Tripadvisor launches free ipad app for further empower travellers on the go

New App Features Innovative Map-Based Browsing Experience

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, has announced the launch of its new application for the iPad, available today in Apple’s App Store. The free application allows travellers on the go to search for popular hotels, restaurants and attractions, as well as find the cheapest flights, from their iPad. The application is available in 18 languages and 26 countries around the world, giving travellers a truly localised experience on TripAdvisor.

The new TripAdvisor iPad app features a cool and innovative map-based browsing experience that allows travellers to see traveller reviews for hotels, restaurants and attractions and quickly get the lay of the land in their travel destinations. If travellers want to scope out points of interest at their destination of interest, they can simply move the map with the slide of a finger. The app also supports one-click map-based searches, making it easy to find hot spots in different parts of town.

In addition to its map-based functionality, the TripAdvisor iPad app includes a number of other helpful features for travellers on the go, including:

·         TripAdvisor’s more than 40 million reviews and opinions for hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Travellers can even add their own reviews while their experiences are fresh

·         Ability to find cheap flights using the award-winning TripAdvisor Flights search engine and compare airline fees using its Fees Estimator

·         “Near Me Now” functionality, so travellers can determine what hotels, restaurants and attractions are nearby

·         Access to the TripAdvisor forums, where users can ask questions of their fellow travellers and receive helpful feedback

·         Full-screen traveller photos of hotels, restaurants, attractions and destinations

“With millions of travellers using TripAdvisor Mobile on a monthly basis, it’s clear that they are finding trusted travel advice that’s indispensible while they’re on the go,” said Mike Putnam, director of mobile product at TripAdvisor. “Our new iPad app offers travellers another engaging and fun way to make the most of their trips, whether they want to find the best nearby restaurants and attractions or check out the latest flight prices.”

Budget-friendly Bulgaria reigns supreme as savvy skiers look to save

New research from TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site*, reveals that British travellers are taking a more economical approach to their skiing holidays this winter. Rather than sacrifice a snow holiday altogether savvy Brits are opting for the less traditional, yet more affordable Bulgaria with searches to some Bulgarian resorts up as much as 80% from last year.

Searches on TripAdvisor.co.uk to the budget-friendly Bulgarian ski resorts of Pamporovo, Borovets and Bansko have increased* by 80%, 61% and 44% respectively from last year. While the recent TripAdvisor Travel Trends survey showed that the entire travel industry will be more buoyant generally over the next 12 months, the more affordable Bulgarian destinations are seeing significantly more interest than many traditionally popular snow resorts such as Zermatt, Courchevel and Chamonix which have seen year-on-year increases of just 8%, 30% and 39% respectively. Only the classic resorts of Meribel and Val D’Isere have seen interest at the same level as Bulgaria, with year-on-year increases of 61% and 43% respectively.

TripAdvisor spokesperson, Emma O’Boyle, comments: “Ski holidays are often seen as an expensive luxury but this need not be the case as Brits become more savvy and less snobby about their resort. Less well-known European ski resorts, such as those in Bulgaria, can deliver significant cost-savings on a number of levels, from better currency exchange rates to cheaper accommodation and lift passes.”

*Based on a year-on-year comparison of searches carried out between 1^st November and 30^th November 2009 and the same dates in 2010