peeky

If you keep writing that a report is the best then that takes away from other reports. You can compliment but don't rate them IMHO. Remember how you felt in school when the teacher would wave one report in front of the class and say it was the best?

Beatchick

Yeah, I always got embarrassed when she did that.

suze

My reasoning for not doing trip reports is that my vacation is my own and probably not what anyone else wants to do. I am happy always to contribute suggestions for hotels, activities, specific train or bus information I happen to know. Or insider tips from a place I visit often. But who here really cares how much wine I drank, what movie we saw, hey i got invited to a dinner party at a friend's house and like that? Booooring to anyone but me.

That said, I rarely ask for help here. I use Fodors more for interest, sharing, enlightenment and entertainment, not trip planning.

Beatchick

Geez, and I thought Fodor's was for trip planning.

marshacarlin

I found this post very interesting since I am a 1st timer, got lots of good info and thoughts support, etc. but have been very intimidated about posting my report and thanks. I started posting my Ireland/Scotlans with Adult Children report a few days ago and found my competitiveness coming up because I had relatively few responses to what i've posted so far (although they have been very complimentary, urging me to con't, etc.; compared to the "opening box-office receipts" of suehoff (whose posts I have LOL and enjoyed as much as the rest of the 140 others) makes we feel like I can't compete....WOW, I was shocked at my own response to this and thought maybe i'll hold off on the rest of my posts so I won't be going up against a block buster!...then I decided Ireland and Scotland are just not as sexy as Italy and France and those who've turned into I/S travels with Adult Chilrem do seem to be learning, enjoying my dribble.....Anyway, enough paranoia, i've decided to sublimate my fears,(what if they don't like me?) and continue with my posts, knowing that although I might not be part of the inner circle and didn't have to deal with exploding pens, and mean, ugly men, it's still been a good exercise to give thanks to those who helped so generously before our trip (even if never asked you questions directly I read all of the old threads), and at least I'll have my posts to print out and save for posterity. I do thank those who have urged me. It's quality, not quantity that counts, right?
You guys just don't know how much stress/ and joy these boards can cause.

degas

I am often shocked, just shocked to the core. And I feel so used and utterly violated. They get so hot and attentive and hang on to your every word - then when the foul, disgusting cads get what they lust after, the phone never rings again!

sallyjane3

degas, do they at least leave money on the bedside table?

Marianna

Starrsville, I love reading trip reports, especially if the report is about a place I have visited or plan to vist. Heck, I also enjoy reading the ones about places I have no desire to visit! But, I don't really mind if a person doesn't post a report. Usually, these people will answer someone's question and refer to a recent trip and experience so that is helpful.

Bettyk, I know exactly what you mean. There is a fabulous report being posted here in segments. It has some very positive comments, but for a detailed, interesting, informative report which took the writer a long time to compose, I'm surprised more people aren't responding. Something similar happened to me a while back when another report appeared which was the talk of Fodor's for days, maybe weeks so I never totally finished the report I was posting, but I have responded to questions when I though I could be helpful.

hopingtotravel

You're right. It is somewhat intimidating to post a trip report when the regular Fodorites have already been there, done that, eaten that, and seen so much more so many more times than I could ever afford. However, I posted mine in order to thank those who helped, but also for the newbies.

At any given time, there are always new people reading these boards who only read the most current 50 posts. If a recent report helps them in their planning, then it's sort of a 'pay it forward' as this board helped me, right?

degas

sallyjane3, yes, they do, but only after I put up large signs that read: Tips Appreciated, and Rent Due on the 1st of the Month.

Some stuck-ups may say that is tacky, but a working girl has to do what she has to do to get by in this cruel, heartless world.

Beatchick

Hopingtotravle - exactly!

marshacarlin, I will more than likely be reading your trip report as I have a (someday) Ireland-with-the-kids trip in the making. I do remember what it was like being a newbie and I, too, felt intimidating. But keep plugging away - you eventually get known. Don't let some of the negativity keep you away. Also, even if you get few responses now you'll get more in the future as people research trips to these locations. You'll see, too, over time that interest in different places peak & fall although Italy & France are perennial favorites. But I've seen Ireland get great interest.

For the record, I never posted trip reports on my 1st 2 trips but I did come back & thank people & post tidbits of this & that. It's my 3rd trip I finally posted and it was for the reasons marshacarlin gave, for posterity. I've toyed with the idea of finally posting them but I'm sure it's too late now. So I just post that stuff on Virtual Tourist complete with those older photos.

Marilyn

Gee, I am kind of surprised at how many people say that you don't post a trip report because you're afraid of criticism or that it won't be "the best." I just figured that most people don't post a report for the same reason that the garage still needs cleaning out and the wedding pictures are still in a box somewhere, namely, laziness and procrastination. (Maybe those are just my own personal demons.)

