TripAdvisor Powers Travel Tools on Samsung Galaxy S 4

For Galaxy S 4 users, TripAdvisor will be right at your fingertips, right out of the box. The TripAdvisor app will be the only pre-installed travel app on the hot new Samsung Galaxy S 4, providing quick and easy access to TripAdvisor content. Plus, Samsung is using TripAdvisor content - millions of photos and over 100 million reviews and opinions - to power its own travel apps:

Travel Widget – the inspirational Travel Widget will showcase TripAdvisor images of popular travel destinations and attractions around the world. Touch the on-screen star icon to save places to your “Saves” list on TripAdvisor, or tap the image to see details in the TripAdvisor app, which include reviews, opinions, photos and contact information.

Lock Screen Slideshow – When the phone is in “locked” mode, you can opt to see beautiful travel photos of the world’s most visually striking destinations on the device’s high-definition display.

City Information in Samsung Story Album – Samsung Story Album helps build a digital photo book by seamlessly connecting travel content to your travel photos. TripAdvisor lets you add more city information into the Story Album.

And TripAdvisor has added exclusive features to its application, including Single Sign-On with a Samsung ID, the ability to load details of hotels and flights found on TripAdvisor into the phone’s native calendar app; and the ability to load contact information for a hotel or attraction to the Galaxy S4’s Contacts list.

The Samsung S 4 will start shipping in April, so if you’re lucky to get your hands on one, keep a look out for the integrated TripAdvisor content and app!

TripAdvisor celebrates St Patrick’s Day with Dublin’s top rated restaurants

This weekend, Sunday 17th March 2013 marks St Patrick’s Day – dedicated to the Patron Saint of Ireland. Along with the religious aspects of the Saint's day, the festival is traditionally marked with food, drink and general merriment.

St Paddy’s Day, as it is affectionately referred to, is celebrated all over the world but if you’re lucky enough to be in the capital city of the Emerald Isle on Sunday you’re sure to experience some of the best celebrations. And, if you’re in need of a good meal while you’re there, we at TripAdvisor have put together a list of the top restaurants in Dublin according to our community of reviewers*:

 

1.    Sabor Brazil – this Brazilian restaurant in Dublin City offers a culinary insight into the different regions of Brazil. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “Excellent food, delicious wines, and the most perfect service.”

 

 

2.    Arch Bistro – located in the Dublin suburb of Rathgar, this restaurant serves modern European cuisine with classical French influences. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “The food here is excellent. I've been to many of Dublin's top restaurants and very few come close to this.”

 

 

3.    Beaufield Mews – Beaufield House & Mews opened originally as an Antique shop in one room, opening only at night serving tea and homemade biscuits and scones made by the present owner who made them as a child for pocket money. After 57 years, the coachhouse building has been lovingly restored and now houses two restaurants. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “Every time I go to Beaufield Mews the service is excellent and the food is exquisite.

 

 

4.    Rasam Restaurant – located in Glasthule at the heart of a busy Dublin suburb, Rasam serves authentic Indian cuisine. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “This must be one of Ireland's best kept secrets. This is a restaurant that hits the mark on every level.”

 

 

5.    Dax Restaurant – this restaurant servings its customers with an array of continental and rustic food and wines. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “The ambience was superb, the food top drawer and the wine exquisite.

 

 

6.    Mayfield Deli Eatery – located in Terenure Dublin, this restaurant offers freshly prepared, home-made food. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “Great atmosphere, with an interesting menu.”

 

 

7.    Ruposhi Indian Restaurant – this restaurant serves traditional Indian food infused with fresh herbs and spices. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “A really well priced menu with excellent food, generous service and a nice laid back atmosphere.”

 

 

8.    Patrick Guilbaud – Ireland’s only two-star Michelin restaurant, situated in Dublin city centre, the cuisine is contemporary Irish with classical roots. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “This is the best restaurant I’ve eaten in. The service is outstanding and the food incredibly creative and perfectly presented.”

 

 

9.    Queen of Tarts – Queen of Tarts opened in 1998. Sisters Regina and Yvonne Fallon trained as pastry chefs in New York City, returning home to Ireland to establish and run their own café. Customers can relax on the outdoor terrace with a coffee or glass of wine and watch the world go by; or curl up inside with tea and a slice of warm plum tart. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “Loved this little place! We visited it for a cuppa and something yummy and it didn't disappoint.

 

 

10. Chapter One – located in the basement of the Dublin Writers Museum on Parnell Square in Dublin’s city centre, Chapter One is an award winning Michelin star restaurant. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “The staff were, polite, attentive and friendly, the service was excellent and the food was delicious and beautifully presented. Superb meal.”

