to leave a bad review on Trip Advisor?

[Mintyy]

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 ...

[Pico2]

The main problem with the things you listed seems to me that you weren't expecting them. Had the listing that you booked through been clear you might well not have booked (camp bed) or taken a few more bits and pieces with you.

I have decided against some holiday lets due to insufficient details on their website/listing. I certainly wouldn't book for one of my family to sleep on a camp bed (of sofa bed).

[Mintyy]

H

[Dubjackeen]

When reading reviews I normally read the posters other posts & normally discount poor ones if the reviewer has only written once.

Same here. I read between the lines a bit. I always have a look at other reviews, especially if it's over the top slating or praising, in the midst of more factual or balanced ones.
Likewise re one-off reviews, I stayed in a B&B once which had glowing reviews. It was fine, very clean, and the owner had obviously worked hard re painting it and so on. I picked it for a one night stay, because of the location, and had no complaints. There were a number of one-off reviews though, which I would definitely say were done by friends or family.

[MozzchopsThirty]

I'm a 'top contributor' on TA I review everything, hotels, days out, restaurants

I'm always honest and i like to think fair.
Most of my reviews are 4 i think I've only given a 2 twice, and they were dire
Go for it, it's good to share opinions and experiences

[rhubarbcrumbleplease]

I use TA a lot. The trouble with reviews is they're so subjective. One person's 'great location near a good bar' is another's 'music disturbed my peace.'
I tend to describe what I liked/ disliked about a place & try and keep it factual.
When reading reviews I normally read the posters other posts & normally discount poor ones if the reviewer has only written once.

[lljkk]

I suggest: A rating that reflects how much you personally want to repeat the experience there or anywhere similar. And keep it factual why you are unhappy.

Would it really be so hard for venue owners to ask tenants if they would like any consumables like toilet paper, dishwasher tabs etc?

[MM5]

I have been researching villas with private pools for next summer and £1500 is at the lower end of middle pricing.

I always take reviews with a pinch of salt. What annoys one person does hot annoy another. The things you mentioned would not bother me.

Put in your review. I would think you would say 3 star. Too me 1-2 star are on par with walk out as too unclean to stay in.

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

If I think there are rectifiable problems I will raise them direct at the time or afterwards. I see TA as a place to share info, good or bad, to help other people make choices. I might point out that a wonderful B&B is on a steep hill as it's helpful to know for people with mobility problems. I might comment on parking or proximity of the local shop. I often say what was/wasn't provided so people know what to pack, eg if a hotel will give you beach towels that saves taking your own. We once ruled out a hotel because although it reviewed well, a number of people mentioned that there were a lot of wasps there; DH has a phobia so would have been miserable.

[daisychain01]

Sorry about the " " going a bit pear-shaped! Only rating myself a "1" for poor punctuation.

[daisychain01]

Mintyy It sounds like you were disappointed with things that you expected to be provided (which weren't) and standard of facilities could have been better value for money.

On that basis, I would email your customer evaluation back to the owners, then give them 5 working days to reply with some explanation.

If the response comes back as apologetic and somehow addresses your points (tbh I cant imagine them giving you any money back!) then you could give them 3 or 4 stars if you felt your holiday was generally OK but "could have been better.

If you aren't happy with their reply, or they don't reply, then they deserve a 3 or 2. In the comments, you could say something like "I cant give this facility more than x because we didn't like x and y and the owners didn't reply to our email.

I agree, one bad review doesn't make a business go broke, but I am a lightweight as regards saying negative things on a public forum. I have no hesitation to tell them honestly in a private email. But I take on board what pp's have said, that a non-ranty, shit-sandwich is probably a reasonable thing to do.

Hope your holiday was lovely all the same!

[chandalier]

We own self catering places and at first always used to provide a box of dish tabs and good stock of loo rolls for each stay but people just took it all with them when they vacated. Not a tablet or square of paper would be left on most departures. Got really tired of this but if you try and estimate an amount to last the week you are accused of being tight so just can't win really.
Have lost count of the number of times people just shove dirty crockery away in cupboards and run. The cleaners have enough to do turning the house around without doing people's washing up as well.
Put you up beds are always basic and designed for under 12s so if you ask for one, this is what you will get. We do not provide this type of bed any longer as it is the number one complaint.

[tobiasfunke]

I think you are quite within your rights to complain about the bed, the dirty crockery, the washing machine and the bathmat - that is all totally unacceptable. The dishwasher tablets loo roll etc can be mentioned as a secondary point- the fact they mentioned it as luxury and you would've expected these things. I've stayed in loads of self catering over the last 20 plus years and it's only in the last 5 or so years I've noticed that standards have really risen particularly in Britain. I still pack dishwasher tablets and rarely need them.
Generally the French aren't good at including these things but I agree at £1500 it should be included. Places like the Logis du Pressoir (which is wonderful) have them because they have British owners.

