Do You Use Tripadvisor?

[EcclesCake]

I'm in the middle of sorting my holiday and have been checking hotels on TripAdvisor. I tend to look at the bad reviews first and have just found a cracker.

A guest has marked the hotel as 'Terrible' because amongst other trivial issues 'there were no toothbrushes in the bathroom and we had to wait for them to be delivered'.

I might pare down what I pack when travelling, but I have never gone away with out a toothbrush!

How do you use TripAdvisor and have you found some gems whilst looking through the site?

[tenrec]

Slightly different angle, but when I worked in a hotel, the proprietor received a letter of complaint. Apparently the receptionist had been rude to the guest on arrival. The proprietor wrote back saying that he had studied the CCTV footage and the receptionist was polite and helpful at all times. That was strange as we never had CCTV in that hotel!

[snags]

I have used TA in the past and take everything I read with a pinch of salt: people who complain that a 'cheap as chips' Euro holiday they booked was not up to their 'luxury' and unrealistic expectations are frankly, nothing more than whinging gits :-)

[EcclesCake]

He's sounds like a smart cookie Tenrec, I assume he heard nothing more....

Oh, don't worry I get through several pots of salt when I read reviews on TA.

The expectations of people are beyond belief. Looking at the travellers photos as opposed to the professional shots can be quite informative, as long as you remember that it is just a moment that has been captured.

[boxtops]

pussnboots asked about TA the other day http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Travel/Question1213567.html

[tenrec]

Eccles, he is now a rich cookie!

[TheOtherHalf]

We have used it a few times, but the comments conflict all the time so you cant really rely on them. Weve also posted comments and photos of our experiences

[FredPuli43]

One gem was of a hotel in Juan les Pins. The guest had complained that there was a large party, noisy until the early hours. The manager replied that it was a wedding party held there. The hosts had also booked a lot of rooms for guests of the families. The complainant was one of those wedding guests.

[ummmm]

I had a nose when booking a hotel for a wedding. One complainer moaned about a roof tile!!! The hotel was sound.

[EcclesCake]

That really is a cracker Fred.

[TWR]

I do use T.A. but I use our own judgement, I have seen comments about hotels that have been excellent, " You can not please everyone can we" If I think the hotel is Crp I will say so, If we are given good service, I shall state it on T.A. as I have done in the pass, We were once on a Caribbean Cruise, Princess, the bad comments about that Liner was unreal, go off your OWN opinions, but be cautious of others, but don't forget, you get what you pay for!!.

[EcclesCake]

I agree in part with you TWR Although you can't gor from you own opinion until you've arrived and formed one!

I'm not sure it's just a matter of getting what you pay for either. I think there are a lot of people who expect a steak dinner for hamburger prices and are unable to adjust their expectations.

[TWR]

We returned from a place called Parkim Ayas in Gumbet Eccles, to look at the place it was (A1) That was untill we went into the room, Filthy, the toilet seat done a 90 degree turn, there is a claim going on at this time with Thomas Cook, watch this space.

[Smowball]

Ive gone on TA before to read reviews but it can just end up confusing you. I booked a holiday once and then for some reason just before we were due to fly I decided to read the reviews for it. Some were good, some were awful and I ended up dreading what it was going to be like. Luckily it was fine, but everybody will have different opinions wont they.

[EcclesCake]

I agree that if you are using TA to inform your choices you can get in a terrible muddle....it doesn't stop me looking for my own amusement.

Anyway, holiday is booked and I'll just have to make sure I remember my toothbrush!

[Booldawg]

you wouldnt book anywhere if you put your faith totally in Trip Advisor. People tend to only bother with reviews at both ends of the spectrum.

unless a place gets really slated on alot of reviews then I'd tend to chalk it up as not a true picture.

[Prudie]

I use it a lot but take with a massive pinch of salt. One man's meat is another man's poison.

[losgigs]

A lot of reviews are known to be bogus on TA, as mentioned in another thread. My son worked in a 5-star hotel which had 99% great reviews. Occasionally people who had booked using 'special offers' complained about the most trivial thing eg light-bulb not working but was replaced when complaint made - why bother saying something like that? I often read them just for amusement value.