 

For more information on Dublin, go to http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Tourism-g186605-Dublin_County_Dublin-Vacations.html

*List is according to TripAdvisor’s popularity index.  Please note the popularity index is dynamic and can change at any time.  List was accurate as of 25 February 2013.

TripAdvisor Celebrates 100 Million Reviews and Opinions

TripAdvisor Celebrates 100 Million Reviews and Opinions

Now this is a major milestone: 100 million traveller reviews and opinions.  And TripAdvisor is the first travel site to reach it, covering more than two and a half million accommodations, restaurants, and attractions in 116,000 destinations. The milestone number represents a 50% increase in traveller contributions over last year. It's because of this remarkable scale and freshness of content that so many travellers around the globe use TripAdvisor to plan and have the perfect trip.

TripAdvisor doesn’t use the term “around the globe” lightly. The site now has contributions from members living in every country of the world and features hotel reviews in every country but one – Vatican City (which has no hotels listed on the site). Plus, in today’s socially connected world, the wisdom of the crowds is augmented by the wisdom of friends, as Facebook-connected travellers submit 35 percent of the site’s new reviews. The integration with Facebook allows travellers to see and share perspectives with not only their friends, but their friends’ friends, too.

With more than 200 million unique visitors each month and 47 million members, the site's coverage and usefulness will only grow even more in the next year. As Steve Kaufer, TripAdvisor co-founder and CEO, stated, “Travellers the world over want to have the perfect trip, and nothing helps travel planning more than candid reviews from people who have been there before.”

Fun facts:

·         16 attractions feature more than 5,000 reviews – number one being Central Park in New York with 11,993 reviews.

·         26 hotels feature more than 5,000 reviews – number one being the Luxor in Las Vegas with 9,904 reviews.

·         The site has restaurant reviews in 99% of all countries and attraction reviews in 98% of all countries.

·         For a hotel in the top 50 searched destinations in the UK on TripAdvisor, the average number of reviews is 240 and the average number of candid photos is 53.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The UK’s top hotels for the best sleep for National Bed Month

The UK’s top hotels for the best sleep for National Bed Month

For a good night’s sleep, lay your head in Cheshire say TripAdvisor travellers

The month of March, officially declared ‘National Bed Month’ by the UK’s Sleep Council, is the perfect time of year to remember the importance of a good night’s sleep – whether at home or on holiday.  Ahead of National Bed Month, TripAdvisor reveals the UK’s top 10 hotels where you’re most likely to catch the best zzz’s - according to TripAdvisor travellers. These properties received the highest praise from travellers in the ‘sleep quality’ category on TripAdvisor in the last year*.

Kingsley Lodge in Wilmslow, Cheshire offers the best sleep quality of any UK hotel, boasting a TripAdvisor sleep quality rating of 4.95 out of five from travellers. However, the West Midlands is arguably the real star of sleep quality – the region boasts three properties in the top ten.

“A good or bad night’s sleep can really make a difference to your overall experience of a hotel. These properties have all been tried and tested by TripAdvisor travellers and pass the all-important sleep test with flying colours,” commented TripAdvisor spokesperson, Emma Shaw.

The UK’s top ten hotels for sleep-quality are:

1.    Kingsley Lodge, Wilmslow, Cheshire – Set in two acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, Kingsley Lodge was originally built in the 1950s and has since been completely renovated. The boutique hotel boasts handcrafted antique furniture, sumptuous upholstery and fabrics as well as many original works of art. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “Our rooms provided everything we could have wished for, they were delightfully furnished and the bed was so comfy we had a hard time getting up!”

2.    Clover Naturist Spa & Hotel, Birmingham – Centrally located in the city, beds at the Clover Naturist Spa & Hotel are all individually pocket sprung and boast Egyptian cotton linen. The duvets and pillows are Hungarian goose down, all adding to a comfortable night’s sleep. Each room has an en-suite wet room with heated floors. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “Absolutely perfect. Friendly and attentive staff, relaxed atmosphere, excellent spa treatments and the whole place is furnished to an extremely high standard.”

3.    Kilmichael Country House Hotel, Brodick, Isle of Arran – Set in beautiful gardens, Kilmichael House is listed as a building of historic and architectural significance. All the rooms are decorated to retain the look and feel of a country house. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “Accommodation is first class, food is superb and everyone is so friendly.”

4.    Fairhaven Country Guest House, Goathland, North Yorkshire – Located in the moorland village of Goathland, Fairhaven Country House Hotel is set in the natural beauty of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. The property boasts newly refurbished bedrooms and uninterrupted views from all guest rooms. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “A fantastic location, the warmest of welcomes, the best of home cooked food, a super comfortable bed and hosts who are like your best friends within minutes.”

