tripadvisor review

frosty66

had a terrible hotel exp recently
and want to warn other traveller via tripadvisor
im just wondering would it really influence your choice of hotels if it is at reasonable price
thanks!

c - 13

Yes, I always check tripadvisor before i book a hotel. Its not the only source I use and I wouldn't base my decision completely on just the details in the reviews but it would certainly influence the overall choice.

Larianne

Yes definitely! I would use tripadvisor and 2 other websites when deciding on a place to stay. Depending on how many bad reviews or how bad 1 review was I'd definitely consider not staying there, no matter what the price.

I have written some reviews on places good and bad. I think some hotels do read them. I stayed in a hotel in Hanoi and I saw one of the staff members reading reviews. That's probably why it was a nice place to stay!

Savman

Defo use tripadvisor, most ppl will take a few bad reports with a pinch of salt (you can just be unlucky or the grumpy type) but generally when a hotel gets really low ranking it's one to avoid.

DublinWriter

I *always* use Tripadvisor before booking an unfamiliar hotel.

c - 13

Savman wrote: »

Defo use tripadvisor, most ppl will take a few bad reports with a pinch of salt (you can just be unlucky or the grumpy type) but generally when a hotel gets really low ranking it's one to avoid.

Those can be easy to pick out and disregard though.

They usually begin something like - "Upon arriving at the reception I was disgusted to find that the bellboy refused to carry both my wife and my luggage to the room ..." and end with "... and I will be deducting the final star due to the fact that my bacon was not equally cooked on both sides"

frosty66

thanks for replies, no its a genuine bad hotel in Holland a complete rip off, lots of extra charges for services we hadnt used on day of check out, didnt kno how to react, a bit of a language barrier & was in rush for airport. so disgusted.
what can you do in this situation?

P. Breathnach

I use tripadvisor quite often, and I read the reviews of hotels that I am considering. But I disregard some of them. Some look like they were written by people associated with the hotel (tell-tale signs: a number of reviews in fairly similar style, often echoing the hotel's own description of itself; top marks in all categories; praise for the owner as a great host). I also disregard negative reports that look as if they have been written by unreasonable people, the sort who seem to expect five-star standards at two-star prices.

Yes, it is a service to others to write a review. It is more likely to guide people if you write in temperate language, concentrating on the facts rather than on your feelings.

Savman

Bottom line, take all reviews with a pinch of salt, it is t'internet after all and so easily open to abuse. The candid traveller photos tell all though, ain't no hiding in there.

zAbbo

You really need to read the details of those posting on TA.

I'd normally trust Uk or Irish based reviews moreso than others, just to avoid this.

Hotel was amazing, really comfortable and me and my hubby had the most wonderful time ever. The staff were very friendly and helpful, while the food was delicious, but on the 2nd last day we only got 1 bath towel instead of 2.

Barbara & George, Washington, USA

Rating 1/5

Tabnabs

Another thumbs up for tripadvisor. Only negative thing I find is the budget or the most popular places to stay is generally way over what I am willing to pay (eg. Dublin; No1 hotel? Four Seasons!)

I also put up reviews and photos when I get particularly good or bad service etc.

Hennybug

Definitely do it , i always check Trip Advisor before booking hotels and it's never let me down. I will generally post a review after staying somewhere as well unless it's neither good nor bad

olaola

zAbbo wrote: »

I'd normally trust Uk or Irish based reviews moreso than others, just to avoid this.
]

I'd second this!

Ponster

I think I have more posts on TA then I do here

Always check the location of the reviewers as it gives you a better idea of what their expectations are.

DubArk

frosty66 wrote: »

had a terrible hotel exp recently
and want to warn other traveller via tripadvisor
im just wondering would it really influence your choice of hotels if it is at reasonable price
thanks!

Yes i use it all the time and i travel alot!! I contribute to it too.

boardsie08

c - 13 wrote: »

Yes, I always check tripadvisor before i book a hotel. Its not the only source I use and I wouldn't base my decision completely on just the details in the reviews but it would certainly influence the overall choice.

Larianne wrote: »

Yes definitely! I would use tripadvisor and 2 other websites when deciding on a place to stay. Depending on how many bad reviews or how bad 1 review was I'd definitely consider not staying there, no matter what the price.

I have written some reviews on places good and bad. I think some hotels do read them. I stayed in a hotel in Hanoi and I saw one of the staff members reading reviews. That's probably why it was a nice place to stay!

Hey guys,

Mind me asking what other sites you use in looking up reviews on hotels and locations?

The only I use at present is TA, wouldn't minding using some others aswell though!

OPENROAD

Yes and no. I tend to be brand loyal, I do regularly read the reviews for the hotels I normally stay in with interest. Overall the reviews are fairly accurate though sometimes some reviews where people maybe have had small problems. which then can seem to cloud their overall judgement. However these are easy to spot. Another excellent site is flyertalk.com a site for airline and hotel loyalty schemes which has a good search function within hotel brands.

Pythia

I always use Tripadvisor. One or two bad reviews won't put me off but it'd have to have a very good overall score.

staker

I always read and review in TA. It's a great site for information and all it's content seems genuine.

black & white

boardsie08 wrote: »

Hey guys,

Mind me asking what other sites you use in looking up reviews on hotels and locations?

The only I use at present is TA, wouldn't minding using some others aswell though!

www.realholidayreports.com

www.holidaywatchdog.com

www.holidaysuncovered.co.uk

I'd have to say that Tripadvisor has been the most comprehensive for the places I have stayed.

