Worldwide travelers admit love-hate relationship with Paris…Survey reveals European travel plans andpreferences…TripAdvisor Provides Top Tips for International Trips

 NEEDHAM, Mass., March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor(R), the world's largest travel community, today announced the results of its European travel survey of more than 2,100 travelers worldwide. Sixty-four percent of all travelers surveyed will be visiting Europe this year (up from 62 percent in 2006), and 50 percent of Americans plan to go to Europe in 2007, compared to 45 percent last year. Forty-two percent of travelers claim the best time of year to visit Europe is spring, but among those traveling there in 2007, the greatest number will be doing so in September.

In and Out of Love with Paris   

Paris is the favorite all-time European city, the most romantic European city and the best European city for arts and culture according to survey respondents, but travelers also ranked Paris the most "overrated" European city, and voted the French as the most unfriendly hosts.

Laurels for London   

London is the second favorite all-time European destination, and ranked as the best family-friendly European city and the top European city for shopping and for night life, according to travelers.

Props for Prague

Prague tied with Edinburgh as the most "underrated" European city and also tied with Vienna as the top city in Eastern Europe to visit this year. Prague solely laid claim as the best city for bargains in all of Europe.

Mangiare!

 Italy was again voted as having the best cuisine in Europe, according to 43 percent of travelers. France was second and Spain third for gastronomic merit, according to survey respondents. Rome was recognized as having the most attractive locals, for the second straight year.

Irish Eyes are Smiling

Dublin has the friendliest and most helpful locals, according to worldwide travelers, for the second year in a row. London finished second among the worldwide survey, but are regarded the friendliest according to Americans.

Spare Us the Wanderlust

 The greatest number of travelers (32 percent) cited the Germans as being the most annoying while traveling on vacation/holiday, followed by the English and the French.

Rising in the West

Seventy-two percent of travelers said they would rather visit Western Europe over Eastern Europe this year, up from 70 percent last year.

Up and Coming

Helsinki, Finland and Riga, Latvia were voted by travelers as the two biggest up and coming destinations in Europe.

TripAdvisor's Top Ten Tips for International Trips

    1. Keep a list of key phone numbers on you at all times, including emergency contact numbers, the number of your home country's embassy and your doctor's numbers with medical prescriptions, if you have any.

    2. Purchase tickets in advance for major attractions.  You don't want to waste precious vacation time waiting for hours in lines.

    3. Get a universal power adapter. Depending on what international destination you visit, they may use 110 or 220 voltage.

    4. Ask for references or check online reviews and opinions before hiring a guide or going on a tour - you never know what operators might taking tourists "for a ride".

    5. Carry a small wallet or purse that goes around your neck or on a belt to hold your passport and emergency cash.

    6. Learn about a particular airline's amenities, particularly if you are going on a long haul.  Some might have better options, such as on-demand movies.

    7. Know the address of your embassy and be sure to check their website in advance for any alerts or special warnings before you visit a foreign country.

    8. When planning the itinerary for your trip, be sure not to over-schedule and to budget time to relax and soak up the environment.

    9. If you are planning to rent a car in a foreign country, find out if an international driver's license is required.

    10. Bring an extra piece of luggage to pack the items you might buy when shopping.

"Last year, Italian destinations such as Rome and Venice were the darlings of our survey, but this year, Paris took the crown as the most popular city in Europe," said Michele Perry, director of communications for TripAdvisor.

"London also had a strong showing as it finished as the second most popular European city and best for families, shopping and night life."