Beat hotel price rises for the Commonwealth Games

Airbnb has had an increase of 67% of listings on its site as more and more Glaswegians decide to rent out their homes during the Games.

The sale of tickets for Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games may not have got off to the smoothest start, but problems with the website and phone lines didn’t stop thousands of sports fans from trying to get their chance to attend.

But even those who managed to secure tickets may yet face more obstacles the biggest being finding affordable accommodation during the Games (which run from July 23 to August 3).

With some reports claiming city centre hotels have hiked up prices to £300 per night, raising costs to a whopping £3,600 for the full 12-day event, the search is on for alternatives.

Fortunately several properties have come to the rescue with deals that should stop sports fans from having to fork out a fortune. A number of good offers, it seems, are to be found by venturing a little further afield.

The Turnberry Holiday Park (turnberryholidaypark.co.uk) on the coast near Girvan in Ayrshire has launched a special Games’ rate from just £377 per family for a seven-night stay.

It takes just 90 minutes on a direct train from Girvan to Glasgow City Centre, with services running until 10.30pm. With tickets costing £13.80 per person, adults would need to hold back an additional £165 for the Games period.

“Transport links to Glasgow are so good you can get to your events easily, enjoy the city centre and then explore the wonderful south west coast of Scotland,” says Lee Elliott, general manager at Turnberry Holiday Park.

“Scottish hoteliers are going all out to make as much money as they can. We hope it’s a strategy that will benefit holiday parks that have lots to offer fans who want to explore further afield.”

While in the area, visitors might want to spend some extra time exploring sights in Ayr such as Culzean Castle and the Robert Burns National Heritage Park where many landmarks from the poet’s works can be seen.

But for those who prefer not to move too far, there are still some affordable options in the city, say VisitScotland who have teamed up with community accommodation marketplace Airbnb to help visitors find a good place to stay.

In the last three months, Airbnb has had an increase of 67% of listings on its site as more and more Glaswegians decide to rent out their homes during the Games.