NEWTON, Mass., Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor®, the world's largest travel site*, today announced America's top vacation rental hot spots for 2011, based on TripAdvisor search data and site editors. These outstanding destinations offer a wealth of fun family activities and natural beauty, as well as plentiful vacation rental options for travelers looking to save money on their trips.

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"Vacation rentals can offer families and groups of travelers significant savings over other accommodation options," said Hank Hudepohl, director of vacation rentals at TripAdvisor. "Our list shows off some of the best vacation rental destinations in the U.S. where travelers can save big, ranging from prime summer beach spots to areas with first-rate ski resorts."

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

1. Kissimmee, Florida - 959 vacation rentals on TripAdvisor

With balmy weather and family-friendly activities spanning everything from hot air balloon rides to bass fishing, Kissimmee is at the heart of Florida's famous amusement park country and neighbors Orlando, another great vacation rental destination for families.

Potential Vacation Rental Savings: $750 for a weeklong trip (1).

2. Big Bear Lake, California - 547 vacation rentals on TripAdvisor

Offering year-round activities including skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking and fishing in the summer, this beautiful destination to the northeast of Los Angeles is perfect for travelers looking to explore the great outdoors.

Potential Vacation Rental Savings: $640 for a weeklong trip.

3. Gatlinburg, Tennessee - 444 vacation rentals on TripAdvisor

Situated in the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg is a scenic spot for outdoor adventures, from hiking and horseback riding to fishing and whitewater rafting.

Potential Vacation Rental Savings: $810 for a weeklong trip.

4. Kihei, Hawaii - 653 vacation rentals on TripAdvisor

Located on the island of Maui, Kihei features six miles of sunny beaches that, beyond sunbathing, offer travelers a number of aquatic activities including swimming, snorkeling, surfing and kayaking.

Potential Vacation Rental Savings: $2,860 for a weeklong trip.

5. Destin, Florida - 734 vacation rentals on TripAdvisor

A perfect place for a relaxing vacation on the beach, this destination on the Florida panhandle boasts warm weather fun for the whole family, from top-rated golf courses to a free exhibit featuring 100 live alligators.

Potential Vacation Rental Savings: $1,890 for a weeklong trip.

6. Palm Springs, California - 492 vacation rentals on TripAdvisor

Resting at the base of the Mount San Jacinto Mountains, Palm Springs is a gorgeous resort town where travelers can get their fill of adventure or relaxation, with attractions ranging from an aerial tramway and hiking trails to downtown shopping and spas.

Potential Vacation Rental Savings: $1,470 for a weeklong trip.

7. Outer Banks, North Carolina - 1,302 vacation rentals on TripAdvisor

A narrow strip of land just off the Atlantic Coast, the Outer Banks boasts miles of picturesque beaches and a wide array of wildlife, including herds of wild horses that roam the beaches in the northern portion of the islands.

Potential Vacation Rental Savings: $1,580 for a weeklong trip.

8. Lahaina, Hawaii - 229 vacation rentals on TripAdvisor

At one time the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Lahaina is still a royal place to get away from it all and enjoy spectacular beaches, as well as a wealth of activities from whale watching tours to hiking through the nearby West Maui Forest Reserve.

Potential Vacation Rental Savings: $1,540 for a weeklong trip.

9. Hilton Head, South Carolina - 2,040 vacation rentals on TripAdvisor

A fabulous beach destination for the entire family, Hilton Head offers a relaxing place to escape with miles of pristine sand, 24 top-notch golf courses, upscale shopping and outdoor activities galore.

Potential Vacation Rental Savings: $2,000 for a weeklong trip.

10. Cape Cod, Massachusetts - 1,400 vacation rentals on TripAdvisor

Bursting with old-fashioned New England charm, Cape Cod is a fantastic summer destination for the family with outstanding beaches, historic lighthouses, miles of bike trails and plenty of options for shopping and dining.

Potential Vacation Rental Savings: $1,200 for a weeklong trip.

More information about TripAdvisor's more than 100,000 vacation rentals listings from around the world, as well as its innovative Vacation Rentals Calculator, can be found at: http://www.tripadvisor.com/vacationrentals.

(1) Average potential savings versus a hotel based on a group of four travelers using the TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals Calculator.

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