in Cardiff for the 2015 Rugby World Cup,” Denise Bartlett of Trivago said.
“Compared to this, the price increases in France are relatively moderate, peaking at an increase of 427% in Lille. These events usually demonstrate a clear case of supply and demand; as hotel availability is at just 2% in Lille, hotel prices are also high,” she said.
Ms Bartlett said fans willing to travel from surrounding towns and areas may find better value than staying in the cities hosting the matches: “Since the most expensive match is one where Ireland are playing, fans who have yet to book accommodation should consider staying within driving distance of Lille instead, for example in Kortrijk, Belgium.”
Trivago suggests fans hoping to save on their accommodation costs should look at staying in Reims for Ireland’s match against Sweden and La Rochelle for the Belgium game.