TripAdvisor Announces Top Vacation Rental Hot Spots for 2010

NEWTON, Mass., April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor®, the world's most popular and largest travel community, today announced the top vacation rental hot spots for 2010, based on TripAdvisor shopping data and site editors. These outstanding vacation rental destinations offer easy access to wonderful attractions, and provide plentiful vacation rental options for travelers looking to save money and get more space during their stay. According to TripAdvisor's recent vacation rentals survey, 28 percent of travelers are planning a visit to a rental property in 2010, and 40 percent are considering a stay.

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"Vacation rentals are emerging as a popular accommodation choice for travelers in 2010, because of both their wealth of amenities and the great value they offer compared with other lodging options," said Hank Hudepohl, director of vacation rentals at TripAdvisor. "Travelers can find rental homes in every major vacation destination on TripAdvisor and even calculate the savings compared to the cost of a hotel with innovative tools like our Vacation Rentals Calculator."

TripAdvisor's listings of more than 100,000 vacation rentals from around the world can be found at: http://www.tripadvisor.com/vacationrentals.

Top 10 Vacation Rental Hot Spots in the U.S.

1. Kissimmee, Florida

www.tripadvisor.com/kissimmee-vacation-rentals

In the heart of Florida's famous amusement park country just south of Orlando, Kissimmee is a great vacation spot for families.

A group of four could save up to $780 by staying at a vacation rental in Kissimmee versus a hotel for a weeklong trip, according to TripAdvisor's Vacation Rentals Calculator. There are 1,099 rental properties listed on TripAdvisor in Kissimmee.

2. Maui, Hawaii

www.tripadvisor.com/maui-vacation-rentals

With a 10,000-foot volcano, lush waterfalls, pristine beaches and plenty of waves for surfing and windsurfing, Maui is a great getaway for some fun in the sun.

A group of four could save up to $2,030 by staying at a vacation rental in Maui versus a hotel for a weeklong trip, according to TripAdvisor's Vacation Rentals Calculator. There are 623 rental properties listed on TripAdvisor in Maui.

3. Panama City Beach, Florida

www.tripadvisor.com/panama-city-beach-vacation-rentals

Located on the Florida panhandle, Panama City Beach is well known for its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters and is a top spot for fishers, with coastal waters filled with blue marlins, red snappers, and trout.

A group of four could save up to $1,690 by staying at a vacation rental in Panama City Beach versus a hotel for a weeklong trip, according to TripAdvisor's Vacation Rentals Calculator. There are 641 rental properties listed on TripAdvisor in Panama City Beach.

4. Honolulu, Hawaii

www.tripadvisor.com/honolulu-vacation-rentals

Honolulu features world-class shopping, historic landmarks and a thriving arts scene. It is also a great base camp for visiting some of Hawaii's best beaches, including famous Waikiki.

A group of four could save up to $1,370 by staying at a vacation rental in Honolulu versus a hotel for a weeklong trip, according to TripAdvisor's Vacation Rentals Calculator. There are 284 rental properties listed on TripAdvisor in Honolulu.

5. South Padre Island, Texas

www.tripadvisor.com/south-padre-island-vacation-rentals

The Lone Star State's most popular beach escape, South Padre Island has a lot to offer travelers looking for outdoor adventure, whether it be parasailing, hiking, bird watching or scuba diving.

A group of four could save up to $1,770 by staying at a vacation rental on South Padre Island versus a hotel for a weeklong trip, according to TripAdvisor's Vacation Rentals Calculator. There are 329 rental properties listed on TripAdvisor on South Padre Island.

6. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

www.tripadvisor.com/myrtle-beach-vacation-rentals

A golfer's paradise, Myrtle Beach is also a terrific vacation destination for families and other travelers looking for a mix of sandy beaches, live entertainment and great amusement parks.

A group of four could save up to $1,700 by staying at a vacation rental in Myrtle Beach versus a hotel for a weeklong trip, according to TripAdvisor's Vacation Rentals Calculator. There are 369 rental properties listed on TripAdvisor in Myrtle Beach.

