Family vacation travel can be a challenge to plan—especially if you’ve done Orlando and you’re tired of the local beach. Maybe you’re just looking for some exciting family vacation ideas for the upcoming family vacation and you want to travel far and away. We here at Tripbase decided to put together a list of the best family vacation travel destinations.

Our data covers a wide range of parameters in thousands of locations, and we considered everything from places with the most all inclusive kid friendly resorts to the number of attractions and parks as well as things like the popularity ratings with families, the range of kid friendly restaurants, hotels, entertainment and activities in order to come up with the best family vacation travel spots.

There are plenty of great family vacation ideas in destinations that are kid friendly, affordable and stunning all at once—especially if you take advantage of the package deals and all inclusive beach vacations in places like Cancun and the Caribbean Islands of Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. If you prefer a family vacation in kid friendly destinations that offer an urban landscape as well as plenty of family vacation activities, like zoos, parks, museums, natural wonders and historical sites, Sydney, Singapore, Vancouver and Victoria are great family vacation ideas.

For the history and art buffs, London and Barcelona are full of great family vacation ideas that are easy to navigate with public transportation and always have plenty of things to see and do. Finally, for those who want an easy-to-reach country with incredible wildlife, stunning natural parks and beautiful landscapes as well as plenty of water sports and attractions, like butterfly and orchid farms and canopy tours of evergreen rainforests by zip line, nothing beats Costa Rica for excellent family vacation ideas.

For more information about each location, including flight, hotel and car rentals as well as personalized travel recommendations tailored to you, family vacation ideas like where to stay and eat and what to see and do while you’re there, visit the Tripbase location page by clicking on the link.

1. Costa Rica Vacations
Costa Rica Vacations offer guided night safaris through rainforests, zip lines above a lush, green canopy, surfing lessons, and fun in the sand at one of the hundreds of beautiful beaches that line Costa Rica’s Caribbbean and Pacific coasts. If you’re into family vacations that have adventure tinged with the exotic, Costa Rica Vacations offer hikes at the base of active volcanoes, windsurfing on interior lakes, and visits to butterfly and orchid farms.

2. Cancun Vacations and Riviera Maya (Mexico)
Cancun Vacations offer kid friendly, all-inclusive packages, exciting activities and stunning nature are all wrapped up into one. The nearby Riviera Maya is a great place for family vacations away from the hustle and bustle. If you’re looking for a family vacation with great restaurants, clubs and shopping to go with your beach, Cancun Vacations have a hotel zone with plenty of choice. The Club Med Yucatan, nestled on its own little peninsula, has plenty of things for kids to do, including water sports and lessons, and is slightly quieter than the rest of the area. At Riviera Maya, you can enjoy 100 kilometers of white, sandy beaches alongside stunning Mayan ruins. Cancun vacations also offer fantastic snorkeling above the world’s second-largest barrier reef, the Xcaret eco-theme park, and swimming in “Cenotes”—to name just a few of the adventurous, kid friendly activities.

3. Dominican Republic Vacations (Dominican Republic)
Dominican Republic vacations offer plenty of all-inclusive, kid friendly vacation packages—not to mention the many direct flight options, which makes getting here for family vacations even cheaper. Learn to windsurf, work on your tan and enjoy great seafood while you’re at it! If there are teenagers in your family, Dominican Republic vacations include suave teen lounges at the Club Med in Punta Cana. It’s a crowd pleaser.

4. Jamaica Vacations
Jamaica vacations are great family vacations because it’s easy to reach the island and affordable to stay thanks to plenty of all-inclusive kid friendly resorts and direct flights from all over the world. Jamaica vacations offer great water sports, beaches and natural landscapes too.

5. Singapore Vacations
Singapore vacations might be humid, but family vacations there are great because it’s a safe and clean, kid friendly destination that your children will love for its incredible ‘open’ zoo– where you can go on night safaris. Don’t miss the mystical temples, urban parks and water park attractions that Singapore vacations have to offer.

6. Sydney Vacations
Sydney vacations offer great wildlife, ultra-cool bridges, nice beaches and fast boats. Sydney is a great kid friendly destination for family vacations—especially if you like nature and want to use it as a stop-off point to some of the incredible offshore islands and the Great Barrier Reef on your next family vacation.

