i couldn't agree more. tripadvisor is awful. a bad joke.

I would never rely on a stranger's opinion of something, whether it is a fake review or not - there are just too many variables on opinions. What is fabulous for one person may be the dumps for another. I take all advice on those websites with a grain of salt.

Geez louise! Look at most pictures of hotels on their own websites, let alone TA. Even my most favorite is shown to its finest advantage. No hotel is going to go around and take the worst pictures it can nor paint itself in its truest light and that's why reviews can be helpful. One still needs to do some research and try to sift the wheat from the chaff . . .either that or just take your lumps upon arrival.

Completely different thing and not comparable. It's like your favourite photo is going to be a nice one shot in good light showing you at an advantageous angle with a nice posture. It's still you, as is the crappy one shot in the worst conditions that makes you cringe. Which one do you show when someone asks to see a photo? It's still an honest representation.

Phil, my comment was addressed to Oregonian who was complaining about how the pictures didn't match the reality. I hope merely intended your post as an extension of the sentiment expressed in mine.

Gee Seashell if you looked at a website and see a beautiful
pool when you get to the hotel wouldn't you be upset if it
was green from neglect. Instead of the beautiful room wouldn't
you be upset if the bed netting had big holes in it. Wouldn't
you be upset if the spa they said was on site was closed and
long gone. This is so far beyond showing the best side of things.
So Geez Louise yourself. I come from a family of resort owners
so I know a little about the business.

Not a hotel owner but a manager and have been a victim of blackmail by guests. Trip Advisor says they do not tolerate hearsay or personal insults. but refuse to remove posts that do just this. When you try to put a management's response it is refused. I know for a fact that repeat customers have put good reviews and they where never posted.
At least Lonely Planet has class. They simply omit a hotel from their listings until they feel that it deserves to be back in the book.
I would suggest to anyone making a booking in advance at a hotel they are not entirely sure about, is check the cancellation policies. Or only book one or two nights, so if it is not for you, you can move on.
One person may love a hotel and another may hate it for whatever reasons, perhaps different.
Caye Caulker has such a huge variety of prices and places to stay for every budget.
It is good that this topic came up, to give people a chance to voice their opinions, as TA does not allowed a open forum like this.

Sorry, caribqueen, it hasn't been my experience that TA doesn't allow an open forum like this. They do have rules for sure, but I've seen lots of banter back and forth and been involved in it as well.

Oregonian, of course, I would be upset, but then, I have travelled often enough that I am aware that the pictures rarely match reality. But sometimes things just happen too. You could arrive somewhere that normally would be fine, but there is some construction going on . . or who knows?

I'm glad you know a little bit about the business. I know alot about staying in differernt places all over the world.

Arrogance rules!

Well, there's a lot of it going on in this thread Jesse. Enough for each of us to get a little on us . . .you included. :^)