I don't stay at the same hotel.

OOOOH, so adventurous!! I thought you only stayed at Posada Roger or whatever it is called.

Well you thought wrong.

In case anyone is wondering what this is about, mlgb is making fun of me because I vacation in Puerto Vallata Mexico every year.

Popov,
You wouldn't happen to be on the Fodor's payroll would you?

No one really cares, suze. But to pretend that you have much knowledge of how MOST people use TA is a bit much, given your style of travel.

I'm not pretending anything. Nor did I say I have any knowledge of how MOST people use TA.

What exactly is my "style of travel" since you appear to know so much about me. Including a hotel I haven't stayed at in the past 5 years, but you just happen to remember the name.

I agree with suze. Any forum is only as good as the confidence you have in the truth of what its posters say.

Tripadvisor just doesn't work. Numbers can't capture a placeThe whole thing is based on self selection. A small group with a special interest rate something high so it comes out on top. Or 20 years old think its just great and make it tops. Everyone else would find it dull.

The FORUM section at TA doesn't have "numbers". It's a bulletin board format with people asking questions and giving replies... same as here.

same as here.

One BIG difference : TA is autoregulated. Means that every post can be deleted automatically by the 'community'.
These deletions happens after 4 reports of a post.
Means all threads that are not 'vetted' by a 'community' soon resembles a swiss cheese : full of holes.

At least on FODORS comments stay in most happenstances.

But I agree I'm biased : I've been kicked out from TA's forum after an exchange with the moderator (yes, they have at least one...).

The forums are great.Perfect..no.. but I have gotten some great tips there.. from posters I trust .

I really like the private messaging system too.. you can ask more indepth or specific questions from posters without derailing a thread.

I have also been able to arrange to meet posters.. ( like Pariswat) something more difficult to do without posting information publicily.. ( like meeting place or real names!)

I also have met more people in person from Trip Advisor, than from Fodors. It's a lot easier because of the PM feature.

I enjoy the forums on TA. I don't care about the "ranking" of the resorts. I like reading what people have to say about the different places.

Justine.
Was a pleasure meeting you. Ready for another time ( if I am not in Poland or Korea or wherever ).
I like TA for their reviews - whatever we can say about fakes the global picture is correct enough to avoid disasters.
I did like their forums but not their policy nor ( even less ) their self moderation which results in too many deletions.
( they even deleted a thread about Rollex).
Here what you post stay.

Now I have been banned from TA. Didn't help that I told them I didn't like their policy and that I deleted my 450 reviews. :-)

The question of how to get to the places locals frequent is an interesting one. For one thing, locals don't usually know much about hotels beyond their location and, maybe, their bar or restaurant. OTOH, locals' input on activities/attractions/restaurants, that kind of thing, would be very useful indeed--which is what FourSquare aims to collect.

I looked at 4square close to where I live and close to where I work.
Verdict ?
Rubbish for those 2 locations. Maybe I'll come back in a few years.

I love tripadvisor. I guess they don't have a control who are posting fake reviews. If you are looking for particular place, don't rely too much on tripadvisor, there are more review sites or social media that you can look at.

I really like TA..I have done many reviews on many restaurants and tourist attractions near where I live and I am brutally honest.
I never rely on only one site for reviews....
Don't use their forums much but do like the "private " message option.

I like that you can ask questions (even in the reviews section). You can PM any poster and chat more about what they have posted. I often get PM's even from reviews I put up years ago for hotels I like/stayed at