Most Expensive Hotel States in 2026: Top 5 Costs

The most expensive states for hotels in 2026 can look very different depending on how you measure prices. A state with costly hotel rooms may not have the highest total travel expenses. Before you plan a trip, it helps to separate nightly lodging rates from the full daily cost of meals, transportation, and activities.

The Top 5 Most Expensive States for Hotels in 2026

South Carolina, Massachusetts, California, New York, and Florida lead a 2026 ranking of the most expensive contiguous states for travelers. However, their positions are based on total daily travel costs, not just hotel prices.

The study, conducted by Timeshare Exit Team and reported by Travel + Leisure in March 2026, examined accommodation, transportation, food, drinks, attraction fees, and other travel expenses across the 48 contiguous states.

Here are the five leading states and their reported costs.

These figures come from the reported travel-cost study. They are estimates for comparing travel expenses, not guaranteed hotel prices or official statewide hotel averages.

If you rank only these five states by their reported hotel costs, the order changes to South Carolina, Massachusetts, New York, California, and Florida.

This distinction matters because California’s higher overall travel cost reflects expenses beyond accommodation. The study also excludes Alaska and Hawaii, so it cannot establish which state has the most expensive hotels across all 50 states.

Hotel industry data uses a different measure called average daily rate (ADR). According to CoStar’s explanation of ADR, it is calculated by dividing hotel room revenue by the number of rooms sold.

For an accurate hotel comparison, you should use the same measurement, geographic area, and reporting period for every destination.

Key Factors That Influence Hotel Prices in Expensive States

Hotel prices rise when room demand is strong, available supply is limited, or properties face higher operating costs. These conditions vary across states and even between nearby neighborhoods.

Major cities such as New York and San Francisco have expensive central districts where convenient locations and limited space can increase accommodation prices. Luxury rooms and suites in these markets can exceed $1,000 per night.

Several factors affect what you pay:

• Location: Hotels near major attractions, business districts, beaches, and transportation hubs may charge more.
• Operating costs: Labor, utilities, insurance, property expenses, and maintenance affect hotel pricing.
• Hotel supply: Areas with fewer available rooms may experience sharper price increases during busy periods.
• Travel demand: Holidays, conventions, festivals, concerts, and sporting events can increase bookings.
• Room category: Luxury suites, oceanfront rooms, and larger accommodations usually cost more than standard rooms.
• Booking conditions: Flexible cancellation, breakfast, parking, and included services can change the overall value.

In Massachusetts and California, both business travel and leisure tourism can influence demand. Boston conventions, coastal summer vacations, and major events in Los Angeles can create different pricing patterns.

Florida also attracts visitors throughout the year, but its destinations do not follow one identical seasonal pattern. Orlando, Miami, and coastal resort towns can have different busy periods.

How Seasonal Trends Affect Hotel Pricing

Hotel rates often rise during peak travel seasons and fall when demand slows. However, the cheapest month depends on the destination, so one nationwide booking calendar will not work for every trip.

A useful comparison comes from Engine’s hotel pricing research, which examined more than 128 million public hotel-rate observations across 50 major U.S. markets from May 2024 through April 2026.

These observations represent the lowest public nightly rates available during searches, not the final prices travelers actually paid.

These city figures use a different method from the state travel-cost study. They show how both the destination and travel month can affect the prices you find.

Peak Season Rates

Peak seasons bring stronger demand and can make hotels considerably more expensive. School vacations, local festivals, business conferences, and holiday travel all contribute to price increases.

For example, Meet Boston’s hotel statistics show an average daily rate of $386.46 in October 2025, compared with $194.66 in January 2025.

This difference shows why Boston’s fall travel period can be costly. The actual price for your hotel will still depend on the specific property and dates.

Major events can raise hotel rates by 25% or more in some destinations. Luxury properties in San Francisco and Los Angeles may also reach $650 to $1,000 or more per night during especially busy periods.

These premium prices are not representative of every hotel in those cities. Standard rooms outside the busiest districts can cost much less.

Off-Peak Discounts

Off-peak travel is often a cheaper alternative to visiting during the busiest season. Depending on the destination and hotel, room rates may fall by 20% to 50% compared with peak periods.

Shoulder seasons are the periods immediately before or after the busiest travel months. They can offer a useful balance of reasonable prices, available rooms, and fewer crowds.

Hotels may also offer promotions such as free breakfast, discounted parking, or reduced package rates when occupancy is lower.

However, cheaper dates do not always mean better travel conditions. For example, Florida’s slower travel periods may overlap with hotter, wetter weather or hurricane season.

Check whether the lower hotel price is worth any trade-offs in weather, activities, or transportation.

