Using Trip Advisor

[bsiev1977]

When using any rating system, I tend to put less credence in those that are over the top positive and those that are overwhelmingly negative.

I believe the truth lies in the middle.

That doesn't mean that I would avoid the top choices or that you have to read every single review.

This is how we found Simply Delicious near Port Canaveral.

GAN is correct in understanding what I was talking about.

If the the phrase "top ten and bottom 10 percent" confused you, I apologize. My system is far from scientific or quantifiable....but it's worked well for us.

I think that's the best was to put it. It's the same for me with Amazon reviews. If they're overly glowing, effusively positive reviews, I tend to be suspicious that they are paid for professional type reviews. Similarly, I tend to ignore overly negative reviews that have little detail,about the actual product.

For example, I was looking at Game of Thrones Season 4 on Amazon. Customer gave a one star review because they clicked and paid for a clearly marked preorder for the digital version. They were upset it was only a preorder.

 

[GAN]

That makes no sense anyway. Those are both things you would have known before making your reservation. If you wanted a hotel with breakfast included (there's no such thing as "free breakfast") you should have gone somewhere else. Don't choose a hotel that doesn't offer that and then complain about it in your review.

I think their point was that people do review like that ...as crazy as that is.

 

[bsiev1977]

I think their point was that people do review like that ...as crazy as that is.

Exactly. You really have to pay attention to why someone gave a bad review. Make sure it's for a reason that actually makes sense.

 

[sayhello]

I love Trip Advisor. I've found some amazing hotels and activities through them. But I agree with those that say you have to take some of the reviews with a grain of salt. Some people only review when they are pissed off. It might be one little thing, but they post a huge negative rant about the place. And I only believe the effusive ones if they are 80% that way. Some places really deserve that, but most are somewhere in between. I always read a sampling of the positives *and* the negatives. And I try to read the most recent, because things change all the time. Mostly I'm looking for trends, not specifics. If a ton of the reviews say the people are helpful & friendly, I tend to believe that. Same for if a bunch of folks report that a lot of little things were broken, or not cleaned, or something like that. But it's a lot better than making a decision based just on the place's website...

Sayhello

 

[Jing]

That makes no sense anyway. Those are both things you would have known before making your reservation. If you wanted a hotel with breakfast included (there's no such thing as "free breakfast") you should have gone somewhere else. Don't choose a hotel that doesn't offer that and then complain about it in your review.

It is amazing what people assume or feel they should be entitled to when they book a hotel.