5.    Chudleigh, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex – This hotel is situated near the central seafront of Clacton-on-Sea and only a short distance from the Pier and shopping centre. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “If you are after a warm, friendly welcome, a good night’s sleep and an amazing cooked to order breakfast then this is the place you are looking for!”

6.    La Moinerie Hotel, Sark, Channel Islands – On the site of a medieval monastery, La Moinerie has been restored from the ruins of an old farm. The 18th century hotel offers rooms and guest lodges with views over the stunning gardens. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “All the staff were friendly and so helpful. The hotel is in a beautiful location and is so well equipped and clean.”

7.    Hampton Manor, Hampton-on-Arden, Solihull – This 19th century manor house is set in 45-acres of mature woodland and all rooms are individually designed. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “The hotel was extremely welcoming, friendly and very well appointed inside. Top quality service, very comfortable and certainly a hotel to recommend.”

8.    The Elmdene, Torquay, Devon –  This hotel is situated 300m from Torquay beach and railway station and just a short walk from Torquay town centre, beaches, theatre and harbour. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “Excellent small hotel in a Victorian building in quiet residential area of Torquay. Super-clean and very comfortable large bedroom.”

9.    Moxhull Hall Hotel, Sutton Coldfield – Set in 8-acres of landscaped gardens, this Victorian mansion has 19 newly refurbished, individually designed bedrooms, most of which offer views of the surrounding countryside. As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “The staff are friendly and attentive. The rooms are clean, comfortable and luxurious, the building has character and the gardens are well kept.

10. Airds Hotel & Restaurant, Appin, Scotland – This country house hotel offers views of Loch Linnhe and the Morvern mountains behind. Rooms boast Vi Spring beds, luxury fabrics, elegant furnishings and crisp Frette linen.  As one TripAdvisor traveller commented, “Every time we stay it seems to get better. The service is simply superb and the attention to detail is impressive.”

Organised by The Sleep Council, the month aims to reinforce the importance of sound sleep for good health. For more information on these hotels, visit www.Tripadvisor.co.uk

*The list indicates the ten hotels in the UK which have received the highest score in the ‘sleep quality’ category on the TripAdvisor hotel review form from 1 January-31 December 2012

 

TripAdvisor beach award win prompts staggering 5,690% rise in interest for Rhossili Bay

Swansea beach firmly on global map following Travellers’ Choice Beaches success

After being crowned the UK’s number one beach, third best in Europe and tenth in the world in last month’s TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Beaches Awards, Rhossili Bay now has even more to celebrate. TripAdvisor can today reveal that in the days following the awards, interest in the Swansea beach from travellers looking on TripAdvisor increased by a staggering 5,690%*.

The beach, located on the Gower Peninsula, beat almost every other beach in Spain, Greece and Italy. Rhossili Bay even placed in the world’s top 10 above those in Hawaii, the Caribbean and Australia. The win has even sparked debate down under with Australian media incensed that a Welsh beach was rated above an Australian beach.

The increase in interest came in the five days immediately following the announcement of the award wins when the beach’s listing on TripAdvisor saw 58 times more views than in the previous week. The awards are based entirely on feedback from millions of TripAdvisor travellers who have actually visited the beach.

Rhossili Bay is the largest expanse of white sand on the Gower Peninsula and stretches for three miles. The beach’s vast stretch of sand and towering cliffs make it popular with surfers, paragliders and ramblers. The village of Rhossili is steeped in history and the wreck of the Helvetia, which ran aground on Rhossili Bay in November 1887 can still be seen on the beach today.

“With Swansea still basking in the glory of Rhossili Bay’s TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice accolades, this is sure to be even more encouraging news for Swansea’s tourism. Judging from the increased interest in the Bay, the village of Rhossili should be prepared for what could be a bumper summer,” commented TripAdvisor spokesperson, Emma Shaw.

Rhossili Bay is ranked number 1 of 58 attractions in Swansea**. The Travellers’ Choice Beaches awards honor top beach spots around the world, based entirely on the reviews and opinions from millions of TripAdvisor travellers.

-ENDS-

*Data based on session counts to the Rhossili Bay, Swansea listing page on Tripadvisor.co.uk 21^st February 2013 – 25^th February 2013 compared with 14^th February 2013 – 18^th February 2013. The Travellers’ Choice Beach Awards were announced on 20^th February 2013.

**Based on the TripAdvisor Popularity Index

 

 

TRIPADVISOR REVEALS THE UK’S TOP FAMILY HOTELS FOR 2013

TRIPADVISOR REVEALS THE UK’S TOP FAMILY HOTELS FOR 2013

Scottish hotel named best in UK while Cornwall continues to be a family favourite

Continuing awards season at TripAdvisor, this week we announce the winners of the 2013 Travellers’ Choice® Awards for Hotels for Families, honouring the best family-friendly hotels in the UK and around the globe and based on millions of valuable reviews and opinions from travellers around the world.

