Booking.com Releases the Foodie's Guide to the Globe

65 million verified guest reviews reveal best places for essential food experiences

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Nov 04, 2015, 01:59 ET

NEW YORK, November 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Booking.com, the global leader in connecting travelers with the widest choice of incredible places to stay, releases the Foodie's Guide to the Globe, thanks to over 65 million guest reviews sharing customer insights on what makes a great destination. These foodie hotspots were determined by looking at the strength of traveler endorsements on Booking.com's Destination Finder for a particular food experience (i.e. fish & chips) compared to other kinds of endorsements the destination receives overall (i.e. shopping, museums, nightlife).

Foodie's Guide to the Globe -- Booking.com 2015 (PRNewsFoto/Booking.com) (PRNewsFoto/Booking.com)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151104/283906-INFO )

"The exploration of food as the purpose of traveling is growing fast and food commentary is prevalent in the accommodation reviews submitted by Booking.com guests on our website," says Pepijn Rijvers, Chief Marketing Officer at Booking.com. "This map for gastro-globetrotters shows the best places for essential food experiences based on the experts themselves, our travelers."

The 15 must-try places to experience and celebrate some of the world's favorite foods are below. Some old favorites while others hidden gems. All are sure to delight and satisfy any appetite for adventure.

THE AMERICAS

Hershey, United States: Hershey Pennsylvania is the beating heart of classic, North American chocolate. Chocoholics loved this hometown headquarters for its celebration of all kinds of cocoa creations.
New Orleans, United States: With its buzzing nightlife and jazz scene, it's no wonder some of the most iconic modern cocktails were born here, from the Hurricane to the Sazerac.
Lodi, United States: Move over, Napa! Wine lovers keen to sip some of the world's best vintages know that Lodi is the place to be, what with its perfect climate and long-standing reputation for cultivating grapes.
Salento, Colombia: Colombia's coffee capital was highly rated for offering the full coffee experience, from exploring where it's grown to sipping endless cups of freshly brewed goodness.

EUROPE

Grimsby, United Kingdom: The seaside town of Grimsby was rated as a hotspot for this much-loved national delicacy, priding itself on its numerous traditional chippies.
Gouda, Netherlands: Gouda, a creamy and mild yellow cheese that comes from the eponymous city, is a firm favorite with Booking.com travelers.
Plzen, Czech Republic: The town of Plzen's namesake brew is the grandfather of all lagers, inspiring more than two-thirds of beer produced globally today.
Brussels, Belgium: Whether they're covered in whipped cream or served gooey and hot, the variety of fluffy, buttery waffles in Brussels was irresistible to Booking.com reviewers.
Naples, Italy: The ultimate pizza has to be a traditional Margherita from Naples, straight out of a wood-burning oven, covered in home-grown cherry tomatoes and mouthwatering mozzarella.
Valencia, Spain: When you think Spain you think paella, and with Valencia as its birthplace, the locals are expert purveyors of this fragrant saffron rice dish.

ASIA

Dalian, China: With the Yellow Sea on one side and the Bohai Sea on the other, Dalian is surrounded by waters rich in all manner of fish, prawns, crabs and other seafood.
Tokyo, Japan: Tokyo is synonymous with sushi. Watch skillful chefs slice salmon thinner than in your wildest dreams here and enjoy melt-in-your-mouth makizushi.
Incheon, South Korea: For the finest Chinese street food outside of China, the South Korean city of Incheon is a goldmine. Its Chinatown is a bustling centre for every Chinese delicacy under the sun.
Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka: Famed for its misty-mountain tea plantations, Nuwara Eilya is the perfect place to enjoy a spot of high tea. Indulge in cakes, sandwiches and cup of Ceylon overlooking the stunning Sri Lankan landscape.
Trang, Thailand: Traditionally eaten for breakfast here, huge halls are dotted around the city dedicated to little plates of steamed dumplings, quail eggs and other regional fare.

Note to editor: Accompanying infographic available

About Booking.com:

Booking.com's mission is to help leisure and business travelers, whatever their budgets, easily discover, book, and enjoy the world's best places to stay.

It guarantees the best prices for any type of property - from small independents to five-star luxury. Guests can access the Booking.com website and apps anytime, anywhere from their desktops, mobile phones and tablet devices, and they don't pay booking fees - ever. Booking.com is available in 42 languages, offers over 820,000 hotels and accommodations including more than 375,000 vacation rental properties and covers nearly 84,000 destinations in 220 countries and territories worldwide. It features over 65M reviews written by guests after their stay, and attracts online visitors from both leisure and business markets around the globe. With over 19 years of experience and a team of over 10,000 dedicated employees in 170 offices worldwide, Booking.com operates its own in-house customer service team, which is available 24/7 to assist guests in their native languages and ensure an exceptional customer experience.

SOURCE Booking.com