5 INDIAN CITIES FIGURE AS VALUE CITIES

Around five Indian cities have featured in the top 100 list of the best value destinations across the globe, where one can travel without breaking the bank, says a recent study. According to on-line hotel search site trivago's 'Best Value Index', Nashik, where a night's stay costs travellers Rs 5,665, stands at the 21st position and was voted as the best tourist friendly city of the country this year; the beaches of Varkala in Kerala were ranked 28, the royalty of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan was at 41, Alibaug in Maharashtra at 56 and Munnar in Kerala at 60. The 'Best Value Index' is based on the yearly average overnight price of a standard double room, combined with the destinations' overall hotel reputation from over 82 million traveller reviews. These spots are the world's top in terms of delivering the best value for your money. "It's nice to see five cities being featured in the top 100 list, it shows tourism in the country has a lot of potential and we are more affordable when compared to the rest of the world. These ranking not only reflect how Indians rank them but it is also showing how the international tourist rated them," Abhinav Kumar of trivago (India) said. The report has compiled a list of the best value destinations worldwide, which included UNESCO world heritage site Plitvieka Jezera (Croatia), the pristine beach of Puerto Princesa (Philippines) and the culturally rich capital Hanoi (Vietnam). Morocco's Ait Benhaddou has topped this year's number one in the top 100 Best Value Index, the report said, adding that an overnight stay in a standard double room in the city costs an average Rs 3,551 and it is one of the 25 destinations on the top 100 that is home to a UNESCO World Heritage site. Second in the list is Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where a night's stay costs travellers Rs 4,227. The same price is paid for the picturesque Greek village Chora on the island Ios, surrounded by Sahara sand dunes. Bhaktapur, the former Nepalese capital, is ranked fifth at Rs 3,551. Thailand had the strongest representation on trivago's list of top 100 value destinations with a total of nine spots, followed by Greece with seven destinations, then Spain, China and Portugal with six each.