UEFA Euro 2016: Hotel Prices, Alternative Accommodation & Travel Interest

With just over three weeks until the first match of the 2016 UEFA European Championship, hotel search website trivago.co.uk has analysed travel trends related to the event. Our data compares the average hotel price of each match day to the price during the same period last year, demonstrating increases of up to 471 per cent. In order to help travellers who have yet to book accommodation, we've put together a list of ten alternative towns – all within two hours' drive of their respective stadium and with savings of up to 298 per cent. Finally, we've looked at travel interest to each match, highlighting the most interested nationalities, the most popular matches and even which country is most confident for the final.

The most expensive city for a hotel stay during the Euro 2016 is Lille, where prices have increased by up to 471 per cent. The most expensive night is 22 June, when fans will pay an average of £440 (compared to £77 in 2015) for accommodation following the Ireland versus Italy match. The second and third most expensive matches are also in Lille (15 June, Russia versus Slovakia, up 420 per cent to £401; 12 June, Germany versus Ukraine, up 378 per cent to £369). Following Lille, Lyon is the second most expensive city, with prices peaking at an average of £336 for Belgium versus Italy on 13 June, which is a 314 per cent increase on 2015's average of £81.

Although Lens and Saint-Étienne are the cheapest host towns for a hotel stay, they have the largest hotel price increases after Lille and Lyon. This is due to their low average hotel price of £49 and £48 during the same period in 2015. For example, prices are up by 271 per cent to £182 for Czech Republic versus Turkey on 21 June in Lens, and by 261 per cent to £173 for England versus Slovakia on 20 June in Saint-Étienne. The two cheapest matches for accommodation are hosted in Saint-Étienne: Portugal versus Iceland on 14 June and Czech Republic versus Croatia on 17 June, both at an average of £159 per night.

When searches for a hotel stay during the group stage (10th – 22nd June) were compared to the same travel period in May, Hungary saw the greatest increase in searches (3221 per cent), no doubt due to this being the first time they have qualified in 44 years. After Hungary, Northern Ireland and Wales have the greatest interest in travelling to France during the championship, with increases of 1526 per cent and 1344 per cent, respectively.

It is interesting to note that most countries have a clear preference when it came to destination and match. For example, Northern Ireland has a high proportion of searches to Lyon (where Northern Ireland will play Ukraine on 16th June), despite also paying matches in Nice and Paris. Similarly, Wales has a clear preference for Bordeaux (where they will take on Slovakia on 11th June), despite playing later matches in Lens and Toulouse.

Despite not qualifying this year, Scotland still saw a 282 per cent increase in searches to host cities during the championship, with a particular focus on Lyon and Paris. England also saw an increase of 280 per cent, although much of this was to Paris – a destination popular to UK visitors year-round. There was, however, a high volume of searches to Marseille, where England will play Russia on 11th June.

With regards to who has the most confidence for the final, France, Germany and England have the highest proportion of searches to Lyon, Marseille, Saint-Denis and Paris (where the semi-finals and finals will be hosted between 6th – 10th July).

Denise Bartlett, Communications UK & Ireland: "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. Compared to this, the price increases in France are relatively moderate, peaking at an increase of 471 per cent in Lille. These events usually demonstrate a clear case of supply and demand; since hotel availability is at just 2 per cent in Lille, hotel prices are also high. Fans who have yet to book accommodation should consider one of our alternative towns, which are equally interesting tourist destinations with lower hotel prices and higher availability, all within driving distance of the respective stadiums.

With Northern Ireland, Wales and England playing as separate teams, it is interesting to see which nation is most interested in travelling to France for the matches. Northern Ireland and Wales demonstrated an increase of over 1000 per cent in hotel searches to the host cities, while travel interest from England only increased by 280 per cent – although this could be attributed to the year-round popularity of Paris as a travel destination among the English. England, however, had the highest proportion of searches for the semi-finals and finals, alongside France and Germany. This could suggest they have the most confidence for their team to advance to the finals."