Booking Strategies for Expensive Hotels

Booking early can give you more hotel choices, especially in expensive destinations. A commonly suggested starting window is 6 to 10 weeks before travel, although there is no guaranteed cheapest booking period.

For major holidays, festivals, or conventions, consider booking earlier. Popular properties may sell out before you find a lower rate.

Use this approach when comparing hotel reservations:

1. Choose your destination and preferred travel dates.
2. Compare several hotels with similar locations and amenities.
3. Check member rates and hotel loyalty-program offers.
4. Compare refundable and nonrefundable reservations.
5. Review what breakfast, parking, and other services cost.
6. Calculate the final stay total before making a reservation.

Hotel loyalty programs can provide member discounts, reward nights, and additional benefits. However, a member rate is not automatically the cheapest option.

Flexible cancellation can also be valuable. If you reserve a refundable room and later find a lower comparable rate, you may be able to change your booking within the cancellation terms.

Always factor in taxes and hidden fees like resort charges, which can significantly increase your nightly rate.

One more strategy is to compare weekends with weekdays. Business-heavy districts may offer lower weekend rates, while leisure destinations often become more expensive on Fridays and Saturdays.

Comparing Luxury vs. Mid-Range Hotel Costs

Luxury hotels generally cost more than mid-range properties because they offer premium rooms, facilities, locations, or services. However, the best value depends on what is included in your stay.

The original article’s illustrative comparison uses an average of $450 per night for luxury hotels and $280 per night for mid-range hotels. These figures have not been established as verified nationwide hotel averages.

Using those figures, a luxury room costs $170 more per night before any extra charges. Over a three-night stay, that difference becomes $510.

The higher room rate may be worthwhile if the property includes services you would otherwise purchase separately. Examples include breakfast, better transportation access, or a room large enough for your group.

Before choosing, compare these features:

• Room size: Check the actual sleeping arrangements and maximum occupancy.
• Location: Estimate the transportation needed to reach your activities.
• Included amenities: Compare breakfast, internet, fitness facilities, and other services.
• Parking: Check whether parking is included, optional, or unavailable.
• Cancellation: Review refund deadlines and restrictions.
• Mandatory fees: Make sure the total price reflects required property charges.

During peak travel periods, the difference between luxury and mid-range room prices can sometimes shrink. That may make a more expensive property worth considering.

But a lower hotel category is not always worse value. A well-located mid-range hotel may meet your needs without the extra cost of luxury facilities.

Watch Out for Hidden Fees That Could Blow Your Budget

Additional hotel charges can make a stay more expensive than its basic nightly rate suggests. Resort fees, destination fees, parking, taxes, and optional services all affect the amount you pay.

However, the rules for displaying these charges changed in the United States.

Since May 12, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission’s Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees has required covered hotel and short-term lodging businesses to disclose the total price, including mandatory fees they can calculate in advance.

Government taxes and optional services may be excluded from that initially displayed total, but applicable charges must be disclosed before you are asked to pay.

The rule does not ban resort fees or destination fees. Instead, it requires clearer pricing so you can understand the real cost of a booking.

Common Hidden Charges

Hotel bills can include several charges beyond the room itself. Some are mandatory, while others depend on which services you choose.

Common examples include:

• Occupancy taxes: State, city, or local lodging taxes added to qualifying stays.
• Resort fees: Mandatory charges associated with hotel amenities or services.
• Destination fees: Charges that hotels apply for certain property services or local benefits.
• Parking fees: Charges for valet or self-parking.
• Pet fees: Charges that may apply when you bring an animal.
• Early check-in or late checkout: Optional services that may cost extra.

Occupancy and city taxes can sometimes total 10% to 20%, depending on the destination. Resort and parking charges can further increase your final expenses.

Tax rates differ significantly by location. For example, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue lists a state room occupancy excise tax of 5.7%, with additional local taxes and fees possible.

Therefore, two hotels with the same room rate may have different final prices.

Resort and Destination Fees

Resort and destination fees are often charged per room, per night. The original article’s planning range is $20 to $50 nightly, although individual properties may charge less or more.

Hotels may use these charges to cover amenities such as fitness facilities, internet access, or certain property services.

Because these fees can apply even when you do not use the amenities, they may change the value of an otherwise affordable hotel.

For example, a mandatory $40 nightly destination fee adds $80 to the cost of a two-night stay. The required fee should be included in the displayed total under the applicable FTC rule.

When reviewing a reservation, check whether the property lists any mandatory charges separately for explanation and whether they are already included in the total shown.

Valet Parking Costs

Valet parking can be one of the largest optional hotel expenses in major cities. The original article gives a range of $40 to $80 per night for large-city and luxury properties.

