The internet, social media and user review sites have transformed how we plan for travel, giving us a smorgasbord of options at our fingertips. But the system isn’t foolproof. Read reviews before you book your travel – but use some good old fashioned common sense.

• Read between the lines. Does the reviewer focus on the negative? Does s/he sound like a hard-to-please traveler or someone who experienced a singularly bad experience?
• Read a handful of reviews, paying close attention to the ones that are in the middle of the love/hate scale – they’re often the most helpful.
• How recent are the reviews you’re reading. An old problem may no longer be a concern if new management is in place.
• Look closely at reviewer photos – a picture can fill in the gaps
• Give more weight to review sites that guarantee the traveler actually stayed/ate there. OpenTable.com and TheBookingTruth.com are good places to start.

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