According to recent research from Expedia.com.au^TM, operated by Expedia. Inc., the world’s largest online travel company, 86 per cent of Australians will take at least one short break holiday in 2010. And with the majority of Australians (63 per cent) defining a short break as anywhere between two and four nights, what better way to do it than to add a day or two around a weekend and escape for a well-deserved weekend break. Read more

For five weeks, five Expedia customers a day will be refunded the cost of their travel booking

For Australians planning to book a holiday in the next few weeks, where they book will really matter. To celebrate Expedia’s 5^th birthday in Australia, Expedia.com.au, operated by Expedia, Inc., the world’s largest online travel company, is giving five people every day, for five weeks, a refund on their travel purchase. 

Whether they have booked a flight, hotel, car hire or complete holiday package, all Expedia.com.au customers between 23 August and 26 September will be in the draw to win back the value of their travel purchase!  Read more

The Expedia NAB Travellers’ Foreign Currency Rankings* help Aussies find the best value for money in every corner of the globe

The strong Australian Dollar is driving a record increase in the number of Australians travelling abroad as more and more globe-trotting Aussies head overseas to stretch their travel dollars further.

“It’s a very exciting time to be an Aussie travelling overseas because our currency is at near-record highs against, not only the US Dollar, but many of the world’s major and minor currencies,” Amee Evans, Marketing Manager, Expedia.com.au said. Read more

See where you get the best bang for your holiday spending dollar 

On-the-ground costs can greatly impact the overall cost of a holiday. With travel expenses varying considerably from country to country, some insider knowledge about holiday expenses in certain destinations is handy for travellers wanting their spending money to stretch a little further.

To help travellers with their holiday budget, online travel company Expedia.com.au has compiled its inaugural Expedia Travel Value Tracker*, which lists 10 typical everyday holiday items in 10 of the most popular international destinations for Australian travellers. Read more

Despite the strength of the Australian Dollar making the decision between an international or domestic holiday difficult, getting the best value for money is still the number one priority for savvy Aussie travellers. For those planning a trip within Australia this year, it is important to know that the costs of common holiday items can vary across the country. Read more

Triple-digit growth for some international destinations last Christmas

Thanks to the strength of the Australian Dollar towards the end of last year, a number of international destinations, in particular the United States and Thailand, recorded significant growth among Australian travellers last Christmas, according to booking data* from online travel company Expedia.com.au. Read more

Expedia.com.au to hand over the keys to its new Facebook page for one month

Calling all social media aficionados! Online travel company Expedia.com.au is giving Australians the chance to take over the reins of its brand new Facebook page for one month and will stand the chance to win $10,000.

From 4 February until 7 March, Expedia.com.au’s  Facebook page will be in the hands of three shortlisted applicants acting as interim administrators with one being selected as the winner. All they have to do to be in the running for $10,000 is to build Expedia.com.au’s online community by creating and posting the most engaging Expedia-relevant content on the company’s Facebook Wall. Read more

Expedia.com.au has swept the board, taking out the majority of categories for Canstar Blue’s inaugural Most Satisfied Customers award for online accommodation bookings.

Canstar Blue surveyed 2,500 Australian consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction. The survey compared Wotif.com.au, Webjet.com.au, Lastminute.com.au, Hotel.com.au and Expedia.com.au. 

Nicolas Chu, Managing Director, Expedia Australia and New Zealand, said: “We are thrilled that Expedia has been recognised for its outstanding customer service. Read more

Expedia, Inc, the world's largest online travel company and operator of the Expedia.com.au^TM and Expedia.co.nz websites in Australasia, has announced the appointment of Reddy Kalluru as Director, Online Partner Marketing, Asia Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand. In this newly-created role, Mr Kalluru will oversee the marketing strategies for building brand awareness, revenue generation and customer acquisition along with managing partnerships with key regional media owners and online marketing agencies.

His appointment follows the recent senior management appointments of Dan Lynn as Managing Director, Expedia Asia Pacific, Nicolas Chu as General Manager, Australia and New Zealand and Chris Hann as Retail Manager, Australia and New Zealand. Read more

Expedia.com.au names its top 10 ‘hot’ destinations for 2011

The Australian Dollar’s strong performance against the US Dollar and other major currencies means that Aussie travellers are spoilt for choice when it comes to travelling internationally in 2011.

