Using travel review sitesUsing reviews
Check what time of year the review was written
According to research, websites that contain user reviews are the most trusted source of information when it comes to deciding on a holiday.
But press reports highlighting bogus reviews on travel websites could lead you to think they are rife with fake information posted by unscrupulous hoteliers inflating the quality of their services.
But is this really the case? Can you trust holiday review sites to help you plan a trip?
Top tips
1 Be aware of the language used in the review. If it sounds like a glowing report you'd read in a brochure, then assume a heavy bias.
2 Don't just trust one review on the website – read several about the hotel or destination you are planning to visit.
3 Visit several review websites and compare what travellers are saying on the different forums.
4 If something seems quite vitriolic, bear in mind that the person may have had an axe to grind or may simply be very difficult to please – check other reviews for comparison.
5 If the site allows it, contact several members who have posted reviews to ask for a more detailed analysis or more ‘insider’ information.
6 People have different standards so be mindful of the type of person writing the review.
7 Check the date the review was written. Somewhere that was relaxing and relatively quiet in May might be extremely busy during the summer school holidays.
8 Use as many sources as possible to plan your holiday – review websites, brochures and, of course, Which? Holiday.
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