UK NEWS

MOSCOW WORLD’S COSTLIEST CITY

Moscow has topped prices list

Sunday February 24,2008

By Heather Meyer

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(5)

WHEN a ride in one of London’s black cabs empties your purse, it isn’t hard to swallow the popular myth that the capital is the most expensive city in the world.

So thank your stars you’re not in Moscow, where the average visitor to the city – now officially the world’s most expensive – forks out nearly £250 a night for a room, compared with £154 in London.

In fact, the latest poll by industry observer Hogg Robinson Group put London in 10th place – down from eighth in 2006.

Second to the Russian capital was New York, where visitors pay £192 per night. In third place was Paris (£171), followed by Dubai (£164), Milan (£164), Stockholm (£160), Mumbai (£160), Bangalore (£159) and Hong Kong (£154).

For Moscow, it was a case of reclaiming the dubious title it also held in 2005 and 2006.

Room prices there have risen 93 per cent since 2004 and Margaret Bowler, global hotel relations director for Hogg Robinson Group, believes this has less to do with the draw of the country and more to do with economic factors.

She said: “The cost and availability of land in central Moscow, restricting the development of new hotels, is set to continue room inflation into 2008.”

It is just the latest confirmation of the city’s sky-high prices.

Last June, human resources consultant Mercer said Moscow was 34 per cent more expensive than nearest rival New York when you considered the cost of housing, transport, food, clothing and household goods.

The average price of a cup of coffee, for instance, was £3.14.

But however influential the economics or the world-famous, sparkling domes of Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square, it doesn’t explain why London is slipping down the table.

What may, however, are reports on the declining popularity of some of the city’s most famous landmarks.

Visit Britain, the body responsible for promoting British Tourism, recently revealed that interest in seeing Buckingham Palace was “not overwhelmingly strong”.

After quizzing 26,000 people from 26 countries, it found many said they wouldn’t even consider a visit to Britain because they believed it to be expensive.

Other turn-offs for would-be tourists included poor food and unfriendly locals.

The attractive points of the capital included culinary icons such as Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay, as well as our wealth of modern art and reputation as eccentrics.

But Visit Britain spokesman Elliot Frisby thinks that despite the poll, London’s 10th-place ranking could actually signal an increase in interest due to a rise in budget options for travellers.

He said: “There’s always been a range of accommodation and I think it just reflects the rise in the use of budget options.

“London is also one of the major business centres in the world, if not the leading business centre, and many companies have their own business rates at hotels.

“It’s important we’re not seen as an expensive destination.

“It could put people off if they don’t think there is a range of accommodation available.”

So next time you pay a cabbie, bear all of this in mind – and pray you never need to use the Russian for “taxi”...

WOW

25.02.08, 5:33am

A-Realist,I know that that was exactly how it was,and not much better now for some poor Russians.All governments manipulate but Marypoppins take on Russia compared to yours,shows the extent to which they will go.
Frightening,as it isn't only the Russians.

• Posted by: thewarlord • Report Comment

DON'T BE FOOLED..

24.02.08, 5:06pm

Of course it was cheap. The locals were earning next to nothing whilst special shops were packed with goods which could only be bought with foreign currency. This meant only visitors and those who were allowed to leave the country, communist party officials, had access to them. The guide was in fact a minder, as they wanted to control who you had contact with. I've been there on business during the communist times and the reality you saw when you were not a holidaymaker being shown around selected placs was different. Only one kitchen and toilet for each floor in a block of flats, and these weren't old flats by any means, having to have a pass for permission to live in Moscow, a ration card for food, an ID card all of which had to be presented after a lengthy wait just to buy a loaf of bread. Some people were very easily misled when they only saw what the authorities wanted you to and came back here praising the place. They certainly wouldn't have swapped places with an ordinary cityizen of Moscow.

• Posted by: A_Realist • Report Comment

WHAT A CHANGE FROM 1988

24.02.08, 11:36am

Twenty years ago I took a 4-day trip to Moscow. The TOTAL cost was about £240 and included return air flights from London, transfers, three nights in a leading hotel with all meals, tours with an English/Russian speaking tour guide to the circus, ballet, Kremlin, space museum, and more. It was a wonderful experience and the people were very friendly. It seems that now Moscow has been "westernised" in the extreme

• Posted by: MaryPoppins • Report Comment