7. Paris Vacations
Paris vacations offer far more than just the Eiffel tower. Packed with urban thrills that kids will love—from charming urban parks to carousel rides and ‘bateaux mouches’ boats that travel up and down the Seine—Paris vacations are great for the entire family. The Louvre always has plenty of kid friendly exhibits that are engaging for family vacations and kids will enjoy experiencing metro rides and tasty new food.

8. London Vacations
London vacations are certain to thrill everyone on the next family vacation. No one of any age could ever be bored in London. Top-notch museums with kid friendly interactive exhibits and urban attractions like the London Eye and the London Bridge are just a few of the mystical treats in this European playground. On your London vacation, you can visit castles and fortresses as well as sprawling urban parks and historical landmarks. London is a great destination for fun, educational activities and family vacations. Plus, it’s overflowing with some of the best kid friendly entertainment in the world—from street puppet shows to box office hits.

9. Barcelona Vacations
Barcelona vacations may have a reputation for offering chic design, top-notch seafood and stunning architecture that appeals to big kids, but small ones will find plenty of things to do here too. Family vacations here are great because Barcelona is teeming with lovely, urban spaces like Parc Guell, a kid friendly waterfront and zoo. Top-notch art museums choc full of interactive and engaging exhibits make Barcelona vacations constantly stimulating for kids. And the tourist destinations that adults flock to, like the old Blue Tram that climbs up a hill to Tibidabo and the aerial cable car that takes you from the port to Montjuic, are just as exciting for family vacations with kids.

10. Vancouver and Victoria Vacations
Vancouver vacations are jam packed with kid friendly attractions, historic sights, natural wonders urban thrills and a wide range of hotels and restaurants to choose from. Visit the Kids Market on Granville Island, a mall with a Lilliputian entrance and many other charming features just for kids on a family vacation here. Just across the Strait of Georgia from the city of Vancouver on Vancouver Island is Victoria. Overflowing with beaches, biking, whale-watching, and hiking, Victoria vacations are great for family adventure vacations in nature.

For kid friendly travel in the U.S., see our previous blog on Family Vacation Destinations in the United States.

Tripbase is still under development, but we’re working on improving our algorithms and adding content every day, so if you have comments and criticisms for us, we’d love to hear from you.

When it comes to finding the best family vacation destinations, it can be tough to decide where to go for your next trip that will combine great, fun activities and attractions for the kids as well as the parents. Now you can explore ideas from Tripbase’s list of the best family vacation destinations and top family vacations in the United States. We looked at tens of parameters in thousands of locations across the United States to come up with a list of best family vacation destinations that include some all-time best family vacation spots as well as some less well-known, more off the beaten path places for the best family vacation destinations. We included cities from California to Florida, and a few in between. Our ratings are based on extensive Tripbase data that compiles information about each destination, including outdoor attractions, the number of family friendly entertainment options, all-inclusive package deals, family friendly hotels and budget friendly places (like restaurants, zoos and theme parks)—to name just a few. So whether you’re looking for a family adventure vacation with beaches and natural landscapes or you prefer theme parks and museums or a city packed with historical significance that will lend an education value to your next trip, check out our top suggestions for the best family vacation destinations.

For more information about each location, including flight, hotel and car rentals as well as personalized travel recommendations tailored to you, such as where to stay and where to eat and what to see and do while you’re there, visit the Tripbase location page by clicking on the link.

1. Myrtle Beach Vacations
Situated right on a 60-mile stretch of beautiful Atlantic Coast beaches called the ‘Grand Strand’ and 98 miles north of the historic city of Charleston, Myrtle Beach attracts over 13 million visitors a year and is one of the best family vacation spots in the United States. And for good reason. Myrtle Beach Vacations are a dream come true for families who want a wide choice of kid friendly restaurants and budget friendly activities– from water sports to beach walks and playgrounds to amusement parks, as well as all-inclusive hotel packages that often have special activities for kids. Myrtle Beach Vacations include water parks and dinner shows as well as plenty of concerts and special events here that cater to families. Myrtle Beach Vacations also offer plenty of great shopping.

