mr_go

I take a rather utilitarian attitude toward writing trip reports. The key for me is...what would someone like me want to know about this place? Then, on some future date, when some unknown fodorite searches for "PlaceX trip report," they'll have one more set of opinions to draw from when they book accomodations, plan daytrips, visit sites, etc.

Why do it at all? Simple quid pro quo. I have benefitted greatly from those who have gone before me to London, Paris, Rome, Venice, Lucerne, Madrid, etc. and posted their reports. I can't necessarily pay them all back, but I can pay it forward by adding my 2 cents to the collective wisdom. And I'm glad to do so.

flanneruk

No-one else seems to have mentioned the interest of seeing how a place you've known for decades strikes someone new to it.

I've never actually seen a "Gosh. They have McD in Frankfurt!" post. But reactions to that - or even to seeing Pringles in a Chipping Sodbury in the Marsh convenience store - can be as fascinating as a detailed comparison between the roles of Speaker in Congress and Parliament, or advice on how to get the washing machine in a Rome flat to work.

Truth is, this site works only if posters describe what interests - or has interested - them. No-one can predict the gamut of things people want to know about places. And practically anything you describe will irritate someone.

So my only advice is: tell us what you want to tell us about. Nothing more, nothing less. Pay some - but not too much - attention to basic civilty, and do remember to put the place you visited into the title. Otherwise, don't let anyone tell you what to say.

degas

Don't chicken out - post your report.

Be honest. Try to stress the positive. Provide details and convey a sense of place. Include "tips" or "insights" that help those that come behind you.

Tell us WHY you liked or disliked something. Don't take yourself to seriously. Tell us what you learned and what you want to do in the future.

I'm sure it will be a great report.

Nikki

cigalechanta, thanks for asking, here are links to my reports:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...een_name=Nikki

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...een_name=Nikki

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...een_name=Nikki

Scarlett

I love reading trip reports!
I like the enthusiastic first timers who feel like they just discovered someplace that we have all been to, but they are seeing it for the first time, therefore we can see it through their eyes for the first time again!
I enjoy reading the planning of trips then reading the report, how well the planning went, what surprises were there.
I used to read with great pleasure, reports by Elvira, thebookchick, Bridget Jones used to have me sitting at the computer late at night, giggling away.
If you get boring, I will skip that part, but if one loves to travel and see the world, reading about it is good too!
I agree that a little less detail about how many biscuits you ate in the bubble bath is a good thing and how many steps it was to the bus stop..but I also have the ability to skip those parts, so if you want to say it, go right ahead! It is your report, write it anyway you want!
But please, do write it

sandykins

I adore trip reports! Please report on whatever you feel was significant to you about your trip. Even the littlest detail can be a nugget of information useful to my trip-planning. I, for one, love hearing exactly what you had from the menu of a particular restaurtant, how it tasted, and what it cost. Anything that I am not interested in, I will skim over. But I strongly feel that the more information you give me about your trip, the better! Even information that is not useful to me in trip-planning can be fun to read, for armchair-travel!