According to recent flight bookings on Expedia.com.au, operated by Expedia Inc., the world's largest online travel company, medium- and long-haul destinations such as North America and Europe are proving to be favourites among Aussie travellers, with some destinations recording almost triple-digit year-on-year growth.

To help travellers on their way to planning their holidays, Expedia.com.au has launched its list of ‘hot’ destinations for 2011. Read more

Expedia, Inc., the world's leading online travel company, has announced the launch of its new Singapore website – www.expedia.com.sg – a travel booking website designed specifically to meet the needs of travellers from Singapore.

The new website marks the company's entry into Southeast Asia, and is the fifth Expedia® site in the Asia Pacific region, adding to its existing regional presence in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and India. Expedia, Inc. also has a presence in China through a controlling investment in eLong™.

The new Expedia Singapore website currently offers hotel bookings and will include air fares and packages later this year. Read more

Latest Expedia Foreign Exchange Index reveals the top ten destinations where the Australian Dollar goes furthest

As the Australian Dollar soars to record highs against some of the world’s major currencies, leading Australian travel website Expedia.com.au^TM (owned by Expedia, the world’s largest online travel company), in conjunction with foreign exchange specialist HiFX, has released its latest Expedia® Foreign Exchange Index, revealing the top ten destinations around the world where Australian travellers will get the best value for their money. The verdict is clear: with eight out of the ten currencies being from Europe, Europe is currently the undisputed Aussie Dollar holiday hotspot! Read more

Aussie travellers take advantage of favourable Euro / Aussie Dollar exchange rate for European holidays

Hotel transactions conducted in the first four months of the year for some European destinations grew by at least 180% compared to the same period last year, according to Expedia.com.au^TM, operated by Expedia. Inc., the world’s largest online travel company. The biggest rise in hotel bookings was posted by destinations bordering the Mediterranean such as Greece, Italy and Spain.

Chris Hann, Retail Manager at Expedia.com.au comments, “We have seen a huge growth in demand for Mediterranean destinations such as Santorini, Positano, Dubrovnik and Istanbul as well as for more conventional European destinations like Manchester, Geneva and Lucerne. Read more

The world’s largest online travel company, Expedia, has launched a new multi-million dollar marketing and advertising campaign in Australia and New Zealand. The campaign, which focuses on flight booking fees, throws down the gauntlet with local competitors who continue to charge their customers booking fees which, according to Expedia, offer no value to customers.

Research* commissioned by Expedia late last year found that almost three quarters of Australians and New Zealanders are angered when websites charge fees and believe they should not be charged. Read more

Expedia lists the best resorts for the Northern Hemisphere ski season

With the start of the Northern Hemisphere ski season only a few weeks away, keen Australian skiers are readying themselves for a different kind of ‘summer’ holiday. Home to some of the best ski resorts in the world, countries such as Canada, Japan, USA and Austria are bracing themselves for a surge of Australians heading to the winter ski slopes this season, particularly given the continued strength of the Aussie Dollar.

According to recent flight bookings* on Expedia.com.au, operated by Expedia Inc., the world's largest online travel company, ski holidays are proving popular among Australians as destinations in these countries have all recorded significant December bookings growth. Read more

69% of Australians limit short breaks to destinations within their own state.

New research from Expedia.com.au^TM, operated by Expedia, Inc., the world’s largest online travel company, shows that when it comes to taking short breaks, most Australians look no further than their own state. The survey*, conducted among 1,000 Australians, showed that while almost nine out of ten respondents are planning a short break this year, the vast majority (69%) of those will choose to do so within their own state borders rather than looking further afield. And while over a third (36%) of respondents are willing to travel over four hours by car, train or bus to reach their short-break destination, only a few (22%) chose to fly irrespective of where they short-break. Read more

Top 10 best-value destinations for Aussies

Asia has always presented Australians with cheap and cheerful choices for overseas holidays. However, with so many of the region’s countries home to jaw-dropping landscapes, mouth-watering cuisines and cultures brimming with diversity and history, how do you choose the best from the rest?

For Aussies wanting a short-haul getaway, where they can stretch their travel budget even further, the Expedia NAB Travellers’ Foreign Currency Rankings* lists the top destinations in Asia, according to the performance of the Australian Dollar against the main Asia currencies in the past 12 months.

