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Original poster

Do you go by reviews

55 replies

purpleme12 · 30/01/2025 22:40

Do you go by reviews for your holidays?

Searching for holidays
I don't normally look at reviews but mum pointed out the reviews are m aren't very good.
Well that's because the first few you come across aren't very good but the places still have about 3.5 or mostly 4 stars overall so mostly good reviews.
But on closer inspection all the ones you look at have some bad reviews but again mostly ok/good star reviews overall.
I'm wondering if people just love to complain

OP posts:
QueSyrahSyrah · 30/01/2025 22:45

I'm a travel professional and part of my job is selecting hotels to work with and offer to our clients.

One of many methods I use is reviews and while I do read individual reviews I'm always aware that people who take the time to write them often have an axe to grind, so I pay more attention to the averages.

6000 reviews with an 4/5 average rating is fine by me. 20 reviews all 5/5 and from users who've only submitted 1 review is suspicious.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 30/01/2025 22:47

QueSyrahSyrah · 30/01/2025 22:45

I'm a travel professional and part of my job is selecting hotels to work with and offer to our clients.

One of many methods I use is reviews and while I do read individual reviews I'm always aware that people who take the time to write them often have an axe to grind, so I pay more attention to the averages.

6000 reviews with an 4/5 average rating is fine by me. 20 reviews all 5/5 and from users who've only submitted 1 review is suspicious.

Mmm yes interesting
That's a good point

OP posts:
JC03745 · 30/01/2025 22:54

Once I've narrowed down a town/area and are looking at which hotel, then yes, I do read reviews! On tripadvisor, I look at the 'guests' own photos and I read a mix of the good/average and bad ones. I also try to look at booking.com, air bnb review or other sites too. Some people will complain and give a poor rating- because it rained when on their holiday! I read with an open mind.

On the flip side, I equally review places I've been to. I feel I'm fair, I review places I've loved and hated and try to give a balanced review of the pros and cons.

OP- why wouldn't you read the reviews?

NormasArse · 30/01/2025 22:56

I always check reviews. I also always give honest reviews. I think they’re far more helpful than the blurb given by the owners.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 30/01/2025 23:00

Well I guess I'm skeptical of reviews
As an example, I've been on a holiday before when we absolutely loved it. That one again I've heard quite a few negative reviews (but still overall good stars/reviews).

But I guess it's not just holiday reviews either I'm skeptical of.

I guess I do think people like to complain sometimes!

OP posts:
AcquadiP · 30/01/2025 23:06

purpleme12 · 30/01/2025 22:40

Do you go by reviews for your holidays?

Searching for holidays
I don't normally look at reviews but mum pointed out the reviews are m aren't very good.
Well that's because the first few you come across aren't very good but the places still have about 3.5 or mostly 4 stars overall so mostly good reviews.
But on closer inspection all the ones you look at have some bad reviews but again mostly ok/good star reviews overall.
I'm wondering if people just love to complain

I stay at the same Parkdean caravan park twice a year (and have since 2009) and the park's rating is about 4.3* (it used to be 4).
I still read the reviews from time to time because some of the things people complain about are hilarious. The beach is 'too far away' (it's 5 minutes' walk); the caravan was 'freezing' (they're centrally heated); there were 'a lot of dogs' (it's a dog-friendly park.) Etc etc.
There's always going to be someone with a gripe.

JC03745 · 30/01/2025 23:17

I'm much more skeptical of say amazon reviews OP where I know some places pay for reviews. I often check what else a reviewer has reviewed, how often etc. Also if the product has been give to them for free- just to gain a glowing 5 start review!

Might be the same for hotels, but when they are showing actual photos of their hotel room/issues, its hard to refute.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 30/01/2025 23:19

Well I haven't seen any photos in any reviews

OP posts:
User2123 · 31/01/2025 07:22

Absolutely I always look at reviews. After narrowing down the options with the filters I then sort by Trip Advisor rating and work my way down the list. Depends on the type of holiday I guess but for our main summer getaway as a family I won't even look at anything less than 4.5 stars. If it is just a one night stopover or cheap weekend getaway, then it doesn't matter as much and I will lower my expectations accordingly.

I usually read the first page of recent reviews to get an overall feeling for what people like/dislike, then I use the search on TA to filter for key words relevant to us such as a particular facility or the location and look through the photos to get a different perspective compared to the official photos which only show the best bits.

I would be skeptical of a small number of reviews, good or bad. But if there's hundreds or thousands of reviews then I think it's likely to be a fairly accurate representation. People are more likely to leave negative reviews, so if overall it still averages 4 or 4.5, then it must be a pretty good hotel. You might still be unlucky and have a terrible stay with lots of problems, just like you might get lucky and really enjoy a hotel with only 2 star reviews. But if you knowingly book somewhere where the majority of reviews are negative, don't be surprised if you have the same experience!

Doggymummar · 31/01/2025 07:27

Yes I do, but I take it with as a whole picture. I stayed at a place on Rhodes last year and the reviews were terrible. I paid 400.00 for a week and 250 would be the flight. So I'm not sure what people expect for 20 quid a night really. It was right on the beach, far from town so quiet and spotless. That's all I wanted.

