Festive extortion: how much more will you pay?

Babysitters

Everyone knows prices shoot up at this time of the year, but how much more do you really pay? Telegraph Money finds out.

Flights

Those spending New Year’s Eve in European cities pay up to 188pc more for a return flight compared with other times of the year, said Kayak, the travel website. However, the cost of longer haul flights can fall around New Year’s Eve because fewer people travel later on.

Expect to pay almost double for a babysitter on New Year’s Eve. Childcare website Sitters.co.uk quoted £10 an hour in Manchester on New Year’s Eve, up from £7.50. In Dulwich, London, prices were £14 an hour, up from £7.65.

Eating and drinking

Martyn James, from complaints tool Resolver, said most restaurants serve up the same food on New Year’s Eve but for several times the price. For example, a meal for two at Boyds Grill and Wine Bar in central London costs £67.50, or £135 for two, almost 69pc more than the same food on another day.

Hotels

Expect to pay up to 87pc more for a night in a hotel in popular destinations around New Year’s Eve. Even on house-sharing site Airbnb the prices are inflated.

Household jobs

On New Year’s Eve, Pimlico Plumbers in London charges customers double for plumbing, at £220 to £250 an hour between 6pm and midnight – up from £110.

Transport

Addison Lee, the taxi firm, more than doubles its minimum fare to £17 over New Year’s Eve, while London’s black cabs add an extra £4 to fares.