Top 10 best-value Asia destinations for Aussie travellers with travel tips from Expedia**:

1) Vietnam: Read more

Have you ever booked a hotel only to find that it’s on the wrong side of town? Expedia.com.au has created a comprehensive “mapplet” in Google Maps, which is designed to help customers choose their hotel at their chosen destination. The mapplet, launching today and visible on http://maps.google.com.au will offer an interactive map, booking facilities for hotels and attractions, and independent user reviews. 

To use the mapplet, the user goes to the “My Maps” tab on Google Maps Australia at http://www.maps.google.com.au and selects Expedia Hotels & Attractions. Read more

Exams are almost over and then school is out – for good. Students all over Australia have been holed up indoors preparing and sitting for exams, but by mid-November, Aussie school-leavers will be taking a well-deserved break and having some much needed fun.

Picking a post high school holiday is like picking an elective, the choices are many and preferences vary. Some choose partying or adventure and some choose to relax and recover from exam stress. Either way celebrating the end of your school years is an Aussie tradition. And, students’ hard-earned dollars are going further, meaning sharing good times overseas is worth considering!  

Last minute schoolie packages** from Expedia:

Best for partying:

Bali, Indonesia: Read more

Over 1,100 Expedia Facebook fans have shared their insider knowledge of the world’s best cities, revealing how far $50 can go - the cost of a flight booking fee charged by some travel websites.

Expedia.com.au doesn’t charge any flight booking fees or Expedia change and cancellation fees on flights, hotels, packages and car reservations booked on the website.

Las Vegas ranked as the number one destination based on the entries from Expedia’s fans and was also the destination featured in the winning entry.  London, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Rome were also popular destinations among Aussie travellers who entered the competition. Expedia has shared some stand-out entries:

London, UK Read more

Expedia names the world’s top destinations for adventurous travellers

Spending a holiday sipping cocktails by the pool is not for everyone. Some adventure-hungry travellers prefer to spend their holidays exploring some of the world’s most unique, remote and exciting destinations.

For travellers looking to experience new cultures, meet new people and challenge themselves, Expedia.com.au™, operated by Expedia, Inc., the world’s largest online travel company, has teamed up with leading adventure tour company, Gap Adventures to find the world’s top adventure destinations for Aussie travellers. Read more

One in four Gen Y Aussies complain in order to score an upgrade on a flight or hotel room

New research from Expedia.com.au^TM, operated by Expedia, Inc., the world’s largest online travel company, has found that Generation Y Aussies are most likely to complain in order to land themselves a free upgrade on a flight or in a hotel.

The survey*, conducted among 1,000 Australians, revealed that almost a quarter (24 per cent) of Australians aged between 18-24 were willing to complain about nearby guests/passengers, the food, or quality of service to score a flight or hotel upgrade, well above the national average of 16 per cent.

As part of their bag of freewheeling tricks, four per cent of Gen Ys also admit to posing as business travellers to secure a free upgrade. Read more

Latest Expedia Insiders’ Select list ranks the world’s best hotels based on value, service and customer ratings; 13 Australian hotels feature in the top 500

In a triumph for Queensland tourism after a difficult summer, Cairns hotels have dominated the Australian contingent in the 2011 Insiders’ Select™ list (www.expedia.com.au/insiders-select.aspx) compiled by online travel company Expedia. This year, a record 13 Australian hotels appear in the world’s top 500, with Roydon Beachfront Apartments in Cairns voted by travellers as the 16^th best hotel in the world.  Three other hotels in Cairns also made the list, as well as hotels in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and the Gold Coast. Read more

If you’ve returned to work from the Christmas break feeling tired, stressed and maybe a little unmotivated, you’re not alone. A recent survey* conducted by online travel company Expedia.com.au has found that the recent Christmas break has left many Australians (27 per cent) feeling tired, stressed and feeling like they had not relaxed – particularly those who had spent it with family.

While over 70 per cent of Australians spent Christmas with family this year, many Gen Ys specifically found Christmas with the family particularly hard work. They reported feeling the most stressed and tired of any age group after their Christmas break, with around a quarter planning a last-minute escape now to recuperate. Read more

Aussies ditch footy and cricket heroes in favour of sitting next to cycling superstar on a flight

Despite Australia being a country renowned for its passionate cricket and rugby supporters, the stars of cycling, swimming, surfing and tennis have proved more popular choices to sit next to on a plane than the Australian cricket captain and top rugby league and rugby union players.

