TripAdvisor Names Top 10 Family-Friendly Bargain Hotels with an Average $123 Nightly...

TripAdvisor Names Top 10 Family-Friendly Bargain Hotels with an Average $123
Nightly Rate
Staying On Budget Top Challenge for Travelers with Kids According to Worldwide
Survey

NEEDHAM, Mass., March 27 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor(R), the world's
largest travel community, has announced its top 10 family friendly bargain
hotels, according to traveler ratings for family-friendliness, with an average
rate of $123 per night.
TripAdvisor also conducted a family travel survey of more than 2,400
respondents worldwide, and discovered that more than half of travelers
surveyed (51 percent) said money is the biggest barrier when it comes to
taking family vacations. The hardest part of taking a family vacation is
staying on budget, according to nearly one-third (30 percent) of respondents
who take trips with their children. Forty percent of travelers said they
sometimes include the grandparents on a family vacation and 10 percent of
those travelers said it's so they can pay part or all of the tab (beyond their
own expenses).
Sixty-three percent of respondents with children sometimes leave the kids
behind when it comes to leisure trips. Forty percent of travelers surveyed
said they are willing to leave their children at a kids' program while on
vacation.
Twenty-two percent of travelers plan to take more family vacations in the
next 12 months than in the last 12 months, while 63 percent plan to take the
same amount of vacations this year. Twenty-nine percent said they will spend
more on their family vacations this year than last.
Top 10 Bargain Hotels for Families in the U.S.
1. Water World: Dunes Village Resort, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina --
Average Nightly Rate: $139
Featuring its own fantastic indoor water park, in addition to beautiful
ocean views, the new Dunes Village Resort is a property that is as
appealing to children as it is parents. Visitors will marvel at the
resort's huge indoor river ride and water slide. According to a
TripAdvisor traveler, "Very clean rooms, water parks were amazing and
the view was to die for!"

2. Pop Top: Disney's Pop Century Resort, Orlando, Florida -- Average
Nightly Rate: $104
Pop Century is an entertaining resort that features themed areas
celebrating American pop culture from the past, and offers several
outstanding heated pools. Said one TripAdvisor traveler, "There are
many pools, ALL the employees and guests are very kind, it's very close
to all the parks, and the rooms were very clean and very new!"

3. Hooray for HoJo: Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel - Anaheim, Anaheim,
California -- Average Nightly Rate: $105
A short walk to all the attractions at Disneyland, the hotel has two
pools, a "spray ground" for the kids, and spacious rooms with free
internet access. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "The HoJo is
definitely value for money! The service desk was pleasant, the
concierge was very helpful and the rooms were quite big and
comfortable."

4. Happy Horizons: Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club at Orlando, Orlando,
Florida -- Average Nightly Rate: $151
With a pirate-themed pool and water slide pool, the kids will have
plenty to enjoy. A gamer's paradise, the resort also features
basketball hoops, pool tables, ping pong, and a mini golf course.
Stated one TripAdvisor traveler, "For families with kids under 10 or so
this is an awesome place. If they like pirate type stuff, this place is
unbeatable."

5. Lights, Camera, Fun: Disney's All-Star Movie Resort, Orlando, Florida
-- Average Nightly Rate: $103
Featuring themes of many popular Disney movies, the resort has several
delightful pools for the kids, as well as an arcade and some remarkable
family-friendly hotel amenities, such as babysitting and laundry
services. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "The atmosphere is very
festive and you definitely feel the Disney 'magic.'"

6. Viva Grande Vista: Marriott's Grande Vista, Orlando, Florida -- Average
Nightly Rate: $156
Offering large, comfortable rooms and beautiful views overlooking a
lake and wonderful pools, the Grande Vista is a great choice for
families interested in extra space. As one TripAdvisor traveler said,
"We had a 2-bedroom unit that was simply fabulous. The room was
spacious and was fully equipped with everything you would have in your
home."

7. No Place Like Homewood: Homewood Suites Anaheim -- Main Gate Area,
Anaheim, California -- Average Nightly Rate: $121
Only one mile from Disneyland, Homewood Suites offer spacious
accommodations, helpful staff and a nice daily buffet breakfast, in
addition to the pool and fitness center. According to a TripAdvisor
traveler, "The whole place is delightful, the suites are spacious and
immaculately clean, with all the facilities required for a comfortable
stay."

8. A Great Stay: Staybridge Suites Lake Buena Vista, Orlando, Florida --
Average Nightly Rate: $155
Large rooms, great facilities and location and outstanding outdoor and
indoor pools make the Staybridge Suites a great destination for
families. As one TripAdvisor traveler described, "This is a perfect
place for families who prefer to stay in a suite rather than the
standard hotel layout."

9. Maingate Mainstay: Comfort Suites Maingate East, Kissimmee, Florida --
Average Nightly Rate: $98
The Comfort Suites Maingate East makes families feel at home by
offering large suites, free internet, deluxe continental breakfasts and
a large outdoor pool, spa tub and a children's pool. As one
TripAdvisor traveler said, "This place is very nice for the price. The
rooms are huge, complete with free internet and refrigerator."

10. Music to Their Ears: Disney's All-Star Music Resort, Orlando, Florida
-- Average Nightly Rate: $102
With a musical theme throughout the grounds, including oversized
musical instruments and music piped throughout the property and pools,
this resort is a hit for children. As one TripAdvisor traveler
commented, "We can't say enough good things about this resort."

"These hotels are great for families and easy on the wallet," said Michele
Perry, for TripAdvisor. "Outstanding pools are what really set these
properties apart, and when planning trips with kids, it's always nice to be
able to save some money where you can."
About TripAdvisor Media Network
TripAdvisor(R) Media Network, operated by TripAdvisor, LLC, attracts
nearly 30 million monthly visitors (source: comScore Media Metrix, Digital
Calculator Report, July 2007) across eight popular travel brands,
TripAdvisor(R) sites, bookingbuddy.com (TM), cruisecritic.com(TM),
independenttraveler.com(TM), seatguru.com(R), smartertravel.com(TM), travel-
library.com(TM) and travelpod.com(TM). TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the
largest travel community in the world, with more than 25 million monthly
visitors, five million registered members and 10 million reviews and opinions.
Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover
280,000+ hotels and attractions and operate in the U.S.
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(http://www.tripadvisor.es). TripAdvisor(R) Media Network provides travel
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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, Seatguru, Travel-library and Travelpod are either registered
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Cruise Critic and The Independent Traveler are either trademarks or registered
trademarks of The Independent Traveler, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other
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the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE TripAdvisor

Consumer, Brooke Ferencsik, +1-781-444-1113, ext. 275, brooke@tripadvisor.com,
or Trade-Business, Brian Payea, +1-781-444-1113, ext. 388,
bpayea@tripadvisor.com, both of TripAdvisor