Holidays in Germany will shake family budgets. Accommodation has become more expensive, prices are also skyrocketing in restaurants

Accommodation prices have risen sharply in Germany, reflecting the growth in operating costs, not only in hotels, but also in apartments and holiday home rentals. In addition to the location, the increase in prices in connection with accommodation is also determined by the interest of tourists, writes the website marktspiegel.de.

Accommodation prices have risen most sharply at Lake Starnberg, followed closely by Lake Constance. While the average price for an overnight stay at the first-named location in apartments and holiday homes was 175 euros/night (roughly 4,400 crowns) last year, tourists will now pay 197 euros/night (4,956 crowns), which represents an increase of 12.6 percent. Those heading to Lake Constance should prepare to pay an average of 10.27 percent more to an average €161/night (4,049) if they rent an apartment or villa. The third place in the imaginary ranking of price increases belongs to the desired island of Sylt, where prices increase by about eight percent to an average of 216 euros/night (5,433) for an apartment or house.

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If you would prefer to stay in a hotel in these locations, you will definitely not save money. One night in a hotel near Lake Starnberg costs between 3,500 and 5,000 crowns. At Lake Constance it is 3,500 to 4,500 crowns/night and the most expensive accommodation is on Sylt: 6,000 to 9,000 crowns/night.

Surprisingly, there is an area where apartment or house rental prices have fallen compared to 2023. It is the coast of the Baltic Sea and the island of Rügen (-4.97 percent). Economists see two reasons. Demand dropped, many tourists headed to the Baltic coast, but to more affordable Poland. At the same time, the rental offer increased. “The number of apartments and flats that can be rented by the Baltic Sea has increased significantly. This may explain why prices did not increase on the coast and even decreased in Rügen compared to last year,” said Heike Müller from holiday rental search engine Holidu.de.

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However, hotel accommodation in these locations is not among the cheapest. On the coast, in high season, those interested have to expect a price from 3,000 to 7,000 crowns/night, in Rügen the prices are higher, from 5,700 to 8,500 crowns, of course you can find even more expensive accommodation, when the night can go up to 10,000 crowns per room in a five-star hotel.

In addition to accommodation, restaurants have become more expensive. As of January of this year, their tax relief ended and the local VAT rate returned from seven percent to 19 percent. The vast majority of catering businesses reflected the VAT increase in the final prices. And it’s not the end. German pubs are also raising prices due to increased transport costs or an increased minimum wage.

According to experts from the Barkow Consulting financial company, dessert prices rose by 9.7 percent compared to the previous year. Main courses are also 8.3 percent more expensive than the previous year.