2. Honolulu Vacations
Honolulu Vacations on Oahu are among the top family vacations because they combine stunning natural landscapes with loads of kid friendly activities. On Honolulu Vacations you can visit the popular Kapiolani Park, the Polynesian Cultural Center, an adventure water park, the Waikiki Aquarium, and the Honolulu Zoo. Honolulu Vacations on the island of Oahu have plenty of family oriented activities and pristine kid friendly beaches. If you’re into water sports or boat trips, you can swim with the dolphins, take a surfing lesson (kids too), visit Pearl Harbor, go to a luau and watch traditional Hawaiian dancers. The northern part of the island is less developed and a great place for those seeking more of an off the beaten path family vacation.

3. Orlando Vacations
Orlando Vacations in the theme park capital of the world offer dozens of choices for kid friendly hotels that have resorts with ‘beach pools’ and children’s activities. Orlando Vacations are one of the best family vacation spots in the United States thanks to the number of all-inclusive vacation packages offered there. On Orlando Vacations, you can find great deals to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, NickHotel (dedicated to all things Nickelodeon that features two water parks) and many others—even at Christmas time, when it makes a great, warm escape. If you want to do some exploring, there are more beach resorts nearby than you could count on two hands, including Amelia Island, Cocoa Beach, Clearwater Beach, Daytona and many, many more within two hours drive from Orlando.

4. New Orleans Vacations
New Orleans Vacations are starting to make a comeback after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, and New Orleans Vacations are top family vacations. With the Aquarium of the Americas, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, the jazz music festival and even Mardi Gras (there are great things for kids in the colorful festival), you’ll be surprised by how many things New Orleans Vacations have to offer families.

5. Washington, D.C. Vacations

Washington, D.C. Vacations offer top-notch museums, national landmarks, kid friendly hotels, activities and entertainment in mind-boggling numbers. On Washington, D.C. Vacations, you’ll find zoos with baby pandas, natural history museums with dinosaur bones, the Air and Space Museum with all things aviation and rocket-oriented, insect gardens and sprawling urban parks. Washington D.C. Vacations are top family vacations because they offer education and history in a format that’s fun for kids.

6. San Diego Vacations
Sand Diego Vacations are top family vacations because they include visits to one of the best zoos in the world and spectacular beaches. San Diego Vacations are great for families because they have a wide range of hotel and restaurant options. Just a half hour away is Legoland California, a theme park with live shows, rides and mini villages constructed from Lego blocks. On San Diego Vacations, it’s an easy drive to the Anaheim area where Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom and many California Adventure theme parks are located too. There’s also the popular Universal Studios theme park where kids can explore movie-based attractions.

7. Chicago Vacations
Chicago Vacations include visiting the lovely waterfront and plenty of free activities that kids will love–from urban parks to the Lincoln Park Zoo and a nice boardwalk to beaches. Chicago Vacations are easy to navigate too, which is another reason why Chicago is one of the best family vacation spots. There’s the ‘El’ carriage rides– a favorite mode of transport for kids– and between that, trolley cars and buses, you won’t have trouble getting to the museums, lakefront, shopping, restaurants and kid friendly hotels. For girls, Chicago Vacations should include a day at the American Girl Place– one of the top attractions in the country. Plus, there are a plethora of high-quality museums in the downtown area.

8. Gatlinburg Vacations

Gatlinburg Vacations in Tennessee pack a great punch when it comes to top family vacations thanks to a wide range of family friendly and budget friendly attractions. A wide range of accommodations exist here and you’ll find great parks, the Ripley’s Aquarium, white water rafting, the Space Needle, mini golf, and the Guinness Book of World Record’s Museum, which are great to visit on Gatlinburg Vacations with kids. Don’t miss the host of attractions owned by Ripley’s while you’re there, including the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum, Haunted Adventure and Moving Theater 4-D. Gatlinburg Vacations also include access to the Ober Gatlinburg, with its aerial tram and plenty of rides, an ice skating rink, and a plethora of nightly kid friendly entertainment like the Lou Vuto’s Salute to Elvis in the Reflections Theater.

