02nd February 2012

Holidaymakers who are thinking of booking their trip to France but are unsure where to stay have been urged to take online recommendations with a pinch of salt.

Sharron Livingston, editor for thetravelmagazine.net, noted that readers of accommodation review sites cannot always believe the words they see on the screen.

"Like any forum, there will always be unscrupulous reviewers who have an agenda or an axe to grind, while many others just want to share their experience," she pointed out.

"My suggestion is to take a view. If there are several reviews of the same place, then make a decision based on the overall message that comes out of them and of course put into the mix your own tastes and needs."

Ms Livingston added that one bad review against several positive ones does not mean the place in question should be avoided, "and vice versa".

Her comments came after the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) upheld a complaint made about holiday review website TripAdvisor.co.uk that drew attention to the site's claim to provide "reviews you can trust".

Another booking website and two hotels had flagged up the claim and said it could be misleading because TripAdvisor does not verify the reviews on its website and therefore cannot tell whether the reviews are genuine or not.

The ASA has since told TripAdvisor that its adverts must not repeat the claim or imply that all reviews on its website have been submitted by real travellers.

According to the Telegraph, hoteliers have welcomed the ASA's ruling because the hospitality industry "has had issues" with a number of aspects of the review website.

British Hospitality Association spokesman Miles Quest commented: "We feel that the more people who use the website understand the basis on which the reviews are made, the better."

Posted by Mark Thompson 

17th May 2012

With the pound strengthening significantly against the euro in recent months, those taking ferries to France this summer can expect their money to go a little further than usual on the other side of the Channel.

Indeed, according MoneySupermarket.com, Brits abroad are currently saving up to an...