I'm a bit like Doe, we've been staying in a private apartment lately, so unable to give a review, but I think I've made up for the lack of posting a review in the relevant forum from my sometimes too long posts but do I look bothered ? BT told me it's good to talk. and like I've already said, if nobody writes, then the forum will die and I know I'm repeating the same things at times, but at least I'm making a post with hopefully some information that might be useful to someone out there, and although I sometimes think posters could find the information by clicking on the ‘search' button, if they did that and found the answer, then IMO the boards will be even quieter"¦a catch 22 scenario.

There's a lot of information can be gained by (I hope) reading what people did/eat/visited/recommend/videod/photograph in the forums.
Well, I like to think so....My theory is, if you get an interesting board, people will stay around, get to 'know' other posters and their style of writing, and what might irk them and maybe at a later date when they feel ‘part' of HT, post a review.

I think we need to get the ‘community' back, we seem to have lost it by just expecting people to freely give out information and get nothing back in return, people want to be able to slightly drift off topic at times and put the ‘fun' back into this place, without having their knuckles rapped over it.

The last time I looked in the mirror, I wasn't a robot.!

Sanji x
Edit for typo errors.

I agree with Sanji that the fun and the community spirit seems to have drifted away from here..and seeing the little spat earlier on the thread seems to prove her right. No need at all...and it is things like that that also make people wonder why they bother posting.

Some people need to wind thier neck in and remember that we are all members of this forum becuase we have an interest in travel and holidays and want to share it with others.

doepsmc wrote:

I have just clicked the 'view new posts' icon for the first time in the six years I have been here (normally use the front page)

...and me! Never used it before, really cant think why either but I have read things that I wouldnt normally read so it must be a good thing and a facility that I will continue using from now on

On here, I think the first port of call (unfortunately in a lot of cases) is the complaints thread and I think sometimes that some posters are really harsh and rude to "newbies". Not everyone has the good fortune of getting everything right all of the time. Sometimes I have really had to bite my tongue at some of the snipes and comments. I have posted maybe 3 or 4 times in there - made a post that I was shot down for myself because my opinion didnt suit and so wont bother ever again. If that is how first timers can be treated why would they want to join any other discussions or threads

I dont bother with other forums anymore but I have "perused" TA's forums. I do think that posters/answerers are quite rude and harsh at times and some people really think that they know it all. I dont like the layout of it either and find the forum here so much more user friendly. The reviews sections are much more up to date over there than here and I have written a review there this year. I agree that maybe the HT review sections are not "in plain sight" enough and you either know about them or about the forum, but not both unless you have been here for a few years. I have written reviews (one particular holiday I have been three times and the review hasnt really changed over the years but done nonetheless) but do tend to look elsewhere for my reviews if im researching for something new (usually for family).

Having said all that, I love it here and will continue to come back day after day. I have laughed and cried at some of the posts made. I have also made some wonderful like minded friends as well.

srhjnmgn wrote:

doepsmc wrote:

I have just clicked the 'view new posts' icon for the first time in the six years I have been here (normally use the front page)

...and me! Never used it before, really cant think why either but I have read things that I wouldnt normally read so it must be a good thing and a facility that I will continue using from now on

I almost always go straight to View new posts, only look at the index page if I am looking for something in particular. I'll go to View your posts if I'm looking for a reply to a post I've made.

I rarely look at the complaints page as I found in the past that there are people on here far more qualified to give advice than I am. I might just read the OP but then usually don't read the thread again unless on the odd occasion when I have found I can give some imput..

I agree with Sanji! The fun has def gone from this site! For me it's too policed and too much off topic stuff is frowned upon!
Also, what I said earlier about there being too many luggage threads on the first page, there are actually 8!!!! This is why I get narked when one of my threads is moved! 8 topics on one page!

The issue and/or importance of the hotel reviews on here is an interesting one for me - mainly because they aren't of interest! When thinking about it, it came as a bit of shock (doesn't time fly?) to note that it will be 10 yrs come this October since I did the 'week/fortnight on a beach' type of hotel stay that seems to be the most popular sort of holiday amongst users of HT.

For European/Canaries holidays I always do SC and usually in privately owned villas or apartments in small developments and in Cuba I usually stay with families. I have posted reviews for all the hotels I've stayed in when touring Cuba but with one exception my reviews are the only ones there for those hotels - I suspect because they are only going to be of interest to those touring Cuba rather than the more common 'beach hotel without or without a coule fo days in Havana' which seems to be the norm for most HT users. As for the one exception, it was a Havana hotel for which there was one prior review and none since mine. To be honest, either it wasn't the same hotel or my expectations are very different from the other poster's so I don't think that it would be of much use to anybody else.

What got me hooked on HT (wayback in the EZBoard days though my user name was different at that point) wasn't the hotel reviews but the fact that HT is very user friendly making it very easy (at least I think so) to access the wealth of information to be found here along with getting into conversation with others who enjoyed the delights of the smaller Canary Islands,, of Western Crete, of Cuba etc and the fact that someone with whom I've not always agreed with (and vice-versa) was still very happy and willing to send me some rooted mint cuttings for making the perfect mojito. She knows who she is but that sums up HT for me. We don't always see eye-to-eye but on the whole HTers are willing to put themselves out for each other.

