Travel Blogger

Tripadvisor banned from claiming its reviews are real - UK Telegraph

(This is for the United Kingdom Tripadvisor site only.  This is a major problem with online reviews shown on travel sites, and other sites that use consumer submitted reviews. TB)

Tripadvisor, the travel review website, has been banned from claiming that all of its hotel and restaurant reviews are real.

It follows complaints that some unscrupulous hoteliers have posted fake comments on the site to boost their own business or sabotage others. Following a four month investigation, the Advertising Standards Authority found that it was possible for “non-genuine content” to appear on Tripadvisor, which is designed to allow holidaymakers to share tips and opinions on places they have visited.

The advertising watchdog said that because reviews can be posted on the site without any form of verification, Tripadvisor must no longer claim that all of its reviews are honest, or even from real people.

via www.telegraph.co.uk

Travel Writer Documents CBS "Amazing Race" Episodes

 
Each week Edward Hasbrouck, aka The Practical Nomad, documents the advetures of the CBS AMAZING RACE program from a travelers point of view. Follow along here.  TB

Vacation inspiration sites can be hit or miss - USATODAY

It's been a seemingly endless winter and you've just shoveled out your plowed-in car for the second time today. You're so ready for a vacation escape.

An ever-increasing number of travel-inspiration websites, or those with inspirational features as a sidelight — including Goby, Tripbase, Wanderfly and Cheapflights — now offer vacation, activity and entertainment recommendations based on personal preferences.

Major online travel agencies such as Travelocity and Expedia also offer vacation searching by theme, but they try to get you to the booking quickly. In contrast, most travel-inspiration websites are for people who have no clue where to go and are just beginning their research.

via travel.usatoday.com