If your holiday plans include a hotel stay, get set to pay more than before. According to Triple-A-Travel, hotel rates for “three diamond” lodgings are up about nine percent from a year ago with travelers spending an average of $178 per night compared to $164 last year. The average hotel rate for “two diamond” hotels has risen 15 percent with an average cost of $137 per night. Weekend daily car rental rates average about $58, the same as last year. Airfare is down five percent with the average round-trip, with discounted fare for the top 40 U.S. routes costing $215, down from $228 last year.
