Read reviews like a pro

Checklist: scan the listing

Tick what you see on the listing. Sort reviews by newest first, then read the three-star ones.

Red flags (0 ticked)

A burst of five-star reviews in a few daysSort by newest: a cluster of top marks right after a run of complaints, or on a new listing, is the pattern of a review push.
Reviews that describe a different placeA pool the hotel does not have, a different street, a sea view from a city hotel — copied or misfiled reviews.
Generic praise with nothing checkable"Great place, great staff, highly recommend" could be about any hotel. Real stays leave details: the room, the street, the breakfast.
Owner replies that attack guestsHow the owner answers a bad review is how they treat you when something breaks. Insults, guest details or threats are a warning.
Several reviews in the same voiceThe same phrases, emoji or sign-off across different reviewers.
Reviewers with one review and no photoOne such profile means nothing; a page of them is worth noticing.
Offers to move the booking off the platformA discount for paying by bank transfer removes your platform protection — a common scam, and paid reviews often come with it.

Green flags (0 ticked)

Recent detailed complaints, handled wellA specific problem (broken aircon, noisy room) with an owner reply that says what was fixed is more useful than a wall of five stars.
Photos from guests, not only the hotelGuest photos show the real room size, the view and the bathroom. Compare them with the listing photos.
Mentions of what matters to youNoise, aircon, water pressure, stairs, wifi, the walk from the station — find reviews that talk about your deal-breakers.
A spread of scores over timeReal places collect some threes and fours. Read the three-star reviews first: they are the most balanced.
Reviews from the last few monthsOwners, staff and renovations change. A great score from three years ago says little about next month.
The same points across platformsIf Google, Booking and TripAdvisor all mention the thin walls, believe it.

Nothing ticked yet.

Paste a review

A heuristic about how the review is written, run on your device. It cannot tell whether a review is genuine: honest guests write short, happy reviews and paid reviewers can write long, detailed ones. Use it to decide which reviews deserve a closer read.

Review text

Your deal-breakers (we look for them in the review)

Ask before you book

Pick the questions, fill in what you know, and copy the message into the platform’s chat or an email. How fast and how clearly they answer is a signal too.

Hotel or tourGuestsFromTo

Message

Hello,

We are thinking of booking. Before we book, could you help with a few questions?

- Could you give us a quiet room away from the street, lift and any bar or karaoke? Is there construction near the hotel at the moment?
- Could you send a recent photo of the exact room type, including the bathroom and the view from the window?
- What is the total price for these dates including all taxes, service charges and any city or tourist fees?

Thank you — we look forward to your reply.