Travel bloggers share their advice for using TripAdvisor wisely
TripAdvisor can be an important resource for travelers, but there are always tips and tricks for making the most of its reviews and ratings. We asked five top travel bloggers to share their advice on how to most effectively use the site (or the app) when it comes to travel planning.
1. Tim Leffel of The Cheapest Destinations Blog: "You have to treat TripAdvisor like the scoring system for Olympic diving: throw out the highest and lowest scores and average the rest. The way hotels are ranked is very opaque and mysterious, so I don't put much stock in which hotel is #1 and which is #10 in a given city. It seems way too easy to game that system and I've had hotels offer me perks or just plain beg me to write something nice on the site to up their ranking. You need to take time to read a volume of reviews to get a clear picture. If you're in a hurry, it's best to use the site to rule out the borderline options, or to confirm the hotel you're choosing won't be a disaster before you hit the "book it" button."
2. Megan Eileen McDonough of Bohemian Trails: "Pay attention to the small details. Take a look at the specifics like the dates of one's hotel stay. Off-season travelers might have more positive reviews because they scored a major discount or benefitted from being one of only a few guests staying at the property, and thus, more individualized attention from staff. On the flip side, summer guests at an all-inclusive might complain about the pool being too crowded or no available seats in the restaurant. Also look at the photos. There's a reason why the managers hire professional photographers, and hotel websites are notorious for (arguably) misleading future guests. By looking at the TripAdvisor photos uploaded by recent guests, you'll have a more accurate idea of what the property will actually look like during your stay."
3. Hannah & Adam of Getting Stamped: "Always reads between the lines. There are so many fake reviews, or just travelers who complain about everything and anything. If you think a user's reviews might be fake, look at their profile to find their other reviews. We like to get a second set of reviews from hotel booking websites that have confirmed stay reviews, so we know for sure that the person stayed at the property, and when. For restaurants, I have found Yelp to be a good second source."
4. Anna Kate of The Legendary Adventures of Anna: "TripAdvisor is an important resource for me during my travels. I read many reviews, look at all of the photos and the experience of the reviewers. It's great when they provide tips like which hotel room has the best view or neat activities do to in the area. Occasionally when I need really hard to find travel information, I go to the TripAdvisor forums. I was able to read in detail about taking an overnight bus from Cancun, Mexico to Belize. I learned in the forums that the busses are very cold so I made sure to wear warm clothing."
5. Kristen Sarah of Hopscotch The Globe: "Whenever I'm looking for accommodations ahead of time, I'll head on over to TripAdvisor to see reviews for that place. Usually I'll put my faith in the reviews if there about at least 10. This will give me a general idea of what people think of the place. It's hard to get a good idea of a place that only has a few reviews that could have very well been made by the client. [...] If it's 50/50 [between good and bad reviews] then I'll look for the reasons why that place had bad reviews and sometimes take my chances, depending on if those reasons really matter to me. Very rarely have I had a horrible experience come out of a place that was ranked well."
Jessica Festa is the founder on the solo and offbeat travel blog, Jessie on a Journey, and the online responsible tourism and culture magazine, Epicure & Culture. She's constantly searching for local experiences beyond the guidebook. You can follow her travels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.