Before you travel, read, read, read!

Travel writers and bloggers offer a more detailed review of the places they’ve been than user-generated sites – and the commentary is often more balanced. Most writers have been trained to look at the bigger picture, providing readers with enough information to know whether their choice is a good fit.

• Use Google Blog Search to ferret out blogger reviews of the places you’re considering
• Read multiple reviews from each blogger – some bloggers only write about places they’ve been paid to visit, which may skew review ratings.
• When you find a travel blogger you like/trust, contact them via email or social media to ask more specific questions – best veggie restaurant near the hotel, for example.

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