Travel Web site lists cities it says are being researched most

NEEDHAM, Mass. -- The Web site TripAdvisor, which says it has the technology to measure such things, has announced the results of a new study showing that the cities being researched the most online by people planning summer vacations are Paris, London, Rome, Barcelona, Spain, and Venice, Italy.

Barcelona's listing among the top five is perhaps the only surprise in the study conducted in April. But that's indicative of Spain's new appeal as a favorite country for vacationing.

According to a recent annual report by the World Tourism Organization, Spain was ranked the second-most popular tourist destination in the world, behind France.

The study also indicated the top five attractions and most researched hotels for each city.

Among the most common themes for people researching European hotels online included finding a great value for their money an inexpensive, clean place to stay in a convenient location with a decent atmosphere, says Steve Kaufer, CEO of TripAdvisor.