I don't often post trip reports because much of the time my activities would not be of interest to other travelers. When I do post a trip report, it is usually on a specific activity that I think might be useful to others.

I do understand the competitive drive, believe me, but you should remind yourself that the most entertaining trip report is not always the most helpful trip report. (That is NOT a criticism! Of anything!) If you don't get a lot of response, it may just be a fluke.

I recently posted a charming, well-written, amusing report (if I do say so myself), but got minimum response. But I know that unless you are interested in New York with a 10-year-old, you're probably not going to read it. That's ok. I don't usually read trip reports on places I've never been or am not traveling to soon. Nor do I usually read about someone's first trip to somewhere I've been dozens of times.

Post a report or don't, but don't take it personally. There's always going to be a "new monkey," i.e., a clever new writer who has good material to work with and makes us laugh (and kudos to them!).

Marlie

Marshacarlin,

Please continue with your report as I have really enjoyed reading it.
I also have just returned from Ireland and am posting my trip report under, Craig and Robbyn’s Adventures in Ireland. I have had the same feelings as you since I’ve only gotten a few responses. I figured my report must be little boring in spots, or maybe not as
any people are traveling to Ireland right now, or maybe mine is not a catchy title, I don't know...But, I’ve just decided to finish it, as I said before I am writing this for myself too.

It’s funny; I would also refer to what others have suggested. Telling my husband that the Italian chauffeur said to stay here or Budman said this. We really got a lot of great advice.

Just wanted to say Marsha keep posting. I can’t wait to read more!

Robbyn

socialworker

I am kind of neutral re: trip reports. However, I am *very* curious about how a particular question or concern was--or was not--resolved. Those are things I want to see, (not necessarily to be thanked, even though that is nice and I try to remember to thank those who help me), but rather I want to know about the outcomes of dilemmas and problems and questions.....

suntravler

Some folks are talkers. Some are listeners. And some never got over the painful memories of 4th grade book reports.

toni

I've noticed that the most people respond to France/Paris trip reports, with Italy coming in second. Whilst scouring the board for tips I have been surprised to find that say, an informative trip report on Spain may have had only about 12 or so responses.I often pass a comment on the report as a little acknowledgement of their time and effort. I plan on writing my first trip report when I come back in July and I must say I'll be a tad stressed about it.

mermaid_

Hi starrsville...I'm a trip report writer. For me to not write a trip report would be as strange as my husband not kissing me good morning when he wakes. In short, it will never happen. I like to write and it's no trouble--indeed, it's a pleasure for me to share my adventures. I think I write as much for my satisfaction as for those reading my reports. But that's just the way I am. My parents travel extensively, and they are avid followers of the travel forum Slowtrav. But would my mother post a report? Not on your life. She doesn't feel comfortable with the written word. She looks at beautifully written reports, feels that hers would never compare and that if she did write one it would be a disappointment to anyone seeking information from it. (I have no reservations on the account, myself!) So I think it boils down to some of us write, and some of us don't. You may be disappointed not to get someone's trip report after you've helped them prepare for a trip, but they might not be writing for fear of disappointing you, their reader.

There is one poster on Fodors who I would have loved reading her trip report. She has a way with words that is lovely beyond belief. Schachida, I think is her name. I think she intended to write one but never did. Shame, because in her hands words are poetry.

baby108

I spend a lot of time reading this board but I don't alway have the time to read the long trip reports. I usually answer the questions if I know the answers or if I can help in any ways. Since all of our trips we took were with our 2 young sons, I didn't think the things we do will interest a lot of people and you know how busy you get with 2 little ones and there is just no time to write detailed trip reports for all of our trips. We did manage to get all our pictures and videos organized after the trips though Anyway, I ask quite a few questions before each trip when I was doing the planning and this board is always full of helpful people and I really appreciate that and I always follow up with my threads and thank everyone for the replies.

Scarlett

suntravler, Your remark about 4th graders reminded me that one of the Big things that disappoints/irritates me, is when someone DOES go to the trouble of writing a trip report and some goofballs post trash and get the trip report frozen by the editors or deleted.
That is when you can tell Fodorites from 4th graders!

I have gotten so much great information from trip reports. I would have never thought of using an apt instead of a hotel, but the idea came to us this year for our trip to Paris, after being given the idea from someones trip report.
We did it and loved it and I too, wrote a trip report
Some "good ones" make you laugh, but some really good ones give you ideas and help your travels become more special.
Good question, starrsville

TravelerGina

I absolutely love reading all the trip reports on Fodors, but don't feel that I have the writing abilities that many here possess. However, I do write trip reports for myself because I don't want to forget any of the details that are important to me but wouldn't be of interest to other Fodorites. I did provide a short summary of my last trip to Paris and was glad that some people here found it interesting/useful, but I didn't do anything out of the ordinary and, although I did have some funny experiences, you would have to have been there to find the humor in them - lol!