These are the 10 most expensive cities to stay in according to price tracking by Hotels.com. The figures represent prices that guests actually paid for rooms during the latter half of 2009. Room prices slid an average of 12% from a year earlier, though traditionally expensive spots like New York, Honolulu and Boston remain at the top of the list.

No. 10 Philadelphia

Avg. nightly room rate: $127

One year pct. change: -13%

Philly has been hurt by the recession like every other city. But sporting events like the 2009 World Series and a Giants-Eagles NFL game drew New Yorkers down the pike to help prop up traffic–and prices–occasionally.

No. 9 San Diego

Avg. nightly room rate: $127

One year pct. change: -18%

Similar to San Francisco, room rates have suffered as fewer foreign travelers hit the West Coast. It’s a great time to get a deal there.

No. 8 San Francisco

Avg. nightly room rate: $127

One year pct. change: -17%

The Bay Area is a popular destination for Europeans, though the falling Euro has made those trips a bit less attractive since 2008.

No. 7 Seattle

Avg. nightly room rate: $129

One year pct. change: -14%

The home of Microsoft and Starbucks remains a big business destination. It’s also a starting point for much of the Alaskan cruise industry. Early 2010 results from Smith Travel Research show Seattle leading the nation in occupancy rate and revenue per available room.

No. 6 Chicago

Avg. nightly room rate: $137

One year pct. change: -18%

The convention business has slumped badly during the recession, pushing prices down. But Middle America’s largest city will always draw travelers.

No. 5 Miami

Avg. nightly room rate: $140

One year pct. change: -14%

An international hub, Miami draws from cities like Sao Paulo and Rio, where strengthened currencies make travel to the U.S. cheaper.

No. 4 Washington, D.C.

Avg. nightly room rate: $144

One year pct. change: -11%

A big business and leisure destination. And like New York and Boston, the nation’s capital is a draw for weekend auto travelers.

No. 3 Boston

Avg. nightly room rate: $158

One year pct. change: -18%

A big tourist draw with a large nearby population to draw from.

No. 2 Honolulu

Avg. nightly room rate: $160

One year pct. change: -12%

Hawaii is Hawaii. But a long vacation destination doesn’t play that well in a recession.

No. 1 New York City

Avg. nightly room rate: $199

One year pct. change: -24%

Over 4,000 rooms were added in 2009, pressuring prices. But New York is still hanging in at the top thanks to a dense northeast population that sends weekend getaway travelers there.