To coincide with its FriendTrips Facebook competition, Expedia.com.au asked Australian Facebook users* which sports star they would most like to sit next to on a plane.

Cadel Evans, the most recent and only Australian winner of the famed Tour De France, was the most popular choice for many Australians with more than one in seven (14 per cent) wanting buckle up next to the cycling hero. Read more

•  84 percent of Australians feel more motivated at work when they have a booked holiday to look forward to
• Aussie workers set to cost businesses over $880 million in work hours when researching and booking their next holiday 

As Australians return to work after the summer break, 84 percent have revealed that they feel more motivated at work if they have a holiday to look forward to - according to a recent survey conducted by Expedia.com.au^TM, operated by Expedia, Inc. ,the world’s leading online travel company. So, while offices around Australia will be busy with work-related planning for the year ahead this month, many Aussie workers will be sure to be planning their 2009 getaways. Read more

Online travel company, Expedia.com.au, announced today it has entered into an exclusive charity partnership with Barnardos Australia.

The relationship positions Barnados as Expedia’s sole charity partner and forms an integral part of Expedia’s community engagement activities.

Nicholas Chu, Managing Director, Expedia Australia and New Zealand, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Barnardos as we greatly admire its efforts with children, young people, families and community.” Read more

Expedia.com.au highlights the top emerging food and wine destinations of the world

For many Australians, a passion for fine food and wine has for decades inspired them to travel to revered culinary destinations such as France and Italy. However, in recent years there has been a shift from the ‘tried and tested’ wine and food producing countries to gastronomic newcomers such as Denmark and Chile, which are staking their claims as one of the world’s top destinations for food and wine. Read more

Expedia.com.au research shows Australians will travel far and wide to experience the world’s best festivals

One in ten Australians – and almost one in five 18-34-year-olds – is planning to attend a festival in the next twelve months, according to new research from Expedia.com.au™, operated by Expedia, Inc., the world’s largest online travel company.

In all corners of the globe, thousands of festivals are held each year celebrating religion, music, food and art, and attract travellers from all walks of life looking for new experiences. Read more

Expedia.com.au survey reveals older Australians to be more trail-blazing in their travels

A survey conducted recently by travel website Expedia.com.au^TM reveals that Australians in their fifties are significantly more open to exploring more off-the-beaten-track destinations and experiencing culture shock than their younger travelling compatriots. Read more

Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE), the world's leading online travel company, today announced a long term global agreement with Virgin Blue and its new international airline, V-Australia. The deal marks Expedia’s first global airline agreement in Australia, and the first global distribution agreement for either airline with an online travel company.

Under the agreement, Virgin Blue and V-Australia flights will be available to customers on all Expedia®-branded sites worldwide, including Expedia.com.au in Australia and Expedia.com in the US, and on US discount travel site Hotwire®. The flights will also be available to business travellers through travel management leader Egencia™, which launched its full-service travel offering in Australia last year. Read more

Online travel company fits 12 people into Smart Car

 Global online travel company, Expedia.com.au^TM, succeeded in breaking an Australian record by fitting 12 people into a Smart Car. With no verified record in the country, the company set an Australian first by squeezing employees into their branded Smart Car in a recent team building exercise.

Expedia Australia Marketing Director, Kristi Barrow, who orchestrated the stunt said, “We thought it would be a fun way to get the staff involved in our latest marketing initiative with our branded Smart Car. It was fun, but needless to say, a tight fit!” Read more

Expedia travellers select the world's best hotels based on value, service and customer ratings; five Australian hotels named amongst the world’s best

Expedia®, the world’s leading online travel company, has unveiled its annual Expedia Insiders’ Select™ list of the world’s best hotels (www.expedia.com/insidersselect). Marking the third annual ranking, the list is comprised of the top hotels from among a selection of nearly 80,000 properties worldwide available on Expedia. Read more

Australian tourists rank 6^th among 27 nations in second annual global

Expedia Best Tourist Survey

The second annual global Best Tourist Survey, conducted by leading online travel company Expedia®, has ranked Australians in sixth place overall among the 27 nationalities surveyed. This is up one spot on last year’s ranking.

