TravelPost.com Hotel Review Guidelines
With Travelpost.com, you now have the power to share your thoughts on hotels world-wide with other like-minded travelers. On behalf of everyone who will be reading your review, thank you for taking the time to contribute your knowledge, feelings, and experiences to an eager audience. In order to make your reviews as strong as possible, here are a few guidelines to follow to make sure everyone gets the most out of your review.
The best reviews:
- Are concise, descriptive, helpful and interesting.
- Give praise when it's due, and criticism when warranted. Be the happy medium between Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.
- Provide information about a property not easily gleamed from the website (we know there's a fitness center, but is it a room with lots of equipment, or a tiny closet with just a single, dust-covered treadmill?)
- Provide anecdotes of your experience at the hotel that are uniquely yours, yet shed light on the quality of the hotel - if you had a good experience with the concierge, likely others would as well.
- Fill in the gaps that the numerical scores for the hotel may miss. Scores for cleanliness, for example, may be different for your teenage son than for your OCD aunt. Here's your chance to provide context for ratings.
- Look professional with good grammar and proper spelling.
- Have a title that grabs the reader's attention and summarizes your feelings about your stay.
- Are an honest and personal reflection of your stay.
- Cover everything you would want to know before you stay at your next hotel. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Location:
Is it close to major attractions?
Is it really a beach-side resort, or did you have to take a shuttle to the shore?
Is the neighborhood safe for a late night stroll?
Is it easily accessible from the airport, or will a taxi set you back $50?
- Amenities:
Is the pool big enough for laps, or is it hot-tub sized?
Are the TV's flat-screens, or 1960's black and white models?
Does the bed feel soft and dreamy, or does it feel like you are sleeping on a twin-sized wooden plank?
- Services:
Is the check-in process smooth?
Does the hotel staff greet you with a smile?
Does the staff take care of special requests appropriately?
A few no-no's:
- While we're sure your 9th grade French teacher would be impressed with your (somewhat) fluent review of a Parisian Bed and Breakfast written in French, remember the website is intended for English speakers, so go ahead and write your review in English (we won't think you're less cultured, don't worry).
- Remember neither Travelpost.com nor the readers of the review are the hotel managers of the place you stayed, so if you're upset that your bathrobe wasn't soft enough, you can tell us about it, but don't come to us asking for a refund. While managers may read your message, we don't communicate your review to staff so contact them directly.
- Even if you really, really liked, or really, really disliked something, let your writing tell the story, not your OBSESSIVE CAPITALIZATION of words.
- While we encourage you to contact other travelers through private messages, your review should not mention the reviews of others. Limit your review to your own experiences, instead of commenting on those of the Travelpost user you have a cyber-crush on that posted before you.
- Don't tell us every little detail of your trip from running late at the airport to the business lunch that went bad. That's what your mom (and your therapist) are there for. Tell us about the place you stayed, as if you were telling a friend who is considering staying there.
Reviews we find particularly helpful
The Westin Horton Plaza - "Great Location"
Why we like it: Awcheung fills the reader in on the little details that amenity lists miss. From this review, the reader learns just what kind of fitness room to expect, gets a sense of the quality of the furnishings - flat screen tv's - and is well advised to consider public transportation to avoid hefty parking charges - something one wouldn't otherwise know until it's too late.
Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Traveler Review
Why we like it: Billm gives us great context for his review. He tells us where the hotel is located, how it fits in to the surrounding area, tells us what he expects and how the hotel fared in meeting those expectations. He provides the useful little details - from bathroom shelf space to minibar size - that one might not think of initially but play a large role in how pleasurable one's stay in a hotel is.
The Ritz Carlton Lake Las Vegas - "Complete Relaxation"
Why we like it: Luv2Travel gives us a review that is short but sweet. In just a few sentences, she concisely describes the hotel's important features: its location, its amenities, and its services. She aptly describes both the physical hotel itself as well as her emotional reaction to it, providing the reader with a well-rounded view of the property.