Tripadvisor

You can generally get a good picture of a restaurant, hotel, venue etc via Trip Adviser.

I tend to look and see if most of the reviews are 5, 4 and 3 rated or if the top of the bell curve is lower down. Like Rosie I've been put off but certain aspects such as location or numerous comments about unhelpful staff or cleanliness, but I disregard the odd 'disgruntled of Leamington Spa'.

We always read trip advisor before booking a holiday and like others take comments with a pinch of salt, as opinions are a personal thing. Sometimes, aspects that other contributors praise are the very things that put us off and vice versa, of course.
When writing comments we always try to put the positive first and then make suggestions when things have not been up to expectations. I do think it is annoying when travel agents write inaccurate descriptions of hotels. Such a disappointment and waste of money. We try to book independently, unless there is a travel company deal to be had! X

I was reading in this mornings paper that hotels & restaurants are being targeted by "blackmailers" who demand free meals and rooms in return for not writing a bad review.

The problem is escalating by all accounts !

Bit much really !!

Just thought I would agree with sunflowersuffolk: I use www.laterooms.com because you have to have booked through them to actually leave a review, whereas anyone can post on Tripadvisor even if they have never been there. I do think it's invaluable to be able to read so many reviews on everything these days! Hotels, restaurants, dishwashers, cars....I really think it helps!

Just posted an opinion on Tripadvisor for the first time, about a restaurant in Paris. Having been delighted with it, as had most posters, I felt I should counteract two recent and in my opinion ill-informed criticisms. Since the restaurant was full of locals and appeared to be the recommendation of choice of the hotels round it, I don't suppose it is too bothered by Tripadvisor anyway.

I did once leave a review in which, after praising the good bits, I said the service in the restaurant left a lot to be desired and not to eat there if you hadn't got plenty of time or were really hungry. There was a quick response from the hotel to say this problem had been rectified with a new manager. So Trip Advisor does work!

The best bit of trip advisor are their forums. You get to ask any type of question and those in the know tell you the answer...a bit like gransnet. I'v found good reliable car hire at the last minute. Where to park the car. Wether or not there are Mosquitos, how hard are the beds are. How far the beach is. I also write the odd review especially if it's positive or to give tips.