Unlike a mandatory resort fee, optional parking generally does not need to be included in the initial hotel room price when you can reasonably choose not to purchase it.

But it can still affect your travel budget.

For a three-night stay, parking at $60 per night adds $180 before any applicable taxes.

If you plan to rent a vehicle, compare the hotel’s parking options with nearby garages. If your destination has reliable public transportation, you may not need a rental car at all.

How to Evaluate the Total Cost of Staying in Expensive States

The most useful travel budget includes accommodation, taxes, transportation, meals, and planned activities. Looking only at the nightly room rate can underestimate your total expenses.

In the featured 2026 study, South Carolina has an estimated daily travel cost of $450.07. Massachusetts follows at $413.87, while California reaches $389.33 per day.

These estimates combine different categories of spending. They are not hotel-only costs, and you should not add their listed hotel estimates again to the reported daily totals.

For a personal budget, start with these categories:

• Accommodation: Room rate and all required property charges.
• Taxes: Applicable hotel and local lodging taxes.
• Transportation: Flights, trains, rental cars, parking, fuel, or public transit.
• Food: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, and snacks.
• Activities: Attractions, tours, tickets, and entertainment.
• Other expenses: Tips, baggage charges, and unexpected purchases.

A simple hotel-cost example shows why this matters.

Suppose a hotel room has a base rate of $280 per night, a mandatory destination fee of $40 per night, and optional parking of $60 per night.

For two nights, the room costs $560, the destination fees total $80, and parking adds $120. Your accommodation-related total becomes $760 before applicable taxes.

This is an illustrative calculation, not a quoted hotel booking. Under the federal pricing rule, the mandatory destination fee should be reflected in the advertised total price.

State averages also hide local differences. For example, the U.S. General Services Administration’s fiscal-year 2026 South Carolina lodging rates varied by destination and month.

Its Charleston lodging allowance was $288 per night for March through May 2026, while the Columbia allowance was $115 per night throughout that fiscal year.

These are federal travel reimbursement benchmarks, not retail hotel averages. Still, they illustrate why location matters when budgeting within the same state.

How to Save Money in Expensive Hotel States

You can reduce hotel expenses in expensive states without giving up comfort or convenience. The best savings usually come from choosing suitable travel dates, comparing comparable rooms, and avoiding services you do not need.

Try these practical strategies:

• Travel during shoulder seasons: Look for periods between peak and low seasons when room demand is moderate.
• Compare nearby towns: Staying outside a busy city center may offer lower rates, especially if transport is convenient.
• Use flexible dates: Shifting your arrival or departure can help you avoid high-demand nights.
• Compare booking conditions: A refundable room may be worth a slightly higher price when your plans are uncertain.
• Use loyalty benefits: Apply points or member discounts when they offer better value than available public prices.
• Choose useful amenities: Included breakfast or parking may offset a somewhat higher room rate.
• Plan free activities: Public parks, beaches, walking routes, and free museums can reduce overall travel costs.

Keep your budget focused on the full trip rather than only the cheapest advertised room.

For example, a centrally located hotel may save time and transportation expenses, even if its nightly rate is slightly higher.

Also consider the number of people sharing a room. A hotel rate is generally for the room and permitted occupants, while some travel-cost estimates are calculated per person. Those measurements are not directly interchangeable.

Comparing the total cost per traveler can help you decide whether a room, suite, or other accommodation offers better value for your group.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The most expensive states for hotels in 2026 depend on which pricing data you use. South Carolina leads the featured study for overall daily travel costs, but that does not establish it as the most expensive hotel state nationwide.

For your next trip, focus on comparable hotel rates, your actual travel dates, and the complete price after applicable charges. This approach will give you a more reliable budget than a state ranking alone.

Sources

1. Travel + Leisure: March 2026 coverage of the Timeshare Exit Team study, its travel-cost ranking, and exclusion of Alaska and Hawaii.
2. CoStar: What Is Average Daily Rate?: Definition and calculation of hotel average daily rate.
3. Engine: Average Hotel Prices by City: Public hotel-rate observations, city comparisons, and seasonal price patterns from May 2024 through April 2026.
4. Meet Boston Hotel Statistics: Monthly Boston hotel average daily rates, including January and October 2025.
5. Federal Trade Commission: Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees: Mandatory hotel-fee disclosure, government taxes, optional charges, and total-price requirements.
6. Massachusetts Department of Revenue: State room occupancy tax and the possibility of additional local charges.
7. U.S. General Services Administration: Fiscal-year 2026 lodging reimbursement rates for South Carolina destinations.