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How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

theguardian.com

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Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#81

Post by malvosenior »

stephengillie wrote: post #37
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…

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…

As another commenter said, I'd come to the opposite conclusion. I always discount service related complaints as I rarely if ever experience service so bad that I'd not come back. Often you'll see people complain about a long wait or something on the menu not being in stock.

I only look at food quality and restaurant cleanliness reviews and it works out pretty well. If multiple people are saying a place is dirty, I'll avoid it at all costs. People talking about greasy, old... food is also a pass. Most of the time when people complain about service I feel they have weird expectations or lack skills for properly interacting with the staff.

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#82

Post by 4ad »

SOLAR_FIELDS wrote: post #45
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…

During my travels I was definitely surprised at first just how effective that buying a beer for someone sitting next to you at a pub is for getting all sorts of information. It's definitely the cheapest investment you can make into having a great time abroad.

That depends on what kind of person you are. I could never do it. And if a stranger would come to offer me a beer I would be surprised and annoyed, and if he wouldn't stop pestering me I would quickly leave.

It's also a cultural thing, I don't think I'm that far from the norm here. We just don't do this.

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#83

Post by nine_k »

4ad wrote: post #10
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…

I agree that Tripadvisor is useless for restaurants, but how do you find/book hotels? In general hotels are more expensive when booked directly and not through an aggregator, however, how do you even find them without sites like Tripadvisor?

booking.com used to work fine for me, at least in places I have any idea about.

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#84

Post by ekovarski »

whitepoplar wrote: post #38

Tips that have improved my travel experience: 1) Don't go to a "destination" city. Don't go to a city that derives too much of its income from tourism. 2) Trip length: not too long, not too short. 3) Make a loose itinerary, but rip it up occasionally. 4) Bring a phone, but no laptop. Don't use TripAdvisor/Yelp/etc. Ask around. Walk around. Have strange conversations. Don't be afraid to stay in non-traditional lodging…

Great list; I would only add which kinda goes with (3), don't set your expectations too high - go with an open and exploratory mind, you might even discover new unexpected experiences.

At times we plan a trip based on what we've read or seen and have this picturesque and dreamlike state concocted in our mind and then when reality doesn't meet expectations we spiral down ward and see everything else negatively.

Go with an open mind, don't let minor things upset you, and try to make the best of everything.

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#85

Post by ekovarski »

trophycase wrote: post #24

If you're the kind of person who likes unstructured travel instead of a checklist to get all those instagram pics, TripAdvisor really isn't the place you should be going. I recently used Yelp/TA in Jamaica and it put us at Rick's Cafe, one of the most highly rated and visited places in all of Jamaica. They had a gift shop and their $25 "jerk chicken" was literally baked chicken breast covered in barbecue sauce. Absol…

this is why I agree with panoramix comment; ditch yelp and travel advisor and talk to the locals. It's like using Waze during rush hour, it steers everyone to the same route and in this case tourists trap. Not that the locals are always right either, as tastes differ, but it sets you off in the right direction.

... and yeah Rick's Cafe is overrated. You want to find the places before they become the "it" place to be put on the 'gram.

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#86

Post by kbar13 »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #27
kbar13 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i think your story is a great example of why open review aggregation sites are a broken model. these reviews are not comprehensive. a lot of people only go there to post about a shitty experience or out-of-this-world experience. it's also broken in situations where reviewers are not familiar with the culture or standards of the place they're visiting, i.e. critiquing the service/cleanliness/decor of an authentic hole…

Why would you not want to be aware of bad service or cleanliness in a restaurant?

because there's a different standard you should hold a street hawker to vs a high end restaurant.

to be clear, you should be paying attention to the tastiness of the food (usually comfort food) and the atmosphere of something like a street stand in asia, where you might comment on attention to detail and innovation at someplace like coi.

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#87

Post by lotsofpulp »

kbar13 wrote: post #86
lotsofpulp wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would you not want to be aware of bad service or cleanliness in a restaurant?

because there's a different standard you should hold a street hawker to vs a high end restaurant. to be clear, you should be paying attention to the tastiness of the food (usually comfort food) and the atmosphere of something like a street stand in asia, where you might comment on attention to detail and innovation at someplace like coi.

In my opinion, clean and not bad service is a standard every restaurant should be able to meet.

Re: How TripAdvisor Changed Travel

#88

Post by andrewshadura »

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…

How about ClearTrip (mostly interesting in India, but they also have some non-Indian hotels)? Who are they owned by?
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