Around 4,500 hoteliers across the globe provided their opinions on the best travellers overall, as well as on specific categories including behaviour, spending habits, fashion sense and willingness to try and speak the local language. Read more

 With great international travel deals, Australians can look forward to attending their favourite international sporting events

With the cost of long-haul international air travel plummeting, and great deals on accommodation, there has never been a better time for Australians to travel abroad and attend the international sporting events they had only dreamed about. Read more

• One in ten Aussie men admit to having had a mid-air romance
• New technology on Expedia.com.au helps air travellers ‘get more comfortable’

One in ten Australian men admit to having had a relationship or romance with someone they sat next to on a flight, making them more than twice as likely of finding a relationship at high altitude than women, according to a poll conducted by Expedia.com.au^TM, operated by Expedia®, the world’s leading online travel company. Read more

Expedia.com.au names the best holiday destinations to act up but also warns travellers to take the necessary precautions

If it has been a while since you went a little wild on holiday, maybe now is the time to travel someplace where letting your hair down is the order of the day. Whether your ideal holiday is letting off a bit of steam at some of the world’s best parties, or jumping in head first into some heart-stopping outdoor adventure activity, there is something for every thrill seeker.

From full moon parties in Thailand to adrenaline-filled activities in New Zealand, Expedia.com.au^TM, operated by Expedia, Inc., the world’s leading online travel company, has named the best places around the world to get the endorphins positively zinging. Read more

Eastern Europe emerges as favourite must-see destination for 2008, while making travel carbon neutral barely rates a mention

This year will see Australians visiting new and different destinations, according to a recent poll into Australians’ travel resolutions for 2008 conducted by online travel company Expedia.com.au.

Almost two-thirds (64%) of the survey’s 5,000 respondents chose visiting a completely new and different destination as their number one travel resolution for 2008; interestingly, however, only 4% of respondents chose making all future trips carbon neutral as their number one travel resolution for 2008. Read more

 Annual Expedia Foreign Exchange Index reveals the top destinations where the Australian Dollar goes furthest

South Africa, Vietnam and South Korea have topped the list of countries whose currencies offer the best value against the strong Australian Dollar, measured over the past year.

Expedia.com.au™, subsidiary of Expedia, Inc., the world’s leading online travel company, in conjunction with foreign exchange specialist HiFX, has produced the second annual list of top ten destinations where the Australian Dollar (AUD) has strengthened most over the past 12 months. Read more

With hundreds of festivals being during the Northern Hemisphere summer (May-September), festival-hopping is a great way to experience new cultures and meet the locals. And for those on a repeat visit to a favourite destination, festivals provide a great alternative to the museums and traditional tourist attractions.

As festivals give a unique insight into a country’s traditions, heritage and culture, following the trail of festivals is an ideal way to experience the Northern Hemisphere summer at its best.

For people booking a summer holiday to the Northern Hemisphere this year, online travel company Expedia.com.au^TM reveals some of the best summer festivals to help plan your holiday to that half of the world. Read more

With international travel currently more expensive, there has never been a better time for Aussies to rediscover their own backyard

When planning for your summer holiday, at a time when the weakening Australian dollar is making international travel more expensive, travelling locally is now a much more attractive option than a few months ago, according to Expedia.com.au^TM, operated by Expedia, Inc., the world’s leading online travel company.

Louise Hurbert-Burns, Marketing Manager, Expedia® Australia, says: “While many Australians might be reconsidering international travel due to the weakened Australian dollar, the start of our summer, and the holiday season makes it a great time to consider exploring more of Australia.” Read more

Countries as diverse as Argentina, South Africa and Hungary provide a fresh alternative to the ‘tried and tested’ wine destinations

Beyond the well worn paths of the wine regions of Italy, France and Spain, there are several other international destinations that produce exceptional wines, which have remained largely undiscovered by wine-loving Australian travellers. With equally superb scenery, authentic food, hospitable locals and fewer crowds than their more famous counterparts, these ‘alternative’ wine destinations offer much for lovers of fine wine and travel. Read more

With almost a third of Australians saying in a recent survey* that Eastern Europe was their preferred emerging holiday destination in 2008, online travel site Expedia.com.au has named its top ten ‘hidden corners’ of Eastern Europe.

Expedia exposes some of the most unusual and diverse locations and activities in this fascinating part of the world, making this largely untapped part of Europe a highly cost-effective and uncrowded alternative to its more conventional Western counterpart. Read more