Pshan

frosty66 wrote: »

had a terrible hotel exp recently
and want to warn other traveller via tripadvisor
im just wondering would it really influence your choice of hotels if it is at reasonable price
thanks!

Would usually have a gander at TA before a hotel that hadn't already been recommended to me by someone.

BTW, did you use TA before booking this hotel?

Have you read reviews of the hotel since your experience with the hotel - if so, what was the general experience of other users, would one more bad review make a difference?

SuperStarHoney

Definitely do a review. I always write a review if I'm really impressed or really disappointed. As others have said sometimes you have to take some reviews with a pinch of salt but it's the general consenus most people look at.

I also think you can get so much detail on a hotel/area in the TA reviews that you can't get anywhere else.

cute_cow

c - 13 wrote: »

Yes, I always check tripadvisor before i book a hotel. Its not the only source I use and I wouldn't base my decision completely on just the details in the reviews but it would certainly influence the overall choice.

+1

Always check with tripadvisor for accomodation. Wanted to book a 4 star hotel in Europe, quite expensive and on website looked fab, but went onto tripadvisor and most of the reviews said they had bedbugs so def didn't go there.

I also advise (and always do) take photos of the hotel rooms, corridors, common areas outside etc., just so people can see for themsleves. I don't like it when people say it was good/bad and do not have picyures to back it up!

boardsie08

black & white wrote: »

www.realholidayreports.com

www.holidaywatchdog.com

www.holidaysuncovered.co.uk

I'd have to say that Tripadvisor has been the most comprehensive for the places I have stayed.

Cheers for that, they look good, will definitely check them out!

lil fire engine

i alwys look up a hotel in trip advisor.. however it depends on wat the person is giving ou about that influences my choice... some ppl will pick at anything to have a rant... some reports are genuine reasons why i wouldn go to a certain place!

also does any one find thou that most of the time the reviews are bad??? a lot less good reviews on the site.. i think good experiences shud be put on as much as bad ones!!

fm

always click on the reviewers profile to see have they rated other hotels.some hotels have good reviews from 4 or 5 people in a row who only have reviewed that hotel-most likely a staff member.

Larianne

boardsie08 wrote: »

Hey guys,

Mind me asking what other sites you use in looking up reviews on hotels and locations?

The only I use at present is TA, wouldn't minding using some others aswell though!

No worries! I have used travelfish.org, virtualtourist and hostelworld. Also Asiarooms.com. I used Virtualtourist.com the most and others depending which country I was in - S.E. Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Also sometimes had a look in The Thorn Tree forum on Lonely Planet but I was mainly backpacking. Virtualtourist does from 5 star hotels down to huts on a beach.

oh and I normally disregarded ANY review by Americans.

SuperStarHoney

Larianne wrote: »

oh and I normally disregarded ANY review by Americans.

Snap, that's my usual philosophy too!

P. Breathnach

Larianne wrote: »

oh and I normally disregarded ANY review by Americans.

I wrote in an earlier posting on this thread: "I also disregard negative reports that look as if they have been written by unreasonable people, the sort who seem to expect five-star standards at two-star prices."

Many of those people are Americans.

c - 13

Larianne wrote: »

No worries! I have used travelfish.org, virtualtourist and hostelworld. Also Asiarooms.com. I used Virtualtourist.com the most and others depending which country I was in - S.E. Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Also sometimes had a look in The Thorn Tree forum on Lonely Planet but I was mainly backpacking. Virtualtourist does from 5 star hotels down to huts on a beach.

oh and I normally disregarded ANY review by Americans.

The ones in bold are the ones I use too. I generally try to get an idea from the hotels sites own reviews if theyre all good and in a similar style you know that theyre not real reviews

Sundy

Asiarooms is good for reviews because you can only review if you made a booking through the website. Its also a good place to pick up cheap hotel rooms

Larianne

Sundy wrote: »

Asiarooms is good for reviews because you can only review if you made a booking through the website. Its also a good place to pick up cheap hotel rooms

Also, they usually give the hotel's phone number so you can ring up and see if you can get a better deal directly from the hotel!

El Grifo

Have just done first report on Tripadvisor after using it many times. I think you get the "feel" for what people say in their reports after a bit. The place we stayed had about 12 good and 2 mixed and 1 bad report. The bad one was definitely plain grumpy, nothing about the accommodation, resort or the island as a whole seemed to suit them. Nothing beats the personal experience of the traveller who has paid to be there to (generally) give an honest account.

Incidentally I find hotelstreet.co.uk is handy for the maps it has where you can very accurately pinpoint the accommodation in its resort/town. I use that and tripadvisor together. Works well.

ncmc

fm wrote: »

always click on the reviewers profile to see have they rated other hotels.some hotels have good reviews from 4 or 5 people in a row who only have reviewed that hotel-most likely a staff member.

This is a really good point, click on the reviewers name and sometime you find that they joined on a certain date, wrote one review on that date and last visited on that same date. That raises a red flag for me, especially if the review was overly harsh or overly complimentary.

I always, always look up hotels on TA and always write a review, good bad or indifferent. You do have to take the reviews with a pinch of salt, I normally read about 20 reviews and if negatives about cleanliness or location are coming up again and again then I wouldn't book the hotel. However if there is just the odd bad review, or the complaints are just frivolous, then I would disregard the review.

To the OP, have you tried emailing the hotel manager or the company head office if it is a chain? If you had a really bad experiance, they may be able to compensate you in some way. It's worth a try for all the time it takes to write an email.