TripAdvisor Becomes First Meta-Search to Integrate Full Rail Networks With Flights Internationally

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Jul 06, 2011, 06:00 ET

LONDON, July 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

World's Largest Travel Website now Provides Train Travel Options Across Europe and the UK

TripAdvisor®, the world's largest travel site*, today announces the launch of rail itineraries into its award-winning flight meta-search engine, TripAdvisor Flights. The move makes TripAdvisor the first travel website to integrate rail providers in-line with flight options across a global network.

TripAdvisor has partnered with RailEasy to provide a full complement of UK rail fares, as well as one of the world's largest rail providers, Deutsche Bahn, providing travellers access to a broad range of train choices across continental Europe. Other train networks available to the UK user include IDTGV and French, Italian and Spanish train networks via Rail Europe UK.

"With the integration of rail itineraries into TripAdvisor Flights, we now offer travellers not only a comprehensive flight search on the Web, but also an easy way to compare train options," said Bryan Saltzburg, general manager of New Initiatives at TripAdvisor. "This is especially helpful when planning a trip through Europe, where there are more high-speed rail options now than ever before and hundreds of millions of travellers opt for train travel each year."

When travellers conduct a flight search on TripAdvisor, the site will now display rail itineraries alongside flight choices for relevant routes. In some cases rail is priced even cheaper than air travel, such as London to Paris, or Frankfurt to Brussels. Travellers can then filter the search results according to their travel needs and conveniently click to complete the booking on the air or rail website of their choice.

In addition, travellers can access all of TripAdvisor flights tools, including the innovative Fees Estimator, to easily compare the true cost of their flight and train options.

Availability

Rail itineraries for continental Europe are available starting today through the TripAdvisor Flights meta-search engines in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, German and Spain, with itineraries in additional countries scheduled to launch on future dates.

Travellers can also shop rail itineraries when conducting flight searches through the free TripAdvisor mobile apps for the iPhone, Android, Nokia, Windows Phone 7 and Palm smartphones, the iPad, and through the TripAdvisor mobile website.

About TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features (including Flights search, TripAdvisor Mobile and Instant Personalization) with seamless links to booking tools.

TripAdvisor® Media Group, operated by TripAdvisor LLC, attracts more than 50 million unique monthly visitors* across 18 popular travel brands**. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 40 million unique monthly visitors***, 20 million members, and over 45 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 30 countries worldwide****, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also operates TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to TripAdvisor's millions of monthly visitors. The division includes Business Listings, which allows hoteliers to connect directly to millions of researching travelers, and Vacation Rentals, which helps property managers and individual home owners list their properties and showcase hotel alternatives.

TripAdvisor Media Group websites have been recognized as top travel resources in 2010 by Condé Nast Traveller, Good Housekeeping, TIME magazine and Travel + Leisure.

TripAdvisor Media Group generated $486 million in revenue in 2010. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Group are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE).

TripAdvisor and the TripAdvisor logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Media Group Sites, Worldwide, May 2011

** In addition to TripAdvisor, The TripAdvisor Media Group of websites includes: http://www.airfarewatchdog.com, http://www.bookingbuddy.com, http://www.cruisecritic.com, http://www.everytrail.com, http://www.familyvacationcritic.com, http://www.flipkey.com, http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk, http://www.holidaywatchdog.com, http://www.independenttraveler.com, http://www.onetime.com, http://www.seatguru.com, http://www.sniqueaway.com, http://www.smartertravel.com, http://www.travel-library.com, http://www.travelpod.com, http://www.virtualtourist.com and http://www.kuxun.cn.