Using TripAdvisor to choose hotels

Hello,

I have used Trip Advisor several times and have not been dissapointed. They even gave me a free hat of poor quality for posting on their forums.

Just be realistic about it- Nothing is perfect, not even in Italy.

Here are a couple of links to reviews I wrote on Trip Advisor.


Chicago: W Chicago - City Center - Traveler Reviews - The W worked well for us! Please read. - TripAdvisor

Manuel Antonio National Park: Hotel Costa Verde - Traveler Reviews - Hotel Costa Verde, The good the bad and the very very ugly. - TripAdvisor

 

I think these kinds of web sites are very good resources, as long as you keep in mind that there will always be a small number of people who have unreasonable complaints, and that people are more likely to post negative experiences than positive ones.

Especially misleading can be the jerk who gets angry at some small inconvenience or perceived insult and posts a generally negative review.

What I try to do is gauge how well-written the review is, it's tone, and how reasonable the reviewer sounds, and to balance out good and bad reviews. I give more credence to a calm tone than to an angry one, especially if there are a few positive reviews to balance the angry one. For me, a couple of glowing reviews would probably balance an angry one, and 4 or 5 glowing would probably balance a calmly-toned negative one. I'd also look at how old a review is, since hotels can change, for the better or for the worse.

A reputable guide book may be more reliable, but also may represent the experience of just one writer, and may be out of date. A recent publication date might not mean the review is recent.

All of this is probably more critical if you are looking for bargain hotels. There are fewer bad hotels at the higher price ranges. Doing the kind of research described (and it looks like we have a similar approach, though I don't have the hard-and-fast number criteria you mention) I've usually been pleased with my hotels. But I do stay at relatively expensive ones. Still, I've occasionally wound up at a hotel I didn't feel was worth the price. Never "bad," just sometimes over-priced for the quality.

I think you are doing all you can do. There are no guarantees, but I agree that Trip Advisor is a useful resource if taken for what it is: reviews by a random and self-selected group, more motivated to post negtive than positive experiences.

 

I used Trip Advisor to help plan a trip to Rome, Italy. We only had a few days for our trip with no room to spare for a bad experience. Trip Advisor was invaluable in choosing a convenient B&B, side trips and helpful advice, especially on what to avoid. Highly recommend the site.

 

I think the idea is to throw out the outliers -- there's always an owner/employee who posts a glowing review, or a crank (or competitor) that hates everything. Just try to get the consensus of the reviews.

 

Very good advice.

 

I used tripadvisor the last time I was in NY to find a nice little boutique hotel that was within walking distance of the MOMA and the MET.

1. I had no experiences like the ones in the negative reviews.
2. I did have experiences like the ones in the positive reviews.

For the most part, though, it seems as if you're going about the comparison rather scientifically (which is a good thing).

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Be sure to let us know how your
trip went!

 

I'm a Travel Agent and I use Tripadvisor for my own trips! You can never know everything about everywhere so it's always helpful to get advise from people who have been there. Our hotel in Paris-Hotel Eiffel Seine was the best and I wouldn't have known about it if not for tripadvisor. London I knew what I was getting for the money and because of the reviews when they tried to put us in the basement I said No Way, and instead got a very large room on the upper floors and it was a pleasant stay as well! Just be sure to follow suit and leave your comments as well once you return-we need all the help we can get!!!