New survey finds Italian cuisine reigns supreme.

DALLAS, Dec. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Marinara and mozzarella are what U.S. travelers prefer to feast on while traveling, according to the latest survey from the world's leading provider of lodging worldwide, hotels.com®.  The survey was based on travelers' eating habits including regional cuisine selections, meal plans versus exploring local restaurants, and the staple cuisine of road trips, hangovers and homesickness – American fast food chains.

"Adventurous travelers get the luck of the draw when selecting unknown cuisine and restaurants while traveling," says Taylor L. Cole, APR, director of public relations & social media for hotels.com. "Whether it's tapas in Spain or burritos south of the border, taking a risk on a restaurant located off the beaten path can reap great rewards for travelers, but can also lead to great disappointments. Sticking with what you know tends to be a popular trend among the less adventurous U.S. travelers."

U.S. Travelers Get Selective When it Comes to Cuisine

The survey found that almost two-thirds of travelers make it a point to try the local cuisine when traveling. Only six percent surveyed said they would not stray off the beaten path, and would only eat cuisine that they were familiar with. Of those polled, 13 percent were not even willing to try any local cuisine at all. Twenty-nine percent had chosen a destination because of its cuisine, and 18 percent prefer to eat at an American fast food chain instead of a local restaurant.

To Meal Plan, or Not to Meal Plan – That is the Question

Meat, eggs and cheese are a staple of a true American breakfast; many international hotels serve "American-style" breakfast as a meal plan option, which is often included in the price of the room. The hotels.com survey revealed that over 40 percent of U.S. travelers prefer the breakfast meal plan, while only seven percent are looking for an all-inclusive option. Thirty-six percent of travelers polled seek out local markets and restaurants instead of opting for a hotel's meal plan.

To book a hotel stay for your next culinary adventure, visit www.hotels.com.  

About hotels.com

hotels.com® is a leading provider of lodging worldwide, offering more than 130,000 properties in over 60 countries from national chain hotels and all-inclusive resorts to local favorites and bed & breakfasts. hotels.com is the smarter way to book travel by offering  welcomerewards®, an industry leading loyalty rewards program; the real opinions of other travelers captured in over 1.5 million Guest Reviews and;  a Price Match Guarantee, so that those booking with hotels.com can be assured they are getting the best deal, either online or by speaking directly to a travel expert at 1-800-2-HOTELS 24 hours a day. For more information, please visit hotels.com. hotels.com is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE). Please visit the hotels.com Travel Smart Blog for consumer and business travel information. Follow us on Twitter via www.twitter.com/hotelsdotcom, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hotelsdotcom and take a VirtualVacation at www.virtualvacay.com. Detailed Hotel Price Index data is available at: http://www.hotel-price-index.com, hotels.com, A Smarter Way to Book™.

hotels.com and the hotels.com logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of hotels.com, LP. Other logos or products and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners © 2010 hotels.com, LP. All rights reserved. CST # 2083949-50

SOURCE hotels.com

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