I got free desert from a great restaurant in Madrid when thay saw me writing notes on my journal. A nice waiter came over and in a friendly, jokingly way asked whether this was going to be a good/bad review. I told him I was a frequent poster at Fodor's (he was familiar with the travel series) and what a great dining experience it was. The restaurant is El Asador de Aranda located at 44 Calle Preciados. The best roasted meats, pork shops and steaks. Great wines.

I have a related question. For about 5 years, but no longer, I did freelance work (writing) for a villa rental company in Tuscany. I wrote about a variety of subjects for tourists, and sometimes questions concerning a subject that I researched comes up here on the board. Most recently, there was a question about truffles in Tuscany. I researched this extensively and wrote about it in the newsletter I did for the company.

Now, should I continue to post links to the articles, when they are germaine to the discussion here, or should I copy the info and paste it into my posted replies?

This is not my company, and I no longer write for them (but it is possible that I will in the future). Could my posting links there be thought of as advertising?

I've been wondering about this, and I'm taking this opportunity to ask.

I agree with Prunella-I think it's very inappropriate for Massagediva, who herself is a small business owner, to post a SPECIFIC thread SPECIFICALLY touting ONE particular business over another, WITH email address-it's one thing to mention and refer to a particular favorite shop in a generalized post for information where EVERYONE who is responding provides their own favorite shop in a particular category-rather than giving preferential treatment as MDiva is doing here-in part because she has a friendly relationship with the owner-thus advertising his products above all others.

I believe this very much IS a violation of the ban on advertising, in spirit, if not in fact.

I hope Fodor's will delete this thread, or alternatively, other Fodorites should come on to this post and post their OWN glass favorites in Venice, because there are many wonderful glass shops in Venice with talented artisans BESIDES this Mauro Vianello.

tuscan- I think if it is your work you have every right to bring it to attention in a relevantt context.

Viajero- it is so funny that you mention the Asador de Aranda because that is where my father and I had our worst meal of the entire trip. Actually, it is up there with the worst meals in restaurants ever. Horrible service, the meat was good, but everything else was just awful (including the wine, and life is just too damn short to drink crappy wine). I always tell people to steer clear.

I think Prunella and Girlspytravel are feeling rather trollish today.

Hello-the POINT of this forum is to share experiences from your travel.The fact that I am a massage therapist in the U.S. does not preclude me from telling other travellers about businesses and businesspeople that I meet and enjoy.That's just stupid.

I spent about 7 of the last 24 hours in a car on a business related road trip. Aside from the fact that the destination held llittle to recommend itself touristically, the biggest source of aggravation was the @%&*! drivers who see themselves as self-appointed keepers of flow and insisted on driving in the left (passing) lane at speeds that they thought all should observe (despite the posted limits). Why this rant? Seems to me it is pretty much the same thing with fellow posters who feel the need to enforce their interprettaion of the posting rules. If you find it objectionable, notify the editors - then get out of the way.
(gosh, driving makes me cranky, huh?)

girlspytravel- well then post some other glassmakers in Venice for us.

People post hotel recommendations with website info all the time. I happily use this information. Shops too - are frequently recommended - I am sure this forum contributes greatly to any number of businesses. Nobodys getting paid - its just word of mouth and sharing good experiences. I don't have a problem with this and I appreciate Massagediva providing me the info.

GypsyTravelGirl,
If everyone who owned a business were prohibited from offering travel advice here it would be a pretty small forum. Surely, you aren't suggesting that only those who work for huge conglomerates need post here at Fodor's.
It wouldn't be a very interesting forum if people only posted about big hotels and well known restaurants would it? There are Wal-Marts and Home Depots in Europe for people who don't want anything unusual but for those of us who do, please, lets not let's not sterilize that aspect of this site.
I bookmarked the glass shop in my Italy file for future reference.

I'm always suspicious of new posters whose one post gives a glowing report about one commercial site with a web address. But this OP has been posting since 2003!

