Social Media and Marketing

Expedia.com has launched a new interactive Drive Getaway ideas tool.

Published: 13 Jul 2009

Expedia.com has launched a new interactive Drive Getaway ideas tool.

The tool, developed in partnership with TripAdvisor, provides users with ideas for driving-distance trips accessible from their starting city on a single tank of gas or less.

Using the tool, people can access lists of TripAdvisor’s top-rated destinations and area attractions, as well as Expedia.com’s highest-ranked hotels that are a specified driving distance from thousands of origination cities worldwide.

The tool marks the first time TripAdvisor destination content is available on Expedia.com.

Expedia is trying to capitalise on the current trend of travellers opting for a holiday closer to their home. The online travel company is offering a combination of its tool, deals running in its Biggest Hotel Sale Ever promotion and its new pre-paid gas card offer.

In order to narrow destination options, the Drive Getaway tool allows users to filter results for each starting city by offering three “trip length” choices: full tank (151-300 miles), half tank (76-150 miles) or quarter tank (0-75 miles).

In addition to the recommendations, the tool also provides TripAdvisor user-generated photos of destinations and attractions.

Until the end of July, Expedia.com is rewarding travellers with a $50 Gas Money Prepaid Mastercard when they book a hotel stay of three or more nights at participating Expedia Special Rate hotels in the continental U.S. and Canada for travel before August 15.