Checking with Tripadvisor is one of the first places I consult when planning a trip. Are there other boards similar to this you could recommend?

There are traveler reviews on the Expedia and Yahoo travel sites. I've used both Trip Advisor and Expedia trip reviews a lot. Usually, they are pretty accurate.

Once I have a couple hotels in mind, I put the names on forums (here and TA) for opinions. I feel I get even better information that way, rather than only reading reviews already posted somewhere.

www.virtualtourist.com is another one.

Travelocity has hotel reviews.

Epinions has some also.

Is this Fodor's site the same as Tripadvisor? (If not exactly the same, is there a tie-in?)

No, I don't think they're the same, and as far as I know, no tie in.

slowtravel.com is also good

"TripAdvisor is an operating company of Expedia, Inc." from their site.

Random House owns Fodors.

Which is probably why those Expedia "deals" for hotels are so prominently displayed.

We should get Fodor's deals!

http://p104.ezboard.com/feuropetogofrm12

Trip Advisor has many different sections, and I'm not sure what part of the website Katiekate is asking about. There are hotel reviews that people post in one part. And another separate Forum section is similar in format to this one.

So are you looking for "bulletin boards" like this one where people chat back and forth? Or a place to be able to look up hotel reviews people have posted?

Trip Advisor www.tripadvisor.com

It is in no way connected to Fodor's... the excellent website you are currently on

Depending on destination and your style of travel I think "The Thorn Tree" forum found at www.lonelyplanet.com is an incredible resource. Hundreds of thousands of registered posters from all over the world. More aimed at budget and 'backpack' style travel. With special interest boards for older travelers, gay travelers, disabled, etc.

slowtrav.com, not slowtravel

Postal, you're absolutely right, thanks. I'm crawling under my chair as I type this.

Please post reviews after your stays...we've noticed that lots of places are 'cleaning up their acts' now that reviews are so readily available. There is no need to get "taken" anymore.

The other side of the reviews thing is that hotels seem to be posting their own "positive" reviews...if I see a place that has 2 reviews per year and then all of a sudden 4 great reviews in a one-month period, I look elsewhere for accomodations.

IgoUgo.com