[Littleturkish]

Is there a villa manager you can raise this with now?

[Dubjackeen]

I would list the major good things first – great location, big house, good condition, whatever – and then list the nitpicky things. I don’t rant on TripAdvisor but I do say why I think something is poor value for money or simply not as good as it could be, and I've never had my reviews deleted or anything. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to point out that if they expect people to fly-drive then they could provide some basic supplies. And if the owners don’t want to provide supplies then at least it lets future visitors know what to expect so they can come prepared!

Same here, I always stick to being factual, and am fair in what I say in a review.
It would be helpful to point out that certain things are not provided, that would make life easier, and you could include it as a recommendation in your review.
I don't think the things you have mentioned, OP, are nit picking.

[ForalltheSaints]

If it is factual such as things not provided, then why not?

[Kleinzeit]

I would list the major good things first – great location, big house, good condition, whatever – and then list the nitpicky things. I don’t rant on TripAdvisor but I do say why I think something is poor value for money or simply not as good as it could be, and I've never had my reviews deleted or anything. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to point out that if they expect people to fly-drive then they could provide some basic supplies. And if the owners don’t want to provide supplies then at least it lets future visitors know what to expect so they can come prepared!

[Beehatch]

That is expensive for a week, so I don't blame you expecting that little step further. However all the French or Spanish Villas we've ever had have very little in the way of consumables. The very most they stretch to is one roll of loo paper to keep you going until you hit the Hypermarket.

We are in fact currently in Spain and the fact we arrived late evening on a Sunday from a Ryanair flight (so not fed) meant I made sure to arrange with the owner to stock us with some basics in advance so we could at least eat something. The fact that she included cold cuts of meat despite bring told we are veggie is par for the course in Spain! I was very happy we could eat drink some odd tasting tea and breakfast before finding the local Euroski. I did in fact pack black pepper, herbs, a tin opener, bottle opener and a sharp knife knowing such things are gold dust in the self catering world!

[PortofinoRevisited]

I usually try to stay with British owners for this reason. They are not afeared by stuff being left. And I always pay it forward by replacing stuff we use up. It costs SO little to have bread, butter, milk, coffee and tea and a bottle of wine available on arrival and makes you feel welcome and at home.

[MorrisZapp]

I would go straight to tripadvisor. Holidays are for enjoying, not for arguing and complaining. It is helpful for others to know eg they dont provide dishwasher tabs, and the place lacks the touches you would expect for the price.

Can't see much point in ringing the owner and saying we just thought it would be a bit nicer. Totally fair comment in a review though.

I've never left a bad review btw, just good ones. But I don't hesitate to mention gripes. That's the whole point of it.

[Mintyy]

I have stayed in much cheaper places which supplied loo roll, dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid, bin bags, kitchen paper, washing tablets. Just enough for the length of our stay (not a whole new box full). All very much appreciated.

Its a pita to have to go out and get this when you are paying a lot for a self catering villa, and obviously you are not going to be able to take it home - due to baggage allowance on flights etc - I just think it is so much more classy to swallow the cost of providing these few basics for your guests who are paying more than £200 per day to stay in your gaff.

Our villa charges non-negotiable 40 euros for cleaning. Well, I'm sad that the cleaners couldn't have looked at the crockery and seen that it was filthy before we arrived.

[KnittedJimmyChoos]

The best places do wine/beer/water/coke etc in the fridge.

Yep most places we have gone too provide wine and bread and butter, jam, water etc..

[zipzap]

I'm guessing half of it is the not knowing, particularly for things like dishwasher tablets and loo rolls. If you know in advance, it's not that difficult to stick some in your luggage, a couple of extra loo rolls, some washing tabs etc. Even means you might have a smidgen of extra space to bring stuff back, plus you don't have the hassle of having to go and get it.

If they told you up front that they provide xyz but you need to provide abc then whilst you might not like it, you know what to expect - important when there are cultural differences. You could suggest they tell you up front as a nice suggestion so they don't take it too harshly.

On the otherhand things like dirty dishes are pretty grim!

[Olga79]

My thinking is, British owners = kettle and teapot but possibly no coffee maker. Continental owners = coffee maker but possibly no kettle and teapot

[rookiemater]

I'm still in shock at the no coffee maker . Even in the very basic apartment we were in this summer ( no dishwasher, no tv, a wifi "hot spot" which consisted on standing against the owners living room wall), in fact even in the even more basic ski apartment we stayed in in Feb ( no sheets, towels, no sink in bathroom - had to wash hands in kitchen sink , no DVD player) yes even in all of those, there has always been a coffee maker. DH and I couldn't survive a whole day without one.

[Olga79]

I think mentioning lack of dishwasher tablets etc. is a bit nit picky tbh in a self catering place. I'd appreciate if things were there but wouldn't think it warranted a complaint if they weren't. Ditto a welcome pack (unless specifically mentioned elsewhere)