TripAdvisor , the world's most popular and largest travel community, today announced the top ways it helps travelers get the most bang for their buck. TripAdvisor travelers can now find "Top Value" hotels (highlighted for their combination of great ratings and price), calculate the cost benefit of a vacation rental vs. a hotel, and get a list of Great Summer Escapes all with airfares under $199.

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Top Values - The Most for Your Moolah

Top Value hotels, properties that offer a high quality stay at a great price, are available in cities all over the world. TripAdvisor travelers looking for an amazing stay on their trip to high-priced New York City, for example, could uncover that the Top Value four-star Hotel Giraffe offers a highly-rated stay at an average of $331 per night, which might be a perfect alternative to the Sofitel New York, a four-star property that runs an average of $429 per night. Those extra hundred dollars are nothing to scoff at -- they could buy a family of four tickets to the Bronx Zoo, along with a picnic lunch, ice cream, and a few NYC souvenirs.

Vacation Rentals Calculator - The Most for the Least

Sometimes, the savings can be a surprise: a vacation rental might cost hundreds less than a hotel based on the destination, number of guests, and how often your party plans to eat out. The Vacation Rentals Calculator reveals which choice -- a hotel or a vacation rental -- will save you money based on these criteria. A family of four looking to spend three days in sunny Orlando, Florida, for example, could save around $210 by staying in a vacation rental instead of a hotel and eating a few meals in. With the added comforts of home and a more private feel than a hotel, travelers may find that, in some cases, a vacation rental offers a better value for their money.

Great Summer Escapes - Unexpected Destinations for Less than $199

As we move into the dog days of summer, travelers are looking for ways to cool off before life resumes its fast pace in the fall. TripAdvisor's "Great Escapes" provide inspiring, wallet-friendly getaway options, revealing trips by air or by car that cost less than $199. From Boston, take a drive to Gloucester (46 minutes) or Provincetown (2 hours, 14 minutes) for the day, or take a cheap flight to New York City (recently as low as $79 round trip) or Washington, DC (recently as low as $99 round trip).

TripAdvisor Flight Search - Lowest Fares, and Most Choices, Anywhere

Know exactly where you want to fly? If you're just looking for a great deal, TripAdvisor can get you where you need to go with its unique flight search. The first-of-its-kind Fees Estimator gives travelers an honest price for a flight by accounting for baggage fees, plus the cost of on-board amenities and other extras that can really add up. Filters make it easy to pinpoint the exact flight you want and to see how a variety of options affect overall price, even helping you choose where (or where not) to layover, and for how long. Moreover, TripAdvisor provides more options than any other flight search engine for the world's top airlines.*

Filters - Great Minds Travel Alike

With so many types of travelers out there, one way to ensure that you are spending your money wisely on travel is to read reviews from others like you. Filter hotel reviews on TripAdvisor to see only those written by people traveling on business, as part of a couple, with a family, as part of a friends getaway, or solo. Click to see if couples tend to rate a certain hotel differently than families. Also sort hotels by star class, price, amenities, neighborhood, hotel brand, and popularity. Plus, for a great meal at a great price, travelers can sort restaurants by price, cuisine, and specific elements like outdoor seating.

"Best for Less" Guides - Plan the Perfect Trip on Any Budget

Providing valuable insight on how to get the most for your money, each of these value guides features eight to 10 destinations, highlighting five hotels, five restaurants, and three free attractions as part of a value-conscious trip. Also included are "Dos and Don'ts" for each destination, tips that help travelers get the best from their vacation. Travelers can choose a guide from one of five categories -- Bargains, Eco-Adventures, Family, Romance, and Beaches -- that all take a close look at the best value available for the trip you want.

"TripAdvisor keeps adding new and innovative ways for travelers to save money and still have a great vacation," said Michele Perry, vice president of communications for TripAdvisor. "As travelers look to stretch their travel budgets this year, TripAdvisor is there to ensure they find the best value possible."

*Comparison against the majority of flight results from major US Online Travel Agencies and major air meta search companies for roundtrip economy US domestic roundtrip results.

About TripAdvisor Media Network

TripAdvisor Media Network, operated by TripAdvisor, LLC, attracts more than 33 million monthly visitors* across 14 popular travel brands: TripAdvisor , www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.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 25 million monthly visitors*, 10 million registered members and 25 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/), and The Netherlands (http://nl.tripadvisor.com/). TripAdvisor also operates in China under the brand daodao.com (http://www.daodao.com/). 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. .

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.

2009 TripAdvisor LLC. All rights reserved.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix, March 2009

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SOURCE: TripAdvisor, Inc.