Maui tops Orbitz great winter getaways list
Maui has topped the list of fastest growing winter destinations for travelers from the U.S. mainland and third-ranked Kailua-Kona is not far behind, according to Orbitz's January Insider index.
U.S. Beach Destinations
1. Maui
2. Daytona Beach, Fla.
3. Kailua-Kona
4. Key West, Fla.
5. San Diego, Calif.
6. Charleston, S.C.
7. Fort Lauderdale/Miami, Fla.
8. Sarasota, Fla.
9. Santa Monica, Calif.
10. Fort Myers, Fla.
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Poipu Beach Park, Kauai, was also named by Orbitz as an ideal place for families with young children to visit.
As January brings wintery weather to the U.S. mainland, interest in Hawaii is heating up, said State Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert.
"We always wish for cold weather on the mainland -- that's really good for us," Wienert said, adding that this season's fierce winter has bolstered Hawaii business.
The results of the most recent Orbitz survey were based on percentage growth in hotel bookings on Orbitz.com for the period Dec. 21 through Feb. 28 of the years 2005 through 2008, the company said.
The Orbitz poll reaffirms that there's reason to be optimistic about Hawaii's winter domestic visitor market, Wienert said.
"Since winter hit so hard so fast on the Mainland, we're expecting to see additional travel to Hawaii," she said.