Why You Shouldn't Trust Travel Writers

Hi. I'm a travel writer by trade and that's how I earn a living. But should you trust me? Maybe not.

Here's why. Travel writers make a lousy paycheck, but get incredibly addictive perks ranging from free airfare to the best suites to free drinks. Most smaller travel publications or websites, often rely on PR firms and the hospitality industry for freebies to generate content and establish contacts in the industry. And hotel markets, resorts, and tourism boards truly need those small publications. It's more likely someone writing about Columbus, OH for a small paper in Indiana will get more of a reaction than the LA Times. Those readers from Indy can drive over to check out the newest in Columbus museums whereas someone in LA will probably only file it away in their mind as a matter of interest. It's really not that hard to get on a press trip if you write for a publication with a circulation as few as 4,000.

But bigger rags like Travel and Leisure or Conde Nast strictly forbid any freebies of any kind. If the hotel concierge so much as opens a door for you, the editors are quick to panic that your review will be skewed. However, that doesn't mean you should assume established writers aren't ever sneaking perks, or trading perks. Is it so out of the question they would take a free room from a Marriott in Tahoe, with the agreement they'd check out a Marriott in Seattle and review it on their own? Though popular travel magazines tend to have a solid reputation journalistic integrity, you just never know what goes on behind closed doors.

Hee! We're all travel writers drinking free champagne....

I just got back from a free trip and met a couple who runs a successful but small regional newspaper. They came right out and told me they never review the negative aspects of a trip, lest not get invited back again. They in fact specifically write about places, cruises, and hotels that they want to visit for their own personal pleasure. I found this shocking. While I do take on a certain amount of responsibility by taking a free trip, offering a decent review, and agreeing to play by the rules, I would never leave out negative elements I would find important to my readers. Nor can a property, resort, or PR firm obligate a writer or publication to do so.

However, I also expect my readers to be smart. I'll offer up all the positive aspects of a property or attraction, but also mention who wouldn't enjoy it. Toddlers, seniors, people who hate walking up steps, etc. etc. This is my way of pointing out the negative, but also keeping in mind that too much walking or lots of kids wouldn't be a negative to everyone. My approach is to mix in some of my own thoughts and perspective along with the facts and let the reader decide. No fence around the property? A parent will immediately zero in on that comment and cringe at the thought of their toddler running amok. But newlyweds would probably care less. But regardless of how great all the perks on a trip were, I would never say 'This was the best place ever!"

I think travel writing should be a way to open new doors, entertain, educate, and inspire. But to just take a writer's word that a property is fabulous is short-sighted. Do at least one more level of digging before handing over your credit card. I love Trip Advisor for unbiased reviews, but I read all the negative reviews too. If the negative comments are about the room being small, the hotel staff being rude, or a whole ten minute walk into town, I'm still game. I'm from New York, everything is small, everyone is rude, and you walk everywhere. Another reason to compare negative vs. positive? They're often the same comments. We stayed at the Hix House in Vieques and all the reviews were the same on both sides of the coin. People were either bitching or celebrating the rustic setting, camp-style lofts, wildlife, and lack of televisions. The reviews were the same, but the people giving them had opposite perspectives.

So you may not want to trust a travel writer on whether a hotel really is the best place on the face of the earth, but you might get some new ideas and fresh perspective for your next vacation.