TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, announced on April 5 the winners of its inaugural 2011 Travelers’ Choice Beaches awards. Captiva was named the 8th best beach destination in the United States.
Award winners were determined based on the most highly rated beach destinations by travelers in TripAdvisor reviews. According to TripAdvisor, Travelers’ Choice winners are based on millions of real and unbiased reviews and opinions from travelers around the world.
“In addition to the outstanding beaches, these destinations also feature top-rated options for hotels, vacation rentals, attractions, and restaurants,” said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor
Beaches still remain a popular destination. According to a recent TripAdvisor survey of more than 2,100 U.S. respondents, 68 percent are planning a beach vacation in 2011. Fifty-four percent are planning a trip to a U.S. beach destination.
Captiva Erosion Prevention District commissioner Mike Mullins said, “With gas prices sky-high and the economy just in the recovery stage, beach vacations are a natural. And Captiva has everything: pristine beaches, lack of high-rise hotels and condos, lush vegetation and a laid back atmosphere.”
The TraveIers’ Choice Award is not the first Captiva has received. In December 2010, Travelocity named Captiva’s Alison Hagerup Beach Park the #1 rated “Romantic Beach in the U.S. and Nearby.” It called Captiva’s sunsets “the most romantic in all America.”
Traveloctiy was not the only organization that thought highly of Captiva’s romantic setting. Best Beaches in the USA, the famous rankings by Dr. Stephen Leatherman (Dr. Beach) of Florida International University, rated Captiva #3 in his Best Romantic Beaches based on features such as natural beauty, privacy, good sand and water quality, and amenities such as easy access, picnic area, and places to walk along the shore
Finally, the website, www.the-best-florida-beaches.com rated Captiva among the top 10 beaches in Florida.