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General Chit Chat & Queries - no commercial links => General Chat - old => Topic started by: woe10 on August 05, 2013, 14:05:09 PM

Title: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: woe10 on August 05, 2013, 14:05:09 PM
But... Can you trust a single word on Trip Advisor?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2384519/Its-hotel-review-website-millions-use-help-choose-holiday-But--Can-trust-single-word-Trip-Advisor.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2384519/Its-hotel-review-website-millions-use-help-choose-holiday-But--Can-trust-single-word-Trip-Advisor.html)
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: duncolm on August 05, 2013, 14:12:25 PM
You certainly can't trust every word on Trip Advisor.
Much the same as the Daily Mail really....
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: NorthernLights53 on August 05, 2013, 14:16:56 PM
Interesting article - I've certainly read "reviews" of a local pub / restaurant which were clearly made by angry staff / ex staff.

On the other hand I've also found excellent places to eat based on recommendations from Trip Advisor.

Caveat Emptor!!
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: Magoo on August 05, 2013, 15:02:56 PM
Speaking only from personal experience, I have found TA spot on. OK, there will always be a whinger or someone with an axe to grind, bur if you go with the general trend of reviews, it seems accurate
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: Florence on August 05, 2013, 18:55:32 PM
I prefer "Guest Advisor". 
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: SheilaW on August 05, 2013, 19:33:59 PM
Anyone who decides for or against a place depending on just one or two remarks on a free site such as Trip Advisor is asking for trouble, IMO. There are loads of us who contribute totally factual reviews.
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: ashworth on August 06, 2013, 08:13:07 AM
I find trip advisor quite good. If you look at the Caleta restaurant reviews from my experience of the restaurants they are quite a good guide. There will always be someone having a go who might have an axe to grind and someone with a bit too much praise who has an interest in the business. I think you can spot these and ignore them. But as a general guide its the best on offer out there.
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: janpaul on August 06, 2013, 08:20:58 AM
Defo FRAUD!

My daughter & Her boyfriend went to Egypt in May & were really ill from the second day. It was a 5* hotel (experience sea breeze Sharks Bay).
When she got home they both put a review on Tripadvisor & it has never been shown.

Everyone in the hotel was really ill to a point of some being on drips for rehydration. She said the food was terrible hmm on Trip advisor the hotel etc sounds fantastic we used the reviews to book the hotel as we are aware of stomach probs over there.

None of the negative reviews have been put on so someone is intercepting them somewhere!!!

Therefore I would never trust Tripadvisor as I did before!!!!!
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: KWC on August 06, 2013, 10:01:57 AM
The larger the responses the more accurate or believeable they will be. Just a few negatives on a hotel/restaurant or holiday let by ex employees or the like can make or break an establishment, as been shown on the televison recently.

I tend to disregard silly stupid remarks and Pictures they have taken like the following and I don't know why people post this stuff.

1. I saw a cockroach
2. I noticed a cracked tile
3. The pillows were hard
4. The pillows were too soft
5. The fecking matteress was too soft / hard etc
6. The was no shop for basics in the hotel or the shop was a bit of a walk etc
7. could'nt sleep for a couple having sex next door.
8. Dont use this hotel there is a nudist beach nearby!
9. They don't speak much English!
10. I had to wait for ages for a drink.

Just a few things that I have seen on trippy and its mostly moans about anything hats really not that detrimental to a holiday is it.  Couples have had sex next to us aon a few occasions but it only lasts a few minutes generally  ;D
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: isleswing on August 06, 2013, 10:58:46 AM
Quote from: KWC54 on August 06, 2013, 10:01:57 AM
The larger the responses the more accurate or believeable they will be. Just a few negatives on a hotel/restaurant or holiday let by ex employees or the like can make or break an establishment, as been shown on the televison recently.

I tend to disregard silly stupid remarks and Pictures they have taken like the following and I don't know why people post this stuff.