“With the schools set to break up for Easter in a matter of weeks, these awards recognise the hotels that family travellers love the most.  It’s great to see a British hotel recognised among Europe’s top 10 and the world’s top 25,” commented Emma Shaw, TripAdvisor spokesperson.

Escape to Scotland with the kids

Scotland celebrates great success this year, laying claim to the UK’s number one hotel for families. The Auchrannie Spa Resort on the Isle of Arran was crowned the UK’s top family-friendly hotel, 10^th in Europe and 25^th in the whole world alongside the likes of Orlando’s Disney hotels. And not stopping there, it is also the only British property to feature in the European and world list.

 

Located in Brodick on the Isle of Arran, off the west coast of Scotland, the Auchrannie Spa Resort makes sure kids are kept happy, and subsequently their parents too with two 20m swimming pools, a sports hall, three-tier indoor soft play area and games and internet rooms.

Linda Johnston, Executive Director of the Auchrannie Spa Resort said, “We are delighted to have been voted the number one family hotel in the UK by the families on TripAdvisor. This is testimony to the efforts of our fantastic team who work hard to ensure families that visit us have an enjoyable and memorable stay.”

 

 

Cornwall a firm family favourite

This year Cornwall boasts two hotels in the UK’s top 10. Newquay’s Sands Resort Hotel & Spa takes second place while the Bedruthan Hotel & Spa in Mawgan Porth comes ninth.

With both children and parents in mind, the Sands Resort Hotel & Spa is the ideal family getaway. For kids there is a whole host of free activities including a climbing wall, zip wire and bouncy castle as well as an OFSTED approved kids club and entertainment programme. And the Ocean Breeze spa is the perfect place for parents to chill while the children are off enjoying themselves.  

Pack up the buckets and spades for Blackpool

Head off to the bright lights of Blackpool for a family-friendly break. The Lancashire seaside town has double cause for celebration with two hotels named among the UK’s top 10 hotels for families. The Premier Inn Blackpool Central and Doric Hotel take sixth and seventh place respectively.

Located close to the famous Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Blackpool's Golden Mile, the Premier Inn Blackpool Central offers spacious family rooms at no extra cost and children under 16 can stay and eat breakfast for free.

Family fun in Italy

For those looks to venture further afield, the Cavallino Bianco Family Spa Grand Hotel in Ortisei, Val Gardena, Italy has been crowned the world’s number one family hotel. The ultimate kids fantasy, the hotel prides itself on its abundance of things to keep the little ones entertained including a mini-sports arena, pirates’ lair, giant Lego-building, small petting zoo, children’s car racing area and garden restaurant with free access all day to the soft drinks fountain and ice-cream.

Click here for the full list of winners: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/TravelersChoice-Family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rising cost of APD hits British Travellers

TripAdvisor flights survey reveals reaction to impending lift on liquid ban and British travellers’ favourite airline 

The results of the 2013 TripAdvisor Flights Survey are in and we at TripAdvisor can reveal British travellers’ attitudes to the continuing rise of Air Passenger Duty (APD), and the impending lift on liquid restrictions in hand-luggage across EU airports. Plus, British Airways is crowned the UK’s favourite airline for the third consecutive year according to TripAdvisor travellers.

APD hits British holiday-makers

As industry campaigners continue to battle against APD, the TripAdvisor survey of over 1,100 respondents reveals that the majority of British travellers are also against it, with 77% citing that APD should be scrapped. With APD set to increase further this coming April, it seems the increasing tax could take its toll on British holiday-makers plans, particularly during these tough economic times – over a quarter of Brits (27%) say that the cost of APD will impact on their travel plans this year. 

Brits unfazed by Liquid ban lift

Also in April, the 100ml limit for any liquids in carry-on luggage is due to be lifted when all EU airports will have equipment capable of screening liquids. Despite the restriction having been in place for traveller safety since 2006, only 17% of Brits claim they will feel less safe without it.

“Flights make up a significant part of the cost of a trip and the results of this research reveal that the ever increasing cost of APD is becoming a real concern for British travellers,” commented TripAdvisor spokesperson, Emma Shaw. “And, while the liquid ban was originally implemented for traveller safety, it seems that the majority of Brits won’t feel any less safe when the restriction is lifted later this year.” 

 

BA still backed by Brits

For the third year in a row, British Airways has been named the UK’s favourite airline. Virgin Atlantic has slipped to third place with easyJet this year beating Branson’s airline to second position. In order, British travellers’ five favourite airlines are:

1.   British Airways

2.   easyJet

3.   Virgin Atlantic

4.   Monarch

5.   Thomson Airways

*Survey carried out on 1,113 British respondents between 8th February – 15th February.