9. Philadelphia Vacations
Philadelphia Vacations combine great attractions with historical landmarks. Plus, Philadelphia Vacations are among the best family vacation spots because vacations here can easily include a drive to Hershey, just 90 minutes away from Philadelphia. Known as ‘chocolate town USA’ because it’s the home of Hershey’s chocolate, you’ll find Hersheypark, the Hotel Hershey (an antique themed hotel with a club for kids), the Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park, the Chocolate World Visitor’s Center and the Hershey Lodge. On Philadelphia Vacations, there are loads of museums and landmarks that are a great way to introduce kids to American History without boring them to tears and plenty of family friendly entertainment options, great restaurants, shopping, and art galleries for a night out on the town.

10. Williamsburg Vacations
Colonial Williamsburg Vacations in Virginia are top family vacations because they have an educational twist. Take the whole family back in time to life in the 1770’s, right before the American Revolution, through historic villages that replicate colonial life, actors and volunteers dressed in period costume from 230 years ago on Colonial Williamsburg Vacations. There are plenty of things to see and do on Colonial Williamsburg Vacations. And from there, it’s a short trip to Yorktown and the nearby Busch Gardens Europe theme park (in the summertime) and Water Country USA –both great places to go for a dip with the kids.

Food vacations are rising in popularity these days. After all, food and travel go hand in hand, so why shouldn’t you explore the idea of food vacations? We all know that world-renowned destinations like Paris, Barcelona, Rome and London have great dining, but where can you find fantastic food for less at best value restaurants? This is Tripbase’s list of the places to go for the best international food vacations. These are the international cities where you’ll get the best value restaurants, and where you’ll find everything from spicy Indian dishes to mild seafood meals. The best part is that you won’t break the bank to eat delicious, interesting food. For more in-depth, personalized recommendations for best value restaurants and international food vacations as well as travel information about each place, just click on the link.

We looked at thousands of international destinations and considered tens of parameters, including the variety of best value restaurants (ethnic, American, and neighborhood places where the locals go), the actual number of best value restaurants (not including fast food venues) and the average costs of a meal (with service and one drink) as well as the number of top-rated chefs per capita, the number of chef-owned restaurants and the popularity ratings of the best value restaurants in a city in order to come up with the recommended destinations for food vacations that have the best value restaurants.

For more information about each location, including food vacations, flight, hotel and car rentals as well as personalized travel recommendations and best value restaurants tailored to you (along with where to stay, where to eat and what to see and do while you’re there) visit the Tripbase location page by clicking on the link.

Best International Food Vacations and Best Value Restaurants

1. Bangkok restaurants (Thailand)
2. Shanghai restaurants (China)
3. Prague restaurants (Czechoslovakia)
4. Hong Kong restaurants (China)
5. Santiago restaurants (Chile)
6. Singapore restaurants (Singapore)
7. Mumbai restaurants (India)
8. Seoul restaurants (Korea)
9. Tokyo restaurants (Japan)
10. Brussels restaurants (Belgium)

Food vacations, including vacations that seek great food and wine travel as well as best value restaurants, are becoming more and more popular. At Tripbase, we thought you gourmands might like to know where you can go for the best food vacations in the u.s., i.e., where to get the best value restaurants for your buck. We looked at thousands of food vacations destinations and considered tens of parameters, including the variety of best value restaurants (ethnic, American, and neighborhood places where the locals go), the actual number of best value restaurants (not including fast food venues) and the average costs of a meal (with service and one drink) as well as the number of top-rated chefs per capita, the number of chef-owned restaurants and the popularity ratings of the restaurants in a city in order to determine the best places in the u.s. for food vacations with best value restaurants.

Although twenty years ago it might have been difficult to find more than a handful of great u.s. cities known for their restaurants, that’s far from true today. Most American cities today offer a wealth of great restaurant options, but these are Tripbase’s top ten destinations for food vacations with best value restaurants. Here, you’ll find cities teeming with choice—from the dim sum in New York’s Chinatown to the deep-dish pizzas in Chicago—plus everything in between. Asian cities are well known for fresh, inexpensive seafood and digging into a plate of something scrumptious in Seattle’s downtown market or at one of Austin’s authentic Mexican restaurants won’t break the bank.

