TripAdvisor(R), the world's largest travel community, today announced the winners of its 2009 Travelers' Choice(R) awards.

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This year's awards are the biggest ever, as 443 hotels are being honored in the seventh year of the competition. Placing an even greater emphasis on value this year, the awards feature an expanded Best Bargains category, providing travelers with 190 budget recommendations to help plan their 2009 trips.

Hotels received awards in the following categories: Best Bargains, Best for Families, Best Hidden Gems, Best Inns & B&Bs, Best for Romance, Best Luxury, Best Service, Best All-Inclusive and Best Brands.

Unlike any other hotel awards programs in the world, TripAdvisor(R) Travelers' Choice(R) winners are based on the millions of real and unbiased reviews and opinions about hotels on tripadvisor.com(TM) and content from across the web.

"TripAdvisor travelers always appreciate great values, and 2009 is certainly no exception. The 2009 Travelers' Choice awards highlight more bargain properties than ever before with 190, nearly five times as many as last year," said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor. "Millions of real travelers worldwide have helped identify these outstanding hotels, recognized for their exceptional accommodations, service, and value."

Nearly one-third of all 443 winning hotels have an average nightly rate of less than $150. Best Bargains average $116 per night and nearly half cost less than $100 per night. The average nightly rate for top Inns and B&Bs is $158 per night, Hidden Gems average $189 per night, Best for Families average $238 per night, and Best for Romance average $452.

  Select 2009 Winners:

  Best Bargain in the World - Hotel Vecchio Asilo, San Gimignano, Italy

  Best Bargain in the U.S. - SeaCoast Inn, Hyannis, Massachusetts

Best Luxury (4&5 star hotels) in the World - Aria Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic

  Best Luxury in the U.S. - Dunton Hot Springs, Dolores, Colorado

  Best for Families in the World - Hotel Princesa Playa, Ciudadela, Spain

Best for Families in the U.S. - Homewood Suites Carlsbad, Carlsbad, California

Best Hidden Gem in the World - Anastasis Apartments, Imerovigli, Greece

Best Hidden Gem and Best for Service in the U.S. - SeaCoast Inn, Hyannis, Massachusetts

Best for Service in the World - Anastasis Apartments, Imerovigli, Greece

Best Inn & B&B in the U.S. - Canyon Villa Bed and Breakfast Inn of Sedona, Sedona, Arizona

Best for Romance in the World - Etu Moana, Aitutaki, Cook Islands

Best for Romance in the U.S. - Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, Kamuela, Hawaii

  Best All-Inclusive in the World - The Caves, Negril, Jamaica

  Best Brand in the World - Ritz-Carlton

For the complete 2009 Travelers' Choice list, go to http://www.tripadvisor.com/travelerschoice.

About TripAdvisor Media Network

TripAdvisor(R) Media Network, operated by TripAdvisor, LLC, attracts more than 32 million monthly visitors* across 13 popular travel brands: TripAdvisor(R), www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.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 25 million monthly visitors*, 10 million registered members and 20 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover 300,000+ hotels and attractions and operate in the U.S. (http://www.tripadvisor.com/), the U.K. (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/) and Japan (http://www.tripadvisor.jp/). TripAdvisor(R) 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. .

TripAdvisor is a registered trademark 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.

(C)2009 TripAdvisor LLC. All rights reserved.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix, July 2008

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SOURCE: TripAdvisor