As was already mentioned, there was a similar thread a while back.

At any rate, I use TA as one source. With a huge grain of salt. I wrote a negative review a few months back about a place we stayed. Then someone wrote one that disputed what I said...and it HAD to be an employee because they mentioned specifics that I had left out. That one was removed, but I have seen the same thing for that hotel over and over again.

Also, there are posters on TA who are not trustworthy at all, so why would I put any stock into their reviews. One was caught red handed plagiarizing, yet continues to post away. Think I would trust anything that person wrote? I think not.

I think that in general you can read ALL the reviews and get a sense, but then check other sources, like here, for more opinions.

While planning an upcoming trip to London we booked a BA package. We had to choose a hotel quickly and my husband picked one off the list (he is not a fodorite)I checked TA and all the reviews of the hotel (The Park Lane Hotel) were really bad so I searched some more and found the Renaissance in the City for 99 bps a night! So in this case, TA helped me find a great deal but in a backwards kinda way.

I like what Moldy said - something like - throw out the top 2 and the bottom 2.

I read everything I can get my hands on before making a decision. I Google, Dogpile, use Fodors, Slow Trav. etc. I just read about an Inn today that had been recommended to me. But with about 12 reviews on Tripadvisor it got 2 stars. Too many bad reviews - over a long period of time.

I think you can tell the ones that are "salted" in there - they sound the same and if foreign, are stilted in their wording. But I trust Fodor and Slow Trav the most because you can check out people in a hurry (clicking on their name) if you are suspicious if it is a valid review!

Good luck.

Along with the question of <i>Do the Reviews influence your choices</i>, my question here is <i>Do the photos of the food on the table influence you?</i>
I am seeing a tendency, especially on TA , of photos of half eaten or about to be eaten dishes of food.
Not the table or the room or the exterior of the restaurant, but pages of pictures of dishes of food.
To tell the truth, it looks unappetising unless a professional takes the photo..know what I mean ? :)

Scarlett,

I agree! The only photos of meals or of people admiring meals that I can look at it are ones with Kal in them. It's my &quot;Kal with Food&quot; collection.

-Bill

LOL are they X rated photos, Bill?

I am sure there are photos of food that I have liked, but overall, lately , I am seeing dishes with food that does not look like Pup would be tempted, so why did someone take a picture of it? To prove they ate there? lol Is this like the latest fad, instead of Labels, we take pictures of the dish of food in some posh restaurant so we can impress each other LOL...sadly, my photos would come out with big bites taken out of everything :@)

Funny, I've only read hotel reviews on Trip Advisor AFTER I've stayed at hotels just out of curiosity to see what others said about them.

I find forums (here on Fodors, TripAdvisor's, and ones particular to a certain destination) more useful and accurate because I often &quot;know&quot; the people who are answering my questions, am familiar with their style of travel from other posts they answer, or can spot a crank who has a grudge against a particular property.

Good one Scarlett!!!!

That's like photos from my childhood of my family gathered around the table at holiday meals (we're Italian) and we'd always forget to take the pics until after we ate all the food
:-)

LOL suze, I made a paella once, a big mess and a lot of work but it turned out so well. My sweet husband , upon seeing the dish, said &quot;Wait! let me take a picture of it!&quot; LOL of course, he didn't, but it does make me laugh when I think of that and look at some food photos..
Of course, <font color="blue">Fodor Food Fotos</font> would all be Very Pretty ((F))

I take food photos in restaurants a couple a times a year. When I have posted them with my trip reports (not on TA) the response has been positive.

Here was the first. My photography has improved since then, but I have never had quite had the same dish: http://www.mightymac.org/gb088.JPG

Keith

Keith, that is so not what I was thinking of LOL
There are times when it is absolutely appropriate and I look and think that is nice...but on TA...that is another matter altogether..as I said. Fodor Food Fotos are good :D

Never thought about reviews in general, but definitely heed the advice from Fodorites. They are always real, and soemtimes damn funny!

From now on, will go with what majority states, and my trustee Fodorites.

imaaaaaaq and Ms Scarlett...
You mean like this: http://tinyurl.com/g977z

:-d

Too many &quot;Travel Board Pimps&quot; on Trip Advisor for my taste.
I used to look at TA before posting here probably over 6 yrs ago.

For real info I still like Fodor's and Travelers To Go because it's more of a community and you <i>know</i> the people who really travel from those that don't. ;)

Plus TA is still too darn busy for me since I'm a classic example of a quickly losing interest in something that

Yes, Kal that's it!

TA could never be this much fun.

-Bill

I look at Trip Advisor, Fodors, Frommers and AAA. Also Expedia and Hotels.com reviews too. I look in my travel magazines as well, and listen to friends and relatives' opinions.

Ahhh, I hadn't noticed those collections.

Keith

I definitely rely on TA (as well as other sources) when selecting a hotel, and think I can read between the lines well enough to distinguish a bad hotel from too high expectations.

Some of the things people complain about wouldn't matter one iota to me, you just have to dig deep and know what to expect. If there are 7 reviews that say a place is dirty, obviously I'm not going to stay there.

This thread made me go onto TA and read recent reviews of places I reviewed in the past. There is a property known as Tulemar Bungalows in Costa Rica. Mixed in with the Tulemar Bungalows are newer, nicer properties called Buena Vista Villas. For quite some time, fokls have been saying in the reviews that the Buena Vista Villas are much nicer, etc. (which is true, by far). The most recent &quot;review&quot; says something to the effect of &quot;Don't be confused. Stay at Tulemar Bungalows. They are much much nicer, etc.&quot; It is such a blatant plant that it is laughable!

Yes, mostly to rule out places. But I also use Venere because you can only post after you stayed at the place and made the reservation through Venere.

Once you make a reservation and complete your stay, they add it to your profile and give you the chance to post the review. So, &quot;fake&quot; posts are minimized if not completely eliminate.

We stayed at Sunscape, Puerto Adventuras, MX/Riviera Maya. I didn't know about TA until we returned from an awful experience. Posting here, I learned from someone about TA. Then, I posted my review, without exaggeration!!!
Reading the other reviews, I saw that many, many people experienced the same disappointments and treatment from the Sunscape! And, it seemed there were some mixed reviews. It is a toss up with Sunscape, you can get an awful room, without airconditioning, mold on the walls, and a host of other negatives, or your room is good. If you were unlucky like we were, it was an awful experience!
So, the reviews were true to what we experienced and talked over with other guests during our stay.
After this experience, I use TA always!! It has been true to where we have gone since.
And, I rely on it because I don't want to waste my money again, like we did with the Sunscape!
;)