For more information about each great location regarding food vacations, including flight, hotel and car rentals as well as personalized travel recommendations, like where to stay and what to do as well as best value restaurants, visit the link on Tripbase.

Food Vacations and Best Value Restaurants

1. New York restaurants (New York)
2. Washington, D.C. restaurants
3. New Orleans restaurants (Louisiana)
4. Atlanta restaurants (Georgia)
5. San Francisco restaurants (California)
6. Chicago restaurants (Illinois)
7. Houston restaurants (Texas)
8. Boston restaurants (Massachusetts)
9. Seattle restaurants (Washington)
10. Austin restaurants (Texas)

Tripbase is still in development, but we’re working on improving our algorithms every day, so if you have comments and criticisms for us, we’d love to hear from you.

Happy Travels,
The Tripbase Team

Green vacations and eco friendly travel are becoming more and more popular thanks to the increased awareness about the importance of taking care of our environment and doing all we can as individuals to prevent global warming. So what can you as a traveler do to make sure your green vacations are to an eco friendly travel destination and not a place that tries to look ‘green’ but really isn’t? Check out the following tips from Tripbase about how to reduce your carbon footprint and then explore our top recommendations about where to go for the best green vacations. You’ll be on your way to enjoying a great green vacation.

According to the International Ecotourism Society (TIES), eco friendly travel is “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.” TIES recommends following these eco friendly travel principles:

• Leave a minimal impact
• Use local guides or tour services
• Try to stay in local, eco-friendly accommodations
• Support local businesses that promote sustainability. This also supports the local economy.

Although some environmental activists maintain that staying close to home is the best way to do green trips (one overseas return flight produces about the same amount of carbon emissions as a car does over an entire year), there are downsides to that school of thought too. For example, developing countries rely heavily on tourism for development and carefully managed tourism can help fight poverty and promote growth. In addition, traveling far from home can provide long-lasting educational benefits and allow you to participate in local conservation and education efforts—especially if you’re willing to volunteer. Try to make sure that the parks and beaches you visit are truly interested in sustainable tourism, and verify that your accommodation is helping the environment by planting trees, using fewer towels, saving water etc. by giving them a call and asking them what they do to promote eco friendly travel and sustainable practices.

Camping and house swapping are also great ways to do your small part to make your green vacations better for the environment.

Another thing you can do is plan an eco friendly travel adventure to places where you can camp and use the car and fuel minimally. That type of green vacation has the added benefit of allowing you to explore spectacular nature in a sustainable platform.

On top of this, one of the best things you can do is support countries and parks in which green vacations and eco friendly travel are taken seriously. Visiting those regions will ensure that your tourism dollars are providing funding for sustainable tours, green trips and ecotourism growth in the future.

So where are the best places in the world for green trips, green vacations and eco friendly travel? Tripbase looked at a number of parameters in thousands of locations to come up with a list of the best places for a green vacations. We looked at how well these eco friendly destinations fared when it comes to education, conservation and research programs as well as the number of eco friendly trips they offer and eco friendly accommodations they have. We considered nature travel to well-known spectacular national parks reputed for their sustainable practices and volunteer programs as well as more off the beaten path, remote locales. For more information about each destination and personalized travel recommendations in each eco friendly travel destination, click on the links below.

1. Corcovado National Park Travel Recommendations (Costa Rica)

2. Morne Trois Pitons National Park Travel Recommendations (Dominica)

3. Yosemite National Park Travel Recommendations (United States)

4. Chiang Mai Travel Recommendations (Thailand)

5. Yellowstone National Park Travel Recommendations (Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana)

6. Galapagos Islands National Park Travel Recommendations (Ecuador)

7. Etosha National Park Travel Recommendations (Namibia)

8. Denali National Park Travel Recommendations (Alaska)

9. Fiordland National Park Travel Recommendations (New Zealand)

10. Nassau Travel Recommendations (Bahamas)

Happy Travels,
The Tripbase Team

i.e., where to get the most for your money abroad this year

From exotic islands with pristine beaches and coconut palms to bustling cultural capitals, these international travel destinations top Tripbase’s list of recommended best international travel destinations in 2008 for value. So whether you want romantic escapes on idyllic beaches in a tranquil environment or places with great natural landscapes, culture, shopping, nightlife and dining, these are the places that will give you the most for your money—from Africa to Asia and South America to Europe.

