In Reply to: TA.. posted by gator on Thursday, 26. January 2012 at 15:24 Bali Time:
I love Trip Advisor. The TA Travel Forums are wonderful with questions answered by expats or recent travellers almost immediately. There are also side bars with FAQs etc.
Sure the reviews are often biased - owners of course get their friends & staff to post good reviews. If in doubt, ask on the relevant TA Forum & try not to just specify a country - eg for Phuket, enter Trip Advisor Phuket Travel Forum.
Hotels & restaurants on TA are, perhaps, a bit like those recommended in Lonely Planet & Rough Guide - they get so many people trooping there with Guide Book in hand that they rest on their laurels - standards drop & prices rise. Have seen the same happen in Bali after recommendations on this site.
Our last trip to Laos was so easy thanks to all the info & good advice from TA - AND nastiness just doesn't happen (or if it does, it is removed pronto - never seen anything like what goes on here).
I wouldn't go anywhere anytime ever again without doing my research on TA Forums - busy just now for 2 SE Asian destinations later in the year.