Marco Island is the most expensive destination in Florida for hotel stays, according to a new survey by CheapHotels.org, which compared hotel rates across 30 popular Florida destinations early this year – typically the high season for most destinations in the Sunshine State.

Overall, across all the Florida destinations considered in the survey, hotel rates are up by about 20% compared with five years ago, with West Palm Beach – ranked third in the survey at US$425/night – up a whopping 60%.

In top-ranked Marco Island, a small barrier island in the southwestern part of the state close to Naples, just north of Everglades National Park, travellers will have to spend an average of $439 per night for the most affordable double room – more than four times the going rate in Kissimmee (Disney).

Second most expensive was Sarasota $435; Sanibel Island ($387) and Key West ($375) rank as the 4th and 5th most expensive Florida destinations.

Here’s the top 10 list with prices reflecting the average nightly rate for the cheapest available double room (in a minimum 3-star hotel) at each property for the period spanning Feb. 1 through March 31, 2023.

1. Marco Island $439
2. Sarasota $435
3. West Palm Beach $425
4. Sanibel Island $387
5. Key West $375
6. Delray Beach $354
7. Naples $350
8. Pompano Beach $344
9. Key Largo $276
10. St. Pete Beach $273

Other popular destinations for Canadians included:

Clearwater Beach $245 (14th) St. Petersburg $230 (16th); Miami downtown $224 (18th); Fort Lauderdale $205 (19th); Orlando downtown $185 (20th); Miami Beach $185 (21st) and Kissimmee/Disney $94 (30th).