BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobile World Congress -- TripAdvisor®, the world's largest travel site*, now with more than 5 million unique users a month on mobile alone, today announced the launch of a new virtual tours feature for the TripAdvisor iPad app, built using augmented reality technology. The new functionality allows travelers to take a virtual walk through their travel destination with nearby places superimposed over Street View from Google, including TripAdvisor's more than 40 million traveler reviews and opinions, giving travelers an even more engaging and insightful way to discover great hotels, restaurants and attractions. The feature is available today in the TripAdvisor iPad app, available for free in the Apple App Store.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080902/TRIPADVISORLOGO )

"With virtual tours on the TripAdvisor iPad app, we've made the experience even more engaging and helpful for travelers," said Mike Putnam, Director of Mobile Product for TripAdvisor. "For travelers who have ever booked a hotel or restaurant and arrived only to be disappointed by the neighborhood, this feature brings a whole new way to gain insights into their destination. Now travelers can get the full picture in advance, along with the wisdom of TripAdvisor's more than 40 million reviews and opinions."

The new augmented reality feature enhances TripAdvisor's popular iPad app, which has already reached the top spot for free iPad travel apps in more than 50 countries. Travelers can access the new functionality by clicking on the Street View icon for hotels, restaurants or attractions. In addition, travelers have a wealth of other helpful travel planning features at their fingertips with the app, including:

    --  TripAdvisor's more than 40 million reviews and opinions for hotels,
        restaurants, and attractions. Travelers can even add their own reviews
        while their experiences are fresh.
    --  "Near Me Now" functionality, so travelers can determine what hotels,
        restaurants and attractions are nearby.
    --  Unique map-based browsing, giving travelers the lay of the land in their
        travel destination.
    --  The ability to find cheap flights using the award-winning TripAdvisor
        Flights search engine, and compare airline fees using its Fees
        Estimator.
    --  Access to the TripAdvisor forums, where users can ask questions of their
        fellow travelers and receive helpful feedback.
    --  Traveler photos of hotels, restaurants, attractions and destinations.

Price and Availability

The TripAdvisor iPad app is available for free in the Apple App Store in 18 languages and 26 countries. For more information about TripAdvisor's mobile offerings, including its apps for the iPhone, Android, Nokia and Palm smartphones, please visit http://www.tripadvisor.com/mobile.

About TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features (including Flights search, TripAdvisor Mobile and TripAdvisor Trip Friends) with seamless links to booking tools.

TripAdvisor® Media Group, operated by TripAdvisor LLC, attracts more than 50 million unique monthly visitors* across 18 popular travel brands**. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 40 million unique monthly visitors***, 20 million members, and over 40 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 27 countries worldwide****, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also operates TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to TripAdvisor's millions of monthly visitors. The division includes Business Listings, which allows hoteliers to connect directly to millions of researching travelers, and Vacation Rentals, which helps property managers and individual home owners list their properties and showcase hotel alternatives.

TripAdvisor Media Group websites have been recognized as top travel resources in 2010 by Conde Nast Traveller, Good Housekeeping, TIME magazine and Travel + Leisure.

TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Group are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE).

TripAdvisor and the TripAdvisor logo are trademarks or 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.

©2011 TripAdvisor LLC. All rights reserved.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Media Group Sites, Worldwide, August 2010

** In addition to TripAdvisor, The TripAdvisor Media Group of websites includes: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.everytrail.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.onetime.com, www.seatguru.com, www.sniqueaway.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.travel-library.com, www.travelpod.com, www.virtualtourist.com and www.kuxun.cn.

***Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, Worldwide, August 2010

**** TripAdvisor sites operate in 27 countries worldwide: www.tripadvisor.com, www.tripadvisor.co.uk, www.tripadvisor.ca, www.tripadvisor.it, www.tripadvisor.es, www.tripadvisor.de, www.tripadvisor.fr, www.tripadvisor.jp, www.daodao.com, www.tripadvisor.in, www.tripadvisor.se, nl.tripadvisor.com, www.tripadvisor.com.br, www.tripadvisor.com.tr, www.tripadvisor.dk, www.tripadvisor.com.mx, www.tripadvisor.ie, www.tripadvisor.com.au, www.tripadvisor.com.sg, www.tripadvisor.co.kr, no.tripadvisor.com, pl.tripadvisor.com, th.tripadvisor.com, www.tripadvisor.ru, www.tripadvisor.com.gr/, www.tripadvisor.co.id and www.tripadvisor.com.ar.

SOURCE TripAdvisor

SOURCE: TripAdvisor