TripAdvisor
#826
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: La Jolla, California
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, SWA CP
Posts: 1,126
If anybody here still maintains the fiction that TripAdvisor is 'reliable', here is an article from Business Insider that might change your opinion:
One marketer cracked the hotel review system and consistently dominates TripAdvisor ratings. Her strategy can help you crush your next job interview or optimize your business.
One marketer cracked the hotel review system and consistently dominates TripAdvisor ratings. Her strategy can help you crush your next job interview or optimize your business.
#827
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,577
Years ago, I was looking for a hotel in Denver and when I saw that a Residence Inn was the top ranked property, it was clear that my criteria were not synced with a majority of reviewers on TA.
But I disregard the rankings and read the reviews - after having tentatively chosen a property. I'm looking for specific information and use the filters to guide me to reviews that mention the things I'm interested in getting information about. I've also found that bad reviews are often dropped after a bad, but obviously anecdotal, experience.
Along with other inputs, and a lot of experience (leading me understand and correctly interpret exactly the kind of reviewing tricks discussed in the cited article), I've used TA to good advantage and haven't ended up in a dud hotel in ages.
But I disregard the rankings and read the reviews - after having tentatively chosen a property. I'm looking for specific information and use the filters to guide me to reviews that mention the things I'm interested in getting information about. I've also found that bad reviews are often dropped after a bad, but obviously anecdotal, experience.
Along with other inputs, and a lot of experience (leading me understand and correctly interpret exactly the kind of reviewing tricks discussed in the cited article), I've used TA to good advantage and haven't ended up in a dud hotel in ages.
#828
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,288
If anybody here still maintains the fiction that TripAdvisor is 'reliable', here is an article from Business Insider that might change your opinion:
One marketer cracked the hotel review system and consistently dominates TripAdvisor ratings. Her strategy can help you crush your next job interview or optimize your business.
One marketer cracked the hotel review system and consistently dominates TripAdvisor ratings. Her strategy can help you crush your next job interview or optimize your business.
#829
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DTW
Programs: Alaska, Delta, Southwest
Posts: 1,664
I clicked through the link expecting, from your description, an article about how someone has figured out how to cheat or manipulate ratings on TripAdvisor. I was surprised to find what's actually a very good read about how hotels can genuinely improve customer satisfaction. Wrong link?
#830
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,999
Has anyone noticed that you can no longer read the reviews on TripAdvisor. Hotel pages just show pictures and FAQs, but I can't seem to ever pull up user reviews anymore. Has something changed? Is it members only now?
#831
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 411
You can still view them, you just have to scroll down further.
#832
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,999
#833
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, AA Lifetime Gold, UA Premier Silver
Posts: 188
There is no trick to it. I just went and checked to make sure nothing has changed and it hasn't. Go to any hotel page and just keep scrolling down until the reviews show up on the left side. You do have to scroll past some ads for other hotels in the area that can make it seem like the hotel information has ended but it hasn't, just keep scrolling down.
#835
Join Date: May 2010
Location: TPA
Programs: All The Programs
Posts: 2,209
Is TA search terrible? Maybe they're presenting the hotels that pay now?
I've had a tough time finding things in the app. If I search for the exact same text (with "TripAdvisor") in google, it comes right up.
I've had a tough time finding things in the app. If I search for the exact same text (with "TripAdvisor") in google, it comes right up.
#837
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Search on the website is pretty bad. There's a horrible signal to noise ratio especially when you're trying to look at Attractions. Also now the website and app default to ranking by "Traveler Favorites" instead of "Traveler Ranked" which makes a huge difference. I'm always very careful to make sure I'm looking at the right one.
#838
Join Date: May 2010
Location: TPA
Programs: All The Programs
Posts: 2,209
Search on the website is pretty bad. There's a horrible signal to noise ratio especially when you're trying to look at Attractions. Also now the website and app default to ranking by "Traveler Favorites" instead of "Traveler Ranked" which makes a huge difference. I'm always very careful to make sure I'm looking at the right one.
#839
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 179
How reliable are hotel reviews on TripAdvisor?
Hi everyone. As I mentioned in earlier threads here on these forums, I'm traveling to France, Germany, and Holland in two months.
For this trip, I'm acting as my own travel agent for the first time. Last week, I booked all of my flights and train tickets.
Now I'm in the process of making hotel reservations.
Lately, I've gotten into the habit of visiting TripAdvisor and reading up on tourists' reviews of hotels that I'm looking into.
This is because I was interested in a few Mercure properties in Paris, and I had second thoughts after being warned of recent subpar reviews of these properties on TripAdvisor.
How reliable and useful are hotel reviews on TripAdvisor when you're booking your accommodations?
Is it advisable to exclusively consider hotels that have thousands upon thousands of reviews?
For this trip, I'm acting as my own travel agent for the first time. Last week, I booked all of my flights and train tickets.
Now I'm in the process of making hotel reservations.
Lately, I've gotten into the habit of visiting TripAdvisor and reading up on tourists' reviews of hotels that I'm looking into.
This is because I was interested in a few Mercure properties in Paris, and I had second thoughts after being warned of recent subpar reviews of these properties on TripAdvisor.
How reliable and useful are hotel reviews on TripAdvisor when you're booking your accommodations?
Is it advisable to exclusively consider hotels that have thousands upon thousands of reviews?
#840
Join Date: May 2010
Location: TPA
Programs: All The Programs
Posts: 2,209
There really isn't much for alternatives, but I've found TA to be reasonably reliable for researching hotels in other countries.
I've had 4-dot hotels that were great. I've had 4-dot hotels that were just OK. I've only ever had one hotel that got good marks, but was actually pretty bad.
I've had 4-dot hotels that were great. I've had 4-dot hotels that were just OK. I've only ever had one hotel that got good marks, but was actually pretty bad.
Last edited by TBD; Feb 10, 2023 at 7:36 am