so it is ONLY good for the most isolated places.

Well, at the moment TA doesn't want to list my "Ice Camp Barneo", a temporary tent village at the North Pole.

Although many other hotels (Alps) or camps (Africa) are only temporary, as well.

I assume the North Pole location is a bit too political ...

TA, if you read this: "Set Barneo free !"

Is that Nanning with 6 Mio inhabitants, in Guangxi Province? TA lists 527 hotels, including 17 with 4 or 5 stars. So it's been getting better lately?

That's the place. The problem with the listings is two fold: 1) many of those venues either don't exist at all anymore or the contact info is wrong and ta is very stubborn about correcting such errors; and 2) most successful restaurants couldn't be bother to get on ta. 大众点评is a little better because the list venues on their own. (Once listed it's pretty hard to ignore public feedback.)

Yes, in Dublin at least there are many lesser establishments outranking what is quite simply the finest hotel here. If it was in the top 10 that would be understandable. BUT from the reviews of the higher ranking hotels of equal cost, people seem very happy with their greatly inferior hotels, one thing I do pay attention to, is where the reviewer is from. Some people in general have higher standards than others, I totally respect our American cousins coming home, but when they have a choice of hotel in the best location in town, that once hired Hitlers brother as a belboy, is the preferred hangout of all those well heeled in Dublin, and the hotel where the Irish constitution was written. How the hell can it be out ranked by a half bit american chain box hotel charging more! Tucked away behind a shady side street opposite a pound store. TripAdvisor is not very discerning. Real culture is not to be found through TripAdvisor.

reg. bellboy & constitution

Absolutely agree reg. non-culture. There is something like the typical Tripadvisor Nr. 1 hotel. By definition, this must be a rather mediocre place.

A Grand (Dame) Hotel doesn't try to please everybody, and will always make the mediocre masses feel a bit insecure and inferior. And probably be a bit unpolished and a bit more expensive. Hence the lower ratings.

This kind of knowledge exists in other circles, but not online.

I even don't like Fours Seasons because they try to give every guest the same standardized service, no matter if flip flops or Chanel costume.

TA has led me to a number of nice places to stay which are not name brand motels. Not expensive properties, but the kinds of places I like to stay in as a base while doing a vacation of mostly hiking. You can get useful feedback on amenities (wifi, microwave, fridge presence/qualities) and some hints about food if there's breakfast too.

You obviously have to read the reviews and throw out 1/4 of them as having no info, being just barbs, or perhaps written by shills. I would agree about the comments with respect to argumentative management, and I'm a bit nervous about my res with one such place later in the summer - though in other respects it sounds like my kind of place. I like the reviews that give me a bit of ability to calibrate, e.g. "Not luxurious but clean and quiet" and complaints about thin walls and creaky floors always get my attention.

I would agree that for chains, TA provides less value, though again comments about the neighborhood, nearby dining, and transportation can be helpful.

I regularly contribute TA reviews.

But I'd always go to Yelp for restaurant reviews, TA only for hotels.

^

So...why is Taiwan on it then?

I have never used TripAdvisor for advice, but I have posted in a few forums.

My usual go-tos are wikivoyage (for airport transit help and hotel "addresses") and/or local language sites.

When you write a review, you should just stick to the facts. Also, adding photos helps.

Because the island of Formosa / Taiwan is part of China?

But yes, they should list properties everywhere.. I wished for a good alternative to TA.. but sadly there are only regional one's, nothing with a coverage anywhere close world wide..

Taiwan isn't politically sensitive (for US).

Palestine is, just like previously Transnistria and Abkhazia, now South Ossetia and some Russian Caucasus Republics (waited a long time to get Chechnya and Ingushetia listed).

Plus my current North Pole request.

^

Last week I wrote a lengthy review of the Fairmont Heritage Place SF, giving it 3 stars.
It was followed, very quickly, by a glowing 5 star review which was obviously written
(in a somewhat snarky way) to counter the negatives I raised. It was full of PR speak that made it very suspicious. Upon further examination, this 4 time poster has written 4 reviews. All 5 Stars. All for Fairmount Hotels. Geez, if you are trying to game the system, a bit of subtlety might be in order.