1. I saw a cockroach
2. I noticed a cracked tile
3. The pillows were hard
4. The pillows were too soft
5. The fecking matteress was too soft / hard etc
6. The was no shop for basics in the hotel or the shop was a bit of a walk etc
7. could'nt sleep for a couple having sex next door.
8. Dont use this hotel there is a nudist beach nearby
9. They don't speak much English!
10. I had to wait for ages for a drink.

Just a few things that I have seen on trippy and its mostly moans about anything hats really not that detrimental to a holiday is it.  Couples have had sex next to us aon a few occasions but it only lasts a few minutes generally  ;D

1 ) we once watched a cockroach fly towards the hotel, then straight in through our open terrace door. And he was a big bugger. Ignore the odd ones, nobody can control them !

8 ) That's a positive for us.

9 ) You increasingly get that in the UK - but you mstn't say it!!

7 ) The trick is to try and pick up the rhythm.
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: Can the Man on August 06, 2013, 14:08:34 PM
I love it Isleswing  :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: Blueboy7 on August 06, 2013, 15:20:30 PM
Very good Isleswing  :D :D :D
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: Blueboy7 on August 06, 2013, 15:42:47 PM
Isleswing, if you want a good laugh on a rainy day, have a look at the "Terrible Section Remarks" alongside "London Hostels", some belters. One remark went something like:-
"There were some weird people in my room at the same time as me, one man just sat on his bed staring at me constantly, a woman came in with her two teenage sons and all climbed into one bunk bed, they kept making noises all night and groaning, my food went missing from the fridge and the receptionist couldn't speak English etc etc etc  here's a clip from one I have just cut and pasted -

What can i say ....Do not enter in this hostel....!!!is terrible..there are rats in the kitchen!!!!really i'm not joking!...once i was cooking and suddenly a rat run over my feet....it was disgusting....how can be possible that "the staff of number 8" didn't anything for that that????
Room 19 is very very cold and noisy!!!for all the night a terrible noise came and back came and back...so i couldn't sleep...i couldn't sleep even if i had my earplugs on...
So i prefer pay a rent in a confortable house than came back in that house of rats....
My advise..stay away from hostel number 8!!!
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: KWC on August 06, 2013, 18:53:50 PM
This is an actual review of a hotel I had been to before in Costa Calma and it [review] bears no resemblance to the hotel when we were there!!

"Where to start the hotel was falling apart around us burst pipes electrics hanging off the walls ceilings,the ants in your room including bed and wardrobe which i could not get open due to doors stuck,sink unit slipping off the wall very dangerous useless entertainment crew nothing happening in and around pool area which normally happens in all inclusive hotels after 10pm nothing to do and even no english t.v to take your mind off the decor and boredom all catered for germans etc only english news program for us.The things i cant falter are the bar staff and the pool area and of course the beautifull beach without those we would have gone crazy, the rep was pathetic and no one but the bar staff wanted to do anything for you this is suppose to be a 3 star but i would not give it 1 to be honest,other hotels around us were amazing so can not understand why ours was so bad.I have complained to our travel company and have told them i want this complaint to go as far as possible i could say more but i realy cant be bothered to talk about it any more."
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: bedouin on August 06, 2013, 19:04:30 PM
You probably stay in some odd places, KWC54!

TripAdvisor is probably mainly accurate, but is open to abuse (the floating restaurat in Brixham was a classic).  I think sites where clients are invited to review may be safer (TravelRepublic for example).

But, at the end of the day, a lot of people have totally unrealistic expectations of their 3* or 4* hotel.
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: Magoo on August 06, 2013, 19:23:44 PM
Type the word "S**thole" into TA's search function. Some really good reviews. The Hotel Jimmy, in Amsterdam will keep you well amused
Title: Re: TRIPADVISOR - FRAUD OR TRUTH
Post by: fifi on August 06, 2013, 23:39:46 PM
I had a look Magoo.... :D