How far do the bad reviews and the good reviews have to be spaced apart before you think they might be legit, Eloise?

Intrepid, I would like to answer that question as it deserves...

Here's a Washington Post feature on hotel reviews that ran in September:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...092300612.html

On our first trip to Rome this fall we stayed at the Nicolas Inn, mentioned on this site and also Tripadvisor.

It is trated #1 on Tripadvisor for a bed and breakfast. It really did live up to my expectations and even exceeded them.

Melissa Nicolas is very web savvy and knows the power of the internet. She also works very hard to keep their positive reputation.

She did send me a thank you for staying with them and did mentioned that if I was pleased with our stay to submit a review to Tripadvisor.

Would anyone have a problem with a request like this?

I can't remember ever having such personal service without having to tip the concierge ;;) so of course my review was very positive but also factual. Deborah

Why would a hotel bribe somebody to post on Trip Advisor if one can do it 1,000 times without registration, so they can do it themselves?

I wouldn't have a problem is someone asked me to post on Tripadvisor after I told them how much I had enjoyed my stay.

I try to post to Tripadvisor regularly, and to give a detailed pro and con review. So those are the type of reviews I look for. Nothing, anywhere is absolutely divine, perfect, and glorious, even if I say it is. ;-)

Now if only someone would please offer me a bribe. It might buy dinner, or at least lunch.

I find reviews on TripAdvisor quite helpful and, often, very interesting. I think you can usually tell the bogus ones.

It's a bit curious that owners/managers who don't care much about the decor, cleanliness, service provided by their staff, would take the time or bother to post reviews under many names or get others to post positive reviews for them.

Bravo to the NYT. I read tripadvisor reviews one time and I will never use them as a source of reliable information. As a resident of New Orleans and an employee in the hotel industry, I know many of these hotels personally.
Tripadvisor also posted messages that on ALL New Orleans hotel listings that they were closed due to the hurricane without even making a phone call to verify or update the information. I was called by several guests looking for hotel rooms who were relying on this bogus info. Tripadvisor called me with an apology and updated our listings. They admitted it was something they did without verification.
As recently as last week, I had another call from a guest complaining that most of the hotels were still listed as closed.
Personally, I use the Fodor's and Frommer's travel guides and have not been disappointed. I found the guides are accurate when it came to every level of hotel, bed and breakfast or hostel.

What annoys me is how careless some people are when posting. 5 or 6 times I've found posts that obviously were not about the hotels listed. twice I've found posts on L'Angleterre on rue jacob that were confused with another hotel with a similar name on the Right Bank. Twice I've found reviews on a hotel in Venice proper mixed up with a similarly named hotel on Lido.

I think you have to check ALL the reviews and form your own opinion. Also take into regard the very subjective view of the posters. I have a favoite hotel in Paris I've stayed in 10 or 12 times..but I've read reviews about the coolness of the staff and the decoration..I've never found the staff "cool",just very French. And I like toile!

Eloise,
That hotel (58 Via Cavour) now goes by 58 Le Real de Luxe. I called them out fairly blatently here on Fodors and the owner (posting with a name of lionel_1 or something like that) posted several hysterical posts and concluded by accusing me of owning a hotel of my own in Rome. Very strange. I believe Tripadvisor deleted some of the more bizarre posts

I have looked at so many websites for Paris hotels that I entertain myself by reporting pirated photos submitted by reviewers to TA (who promptly remove them, as I can also provide a web link to prove it).

I agree with jody, one of the reviews on my favorite hotel, the D'Angleterre, in Paris, was posted by a person who has never been there, not been inside, nor has she seen a room, but she gave it a rating based on what she has heard. That was on Virtual Tourist which I think is written by many real and virtual travelers, ..this one I think was written by a Virtual traveler.
TripAdvisor, as I am learning, is a mess. They allow as many screen names as one wants, so some people post a question, answer themselves and talk among themselves all about ducks or hotels or carriage rides. It is maddening when a person wants to be helpful and have some one post just to have a pleasant conversation with themselves.
I read a review recently on TA where someone complained about a hotel and the next posting was obviously by an employee who was terribly defensive and rude.
Then there is the post from a hotel/motel manager who tried to explain why a customer who reviewed the bad experience in this hotel/motel, was treated the way they were.
I don't think I want to hear from the manager or employees, do you?

I love it that the Times published this..

I have posted reviews on Tripadvisor even though I was not requested to do so. I don't have a problem with a hotel asking guests to post reviews; I do have a problem with a hotel paying someone to do so. Tripadvisor has been very helpful to me in my planning, especially the negative comments.

Great article! I do not rely on any single source, and yes, I have learned to spot the fishy reviews. After reading enough Oregon forums, it gets pretty obvious, lol!

I posted a negative review on TA once, and the next review questioned my comments. I knew it had to be a hotel employee because they commented on things I did not mention. I wrote to TA and thankfully they removed the bogus review.

I use both Fodor's and Trip Advisor. I do look for a hotel with many glowing reviews followed by a posting that says "I used xxx for my decision and was really surprised when I saw it for myself." Travelers who are very disappointed in what they find tend to convey their reaction. Of course, you also have to weed out the negative reviews that might be coming from a competitor.

I just received the March Consumers Reports. There is a small article:

"Trip-advice sites
Beware the kindness of strangers"

They were especially critical of TripAdvisor and Epinions. ((R))

>Why would a hotel bribe somebody to post on Trip Advisor if one can do it 1,000 times without registration, so they can do it themselves? <

Because they're too lazy both to post themselves and to provide the kind of service that would generate positive reviews without bribery.

I do post at Tripadvisor after most trips. I have my email and hometown listed. I also post both good and bad things about a place. So, if anybody reads my review, it should be apparent that it's a honest and neutral comment.

(Sorry if this post twice - I seem to be having posting issues)

This is quite worrisome. I reserved an apartment in Edinburgh, The Knights Residence, based in part on the TA reviews. The reviews were all positive although some did mention negative aspects. It met all my requirements - serviced apt. in Old Town for under $200/night with a reasonable cancellation policy. Their website even had a video tour and interactive maps of sights, restaurants, shopping etc. I could not find a review of the establishment on this site but haven't found any negative comments on the internet. Should I worry?

Hi noprob,

In reality, the percentage of establishments that are influencing the reviews on websites like Tripadvisor is probably very low. I suggest reviewing the reviews that you did read and looking at them for details that someone who never stayed there wouldn't be likely to provide.