Originally Posted by
mktozd
Thank you all, I appreciate it. I remember that article and agree that tripadvisor tends to be slanted toward extreme views and value focused people. Some posters tend to be easier or harder on properties depending upon their range of travel experience. For example, honeymooners tend to always glow about their resorts....as well as they should. But probably are a bit on the generous side.
Great summary ^ As someone who posts regularly on the TripAdvisor forums, and writes reviews of all hotel experiences, from Hampton Inn BFE to Peninsula Hong Kong, I can definitely agree.
A few, almost random thoughts:
-The ability to look at other people's reviews is critical. Unfortunately most people on seem to write a couple of reviews. I've got maybe 50 reviews up so you can get a fair gauge on my usual places.
-As someone who tends to go for Hiltons at the low end up to FS/MO/Peninsula if it is a reasonable deal/excellent hotel I find the overwhelming majority of posters are value focussed. You'll see ten posts asking about hostels or budget accomodation in the Hong Kong forum before you'll read one asking about luxury hotels.
-If someone has only a couple of reviews under their belts I'll almost ignore the review purely based on that fact and look at photos.
-I'm constantly amazed by the one sentence reviews: 'WE STAYED THERE FOR OUR HONEYMOON AND IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!' with no further comment
-Mentioning hotel elite status/booking through Amex FHR will attract you plenty of 'no' responses to the 'is this review useful' comment!
I find mentioning status useful for HHonors recognition and the like, but despite an 800 word review of every aspect of my stay and ten photos I'll still get a negative ding
..