Blimey. If you relied on Tripadvisor, you'd never go anywhere.

[nkf]

Sometimes too much information is a bad thing. Spent an hour researching holidays and Tripadvisor is such a downer. But can't resist it.

I love tripadvisor...especially when the hotels reply.

And you can spot a professional moaner a mile off, so you know to discount their reviews!

I mainly use it to make sure the hotel is not on top of a Radioactive Pet Cemetery cum Nightclub, cos oddly the hotel's own reviews never think to mention that sort of thing! :o

I like it too. I I know what you mean about the professional moaners. Everything is personal.

It's incredibly useful when used with a pinch of salt, but you can get trapped in a situation with three hotels, each of which has had some damning criticism and be unable to pick any of them, even though they'd probably all be absolutely fine.

I thought that last weekend when thankfully we didn't read tripadvisor until we got to the caravan park

As a colleague pointed out, people only bother to post a review when they've had a really really bad time, or a really really good time. The people who were quite happy don't bother. So you don't get a full range of responses.

I am sorry to say ignore the American reviews and you will be fine!

My favourite review was the one of the caravan site where we were staying which complained that the bar was "too posh"! It was not.

You do learn how to judge a reviewer though. Some people only post when they've had an especially good or bad time but others will post for all their stays (like me).
So a reviewer that has loads of posts is a good one to follow whilst I ignore most of the one time only posts. I also check where the other posters have been before - I am aware that some do it as a profession.
Mostly it's good for other peoples photo's though - love the mould in the corner ones or the room with air con views. Don't get that anywhere else.

I wish one of the reviewers on Trip Advisor for my hotel had mentioned that it was a naturist hotel .

It wasn't until after I booked it that I noticed at the bottom of the website in teeny weeny small print that it said clothing was optional.

On a plus side, they all said it was clean and the staff were friendly.

I'll let you know on Tuesday to what extent clothing is worn.

I read one that went on and on about the weather (hardly the hotel's fault) and complained about mosquitos. Hello! In the tropics.

Friendly naked staff perhaps? Yes, you must update.

There is a very amusing thread in classics called 'thickos on trip advisor' it's well worth a read.

here it is

If you think reading tripadvisor makes you overly cautious I suggest you don't start watching Holidays From Hell on ITV (I think). You'll never want to leave your house.

I have just read that other thread and my sides are aching and my eyes watering. So so funny.

I am going to a hotel in Spain this summer and have been reading the reviews on TA.

"the hotels patrons are about 75% french with the rest being german, italian, spanish...so if you dont like people (the french) sticking their bread in the toaster out of turn dont come here

the food in the evening came in a reasonable variety (although the same or similar dishes were put out almost every evening) but the 2nd week was almost identical to the 1st week which was very tedious."

"Food very good but quite 'foreign' tasting for some things."

Love it :o

meant to be doing ironing but now crying with laughter reading that thread!

I always find that if someone has a bad experience they would review and let the world know more than they would if they enjoyed it!
People prefer to rant and rave about things. Take Tripadvisor with a pinch of salt.

I find that not everyone likes the same things - so if there is something particular I need a hotel to have i.e. great kids club, kids facilities I make sure I read the family reviews as the young single's couples view is my old life not my reality anymore. PLus I like the ice cream only available foran hour a day at the all inclusive as I have no will power lol - off to read that other thread now...

I always think far more people are bound to tell others about a bad experience then a good/standard one. Therefore I don't pay attention to them

I chose a Lake District b&b last year for their sarcastic comments back to numpties on TripAdvisor. One complaint was they weren't 5 min from the lake. They pointed out Streetview could confirm it was under 500 yards away. And a complaint about their room having a door to the outside - reply that you were on the second floor, the door is to the fire escape, and 'we find that most of our guests prefer not burning to death if there is a fire'!

i do love TA. i use it all the time when im looking for hotels, have also put reviews on there. but i try to ignore US reviewers, they are so picky

did you know that self catering properties can't get onto tripadvisor unless the property registers (ie pays to be on) with tripadvisor's own lettings agency, holiday lettings? sort of diminishes the 'independentness' of tripadvisor that i originally liked

I use it to check for mentions of bedbugs. I also ignore US reviews of hotels in London - yes, the rooms are small, it's London FFS.