Beware of Internet travel sites and message boards …
I feel the Internet is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to human beings. Where else can you have all of the collected knowledge of the world, for all of history, at your fingertips and available within milliseconds?
Really.
However, the open access and transparency of the Internet also lead to its abuse. I’ll use just one topic of example for this as it applies to this blog … recommendations on travel to Italy.
The main travel sites almost all have message boards. They also almost all have places where “articles” are published by those that are supposed to be "in the know” about travel.
Both of these aspects of travel sites need to be watched very carefully, and the information gleaned from them tested, questioned, and confirmed before you make decisions (and spend your hard-earned money) based on them.
Just this week, I’ve seen an article with tips on what to do and what not to do when traveling to Italy that was only about 70% accurate. Someone on a message board where it was being discussed even asked the question, “Has this guy ever been to Italy?” Good question. I’d say, yes, he probably has been, but has not spent much time there. Or, if he did, it wasn’t the Italy I, and the others on the message board, have visited. And the author professed to be some kind of “expert”. Experts like that you and I don’t need.
There are also many people on message boards who confuse opinion, limited experiences they’ve had, and their personal preferences, as FACTS. And, I find that the people who are most biased, or least informed, often are the most aggressive, assertive, and outwardly confident in their presentation. You want to believe them because how could they possibly be so confident and assertive and not be right?
My recommendation? Validate and cross-check every important piece of information you get from a “free” source on the Internet. Ask questions of the author. Ask others for their experience. Get a statistically valid sampling and go with the majority opinion.
Ask things like:
“How many times have you been there, how recently, and how long did you stay?”
“Where else have you been in Italy?”
“What’s a better solution that you’d recommend and why?”
“How do you know that?”
“Why do you say that?”
“What’s your source for that?”
“Who told you that?”
“When did you learn this?”
“Do you speak Italian? How well?”
“Do you like (fill in the blank) anyway?”
… the last one is a great question to ask when someone says something like, “The liver in Venice was awful!” … if they hate it at home, small chance they’ll like it in Venice!
I’ve seen plenty of people on message boards who provide incorrect information because they’re just so darned determined to give their “two cents” … even if it’s wrong, or a guess. Just be careful and confirm the veracity (or likely veracity) of your sources. Is it their opinion, or fact? If you want opinions, great. But get several, or many, and do the math yourself.
Here’s a great example. I stayed at this hotel in Rome several times. It’s great. But take a look at the reviews:
http://en.venere.com/hotels_rome/spagna/hotel_del_corso.html
Every review is 4 or 5 stars, except:
“Beds were uncomfortable, and breakfast area was noisy. The housekeepers were just horrible with the bathrooms, no fresh towels or soap etc. The location of the hotel was great, staff was nice. If a good night’s sleep is important, don't stay there. Mattress was torture, so low, just two feet off the ground!”
… and this one …
“The price was too high compared to the size of the room for 4 people. My children slept in a sofa instead of a real bed.”
If you read just these, you’d think this hotel was awful. But read the rest, and you'll see that these were reviews from … likely … picky pains-in-the-asses who would not be satisfied with anything, and you get a different picture.
Let me guess, 4 children in a room suggested for 2 people … to save money? I never saw any quad room listed. Hmmm …
By the way, what does the height of a bed have to do with its comfort?
You get my point … reader, beware! As a past US President once said, “Trust, but verify!”
Ciao ... Mark
http://www.italianrealestateassist.com/
Really.
However, the open access and transparency of the Internet also lead to its abuse. I’ll use just one topic of example for this as it applies to this blog … recommendations on travel to Italy.
The main travel sites almost all have message boards. They also almost all have places where “articles” are published by those that are supposed to be "in the know” about travel.
Both of these aspects of travel sites need to be watched very carefully, and the information gleaned from them tested, questioned, and confirmed before you make decisions (and spend your hard-earned money) based on them.
Just this week, I’ve seen an article with tips on what to do and what not to do when traveling to Italy that was only about 70% accurate. Someone on a message board where it was being discussed even asked the question, “Has this guy ever been to Italy?” Good question. I’d say, yes, he probably has been, but has not spent much time there. Or, if he did, it wasn’t the Italy I, and the others on the message board, have visited. And the author professed to be some kind of “expert”. Experts like that you and I don’t need.
There are also many people on message boards who confuse opinion, limited experiences they’ve had, and their personal preferences, as FACTS. And, I find that the people who are most biased, or least informed, often are the most aggressive, assertive, and outwardly confident in their presentation. You want to believe them because how could they possibly be so confident and assertive and not be right?
My recommendation? Validate and cross-check every important piece of information you get from a “free” source on the Internet. Ask questions of the author. Ask others for their experience. Get a statistically valid sampling and go with the majority opinion.
Ask things like:
“How many times have you been there, how recently, and how long did you stay?”
“Where else have you been in Italy?”
“What’s a better solution that you’d recommend and why?”
“How do you know that?”
“Why do you say that?”
“What’s your source for that?”
“Who told you that?”
“When did you learn this?”
“Do you speak Italian? How well?”
“Do you like (fill in the blank) anyway?”
… the last one is a great question to ask when someone says something like, “The liver in Venice was awful!” … if they hate it at home, small chance they’ll like it in Venice!
I’ve seen plenty of people on message boards who provide incorrect information because they’re just so darned determined to give their “two cents” … even if it’s wrong, or a guess. Just be careful and confirm the veracity (or likely veracity) of your sources. Is it their opinion, or fact? If you want opinions, great. But get several, or many, and do the math yourself.
Here’s a great example. I stayed at this hotel in Rome several times. It’s great. But take a look at the reviews:
http://en.venere.com/hotels_rome/spagna/hotel_del_corso.html
Every review is 4 or 5 stars, except:
“Beds were uncomfortable, and breakfast area was noisy. The housekeepers were just horrible with the bathrooms, no fresh towels or soap etc. The location of the hotel was great, staff was nice. If a good night’s sleep is important, don't stay there. Mattress was torture, so low, just two feet off the ground!”
… and this one …
“The price was too high compared to the size of the room for 4 people. My children slept in a sofa instead of a real bed.”
If you read just these, you’d think this hotel was awful. But read the rest, and you'll see that these were reviews from … likely … picky pains-in-the-asses who would not be satisfied with anything, and you get a different picture.
Let me guess, 4 children in a room suggested for 2 people … to save money? I never saw any quad room listed. Hmmm …
By the way, what does the height of a bed have to do with its comfort?
You get my point … reader, beware! As a past US President once said, “Trust, but verify!”
Ciao ... Mark
http://www.italianrealestateassist.com/
posted by Mark Pukita | 9:04 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home