TripAdvisor Announces Top Destinations Around the Globe in 2017 Travelers' Choice Awards

NEEDHAM, Mass., March 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor^®, the travel planning and booking site, today announced the winners of its Travelers' Choice^® awards for destinations, recognizing travelers' favorite places around the world. This year, Bali, Indonesia is the global winner and New York City ranks number one in the U.S. for the seventh consecutive year.

Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions in destinations worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period, as well as traveler booking interest on TripAdvisor. The awards honor 418 outstanding destinations in 24 lists across the globe.

"We're excited to reveal our community's favorite travel destinations for 2017 and recognize these iconic places with Travelers' Choice awards," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. "Travelers wanting to explore these fabulous destinations can shop for amazing attractions and tours on TripAdvisor and compare hotel prices that are up to 24% less when booking off-peak."

"We are honored that New York City has been recognized by the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice awards for destinations as the number one destination in the U.S. for seven straight years and among the top 10 globally this year," said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company. "This is a testament to the outstanding offerings of our five-borough destination and its multicultural neighborhoods. This year, we welcome the world to discover and experience the unique energy and diversity of our great city!"

TripAdvisor has also identified the average spring/summer hotel rates, roundtrip airfares, least expensive month to visit, as well as highly rated tours to maximize travelers' experiences in these award-winning destinations.

Top 10 Travelers' Choice Destinations – U.S:

1. New York City, New York

The beloved Big Apple offers something for every type of traveler, from Broadway shows to some of the world's most iconic attractions.

• Average bookable hotel rates on TripAdvisor¹: $349 per night
• Average airfare available on TripAdvisor²: $319
• Least expensive month to go³: August (1% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
• New top-rated tour: Viator VIP: EmptyMet Tour at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, bookable on TripAdvisor for $125 per person

2. Maui, Hawaii

This island is a hotspot for outdoors lovers as they can stretch out on warm, golden sands, hit the surf for unforgettable windsurfing or enjoy a zen snorkeling session.

• Average bookable hotel rates on TripAdvisor: $402 per night
• Average airfare available on TripAdvisor: $687
• Least expensive month to go: April (8% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
• Top-rated tour: Old Lahaina Luau Maui, bookable on TripAdvisor for $120 per person

3. Island of Hawaii, Hawaii

Life on the Big Island boasts natural beauty for outdoor enthusiasts or just for travelers to enjoy a famous local plate of fresh "poke."  

• Average bookable hotel rates on TripAdvisor: $279 per night
• Average airfare available on TripAdvisor: $767
• Least expensive month to go: May (5% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
• Top-rated tour: Big Island ATV Tour Through Waipio Valley, bookable on TripAdvisor for $166 per person

4. Oahu, Hawaii

This island is a sunbather's and surfer's paradise, with beautiful beaches and swelling waves that can reach epic heights.

• Average bookable hotel rates on TripAdvisor: $326 per night
• Average airfare available on TripAdvisor: $767
• Least expensive month to go: August (7% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
• Top-rated tour: Diamond Head Crater Adventure, bookable on TripAdvisor for $37 per person

5. Las Vegas, Nevada

Vegas can satisfy a variety of vacation tastes, including great meals from renowned chefs, access to some of the world's premier casinos, and the ability to see spectacular shows on the Strip.

• Average bookable hotel rates on TripAdvisor: $226 per night
• Average airfare available on TripAdvisor: $316
• Least expensive month to go: May (1% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
• Top-rated tour: Red Rock Canyon Luxury Tour Trekker Experience, bookable on TripAdvisor for $102 per person

6. Orlando, Florida

Home to some of the world's most popular amusement and theme parks, Orlando offers travelers boundless opportunities for adventure and family fun.

• Average bookable hotel rates on TripAdvisor: $221 per night
• Average airfare available on TripAdvisor: $303
• Least expensive month to go: May (4% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
• Top-rated tour: Blue Man Group Show at Universal Orlando Resort, bookable on TripAdvisor for $64 per person

7. Chicago, Illinois

The windy city is a cornucopia of modern art, fine dining, innovative comedy, photo opportunities at Millennium Park and die-hard sports fans throughout Wrigleyville.