We looked at many parameters for each of our thousands of locations in order to come up with our best international travel destinations for value in 2008, including accommodation options, affordable entertainment choices, what kind of discounts are offered to travelers, and average costs to travel (per day averages include hotel costs) in these destinations—to name just a few.

To read more about each location in our list of the top best international travel destinations for value in 2008 and find useful information, including flight, hotel and car rentals as well as personalized travel recommendations tailored to you, such as where to stay and where to eat and what to see and do while you’re there, visit the Tripbase location page by clicking on the link.

Best Beach Destinations 2008 for Value
1. Kingston travel recommendations (Jamaica)
2. Bali travel recommendations (Indonesia)
3. Cape Town travel recommendations (South Africa)

Best Asia Destinations 2008 for Value
3. Bangkok travel recommendations (Thailand)
4. Kuala Lumpur travel recommendations (Malaysia)
5. Beijing travel recommendations (China)

Best Africa Destinations 2008 for Value
1. Cairo travel recommendations (Egypt)
2. Essaouira travel recommendations (Morocco)
3. Tunis travel recommendations (Tunisia)

Best Central and South America Destinations 2008 for Value
1. Buenos Aires travel recommendations (Argentina)
2. Mexico City travel recommendations (Mexico)
3. Rio de Janeiro travel recommendations (Brazil)

Best Eastern Europe Destinations 2008 for Value
1. Warsaw travel recommendations (Poland)
2. Budapest travel recommendations (Hungary)
3. Dubrovnik travel recommendations (Croatia)

Best Middle East Destinations 2008 for Value
1. Istanbul travel recommendations (Turkey)
2. Amman travel recommendations (Jordan)
3. Nicosia travel recommendations (Cyprus)

In our next blog, we’ll share with you the Tripbase team’s recommendations for green vacations and eco friendly travel, i.e., where to go for the best green vacations in 2008.

Tripbase is still in development, but we’re working on improving our algorithms every day, so if you have comments and criticisms for us, we’d love to hear from you.

There has never been a better time to visit U.S. cities for international travelers. With the low dollar, it’s a great time to take advantage of affordable travel to the United States. These best value travel destinations in the U.S. are easy to reach from international airports because of the abundance of direct flights, which makes getting there less expensive and time-consuming. On top of that, these best value travel destinations have the widest range of accommodation options, affordable entertainment choices, package vacations, and great discounts for travelers on airfare, flights, hotels, and car rentals. These are Tripbase’s best value travel destinations in the U.S. for international tourists that live up to their iconic statuses as incredible, “must-see” urban landscapes. Best of all, they offer a great range of entertainment, nightlife, shopping, dining, urban parks, attractions and a plethora of choice when it comes to lodging.

Best Value Travel Destinations 2008 for International Travelers:

1. Los Angeles travel recommendations
With everything from white, sandy beaches where volleyball nets abound to urban spaces like the Griffith Park that overlooks the entire city and the Hollywood Walk of Fame to free art museums, Los Angeles has plenty of affordable entertainment, a wide range of accommodations, and plenty of flights to choose from.

2. Las Vegas travel recommendations
All-inclusive packages in Sin City offer excellent deals on upscale resorts to entice gamblers, but you can also enjoy a wide range of street entertainment along ‘the strip’ without ever spending a dime.

3. Chicago travel recommendations
With music festivals, parks, museums and even beaches, Chicago offers visitors a wealth of inexpensive entertainment options as well as plenty of accommodation choices.

4. New York travel recommendations
Central Park, cathedrals, ferries and plenty of museums as well as a huge number of accommodations and inexpensive, ethnic dining make New York a great choice for value.

