Geneva has taken over from Paris as the most expensive city in the world to order a Club Sandwich, at an average of Rs. 1652, according to research released today by Hotels.com. Using the classic hotel staple of chicken, bacon, egg, lettuce and mayonnaise sandwich as a barometer of affordability, the Hotels.com Club Sandwich Index (CSI) offers holidaymakers an indication of the cost of living associated with their destination of choice. 

The CSI average price is calculated from the real prices paid by guests for a Club Sandwich in 30 hotels in the capital or an important tourist city of each country surveyed, across five, four and three star categories.  In total, 840 hotels globally were canvassed. 

Now in its second year, the Index reflects not only changes in the actual price of a Club Sandwich across the globe but also the effect of currency fluctuations.  Travellers will be pleased to note that, on the whole, prices are falling: the Genevan average of Rs.1,652, although higher than any other destination, is also lower than last year's most expensive, which was Rs.1,735 in Paris. 

In the Swiss city, prices for the humble 'Club' ranged from an extraordinary Rs. 2,841 in one five-star hotel to a more reasonable Rs.767 in a three-star establishment.  Gastronomic hub and last year's chart topper, Paris, this year slipped to number two with a new average of Rs.1,489 , closely followed by Oslo, which held on to the number three spot with Rs.1,449. 

India's New Delhi remained the cheapest destination to buy a Club Sandwich, with an average price of just Rs.494, although several other holiday favourites also appeared under the Rs.850 threshold, including Madrid (Rs.801), Rio de Janeiro (Rs.781) and Bangkok (Rs.640). 

Alison Couper from Hotels.com said: “The Club Sandwich, available on hotel menus across the globe, is the perfect spending barometer, helping tourists factor into their travel plans the everyday cost of simple items such as food and drink.  The price changes when comparing 2013 to 2012 hide a complex story of factors from changes in the local price of basic food items through to currency fluctuations.  The beauty of the CSI is that we are able to offer travellers a simple price comparison to show how far their money may stretch in each country." 

The Hotels.com Club Sandwich Index (CSI) 2013:

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