Hotel and Restaurant Reviews - the Whingers
30-Jun-11 - Because I travel a fair amount I have often used tripadvisor to look at hotels and restaurants around the world, and, last autumn, I became a contributor. It's not paid, of course, but it does give ordinary travellers an opportunity to have their say about where they've stayed and where they've eaten.
One thing I have noticed, however, is the wide disparity of the views expressed: some reviewers will give a place five stars and say it was the best stay of their life, others will give it one star and say it was rubbish. My mum used to run a hotel in Matlock, Derbyshire, and we were all well aware that some people are never satisfied, no matter what you do. We can all smile at the serial whingers (and travellers from one particular country are the main offenders) who, for example, stay in a budget hotel and complain that it doesn't have a minibar/air-conditioning/room service; one of my favourites was a review from a couple who were pickpocketed at the local tube station, and somehow this was the hotel's fault!
Reading some of them, however, reminded me of a story I heard a long time ago, can't remember when:
In the days when cities were walled, and the gates closed and guarded at night, there was a certain city and, about a couple of hundred metres in front of the gate, there was an old man, sitting on a rock, who would talk to travellers as they arrived. On one day he was approached by a traveller who asked "what are the people like in this city?" The old man asked "what were they like in your last city?" "Wonderful," replied the traveller. "Generous, hospitable, funny, welcoming - just wonderful." The old man nodded: "I think you'll find that the people in this city are much the same."
Later in the day, another traveller arrived and asked "what are the people like in this city?" The old man asked "what were they like in your last city?" "Miserable bastards," replied the traveller." They'd cheat you, overcharge you, deliberately give you the worst food, even rob you... Just miserable." The old man nodded: "I think you'll find that the people in this city are much the same."
I think the moral of this tale is 'you get out what you put in.'
One thing I have noticed, however, is the wide disparity of the views expressed: some reviewers will give a place five stars and say it was the best stay of their life, others will give it one star and say it was rubbish. My mum used to run a hotel in Matlock, Derbyshire, and we were all well aware that some people are never satisfied, no matter what you do. We can all smile at the serial whingers (and travellers from one particular country are the main offenders) who, for example, stay in a budget hotel and complain that it doesn't have a minibar/air-conditioning/room service; one of my favourites was a review from a couple who were pickpocketed at the local tube station, and somehow this was the hotel's fault!
Reading some of them, however, reminded me of a story I heard a long time ago, can't remember when:
In the days when cities were walled, and the gates closed and guarded at night, there was a certain city and, about a couple of hundred metres in front of the gate, there was an old man, sitting on a rock, who would talk to travellers as they arrived. On one day he was approached by a traveller who asked "what are the people like in this city?" The old man asked "what were they like in your last city?" "Wonderful," replied the traveller. "Generous, hospitable, funny, welcoming - just wonderful." The old man nodded: "I think you'll find that the people in this city are much the same."
Later in the day, another traveller arrived and asked "what are the people like in this city?" The old man asked "what were they like in your last city?" "Miserable bastards," replied the traveller." They'd cheat you, overcharge you, deliberately give you the worst food, even rob you... Just miserable." The old man nodded: "I think you'll find that the people in this city are much the same."
I think the moral of this tale is 'you get out what you put in.'
posted by John Radford at
10:55
3 Comments:
La Casarana is a popular Hotel Salento. For tourists, it offers distinctive items of Salento and Puglia. It abodes a wide range of facilities such as restaurant, swimming pool, sports facilities, private beach and multi resourceful conference.
Many websites offer hotel ratings to customers who are looking to book a hotel room for their trip. Hotel reviews and ratings often show you the condition and value of customer service at various hotels. Thanks.
Hotels in Bhubaneswar
Hi
very interesting plans thanks a lot
Popular as albergo salento, La Casarana is an outstanding hotel located in the historical place of Salento. there is wonderful arrangement for accommodation as well as
food. Tourists can benefit from luxurious rooms. Offering all sorts of modern amenities, it is a perfect place to stay.
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