Turning to the Internet before booking a hotel or dining out is a given these days. But can you really trust the reviews you read online? Here’s how five of the biggest review sites stack up.
1 star out of 5
TripAdvisor ranks worst in our book. The problem: The site allows anyone to post a hotel review without proof of stay.
3 stars out of 5
Yelp fares better. The site tries to filter out phony reviews, but anyone can comment on a business without proving they are a customer.
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3 stars out of 5
Another so-so site is Amazon. Anyone with an account who has bought anything can post a review of any product. One plus: Reviews by shoppers who bought a specific product are marked as a “Verified Purchase.”
4 stars out of 5
Expedia get high marks because it verifies that a traveler booked a hotel room through the site before it allows a review to be posted.
5 stars out of 5
Earning even higher marks is Angie’s List. Reviewers must provide their name, address, phone number and email.
Read more about why you can't trust some online reviews.
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