alf_fly

With the majority here, a useful resource.

The ranking system is about votes, not about quality. So if every backpacker finds the local dump amazing (in terms of value, for example), then it will be #1. It's not about the best hotel in town, quality wise. It's about the hotel people like the most. Both tend to go together generally, but not always. Most of the hotels discussed in this forum are well ranked on TA.

How do you know they are fake?

jerry a. laska

The worth of Trip Advisor has been discussed most recently in this continuing thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...formation.html
Older discussion:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...ipadvisor.html
There are others.

mike_la_jolla

This has been discussed Ad nauseam in other threads. Go here to start:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17942256-post27.html

Kagehitokiri

because behavior in luxury hotels forum is so sophisticated and polite, and many here do not read other forums, many here are not aware of the extent of 'guerilla marketing' (etc) as well as "trolling" (etc) that exists on the internet.

just because something is not "fake" by the definition of "fake" does not mean it is "real" as it is presented.

see the very end of this thread >

post lists EVERY thread on tripadvisor etc in this forum >

Pausanias

I've been to Gila Bend - went there to investigate a bizarre Hollywood death and stayed at the Travelodge Inn which was the scene of the incident. Back then it was OK - quintessential roadside Americana - but now it's Knights Inn and gets a bad rating on TA!

MikeFromTokyo

Trip advisor offers some valuable information if you find reviews from reliable posters, especially those who have included pictures of accommodation and hotel/resort grounds. the only time I use it is when looking for real life photographs of a property I have never been to before. I would never rely on Trip Advisor as a primary source of travel advice or recommendations.

I couldn't believe it when Four Seasons started to display Trip advisor review excerpts on its on their website. I hope they have stopped doing that as it really dumbed down the website IMO.

LondonElite

Hyatt keep sending me emails asking me to review my latest stay on TA. I once replied that the association with TA was a questionable thing.

EuropeanPete

I find TripAdvisor very useful, but you do need to be quite sophisticated in how you read it. It can be a good way to get a "feel" for a property and its location (logistics) - I also find it great for independent mid-priced hotels in less fashionable places: I've found it very useful in Nepal, Burma, Northern India and Sicily to name a few and have stayed at some amazing places.

High up in the rankings usually does mean a hotel is doing reasonably well for its category (and/ or is top end) which is good to know, and I've found quickly checking the worst and best reviews tends to be a reasonably reliable way of finding what the major positives and negatives of the property are.

I've found it less useful in mainstream luxury hotels because there are better sources out there (FT is perhaps the best) and because of the lower signal to noise ratio where so many people are just giving their feelings about staying in any luxury hotel. Maybe people have some hints about what they can get from TripAdvisor in this area?

aa213bb

We stopped there after visiting Organ Pipe Cactus National Park - an incredible experience, especially at sunset - and stayed at a 60s style space lodge (now Best Western branded), which was an absolute kitschy blast … pardon the pun.

Agreed. I find the new website a shamble. They've really made a hash of it.

This would prompt an email to regional/global management.

That. is. obnoxious.

Pausanias

So far, I've reviewed 123 hotels on TripAdvisor and in all the 8-9 years of TA I have never, ever, been solicited for a review, though I am noticing an increasing number of TA Awards stickers at various hotels and, also, those links to TA on hotel sites, including Four Seasons.

So, picture the scene:

INT. LOBBY. FOUR SEASONS BY THE BOSPHORUS
Reservations Agent:
I hope you enjoyed your stay with us Ms Muddlehirst.

Lynne Muddlehirst:
It was superb. I loved the Rose wine and the organic masseur and the Tod's shop.

Reservations Agent (smirking):
I'm so pleased. Perhaps you might like to write a review for TripAdvisor.

Lynne Muddlehirst:
Trip who????

MikeFromTokyo

What's your point Pausanius? Have you purposly misspelled her name, or am I missing something?

Kagehitokiri

many things exist that one has not experienced first hand

MikeFromTokyo, you missed the point of the joke - good hotels dont ask (good quests)

MikeFromTokyo

I see - sorry I missed the point - of course good hotels would never ask a guest to write a trip advisor review! It never even occurred to me that some hotels might ask guests to do so.

TRAVELSIG

I think this depends on how it is done.

My understanding from the friends I have in the hotel business is that the weight of TA reviews is disproportional for some customers in choosing a hotel.

So- if a hotel- discreetly- writes on a customer feedback response- if you would like to share your experience with TA please click the link here- with a link- that is OK in my book. What is definitely not OK are the hotels which have the "WRITE US A POSITIVE TA REVIEW AND RECEIVE A FREE ...." which I find to be horribly offensive.

I have seen even the best hotels using the first point- discreet link- which I think is OK and I do participate in from time to time (not often though).

HKTraveler

I find TA to be great for specific things. Here are the ways I like to use it:

1) Coverage - TA has such great coverage that they will have some reviews on really remote hotels. While FT is great on luxury hotels, not every town has luxury hotels.

2) Photos - I always look at photos of hotels before booking since I want to get a "feel" for the hotel. I don't like very old classical decor and stuffy settings and this help me to avoid them.

3) Details - I also look at the most negative reviews for the drawbacks of specific hotels. While people sometimes have random gripes, the level of detail available on a property can be quite amazing and helps one to avoid getting a room in the basement or looking out to a parking lot