• Average bookable hotel rates on TripAdvisor: $279 per night
• Average airfare available on TripAdvisor: $311
• Least expensive month to go: May (4% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
• Top-rated tour: Chicago Architecture River Cruise, bookable on TripAdvisor for $34 per person

8. San Diego, California

Travelers can experience laid-back California culture on the iconic boardwalk, vibrant surfing communities, outstanding Mexican food and the popular Gaslamp Quarter.

• Average bookable hotel rates on TripAdvisor: $248 per night
• Average airfare available on TripAdvisor: $406
• Least expensive month to go: April (8% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
• Top-rated tour: Electric Bike Tour of La Jolla and Mount Soledad, bookable on TripAdvisor for $99 per person

9. San Francisco, California

Travelers enjoy the Golden City's unique neighborhoods from the hippie chic of the Upper Haight to the hipster grit of the Mission, to trendy bistros in the Marina district.

• Average bookable hotel rates on TripAdvisor: $307 per night
• Average airfare available on TripAdvisor: $353
• Least expensive month to go: May (4% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
• Top-rated tour: Alcatraz Admission and Wine Country Bike Tour, bookable on TripAdvisor for $195 per person

10. Key West, Florida

Home of the original Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Key West has also famously been home to literary greats like Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams.

• Average bookable hotel rates on TripAdvisor: $417 per night
• Average airfare available on TripAdvisor: $519
• Least expensive month to go: August (7% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
• Top-rated tour: Key West Hop-on Hop-off Narrated Trolley Tour, bookable on TripAdvisor for $20 per person

Top 10 Travelers' Choice Destinations – World:

1. Bali, Indonesia: Least expensive month to go: May (7% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
2. London, United Kingdom: Least expensive month to go: April (7% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
3. Paris, France: Least expensive month to go: April (4% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
4. Rome, Italy: Least expensive month to go: April (7% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
5. New York City, United States: Least expensive month to go: August (1% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
6. Crete, Greece: Least expensive month to go: August (24% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
7. Barcelona, Spain: Least expensive month to go: May (4% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
8. Siem Reap, Cambodia: Least expensive month to go: August (4% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
9. Prague, Czech Republic: Least expensive month to go: April (1% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)
10. Phuket, Thailand: Least expensive month to go: April (11% less than the combined spring/summer average for hotel and airfare)

TripAdvisor is the world's largest travel site**. Travelers can read millions of reviews and opinions and book their next trip at: www.tripadvisor.com.

Methodology:
¹Average nightly rates of bookable hotels in award-winning destinations are based on TripAdvisor pricing data for March 1 – August 31, 2017, aggregated from booking partners.
²Average roundtrip airfare available on TripAdvisor are based on pricing data from 52 U.S. airports to the nearest airport for every winner for March 1 – August 31, 2017. Prices are reflective of TripAdvisor data on March 17, 2017.
³Least expensive month to go is based on combined hotel and airfare pricing data for March 1 – August 31, 2017.

About TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site*, enabling travelers to unleash the potential of every trip. TripAdvisor offers advice from millions of travelers, with 465 million reviews and opinions covering 7 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions, and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features — checking more than 200 websites to help travelers find and book today's lowest hotel prices. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, reaching 390 million average unique monthly visitors** in 49 markets worldwide. TripAdvisor: Know better. Book better. Go better.

TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP), through its subsidiaries, manages and operates websites under 23 other travel media brands: 

www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.citymaps.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.thefork.com (including www.lafourchette.com, www.eltenedor.com, www.iens.nl and www.dimmi.com.au), www.gateguru.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.housetrip.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.jetsetter.com, www.niumba.com, www.onetime.com, www.oyster.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.com, www.travelpod.com, www.tripbod.com, www.vacationhomerentals.com and www.viator.com.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, November 2016
**Source: TripAdvisor log files, Q3 2016

SOURCE TripAdvisor