We definitely use Fodors and Trip Advisor for every trip.

Yeah, I was in the same situation until a lot of my research has stated that many hotels ( probably the ones which need it) fabricate their own hotels. It has made me more cautious, but I still believe the majority are legit.
Thanks for the reply!

Cruise Critic got in trouble not long along because it provided the names/emails of posters who had posted glowing remarks on RCCL to RCCL (upon their request). RCCL then contacted these posters and offered goodies/incentives if they continued posting glowing remarks. Really "playing" with the line that separates legit rec versus biased. The practice was suspended and I thik RCCL got into "hot waters" (no pun intended) in the industry...

That said, Cruise Critic is owned and operated by Orbitz/CheapTickets (same owners). You can post whatever but I would not doubt if negative reviews going to both of this venues would be left posted long...

The biggest "issue" is actually how much, if any, credence the viewer5 places in ANY of the reviews, be they bad or good.

The same thing happens right here...a bunch of people would go to lower slobovia if a few select posters, whom they have NEVER met, probably never EEN, said to do so, "beacuse I trust you, completely"...ooooooo..make the goo goo noises now.

Hey du,

In that case, I shall not tell of the latest really terrific place that I have found in Lower Slobbovia.

Think a combination of St Remy and Lyon, but with beer from Berlin and wines from Alsace.

du-- my favorites are the AutoEurope and Holland America super-fans! God forbid one post the time(s) AutoEurope has screwed up--- BLASPHEMY!! IT NEVER HAPPENED!! Hilarious.

TripAdvisor used to be user generated

but now owned by expedia now secret owner agents forums

for profit agents are deceptively secretly being allowed to

tout as "destination experts" lots of fake/censored reviews

to scam unsuspecting newbie travelers

who have paid thousands more than needed to those agesnts

on things like Galapagos cruises.

They are about to be sued by ftc.gov for this so

they are the worst but Caveat Emptor applies on all sites.

the only 2 truly honest sites I use

that are not deceptive and do not censor reviews

are booking.com hostelz.com

I mostly rely on guide books or on posters I'm familiar with on this site.

Reading reviews on sites like Trip Advisor is like taking advice from a stranger you meet in the street. I might ask a stranger for factual information, like the way to the railway station, but I can't imagine asking a stranger which restaurant to choose. Everybody's tastes are different and one person's favourite restaurant or bar might be a place to avoid for somebody else.

I find Venere quite good.

Thank you all very much for replying to the initial post. It's great to get a further understanding of opinions on travel review websites as a whole, and your perceptions of credibility of some of them.

You have helped me greatly!

Many thanks,
John

I don't understnad the bad press the review sites get. I well remember what it used to be like in "the old days" before they came into being, when booking a hotel or restaurant in an unknown location was a complete lottery. Sure there are some fake reviews out there but usually it's not too hard to spot them (e.g. lots of first and only reviews from posters who are wildly enthusiastic, excessive personal praise of the owner and his/her familty etc.) I just ignore these reviews.

@ quovadis - the Destination Experts on Trip Advisor have nothing whatsoever to do with sales. Where in the world did you come up with that idea? I know several of them, and they all volunteer their time to answer questions, just like all of do here on Fodors or on Rick Steves. The only difference is that they can pretty much be trusted to give accurate advice about their specific destinations. I got such great advice for Edinburgh from the TA Destination Experts, info like exactly which bus to take, how exactly to walk to my B&B, information about the neighborhood I was staying in, and good tips about restaurants.

The Destination Experts are the ones turning in the fake reviews, notifying TA about shills, scams and advertising in the forums. So, they are actually doing the opposite of what you are claiming.

I agree with Gordon_R, I use these websites and filter through the reviews that seem fake.

I also dismiss the people who complain that the staff was rude. I don't care about the staff and if they're rude, it's their problem not mine. I certainly wouldn't mention it in a review.

People need to be realistic about what they're willing to spend and what they need. I am. I insist that the bed be comfortable, the place be clean and the unit be semi well located.
If one reads these reviews with an eye towards what the reviewer was expecting, it makes it easier.