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How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

theguardian.com

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Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#71

Post by JoshMnem »

Nursie wrote: post #63
JoshMnem wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> how do you even find them without sites like Tripadvisor? Stay in hostels. Many of them have private rooms in addition to dorms. Ask the other travelers and hostel staff for recommendations. Book directly and help the hostels save money on the ridiculous commission fees. (It's usually cheaper too.) Don't plan too far in advance. If you travel outside of high season, finding accommodation isn't a problem.

And if you want more/better amenities than a hostel has to offer?

I guess it depends on where you're going and what you're looking for. Many hostels have private rooms that are comparable to hotels, but with more opportunities to meet people. They aren't for everyone though.

http://www.soulkitchenhostel.com/upload/iblock/9e1/9.jpg

https://www.czech-inn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/DSC9192...

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#72

Post by Canada »

4ad wrote: post #30
Canada wrote: post #21

I look at TripAdvisor, Yelp, and other regional restaurant review sites. Tablelog is the only one with overall ratings that seem to reflect reality, but that's Japan only. Even though the big two are more noise than signal as far as reviews go, at least I can see pictures. Often I use these sites while sitting in the place to decide what to order. I'm starting to use Google Maps more because TripAdvisor and Yelp site…

> Food photos only. No useless photos of people, random interiors, drinks, etc. I agree that photos of people are ridiculous, but I want photos of the interior. The ambiance of a place is even more important than the quality of the food (to me), and it's one of the attributes hardest to portray in reviews (mostly because people who review are not professional reviewers). Good photos help here.

Fair enough. What makes a good interior shot is more subjective. The idea with the food pics is that it's very easy to tell which photo of the same thing is better.

I think the big sites must know this and they could do it, but users who contribute might get discouraged if they throw out so many uploads.

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#73

Post by puranjay »

Panoramix wrote: post #4

I do a lot of traveling. My experience improved dramatically when I stopped using TripAdvisor and similar apps. I just go with the flow. Talk to real people. Like a bunch of American tourists (insert any country here) would know what, say, authentic Thai food is supposed to taste like. It all comes down to a bunch of -at best- uninformed people ranking stuff, at worst fake reviewers, bots and scammers. Why would I wa…

TripAdvisor's restaurant ratings are objectively the worst I've seen as a local. Zomato is a lot more accurate since it's used by locals.

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#74

Post by lotsofpulp »

joezydeco wrote: post #59
lotsofpulp wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The big US chains are always cheaper directly (Marriott/Hilton/IHG/Wyndham/Choice). Use roomkey.com and you can search them all at once. This is because the brands own room key so they don't pay commission so pass on some of the savings to you. You can also contact a hotel directly and say you're thinking about reserving on so and so website (aka travel agent), and if you reserve directly, they might give you a disco…

In a lot of cases, the trip booked through the aggregator blocks you from collecting loyalty points from the chain.

Yes, but not roomkey.com since it's just owned by the hotel brands and is not commissionable.

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#75

Post by sitepodmatt »

meritt wrote: post #33
r00fus wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Uhh.. Google Maps? Kayak/Travelocity/Expedia/Orbitz/etc/etc? If I'm staying near a business client or family I ask them. If they don't know I search. Then I see what's available on the booking sites. Tripadvisor only ever came into the picture if I was visiting a resort area where I didn't know anyone.

> Kayak/Travelocity/Expedia/Orbitz/etc/etc These are basically the same. They are all usually one of two companies: Booking Holdings * Booking.com * Agoda.com * Priceline.com * Kayak.com Expedia Group * Expedia.com * Orbitz.com * Travelocity.com * Wotif.com * Cheaptickets.com * Hotels.com (+ Venere, HotelClub) * egencia.com * Hotwire.com * Homeaway.com * VRBO.com * Remainder of Homeaway Network (~5 more sites) Indepe…

I thought Google hotels/flights used the OTAs, but instead of the OTAs making 13-18% commission, Google leaves them with 3-8% taking 10% themselves (Which no affiliate of the OTAs has ever gotten close to that high of % before)

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#76

Post by lotsofpulp »

pgodzin wrote: post #47
newhotelowner wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Look for a hotel on maps.google.com. There 90% chance that the hotel is offering the same price as OTAs. Book directly on the hotel site, and use their reward system to get points. Most of the hotel offers the same rate as OTA. We - Hotel owner can't offer a cheaper rate than OTA.

