How to Read Travel Reviews the Right Way (And Stop Letting Other People's Trips Ruin Yours)
Reviews aren't wrong, they're just not written for you.
The person leaving that 3-star review might have hated the lack of a swim-up bar. But you're a diver who'll be underwater from 7am. Suddenly that "disappointing resort" sounds perfect.
Reading a travel review can be such a useful tool, but if you use that information the wrong way you could be left with more questions than when you started - or worse, a holiday disaster because you made the wrong choice.
Ask yourself - who is this reviewer?
A couple on a honeymoon, a family with toddlers, a solo backpacker, and a group of serious divers will all have wildly different experiences at the same place. Before you trust a review, try to work out who wrote it and whether their priorities match yours. Who are you? Why are you thinking of travelling to this place? What do you think it should feel like when you get there? Take the answers to these questions and apply them as a filter.
What to look for (and what to ignore)
✅ Look for patterns. One bad review about slow service is noise, but ten reviews mentioning it is a signal
✅ Look for specifics. "The house reef was incredible" tells you more than "amazing place!"
✅ Look for reviews from people who did what YOU want to do
❌ Ignore reviews that are clearly about things that don't matter to your trip
❌ Don't let one dramatic 1-star review tank a destination that's otherwise perfect for you
Read between the lines
Sometimes a negative review is actually good news in disguise. "Too remote, no nightlife, nothing to do after dinner" for someone chasing a proper digital detox or an early-morning dive schedule should sound like heaven. What exactly are the things that this reviewer did like - are they the things you are looking for?
The star rating trap
A 4.8-star resort in Bali and a 4.8-star resort in the Maldives are not the same experience. Star ratings don't tell you about the vibe, the reef quality, the customer service, whether the beach is good for little kids or whether it is going to serve up the romance you want on your honeymoon. The stars are not the best tool to use when you are ready to choose the right travel destination. The words are far more powerful.
The star rating trap
A 4.8-star resort in Bali and a 4.8-star resort in the Maldives are not the same experience. Star ratings don't tell you about the vibe, the reef quality, the customer service, whether the beach is good for little kids or whether it is going to serve up the romance you want on your honeymoon. The stars are not the best tool to use when you are ready to choose the right travel destination. The words are far more powerful.
When reviews just aren't enough
Some things you simply can't learn from a review - current visibility conditions, which season the reef is at its best, whether the liveaboard crew are safety-conscious, or if that "secluded beach" is actually a 90-minute boat ride away. That's where talking to someone who's been there (or sent clients there repeatedly) makes all the difference.
You’ve tried going down the review rabbit hole. Now what?
The very best way to get the holiday you want, is for an expert to find you the right match. I want to know how you expect your holiday to look. How it should feel when you wake up in the morning in your hotel room, and where you picture yourself during the long relaxed days. Once I can understand this, I go to work to provide the options that match. This is what our 15 minute adventure chat is for. Book yours below.