U.S. travelers looking for the perfect way to spend their tax refund now have more options without breaking the budget. With the U.S. dollar going from strong to stronger in 2015, there were plenty of cities amongst the most popular destinations for U.S. travelers. According to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index, average rates paid for 5-star and 4-star hotel accommodation fell substantially during the year – meaning luxury was available for less.
This year, consumers can:
- Complete their tax return through H&R Block and load a portion of their return on a Hotels.com gift card + get a bonus 10% in gift card
- Get a 20% discount on filing taxes with H&R Block online or via software
- Make their tax refund go even further and receive a special coupon: 10% off bookings made April 15- April 18, and travel by July 31
“More consumers are spending their tax refund on experiences versus tangible items,” said Taylor L. Cole, APR, travel expert for Hotels.com. “By filing your taxes with H&R Block, you have access to additional discounts on Hotels.com. H&R Block cites the average return is $2,800 in the U.S. so we want to help Americans stretch their dollar even further by helping them plan a more affordable summer getaway.”
Top 10 destinations with the best-value 5-star hotels per night for U.S. travelers in 2015
| City | Country | 2015 Price |
| Panama City | Panama | $177 |
| Bangkok | Thailand | $178 |
| Istanbul | Turkey | $179 |
| Berlin | Germany | $189 |
| Athens | Greece | $201 |
| Frankfurt | Germany | $205 |
| Beijing | China | $211 |
| Phuket | Thailand | $224 |
| San Antonio, TX | U.S.A. | $228 |
| Melbourne | Australia | $234 |
Less than $150 a night? There were 19 domestic and international cities with 4-star averages of less than $150 a night in 2015. Bangkok registered the best 4-star average of $93, with Istanbul at $110 and Panama City at $119. Las Vegas came in first for the U.S. at $134 a night.
The star rating that was purchased by U.S. travelers with $150 a night or less on average in 30 popular destinations in 2015.
| City | Country | $150 |
| Athens | Greece | 4 |
| Bali | Indonesia | 4 |
| Bangkok | Thailand | 4 |
| Beijing | China | 4 |
| Berlin | Germany | 4 |
| Bogota | Colombia | 4 |
| Buenos Aires | Argentina | 4 |
| Frankfurt | Germany | 4 |
| Istanbul | Turkey | 4 |
| Las Vegas, NV | U.S.A. | 4 |
| Madrid | Spain | 4 |
| Panama City | Panama | 4 |
| Phuket | Thailand | 4 |
Don’t want to break the budget? Four Asian destinations had the lowest 3-star rates, ranging from Bangkok at $46 to Beijing at $76, and overall 16 cities had averages under $100 a night. The best value U.S. city was part of this group as Las Vegas recorded an average of $91. For a cheaper trip in Latin America, Buenos Aires came out as the best 2-star rate at $36 while, in Europe, Istanbul earned this distinction at $49. In the U.S, Orlando won the title with $77 a night.
Where prices paid per night by U.S. travelers at top-end hotels fell the most between 2015 and 2014
| City | Country | Star Rating | 2015 | 2014 | % Change |
| Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | 4 | $186 | $275 | -32% |
| Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | 5 | $277 | $399 | -31% |
| Sao Paulo | Brazil | 4 | $136 | $188 | -28% |
| Sao Paulo | Brazil | 5 | $263 | $341 | -23% |
| Istanbul | Turkey | 4 | $110 | $138 | -20% |
| Venice | Italy | 5 | $438 | $533 | -18% |
| Paris | France | 4 | $236 | $286 | -17% |
| Seoul | South Korea | 4 | $128 | $155 | -17% |
| Acapulco | Mexico | 4 | $156 | $189 | -17% |
| Bogota | Colombia | 4 | $126 | $151 | -16% |
Source: Expedia
