Trusting Online Travel Reviews

Travel 101 | October 07, 2011

It’s time that the old saying “Don’t always believe what you see on TV” be officially changed to “don’t always believe what you see online.” This is especially true when it comes to reading hotel and travel reviews online.

One important thing to realize is that people are more inclined to leave a negative review of a hotel than they are to leave a positive one. This is especially true in regards to higher end properties, because the more expensive a hotel is, the higher a guest’s expectations will be.

It’s also really important to look at the date that a review or complaint regarding a hotel was made. For example, if there are a bunch of complaints about the food posted in 2 years ago but no recent posts about it, then most likely the issue has been resolved.

The fact of the matter is that all travelers are looking for something different in a hotel. So what one person saw as a positive aspect of a hotel might be a negative for you. A place that’s just perfect for newlyweds just shy of 30, won’t always be paradise for an older couple looking for a different experience.

Read through reviews, but don’t put too much weight on each review.  If a vast majority of people love a hotel, there is a good chance that you will as well!  Don’t be deterred from a few negative posts here and there.  Some people are just impossible to please!

So what online review sites do you trust? Who do you take advice from? Your safest bet is to read more than just one or two reviews of a hotel and look for an over-arching opinion from a combination of opinions.

Helpful Websites:

• TripAdvisor – hotel reviews worldwide
• Oyster – the hotel “tell-all”
• Room77 – for all the information about rooms you don’t find on the hotel site

I hope this is helpful! When in doubt, your best bet is having someone plan your honeymoon for you, like Ever After Honeymoons! Interested in honeymoon planning assistance? Contact us!