TripAdvisor

Author: Kalicia Bateman

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The Good

• Accommodation options
• Great features
• Great information available

The biggest advantage to TripAdvisor is the sheer volume of accommodations that are posted on their site. TripAdvisor has so many postings that the most effective way to search for a rental location is to search with your date, price range, and amenities in mind. This way you can narrow the search results to exactly what you need. TripAdvisor hosts vacation rentals in more that 190 countries so you have a wide variety of options for your travel. Travel websites are always looking for ways to appeal to consumers interested in booking a trip. In addition to having the ability to book flights, hotels, and other vacation rental necessities, Trip Advisor also provides their users with the following capabilities not typically found on other sites:

• Read Reviews - travelers who have stayed in a hotel, eaten at a local restaurant, or visited a destination attraction write reviews to inform other travelers and help alleviate the guessing game associated with booking accommodations without ever having visited before
• Compare Prices - compare the fares and rates of thousands of accommodations all with one search
• Travel Community - through the travel forum, prospective travelers are able to ask questions to those who have already visited their desired destination and receive tips and advice

In addition to providing one of the most comprehensive travel booking platforms available on the web, TripAdvisor also has a number of benefits that can help those booking their upcoming travel accommodations:

• Rental Guarantees
• Easy online search
• Mobile app for iPhone/Android
• Customer reviews specific to each posting
• Nearby attraction suggestions
• Blog with travel tips and stories
• Fee information is clearly displayed

TripAdvisor offers as much information as possible so you can have peace of mind in your travels. Most postings have ratings and personal customer reviews about their experience. TripAdvisor also keeps track of how many bookings each home has had. That way you can easily see how many people have stayed there and how they enjoyed their stay. Additionally, TripAdvisor offers up to a $10,000 peace of mind guarantee. This means if your rental home is not what you expected or if you are locked out of the rental home-TripAdvisor will take care of you. The mobile app is also a helpful tool for travelers, especially when they are on-the-go and need some additional travel help. The TripAdvisor app is available on both mobile devices and tablets. It comes with a number of services that can benefit almost any traveler, including:

• SeatGuru: this feature includes seat maps, flight search, and flight status updates
• GateGuru: this features includes airport maps, stores, tips, weather and flight status
• TheFork: this feature allows travelers to book reservations at the best restaurants

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The Bad

• Additional fees
• Varied cancellation policies

TripAdvisor does have a small fee associated with use. Both property owners and travellers have a small fee for usage. Property owners have to pay a 3% commission fee to TripAdvisor for every trip that is booked while travellers have to pay a small percentage fee depending upon the property that they are booking. This fee is used for the peace of mind guarantee. Here are a few other things that TripAdvisor could improve on:

• Customer Service phone number
• Verified properties
• Free Cancellations

TripAdvisor does still put some of the responsibility on the homeowners and they get to decide things like your cancellation policies and payment options. TripAdvisor also asks you to contact the property owner for most issues unless you arrive and need to take advantage of the peace of mind guarantee because something has gone wrong.

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The Bottom Line

We would recommend TripAdvisor as a great place to look up your next vacation rental. With so many options, TripAdvisor will have a vacation rental that fits your needs. Plus, you have the peace of mind guarantee with your bookings to make sure you have a positive experience. Travelers that use TripAdvisor can expect the following from the service:

1. User friendly: Fast and easy booking for flights, hotels, rental cars, etc
2. Vacation bundles: Packages available for bundle booking
3. User-generated content: Reviews on millions of accommodations
4. On-the-go travelers: Mobile app to help organize and plan trip
5. Rewards program: Limited rewards bonuses