Travelers Extending Valentine's Day for a Romantic Getaway this President's Day Weekend, According to New Orbitz Insider Index

CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A romantic excursion is the preferred Valentine's Day gift over candy and flowers – but subtle hints are not enough – as nearly 80% of those hoping for a quick trip to top destinations like Las Vegas, New Orleans and New York have never received a Valentine's Day trip, according to survey and booking data analyzed by Orbitz (www.orbitz.com).

While nearly 40% of those surveyed plan to celebrate Valentine's Day on the actual day this year, Orbitz data reveals that many are also taking advantage of the three-day holiday weekend that follows. 56% more hotel bookings are planned for President's Day weekend, vs. the weekend before (Feb. 10-13). Las Vegas tops the list as the most popular destination and, according to those surveyed, is also deemed the sexiest city in the country, bumping out last year's winner—San Francisco—which came in fifth. Internationally, a more conventionally thought of sexy city – Paris – was chosen.

Booking a romantic getaway is quick and easy, but surprisingly enough, more than 80% of people have never received a trip for Valentine's Day. For the second year in a row, "a bungalow on a remote beach" was the most preferred type of romantic vacation (46%), overshadowing "cozy bed & breakfast in wine country" (24%), an "upscale boutique hotel in the heart of the city" (16%), and "ski chalet in the mountains" (9%).

"Giving the gift of travel for Valentine's Day can go a long way with your sweetheart. Many think it has to be expensive or time-consuming but with Orbitz' new 'Mobile Steals,' deals around the world can be found while on the go," said Orbitz Senior Travel Editor Jeanenne Tornatore. "And with top destinations such as Las Vegas offering average hotel rates of $112 per night, booking a room at romantic hotel may just be easier and more affordable than dinner for two at your local eatery."

Most Popular Destinations for Valentine's Day 2012

In addition to the annual survey, Orbitz also looked at the most popular destinations for Valentine's Day travelers and average daily hotel rates. Highlights include:

• New destinations to the 2012 list include Atlantic City, San Diego and Honolulu.
• Las Vegas holds strong in the number one slot for the third year in a row, in part due to the number of new hotel and venue openings and low average daily hotel rates at $112 per night.
• With Mardi Gras festivities well under way, New Orleans will be the party spot for couples.  The destination also has the highest average daily hotel rate of the top 10 at $255 per night.

Sexiest Domestic and International Cities

Of those surveyed, "location/scenery" topped the list (32%) of what makes a city sexy, followed closely by "personality of a city" (28%) and nightlife (13%). Once a city is chosen, consumers are picking hotels based on the amenities. When asked what hotel amenities are most important for a romantic getaway, coming in neck and neck were "breakfast in bed" (27%) and "champagne/chocolates upon arrival" (26%).

Even though Valentine's Day is just around the corner, there are plenty more sweet deals to be had. Travelers can now save $50 using promo code "OrbitzSpring" when booking an upcoming getaway on Orbitz. The promo is valid until February 29 with travel completed by April 15 on a four plus night flight and hotel vacation package in select destinations. Visit www.orbitz.com/sales for more information.

For those searching for deals on the go, check out Orbitz "Mobile Steals" at m.orbitz.com, which offers mobile-exclusive rates of up to 50% off hotels worldwide across all mobile channels.

About Orbitz.com

Orbitz.com is a leading online travel company that enables travelers to search for and book an array of travel products and services, including flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages. Since launching its website in June 2001, Orbitz.com has become one of the largest online travel sites in the world and has led the industry with innovations including the Orbitz Matrix Display and Orbitz Price Assurance. The Matrix Display revolutionized the way the travel industry displayed fares and makes it quick and easy for consumers to compare flights, rental cars and vacation packages. The Price Assurance program gives travelers confidence that they have the lowest Orbitz price on their flight or hotel. With Price Assurance, if another Orbitz customer books the same flight or prepaid hotel for less, we'll send you a check for the difference -- automatically. Orbitz.com also offers "Insider Steals" a weekly, members-only flash sale that provides exclusive deals of 50% or more off of handpicked hotels in top destinations around the world. On Orbitz.com consumers can search a broad range of suppliers worldwide. Orbitz.com is owned by Orbitz Worldwide. Stay connected to Orbitz.com with sale alerts, exclusive promotions and engaging conversations by following Orbitz on Facebook, Twitter and the Orbitz Travel Blog.

About Orbitz Worldwide

Orbitz Worldwide is a leading global online travel company that uses innovative technology to enable leisure and business travelers to research, plan and book a broad range of travel products. Orbitz Worldwide owns a portfolio of consumer brands that includes Orbitz, CheapTickets, ebookers, HotelClub, RatesToGo and the Away Network. Also within the Orbitz Worldwide family, Orbitz Worldwide Distribution delivers private label travel solutions to a broad range of partners including many of the world's largest airlines, and Orbitz for Business delivers managed corporate travel solutions for corporations. Orbitz Worldwide uses its Investor Relations website to make information available to its investors and the public at http://investors.orbitz.com. You can sign up to receive email alerts whenever the company posts new information to the website.

SOURCE Orbitz.com