Disappointed with Fodor's.
Feb 13th, 2001, 02:58 PM
#1
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Disappointed with Fodor's.
I come to Fordor's seeking travel advice and expect a fair and honest review of possible destinations, activities, restaurants and information. I find the travel boards and, up to this point, any hosted discussion to be very interesting and informative. However, I am astounded that the forum hosted by the Blanchard's crosses that line between objective travel reviews and information and blatent advertising. I am just hoping that other restaurants on Anguilla as well as other islands in the Caribbean are afforded the opportunity for all the free publicity and advertising. I think that having them host a forum and promote their book and restaurant is the work of a great PR team and a disservice to the readers and participants of this board, and to the other fine establishments on Anguilla. It is not in keeping with Fodor's own policy of no advertising and I find it objectionable.
Feb 14th, 2001, 04:22 AM
#3
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The first poster has a point (yes!!) and she or he has a right to express her opinion. I posted my different from other posters opinion about one resort in St. Lucia and got similar very unpleasant responses and a few very ugly e-mails. This was a last time I used my real address here. How dare we are to think differently! Please note that the poster said "I find the travel boards and, up to this point, any hosted discussion to be very interesting and informative." She/he did not shout just stated her/his opinon. Please respect differences
Feb 14th, 2001, 05:09 AM
#4
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I kinda agreed with the "Another Anonymous" at first and having been to and enjoyed Blanchards (and used the salad dressings regularly!), I posted a simple question on the forum. I asked where they enjoyed eating out when they had a nite off. Didn't see anything wrong with that - as one who was active with a restaurant in a resort location, we often had the same question. Well, low and behold, that question was deleted!! So, I guess I have to go with the first post and find that Fodor's underwriting the commercialization and promoting a particial establishment not in keeping with what I expect from Fodor's. Guess we'll see if this gets deleted as well.
Feb 14th, 2001, 05:46 AM
#5
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these are all valid points, but i have to argue that this is just how the publicity game works. it is really a game. when you read a travel magazine, or a restaurant review in a newspaper, you have to remember that in most cases the writer or editor did not just stumble across this new gem of a restaurant, hotel, resort, or etc. they were sent some sort of release regarding the venue. i don't find this very different. and personally, after reading the blanchard's forum, i don't really find anything objectionable in the content! i think it's a nice story, and i think one of the main points of the story is that people can see that they might be able to do the same thing as the blanchards did. that point comes across very nicely, in my opinion.
as for erasing a message asking about their competition - now that IS wrong.
as for erasing a message asking about their competition - now that IS wrong.
Feb 14th, 2001, 05:56 AM
#7
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Karen I posted the guestion about lunch under your Restaurants post.
I also would like to add that since the Blanchards live on Anguilla, you can ask island guestions about beaches etc. Their book is very informative and does talk about other restaurants and many locations they enjoy on the island.
I also would like to add that since the Blanchards live on Anguilla, you can ask island guestions about beaches etc. Their book is very informative and does talk about other restaurants and many locations they enjoy on the island.
Feb 14th, 2001, 06:18 AM
#8
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It seems very rare that any of the restaurants (or hotels) in Fodors listings ever change. With restaurants in particular, there are significant changes every single year. Here in Antigua we have a whole host of great restaurants that are not listed but provide excellent food at good value prices! What gives? Are the Fodors representatives guided around by long-established restauranteurs who do not want competition?
Feb 14th, 2001, 06:45 AM
#9
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no - the way an actual review works ( i don't work for fodors but for another website/magazine) is that they actually need people to go taste the food, experience the atmosphere, etc. of course they're not going to be able to send people to keep up with the constantly changing restaurants and hotels. i live in nyc, where restaurants open and close with the waxing and waning of the moon - zagat's is a full-time operation IN NYC and they don't keep up!
that's what these boards are for. and they are incredibly helpful, in my opinion.
that's what these boards are for. and they are incredibly helpful, in my opinion.
Feb 14th, 2001, 07:41 AM
#10
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<blush, blush> Just checked and I apologize ... musta been at glitch or something this am with all the posts not loading - I have emailed Fodor's about a couple of the problems I am having - but think it is my browser!! I'm so sorry!
I understand that books and websites can't have an up-to-date every second info on every place! There is no way. The writer visits, writes the article and months or years later the book or web site finally gets updated!!! In fact, some of them still recommend restaurants long gone! That's why I don't understand writers or publishers who don't put the date of the visit into the article - and none of 'em do. Travel writing or restaurant reviewing is a dirty buisness and someone has to do it -
and since the writer is often the "guest" of the establishment, you can only guess what and how influenced the writer was by the "freebies" (if any) or if the publisher will loose an advertiser if a negative is published!! That's why I like Harper's and some of the other in cognito writers and groups who don't make their visit known.
So, I apologize - and the Blanchard's don't go out to dinner ... and I know they don't have time for lunch - they are too busy getting ready for the dinner rush - I know, been there, done that!!!
But, I still woonder about their "hosting" ... and maybe I should hire their PR person to sell my book - they haven't missed a beat!! LOL Good for them!! I heard that they were planning to rename the island St. Blanchard's too!! LOL (just joking!!!) BTW agree about Antigua - some of my best meals were there - Chez Pascal, Home, Julian's and Le Biestro!!!
Didn't mean to cause a fury agreeing with AnotherAnonymous!!!
I understand that books and websites can't have an up-to-date every second info on every place! There is no way. The writer visits, writes the article and months or years later the book or web site finally gets updated!!! In fact, some of them still recommend restaurants long gone! That's why I don't understand writers or publishers who don't put the date of the visit into the article - and none of 'em do. Travel writing or restaurant reviewing is a dirty buisness and someone has to do it -
and since the writer is often the "guest" of the establishment, you can only guess what and how influenced the writer was by the "freebies" (if any) or if the publisher will loose an advertiser if a negative is published!! That's why I like Harper's and some of the other in cognito writers and groups who don't make their visit known. So, I apologize - and the Blanchard's don't go out to dinner ...
and I know they don't have time for lunch - they are too busy getting ready for the dinner rush - I know, been there, done that!!! But, I still woonder about their "hosting" ... and maybe I should hire their PR person to sell my book - they haven't missed a beat!! LOL Good for them!! I heard that they were planning to rename the island St. Blanchard's too!! LOL (just joking!!!) BTW agree about Antigua - some of my best meals were there - Chez Pascal, Home, Julian's and Le Biestro!!!
Didn't mean to cause a fury agreeing with AnotherAnonymous!!!