Sassybooklover · 31/01/2025 07:32

I spend a very long time researching areas/resorts and then hotels/apartments! So, yes, I do look at reviews. The majority of places will have some bad reviews. However if the hotel has 300 reviews, and 40 people are saying it's bad, then it's going to make me think twice. If a hotel has 3000 reviews and 40 are saying it's bad, then I may consider it. I never just go by the reviews of the travel agent, I always look at Trip Advisor and Booking.com/Trivago etc, as they don't all use Trip Advisor reviews. I like to get a balance. I also check out the hotels own website too, and may try and find the hotel on other sites, just to compare the pictures etc. Remember a star rating on a travel agent website is given due to the facilities on offer. In theory you'd expect the higher the star, the better the service/cleanliness, but it doesn't always correlate!! We stayed at a 2* apartment in Kos last year, and it was amazing! Clean, excellent service etc.

EmpressOfSoreen · 31/01/2025 07:34

I do read reviews but as with pretty much everything on the internet there's a lot of shit to wade through before you get to the point where you feel you have information - lots are fake, some people don't care if a place is dirty, others just like to moan.

Clearinguptheclutter · 31/01/2025 07:36

Always read reviews but ignore the people who clearly like complaining

I almost always leave hotel reviews but I do think people are more likely to leave a review if they had a very bad or very good experience, than if it was just fine.

QueSyrahSyrah · 31/01/2025 07:37

Another thing to look out for is very similar reviews, especially when they name members of staff. If every review talks about how amazing Gary and Gemma in the animation team are, then it's almost guaranteed that Gary and Gemma are heavily encouraging those reviews and either the reviewer gets some kind of reward for reviewing or Gary and Gemma get some kind of reward for being mentioned in a positive review.

polkalfie · 31/01/2025 07:37

Yeah absolutely, but it's a bit of work rifling through them. I also find they're less effective for budget type hotels because some people just have unrealistic expectations. But I find them important for 5* AI resorts, usually find they have Facebook groups I can ask the questions that concern me specifically.m

I look through them to determine what the main problems are, and if they're the ones of things that worry me.

TeamGeriatric · 31/01/2025 07:38

I normally read booking . com and Google reviews of hotels, when selecting. I don't usually bother much with TripAdvisor. I usually aim for places that are rated minimum 4 but closer to 4.5 ideally, but often only stay 3 or 4 nights in a place when we are away, so it's never a deal breaker if it doesn't live up to expectations. I think people might moan about things more when they are staying in resorts for a week or longer.

nookmiles · 31/01/2025 07:38

I do look at reviews but I do take them with a pinch of salt.

In general people tend to leave reviews when they want to have a moan about something as opposed to leaving a review because they had a wonderful time.

Also some people seem to moan about things which seem ridiculous. Like about an all inclusive family resort and people moan there are too many kids in the pool!

Last summer my family went to an all inclusive hotel in Tenerife. We had a lovely time. Good food, nice staff, kids loved it etc.
I saw plenty of reviews when I got back about the same hotel people complaining about things we never found an issue. Complaining about things like towels not being changed in the rooms - there were plenty of signs saying to leave them in the bath and they'll be changed. Ours were changed no problems.

Same if you want a top up of coffee in the room you only had to ask and it was done by housekeeping daily. Seems some people think the staff are mind readers and know you want these things done without even asking!

reluctantbrit · 31/01/2025 07:40

Yes I do but you have to see why people are complaining and also how old the reviews are.

A bad one about the food from 5 years ago and the issue was never again mentioned - a one off or problem solved.

For city breaks, if a room size is critisied, it's often a US guest who is not familiar with European hotel sizes outside the big chains. Similar with food portions or if a non-chain is not offering a big breakfast buffet.
My tiny independent hotel in Paris was downgraded because of this but it was absolutely normal for a hotel in the city.

Similar if it is a comment which has nothing to do with the hotel but the town, transport, location (which I check separately anyway).

If newer reviews talk about bad maintenance, food, staff, then I listen and may reconsider if there are too many of them.

CarefulN0w · 31/01/2025 07:48

I read the most recent reviews and then seek out the bad ones to get a flavour of what might be an issue.

If it's clear that a bad review is someone with an axe to grind, or a grifter, I discount that opinion. On the other hand, if the reviews consistently mention, bad food, dirty rooms or a lack of sunbeds I won't book. Last year I was close to booking when I noticed that the hotel we were looking at charged €8 per person per day for sunbeds.

polkalfie · 31/01/2025 07:51

When I was looking at hotels in Rome the Australians seemed very difficult to please! Most of the negative reviews about the moderately priced hotels with otherwise good reviews were from Australians lol.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 31/01/2025 07:53

But the majority of the reviews are still positive like I said

OP posts:
polkalfie · 31/01/2025 08:36

@purpleme12 I wouldn't call 3.5 a majority, 4.5+ is majority.

polkalfie · 31/01/2025 08:36

(In a holiday review context, I appreciate it's technically a majority!)

Original poster
purpleme12 · 31/01/2025 08:41

Yes that's why I said it's a majority

Anyway that was only one that was 3.5
All the others are 4 stars on the reviews

OP posts:
weatherissweetenough · 31/01/2025 08:54

3.5* average wouldn't cut it for me, I'm looking for 4.5. I think it's important to read the reviews and not just look a the ratings because some people will give very low stars for no good reason.

I've seen reviews where they've given one star because they turned up and didn't get a table, or they tried to ring a couple of times to book and nobody answered the phone 😂. These sort of reviews will bring the average down.