I've found that some perks, like free cancellation, is only available on the hotels' sites for significantly more than OTAs. Also my CC gives me a 10% on some OTAs.

You will find two different prices on many hotels websites. A discounted prepaid non refundable price, and a flexible price allowing you to cancel up to a certain deadline. Works just like airlines.

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#77

Post by Semaphor »

chadash wrote: post #5

I'm fed up with TripAdvisor, Yelp and similar review sites. Too many of the negative reviews are off topic and they bring down the overall ratings (similar issue for positive reviews as well... people tend to rate things they love or hate, but not things in the middle). For example, Amazon is loaded with one-star reviews from people complaining that they received counterfeit items. This has nothing to do with the pro…

Alternate.de, Amazon.de,… no idea how it is for the US equivalents, but on German sites I regularly see information about how bad or good the shipping was. Seriously? You are reviewing the product, not the store, your review is literally useless.

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#78

Post by stephengillie »

RussianCow wrote: post #52
stephengillie wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The trick which hasn't failed me yet is to look at exclusively 1-star reviews. I've been using Google Maps, and I'm assuming this trick will work with other services also. First, look at the ratio of 1-star to other reviews - do the 1-star reviews create a "hockey stick"? What's the ratio of 1-star to 2-star? 1-star to all reviews? Second, see what people are complaining about, for example, these 2 1-star reviews rev…

It's funny that this is your take on those two reviews, because my initial reaction was exactly the opposite: I would weigh the pub review more highly. In general, I have found that people (especially Americans) tend to vastly over-exaggerate service issues at restaurants, and it's always unclear from those kinds of reviews whether this was just a one-time thing or something systemic. Plus, I'm not sure how it's poss…

> It's funny that this is your take on those two reviews, because my initial reaction was exactly the opposite: I would weigh the pub review more highly.

And I weighed the pub review more highly as well. And the pub has locals raving from 30 miles away. Nobody knows about the cafe; I went in once and it was completely empty, so I went to the McDonald's that had a few customers.

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#79

Post by agumonkey »

tjr225 wrote: post #41
agumonkey wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand the last part of your comment. But I wonder hard almost weekly about that flattening effect of the computer era. People (and I at times) complained how institutions were imposing too much on whatever content (articles, music, movies). Without their curating effect, everything goes. Some say it's better because now you're sure you'll never miss a great thing that would have been killed by some radio…

I was thinking about that part of my comment and I believe what I failed to convey was that there seems to be no real cultural or educational priority to question what you see communicated on the internet, at least to my limited understanding.

I think culture needs to hit the wall and then people will re-learn that tech is not a magic bullet.

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#80

Post by sitepodmatt »

passivepinetree wrote: post #32
r00fus wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Uhh.. Google Maps? Kayak/Travelocity/Expedia/Orbitz/etc/etc? If I'm staying near a business client or family I ask them. If they don't know I search. Then I see what's available on the booking sites. Tripadvisor only ever came into the picture if I was visiting a resort area where I didn't know anyone.

(Disclaimer: I work in the travel industry.) What you want to do is search on these sites and then book at the actual business's sites. Even if the fares are different, it's worth it. Ever had to try to get a flight/hotel/car changed or cancelled through Expedia or a similar site? Whatever savings you get from aggregator sites aren't worth it.

Depends. If the cancellation terms are advertised then its point and click and done and money back in a few days - no questions asked - hotels.com or agoda.com - do it regularly as plans changed. Most of direct hotels you have to email their reservation staff and go through the back and forth reasons to get something cancelled - which is a PITA/risk if cancellation time is 31 minutes away. It is true though if it's a non-cancellable deal you'll have more look if booked direct.

Ever tried to get a directy to match the OTA price, sure it can happen, then you get ++, or some shit forex they choose, or some other bullshit, it's not worth the hassle most of time. In addition when directy will sometimes match without hassle but then what about hotels.com 1 for 10 booking room free, or expedia points (about the same), I want that extra 7-8% (since you dont earn on free night) or whatever it is off too... good luck

With oversell too, very common in asia esp vietnam, they are more likely to move the direct booking to their sister/partner hotel rather than OTA booking, the moment you say that's not acceptable let me call agoda/hotels.com all of sudden some other punter booking is being moved...

I dont stay high end though (2-3 star) and in fairness I do recall hearing direct booking on chains get special benefits like airport pickups or breakfast but never a better rate than OTA since thats the terms of the large OTAs (never advertise a better rate than us)

YMMV

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