Do you really think she's spent the time and effort to post over 800 times over a period of three years just so that she could build up to posting an "ad"? That'd make for one pretty expensive ad, don't you think?

I agree that girlspy and Prunella need to get a grip. What's the difference between this and posting links to restaurants and hotels. It saves us a lot of time searching on our own..and the recommendations increase our interest. I'm sure that if Fodor's thinks it's a violation, the post will be removed... we really don't need policing by other posters.
I'm glad to hear of an excellent glassblower... and will add it to my listing for my next trip to Venice.
I sort of collect antique Venini chandeliers when I can afford them, and would love to see some work by another glassblower.

Patricia

laclaire-- I am sure you must be aware that there are about 7-8 Asador de Aranda restaurants, right? That's why I specifically posted the address (the one in Calle Preciados). I could not even fathom bad service at the place in Preciados, the waiters were just so nice. I ordered a Ribera del Duero wine; tough to go wrong when you know ahead of time what specific wine to order. Too bad, about your experience. I take my Mom there every time we are in Madrid.

Hi Tuscan,

>This is not my company, and I no longer write for them (but it is possible that I will in the future). Could my posting links there be thought of as advertising?<

I think, that in general, if you have a relationship with a firm that could be considered a fiduciary interest (ie, the other person is relying upon you to act in their interst), you should refrain from recommending them.

If you once had a relationship, but have severed it and don't expect to restore it, you are no longer bound to protect the other's interests and you can say what you think - good or bad.

If you think that making nice comments about a firm on this board might aid you in developing a relationship, you oughtn't to do it.

It's a matter between you and your conscience.



Who chaired the committee that wrote the statement on professional responsibility for his former employer.

I think it is wonderful when people post positive experiences and others benefit. I know I have been recommending this Paris apt guy since having a good experience with him in 2001. What happens? I have been accused of being in business with him when I recommended him.

Some people just enjoy starting fights and I find that very sad. I told the individual from whom I rented the apartment (whose name will not be mentioned on this thread because it is irrelevant to the topic) that I was going to promote him on the internet. I have sent him a lot of customers and no one who has actually dealt with him has had anything bad to say. So nice to know that others can benefit from a positive experience by having one too. And, it makes people feel more confident in their vacation plans as well.

I don't see what's wrong with what massagediva has written. She doesn't have a personal interest in this person's shop. All she's doing is recommending it to others here the same way others including myself have recommended hotels and restaurants for example.

Vianello's website is very attractive and stylish.

I fail to see any substantive difference at all in this very specific thread about one shop, replete with a deceptive come-on title, "this community is great!" and any of the numerous other one-time posters who come on this board to "shill" for their respective websites.

Simply because the OP is a regular poster does NOT make it okay, by any means, (in fact, it is worse) because it does not change the substance of the post or what she is doing-which appears to be helping out a friend and fellow business owner, by creating a SPECIFIC thread, (not a post to a generalized question, but a thread) with the helpful addition of the shop owner's website-JUST to extol the virtues of this ONE shop-there is simply no difference in this crass example of oblique advertising than there is for any other of the more obvious one-time wonders who come on the board-it is wrong, pure and simple, and should not be allowed, if the ban against advertising on this site is to have any substantive meaning at all.

Well,Girlspytravel,you found me out.Good for you.

As we speak,this Venetian glassmaker is posting on a message board for Italians that they absolutely MUST book a massage with me while in Baltimore.

I really thought I could get away with it.

Thank you for posting his information. It is just what I was looking for and have printed the map and directions to his store. I would rather have first hand information rather just wandering into a store and picking up an "imported from China" glass figurine. Whether she works for the shop (which I strongly doubt)or not, I know I will get quality glass.

When people ask to recommend a nice Parisian hotel I more often than not recommend two Ile St. Louis hotels. No. The hotel doesn't pay me to recommend them but I do anyway.

I suppose if I started a thread about these two hotels it would appear suspicious too. But really in this case I believe massagediva started a thread just to let the Fodor's community know about this particular glassmaker and that's all.