7. Palm Springs, California

www.tripadvisor.com/palm-springs-vacation-rentals

Featuring opportunities for adventure or relaxation, Palm Springs has a myriad of shops, restaurants and spas, but also access to many outdoor activities, including canyon hiking, an aerial tramway and golf courses a-plenty.

A group of four could save up to $1,320 by staying at a vacation rental in Palm Springs versus a hotel for a weeklong trip, according to TripAdvisor's Vacation Rentals Calculator. There are 437 rental properties listed on TripAdvisor in Palm Springs.

8. Tybee Island, Georgia

www.tripadvisor.com/tybee-island-vacation-rentals

Located a short drive east of Savannah, Tybee Island is a fantastic vacation destination for beach bums and history buffs alike. Its great waves and miles of beaches draw travelers from around the country, but vacationers can also enjoy the island's historic forts and lighthouses.

A group of four could save up to $1,750 by staying at a vacation rental on Tybee Island versus a hotel for a weeklong trip, according to TripAdvisor's Vacation Rentals Calculator. There are 229 rental properties listed on TripAdvisor on Tybee Island.

9. Gulf Shores, Alabama

www.tripadvisor.com/gulf-shores-vacation-rentals

Offering the warm waters of the gulf coast, Gulf Shores is a fantastic spot to hit the beach, and also boasts a number of popular museums, amusement parks, golf courses and even dolphin watching cruises.

A group of four could save up to $1,500 by staying at a vacation rental in Gulf Shores versus a hotel for a weeklong trip, according to TripAdvisor's Vacation Rentals Calculator. There are 1,489 rental properties listed on TripAdvisor in Gulf Shores.

10. Ocean City, Maryland

www.tripadvisor.com/ocean-city-vacation-rentals

Whether travelers want to try Maryland's legendary crab cakes on the board walk, enjoy the beach and a bonfire sing along, or visit nearby nature trails, Ocean City has them covered.

A group of four could save up to $2,110 by staying at a vacation rental in Ocean City versus a hotel for a weeklong trip, according to TripAdvisor's Vacation Rentals Calculator. There are 356 rental properties listed on TripAdvisor in Ocean City.

Top 10 International Vacation Rental Hot Spots

1. Paris, France

2. Rome, Italy

3. London, England

4. Barcelona, Spain

5. Tuscany, Italy

6. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

7. Bali, Indonesia

8. Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

9. Nice, France

10. Madrid, Spain

About TripAdvisor Media Network

TripAdvisor® Media Network, operated by TripAdvisor LLC, attracts 46 million monthly visitors* across 15 popular travel brands: TripAdvisor®, www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.frequentflier.com, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.onetime.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.travel-library.com, www.travelpod.com and www.virtualtourist.com. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 34 million monthly visitors*, 15 million registered members and 30 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover more than one million destinations, hotels, restaurants and attractions and operate in the U.S. (http://www.tripadvisor.com), the U.K. (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk), Ireland (http://www.tripadvisor.ie), France (http://www.tripadvisor.fr), Germany (http://www.tripadvisor.de), Italy (http://www.tripadvisor.it), Spain (http://www.tripadvisor.es), India (http://www.tripadvisor.in), Japan (http://www.tripadvisor.jp), Portugal and Brazil (http://www.tripadvisor.com.br), Sweden (http://www.tripadvisor.se), The Netherlands (http://nl.tripadvisor.com), Canada (http://www.tripadvisor.ca), Denmark (http://www.tripadvisor.dk), Turkey (http://www.tripadvisor.com.tr), and Mexico (http://www.tripadvisor.com.mx). TripAdvisor also operates in China under the brand daodao.com (http://www.daodao.com) and Kuxun.cn (http://www.kuxun.cn). TripAdvisor® Media Network provides travel suppliers with graphical advertising opportunities and a cost-per-click marketing platform. Collectively, the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network have won hundreds of awards and accolades from press and industry worldwide. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE).

TripAdvisor and the TripAdvisor logo are registered trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries.  Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix, Worldwide, March 2010

SOURCE TripAdvisor