Why I Use TripAdvisor?

Why do I use TripAdvisor? Hmm, let me see (settling back into my chair as I stroke my pretend goatee and look at the ceiling deep in thought). Well, there's a few reasons. In short, think a holiday planner to end all holiday planners with multiple options on deals, review trends, real photos, phenomenal filters and more.

Longer Version of Why I Use TripAdvisor

• TripAdvisor has partnered up with many online booking companies making it easy to present us with the best deals for hotels. Think - Wotif.com (who I've used a lot in the past), Booking.com, Agoda, Hotels.com, Expedia, EasyToBook, HotelTravel.com, TripOnline SA, HotelTravel.com and World Independent Hotel Promotion. And highly likely more getting on board.

• Plus, the review trends look past the hype to establish the credibility and suitability of any establishment in real time. See, our needs, not theirs, ours. We can soon begin building a picture in our minds as to how good an establishment is because there are some very good reviewers on TA. Still, there are crappy reviewers too.
  

• Travellers put up real photos so we don't get just the glossy promotional ones (establishments do have these on TA so we can easily compare). Along with stunning pics we get to see the rusty taps, past its use by date furniture and silica build-up in jugs and toilet bowls - that's a Rotorua state of affairs by the way, one more thing to thank the sulphur for (what a bitch to try and get off too). If you've heard of the Pink & White terraces - same material, silica.

• TA has phenomenal filters too: Just under the top pic we find tabs with ratings, reviews (filtered for families, couples, solo, business), photos, location and maps, amenities, Q&A's, room tips and more - all on the one page. The tabs stay fixed at the top of the page which makes it super easy to move around the page.
  

Plus, plus (can't leave this out), if you do happen to book via TA, I get paid a commission. Woo hoo, it's payday (don't worry, I won't be looking to retire on any single transaction, it would have to be in the hundreds of thousands - sigh).

Joking aside, it's a win, win for all of us. You get a deal, I get paid, TA gets paid (and the partner) and the accommodation provider gets a booking. Love it. We all win.