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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to leave a bad review on Trip Advisor?

72 replies

Mintyy · 15/08/2014 18:51

Shock

I've never ever left a review, good or bad, ANYWHERE.

If I go on Trip Advisor and have a little rant will I become a TA thicko?

I need support before I go in ...

OP posts:
LadyLuck10 · 15/08/2014 18:52

If you truly felt that other people should know about this place negative aspects then ywnbu to leave a bad review.

Mintyy · 15/08/2014 18:56

I know, but I feel I may be being a tiny bit nit-picky ...

OP posts:
FiveGoMadInDorset · 15/08/2014 19:00

What's it for and what was the problem?

Mintyy · 15/08/2014 19:02

Staying in a South of France villa that costs £1500 (pounds not euro) per week. Lots of tiny things I would overlook if it weren't so ££££££.

OP posts:
ArcheryAnnie · 15/08/2014 19:03

I've left one bad review on TA, in a sea of good reviews I've left for other places. I did point out the positive aspects of the place I slated, but it was so truly awful I almost felt obliged to review it.

(A restaurant in Covent Garden which was both diabolical and really expensive.)

I haven't regretted it.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 15/08/2014 19:04

Could you post the review here, and we will tell you if we think it is too. It-picky?

Also, you could use the 'shit sandwich' model. Start and finish the review with the good things about the villa, and put the gripes in the middle.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 15/08/2014 19:04

Too nit-picky - bloody autocorrect.

frames · 15/08/2014 19:05

Is this about Bedruthen Steps...again???

ancientbuchanan · 15/08/2014 19:06

I find it infuriating when all you get is good news, so go ahead.

WooWooOwl · 15/08/2014 19:11

YANBU, but point out the god things as well for the sake of people who have already booked and paid to go.

Mintyy · 15/08/2014 19:11

Hmm, review not fully concocted in my mind yet.

Its all incredibly tedious to do with no dishwasher tablets, unusable washing machine, only 1 bath mat even though there are two bathrooms, dirty crockery, one of the dc's beds being a "put-you-up" bed rather than a proper bed.

Little things you feel you shouldn't have to worry about if you are spending fairly high end money ...Or perhaps £1500 pw is not a lot in France in August?

This is why I am asking.

OP posts:
MamaLazarou · 15/08/2014 19:13

£1500 seems quite cheap to me. Sorry.

Mintyy · 15/08/2014 19:22

No need to apologise, I wanted to know.

OP posts:
TSSDNCOP · 15/08/2014 19:22

I think it'd be fair to raise initial concerns with either the TA or villa owner first, then escalate to TA if no satisfaction.

TA is where I go when I'm ecstatic or have been royally dicked around with no satisfactory apology/resolution.

TSSDNCOP · 15/08/2014 19:23

Sorry, first TA meant Travel Agent.

LadyLuck10 · 15/08/2014 19:24

I think speak to the agent first, maybe it's a one off? Tbh I don't think that's something major enough to put me off.

ArcheryAnnie · 15/08/2014 19:25

£1500 seems quite a lot to me. How many bedrooms?

Also, cheap or expensive depends on the facilities available - it should still be clean, however cheap it is, and whatever facilities there are should still work. And what is there should be described honestly on the sales information, including describing beds properly.

londonrach · 15/08/2014 19:25

Be warned. I left a bad review about a pub in Hampshire as the good was shocking and had abusive email from chef. Reported to trio advisor. Email and my review removed. Worse food we ever eaten.

daisychain01 · 15/08/2014 19:26

SDTG I absolutely love the "shit sandwich" analogy Grin.

Mintyy in general terms I tend to be a bit of a woos about leaving negative comments on websites, as I'm always a bit worried in case a 'one-off' cock-up or unsatisfactory visit then tarnishes someone's business across the board. Along the lines of "give a dog a bad name.." and all that.

t'internet can be a bit cruel like that.

I guess it depends on the circumstances, but I prefer to deal with a complaint directly with the proprietors and see if they are positive, conciliatory, apologetic and try to make amends. If they couldn't give a damn, then I would feel like I'd at least given them first right of reply. Even then I wouldn't be too savage, but I would think twice about giving them my business again.

YANBU to consider commenting on TripAdvisor, I guess it does depend what you want to achieve...

Floggingmolly · 15/08/2014 19:27

£1500 for a week in France doesn't sound like the cheaper end of the market to me... I'd expect full luxury for that.

Mintyy · 15/08/2014 19:29

2 bed villa (one double, one twin) in south of France near border with Spain. Small private swimming pool.

I have no idea whether £1500 pw is a little or a lot as I've never had a holiday like this before.

OP posts:
WipsGlitter · 15/08/2014 19:31

It's a bit above average I would say. I'd keep it factual not ranty.

ArcheryAnnie · 15/08/2014 19:31

daisychain01 you make a good point about the way the owners deal with complaints. The one bad review I left, the owners had responded to previous bad reviews with variations on "well, everyone else liked it so shut up" and "ah yes, I remember you, you were the horrible drunks" (He couldn't do this to me because I hadn't said which day I'd visited.) He was so bullish and nasty about other people leaving pretty mild, polite complaints that I had no problem at all leaving a bad review.

rookiemater · 15/08/2014 19:34

I'd expect all of the things you listed to be right regardless of the price of the property - unless the temporary bed was listed as such.

I have put less than 5 star reviews on about places - I try to be really fair so I list all the good points if there are any such as location, distance from shops/airport size etc. and then anything I was less pleased with. I tend to rate on TA 5 star = pretty much perfect, or perfect for the price you paid, 4 star = very good with a few minor quibbles, 3 star = nothing special or not great value for the money, 2 star = disappointing, some major issues but a few redeeming features, 1 star = bloody awful.

I've only given 1 star once and that was for a "log cabin" which closely resembled a shack and had damp and a drawer full or dead flies, oh and sticky crockery and glasses because the shelves hadn't been cleaned for a long time or indeed ever.

From the info you have given it sounds about 3 star to me. However it does depend on the property size - if it's say 2 bedroom then I'd say it's quite expensive even for school hols but if it's 3+ then you aren't paying top rate for that time of year so can't expect it to be brilliant.

Enjoy your holiday anyway. I bet the weather's better there than it is here. As you are still there, as others have said, it may be worth emailing/phoning whoever you rented it from to see if you can get anything sorted whilst you are there.

PortofinoRevisited · 15/08/2014 19:36

Was it "as advertised" is the question I would ask. If for example the twin room was described a twin and not one proper bed and a put up. Dirty crockery etc is unacceptable. £1500 for a week in the Languedoc IS expensive.