"I'm a good worker and a hard worker, but I'm a world-class vacationer." - Woody Harrelson
I'm no world traveler (haven't been on a plane in years) and wouldn't qualify as a world-class vacationer (the PDGF -- Party Down Get Funky -- gene skipped a generation). However, being unemployed and penniless, I am bargain-conscious, which can help when you're planning a vacation.
Not that I'm planning a vacation (we're staying home for the holidays). But if I was, I'd consult TripAdvisor.com.
As the site trumpets, when you join TripAdvisor, you can
Enjoy all the benefits...
- Plan Your Trip. Save hotels, attractions, reviews and more. Customize and organize your trip, then print it and take it with you.
- Tell your stories. Share your vacation reviews and local insights on our new Inside Pages.
- Join our community of nearly 5 million members. Connect with other travelers in our forums or by asking questions one-on-one.
- Stay in the loop: get weekly deals, reviews and news on any destination you choose from our TripWatch newsletter (optional).
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From the homepage, you can Plan the Perfect Trip -- select a destination and find flights, hotels, restaurants, attractions. You can also use/peruse a forum pertaining to your destination. Staying close to home, I chose Madison, Wisconsin.
For whatever reason, the Madison forum isn't very active. There was only one question posed:
Our son wants to check out the University of Wisconsin. So we're hoping sometime in the next few weeks to drive up early on a Saturday and stay until Sunday afternoon. Any suggestions for a reasonable hotel/motel? Preferably with an indoor pool. Would also love restaurant suggestions. Thanks.... and only two responses (both of which, to be fair, seemed generous and helpful). Unfortunately, this sole "conversation" took place in 2004.
There are Spotlight Destinations. Or you can Browse by Destination. Or, if you're unsure, you can click on Inspire Me. I chose Best Romantic Vacations - Europe ("no other city says romance like Paris"). The top four locales (after Paris) are Venice, the Riviera, Budapest, and the Greek island of Corfu. What surprised me is that Budapest ("Buda and Pest, the two distinct halves of the Hungarian capital, cling tightly together on either side of the river Danube") was the only destination that went beyond the tried and true.
At least in these lists, you have to be content with the "usual suspects." If you're looking for something off the beaten path (like "Skiing in Morocco"), Lonely Planet may be a better bet.
For the heck of it, I tried the site's Search feature, typing in one of my favorite restaurants: Rosangela Pizzeria in Evergreen Park (okay, so my tastes are a bit pedestrian). It got a four (out of five) star rating... but only one review: "This place is great atmoshpere [sic] and better food. Mr. Rizzi is a great host." This is authentic as far as a South Sider speaks but I don't know whether it'd convince a tourist to drop by. If Rosangela's doesn't do it for you, a sidebar lists other decent restaurants in the area. (If you're talking about true Italian cuisine, the restaurant reviews for Tuscany are a little more elaborate and eloquent.)
The site contains a wealth of Traveler Reviews. Unfortunately, these tend to be uniformly positive if not effusive. (Maybe if you search hard enough for a dive...). At least you know what -- and where -- the quality establishments are so you don't end up somewhere that's like an outtake from Hostel or Turistas. (FYI - According to Rotten Tomatoes,"Hostel is a wildly entertaining corpse-filled journey." Turistas doesn't fare as well -- "wooden acting" and a "stale and predictable plot." Yes, hard to believe in a horror movie...)
In short, TripAdvisor offers oodles of information -- photos, maps, deals. It's colorful and comprehensive, with links to a plethora of relevant sources. I'd definitely recommend it as a resource (if I could afford to take a trip). However, it may not be the ideal site for someone who wants more of a man-on-the-street critique. Which brings us to my chief contention -- the site seems more conventional/promotional than distinctive/quirky. It lacks personality. It doesn't have that individual, out-of-the-ordinary twist (like a good horror movie).
I give TripAdvisor four out of five stars (it could be less staid, more eclectic). But take my review with a grain of salt... or a whole rim of grains if you're in that Spotlight Destination -- sun blazing, mariachis playing, margarita in hand.
I was surprised to find your 4/5 rating. Having read your "review," I would have predicted a three, perhaps three and a smidge. No more. Were you just kind because that's your nature? Or, do you fear the vengeful hand of the travel gods?
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