5. Miami travel recommendations
Sizzling with beautiful people on stunning beaches by day and in top-notch nightclubs by night, Miami is jam-packed with entertainment options, restaurants, and accommodations. Enjoy historic art-deco buildings and monuments as well as gorgeous beach parks.

Happy Travels,
The Tripbase Team

In our upcoming blogs, we’ll be sharing with you Tripbase’s top Best Value Travel to International Destinations.

Top Best Value U.S. Destinations for 2008
i.e., where to get the best bang for your buck in u.s. tourism destinations

We’ve gotten a huge number of questions from Tripbase users lately about how to find the best value destinations. And getting more for your money appeals to just about everyone—especially when it comes to travel. Nobody wants to pay more for their next vacation when they can get everything they want for less.
In order to find the best value destinations in the United States, we looked at many parameters in thousands of locations, including accommodation options, affordable entertainment choices, what kind of discounts are offered to travelers, the number of free venues, flight discounts, package tours available and the average costs to travel (per day averages include hotel costs) in these destinations—to name just a few. Of the best value destinations, we focused on the tourism destinations that got the highest scores for overall quality versus costs to travel there.
To make the results even more useful, we decided to break down the top best value destinations for 2008 into two separate blogs 1. Best Value U.S. Destinations for Americans 2. Best Value U.S. Destinations for International Travelers
These categories were separated based on overall configurations as well as the range and cost of international and domestic flights.

Best Value U.S. Destinations 2008:
Travel within the United States right now has added value for Americans because of the low dollar, and staying closer to home means lower transportation costs and being more environmentally friendly. These five cities scored in the top ranks for overall travel value. They’re all places that really live up to the cliché ‘something for everyone.’ No matter what you’re looking for—from urban parks, top-notch museums and funky festivals or uber-chic bars, exquisite dining, great attractions and shopping galore, you’ll find it in these cities.

1. Orlando travel recommendations
It’s hard to beat Orlando when it comes to affordable entertainment—from the range of all-inclusive packages to world-class theme parks and beach outings as well as free concerts, inexpensive tours and high-quality activities.

2. Phoenix travel recommendations
From outdoor adventures in stunning natural landscapes to gorgeous golf vacations, Phoenix has great deals on top-notch accommodations and weather that’s close to perfect all year round—not to mention the art, history and culture.

3. Denver travel recommendations
Take advantage of free tours at the Coors Brewery and the U.S. Mint or go for a hike along stunning trails that wind along the Cherry Creek River without paying a dime.

4. Portland travel recommendations
Enjoy a picnic in Laurelhurst Park or tour the Bridgeport Brewing Company, enjoy a hike among the wildlife at the Portland Wildlife Center and enjoy river activities—all for free.

5. Washington, D.C. travel recommendations
With its plethora of free museums and walking tours, sprawling urban parks, historical monuments, great transportation and wealth of accommodation and restaurant options, it’s no surprise that Washington, D.C. is one of the best value destinations.

Happy Travels,
The Tripbase Team

Welcome to the Tripbase.com blog,

We’d like to thank all of our dedicated users for all the fantastic feedback we have received since our launch.  We are hard at work making improvements and changes to make sure this product gives you the user what you really want.

In the meantime, our computers have been crunching and processing the plethora of travel information available from travel industry databases, travel websites, and travel blogs, and we wanted to share with you some of our exciting findings here in our blog.  All of these findings and much more will be integrated into Tripbase.com in the near future, but we wanted to give our dedicated users a sneak peak at some of the more interesting results.

We’re going to tell you about destinations you’ve never heard about, and we’ll share with you some exciting things about destinations that you have heard about… we’re also going to share some industry information, including a few things that I’m sure nobody wants you to know.

Tripbase.com is still in alpha because we really want to publicly launch only once we are satisfied that the product it truly excellent, so please give us feedback… the more the better.   We know that we’re missing some stuff and we’ll be publishing information about places that are not yet up on the live site… but we just couldn’t keep all the good secrets to ourselves.  We feel the need to share what we’ve got.

Enjoy the site,
Reuven Levitt
CEO / Co-founder
Tripbase.com