Jambiani Forum: Can people review hotels they haven't actually stayed in?

Yes, its one of the BIG flaws of Trip Advisor.

SOme hoteliers in the UK are suing TA for defamation and loss of business due to false 'reviews'.

TA doesn't check the reviews. SOme sites insist you prove you have stayed, but not TA.

I don't think its a major problem with the Zanzibar reviews though. DO you have any examples?

Hmm this is dodgy ground as its hard to prove things either way and everybody has a right to their opinion. Ideally the reviewer should be upfront and honest with their position and explain how / why they hold that opinion. Whilst most of what’s here is very good and helpful some content is not. People lie and exaggerate just the same as they do everywhere else. The key thing here is to remember what your reading.

Further to the above post, we are often find people find it hard to ‘let go’ of what they have read in the various guide books printed many years ago. It appears that if its printed it ‘must be true’. Hopefully this idea is not spilling over to the net as well. Always consider the source.

Tarquin @ Pure Zanzibar

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