Travelers' Choice Awards 2009: The best of the best

Trip Advisor has just released its Travelers' Choice Awards. The several pages missive provides a hefty selection of the best hotels in various categories. This is the opposite end of the spectrum of the worst hotels. It's not uncommon that the best can be had for less money than a dump.

Sea Coast Inn in Hyannis, Massachusetts has held onto its first place spot as the Best Bargain from last year. Interestingly, it has kept its spot as "Best Hidden Gem" as well.

Of the other top10 bargains in the U.S., five of them are in California, two are in Florida, and Colorado and Utah have one each. When it comes to overseas bargain shopping, several countries have options. Italy does have two slots in the top 10.

Organized by categories, the Travelers' Choice Awards are a great place to start when planning a trip whether you're looking for luxury, romance, a bargain or a family destination.

Keeping with this month's theme of bargain destinations, here are the number one places to stay in each of the bargain categories. Browse through each list, however, because one hotel further down might catch your eye--or a destination might beckon. Egypt has several listings for top places for families in Africa, for example. That has me thinking.

Best Bargains

• Europe - Hotel Vecchio Asilo, San Gimignano, Italy
• Asia - Oriental Kwai Resort, Kanchanaburi, Thailand
• South Pacific - Mai Tai Resort, Port Douglas, Australia
• Caribbean and Mexico -- Posada Luna del Sur - Tulum, Mexico
• Central and South America - West Bay Lodge, West Bay, Honduras
• Africa - Riad Zolah, Marrakech, Morocco
• Canada - Elizabeth Lake Lodge, Cranbrook, British Columbia
• India - Jas Vilas, Jaipur, India

Click here for the pdf file for the whole list. The photo is of Hotel Vecchio Asilo.

Filed under: Egypt, Italy, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Budget Travel, Travel Deals