American travelers looking for an international beach getaway this summer may be wondering where they can get the most luxury for less; and Orbitz, with its heritage of keeping travelers A Step Ahead(TM), examines popular beach destinations in two international meccas: Europe and Mexico. The Orbitz Insider knows that travelers want luxury in the surf that won't leave only sand in their pockets. And for travelers looking for a late-summer getaway, Orbitz offers picks to help beach-goers avoid the potential effects of hurricane season.

"It's no secret that hitting the beach is a popular summer pastime, but it can be more difficult to decipher where you can find a truly great deal when you head outside the U.S.," said Heather Leisman, senior director of merchandising for Orbitz. "Whether you are heading close to home or off to another country, take advantage of summertime sales and value-add incentives at hotels and resorts to offset your costs. And consider locations that are traditionally outside the infamous hurricane belt."

In this summer edition of the Orbitz Insider Index, the online travel company looks at the Top 5 most popular beach destinations in Europe and Mexico and reports the average nightly cost of a hotel room in these beach hotspots.

Top 5 Beach Destinations. Rank based only on nominated beach destinations: Kauai, Aruba, Barbados, Curacao, and Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta:

If Caribbean adventures don't suit your taste, check out one of Mexico's most beautiful western beach destinations: Puerto Vallarta. This seaside town has a deep Mexican culture and beautiful landscape that will captivate your senses. In addition to its laid-back beach attitude, Puerto Vallarta also offers wonderful local art and some of the best in traditional Mexican dining as well as other eclectic food options. The city is full of galleries and five-star cuisine from chefs around the world.

About Orbitz:

Orbitz is a leading online travel company that enables travelers to search for and purchase a broad array of travel products, including airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. Since launching its website www.orbitz.com to the general public in June 2001, Orbitz has become one of the largest online travel sites in the world based on gross travel bookings.