Who would you believe?

[mercury]

Having just poured over reviews on Trip Adviser we have chosen our hotel for our next hols. I constantly read reviews for most thing before I purchase anything these days and that includes restaurant reviews before a meal out... Why is it then that I can read 20 to 30 excellent reviews but the one that sticks in my mind and has me doubting the other good reviews is the worst review...    I am usually let down by other peoples recommendations of a good place to eat because on the night we go they are having an "off night". Anyone else the same or am I just too fussy?   We are going to Golden Moon and Rebin Beach by the way.. I am certain they will be OK..    .

[Lotty]

Really strange because we have just been to lunch at a place in Chiswick that we'd never tried before. I made the mistake of reading all the reviews - because you do need to know the negatives. Or do you? All reviews were excellent except one that said that the squid starter was not good, so immediately you tend to disregard it. BUT M really fancied that so he went ahead and tried it and you know, it was so delicious, as was everything else. I think it's up to you, it's like bad book reviews, people love to have a negative voice sometimes so I say each to their own.  

[Scunner]

I read them all too and using my patented formula (if what to do isn't obvious, you haven't done enough research) I get there. It is indeed easy to let the 1* ratings speak louder than the numerous 4 and 5 star ones but overall I think I find when I stay/eat that it was how I had gleaned it overall.

I always say that you can do a 1* slating review of ANYWHERE if you go intending to do so. Nowhere is perfect and I could make some very nice places sound terrible if I was to concentrate on the bad. But you have to weigh it all up - our hotel in Tunisia was fantastic but I have an anorak daughter (gets it from her mum I reckon) who reads every TA review from the day I book it till the day we go - she even reads the 5 pages of terms and conditions in the back of the Thomson brochure!! - and it is quite obvious that the good reviews wash over her and the slating ones really start getting her worried.

The other point is that it isn't all about ratings, either consumer ones or official hotel ratings etc - it's about value for money. Last year we split 6 days by having 3 at the Manas Park in Calis for around £18 a night and 3 at the Ece Saray at several times that rate. Was the Ece Saray better? You bet it was. Did we enjoy it several times more than the basic but cheap Manas Park? Definitely not.

[sadler]

I have invariably found that if someone has a gripe against something they will tell it, but very few sing the praises because we all expect things to be wonderful. Look on here and compare the compliments to the complaints. I have always used the theory that if there are several good recommendations and only one bad review, then I will believe the good. If there are equal amounts of good and bad, I will go with the good, as most people will only comment on the bad, if there are several bad and few good .....

[zest]

I must say I completely agree with Sadler, people are more likely to make a point of making a complaint than a positive review, I have looked at some Amazon reviews and found one person who only left negative reviews!! I'm sure you will have a fab hols, relax & enjoy   

[echogirl1]

I have posted several reviews of places, at home and away, on Trip Advisor, but there have been other reviews of the same place that are the complete opposite of the experience I have had.  I think expectations play a big part, if you think you are going to get a 5 star experience and you only get 3 then you will not be satisfied.  If however you have no expectations you are more likely to be receptive to whatever comes along  (p.s. didn't know I knew so many long words!!)   

[Scunner]

It wasn't too long ago we were booking holidays based on 4 photographs, a temperature chart and a 3 paragraph brochure description - amazing really, the amount of information at our fingertips today.

[Bluwise]

Well I wish I knew what to think about Sharm.....talk about mixed reviews and that's only on here!!

[sadler]

Why don't you try it and make up your own mind.  

[Scunner]

I might just

Sharm for sure, pyramids was the reason for the question...probably not. I am not easily impressed and if it's anything like Stonehenge, when I first saw that I thought it was cr4p