Yours going off to sit in the sunshine and have a mojito with that mint

SM

it's too policed and too much off topic stuff is frowned upon!

I've never felt that it hasnt been accepted to go a bit off topic & I think all the mods like to see a bit of friendly banter . It's what makes HT different from the rest . I think it's just a matter of knowing where to draw the line and get it back on topic.

hee hee, first time ive ever used the view new posts thing as well and i've been a member here over 10 years, different user name cos of forgetting passwords, am on my 3rd one now.

Unfortunately i've had to go on TA to find gran ventana hotel reviews in dominican, but will post once we've been and will even do our hopefully premium seating experience with thomson. which is still annoying me they havent opened the internet seat booking option thingyyet. they said it opens on the 30 july and it looks like they aint opening the web page till them.

At least you can have an opinion on this site and not necessarily be slapped down for not agreeing that somewhere is super dooper. or has got a tad boring.

the knowledge people have is fabulous.

Bev

i only ever use the "view new posts" option so that i dont miss anything I ve used ht for a while now and only ever look at TA but never post on there, i just prefer HT. Ive asked questions on here and always had fast helpful replies and photos as well (thanks askcy)

I dont have extensive travel knowledge but will always try and help where i can. If i can see a thread getting heated i do tend to avoid posting anything on it.

lily x

Sarahbecky ive been to gran ventana (2008) amazing place - have a great time

lynwestie wrote:

it's too policed and too much off topic stuff is frowned upon!

I've never felt that it hasnt been accepted to go a bit off topic & I think all the mods like to see a bit of friendly banter . It's what makes HT different from the rest . I think it's just a matter of knowing where to draw the line and get it back on topic.

I agree Lyn - I think the right balance is here, now and again 'quite rightly' we need to be reminded to stay on topic otherwise it would make a nonsense of the original intention of the thread.

The merging of topics has to happen, I would say that most times when you ask a question back reading of threads is not always done and especially if you don't use the 'view new posts' facility there could be several threads on the same topic and we would be saying the same thing over and over again. I use this facility all the time.

I think by and large this is a friendly forum and has a wealth of information.

I think the right balance is here, now and again 'quite rightly' we need to be reminded to stay on topic otherwise it would make a nonsense of the original intention of the thread.

I think there's a big difference beteween slightly drifting off topic to put a smile on someone's face about something which may have happened during your holiday and going off talking about my cat.
At the end of the day,this or any forum is only as good as its members and we are all human beings, and human beings do differ and disagree at times, we can't all live in the sugary wonderland that some would like to think we do.

I can remember the time when I've sat here with tears streaming down my face with laughter and still reading valid information from the poster, who may have drifted off topic slightly and then naturally brings it back on topic, and then there came a time when I've sat here with tears streaming down my face in sadness from the events which have taken place via this board....I prefer the former and those days were certainly the best days where people gave and took, and took and gave back because there is no incentive to just keep giving out information and getting 'nothing' out of the forum, and at times after putting in a lot of effort and hours to make a video or a post and keep the forum 'busy', it feels like pulling teeth and trying to get blood out of a stone.....so I can see why others think, why bother.?
In fact, I think why bother when you have to read the post for typo errors, read the post for grammatical errors, read the post just in case you may upset someone, read the post just in case you've gone off topic and if the post doesn't 'fit' it can be deleted by the mods.

Sanji x

For those who are interested try typing holidaytruths int o search engine. See what you can find. For those who are lazy just check outthe links below.

http://www.serverinsiders.com/domain/holidaytruths-co-uk.html

http://uk.seoguardian.com/tag/holiday-truths

http://www.ciao.co.uk/holidaytruths_co_uk__Review_5111908

http://www.reviewcentre.com/review182312.html

sanji wrote:

In fact, I think why bother when you have to read the post for typo errors, read the post for grammatical errors

No-one should be in doo doo for either typo's or grammatical errors.

We do ask that members, especially if they have a difference of opinion to another member, preview their post just to ensure that it reads as they intended it to. This is because the written word is so hard when trying to have a 'conversation'. You can't see the person's expression nor hear the tone in which it's been said. This obviously can lead sometimes, to people taking a post out of context from how it was meant.

hi all....holidays are by nature longed for....stressed over...fantasised about....and obbsesed over....we get worried about them....and exited about them....they are a time that we just love to share with others....we like to talk them over before and after the event...the good and bad conversations are both important to us.....even if its not information we really need or can give, just another friendly being to share it with is all part of the jig saw......just to talk things over even with someone else who also doesnt have a clue either can be a good thing too....just makes us feel better to know we arent the only in town....and on HT I think we arent afraid to admit it and just offer support or company on a journey that educates us on the way too....Ive learnt a lot over the years from just joining in...and the and response means my 2 remaing brain cells are once again being stimulated and educated and sent off to see if they can find the others that seem to have been mislaid somewhere over the years....

Where does your holiday begin....for me it begins on HT.....and where does it end for me on HT....and what fills the months between the holidays...for me HT....as buzzing along with someone else gives you that infectious feeling of expectation that is definately the feel good factor as I know it...when it suddenly hits home that I'm actually off on holiday soon myself, someone to keep me steady and do a bit of thinking for me when the panic begins soothes like a tranquiliser and gets me functioning properly again...

Oh and Im known for prattling on... :rof and talking rubbish....but Im tolerated...tweetie

I thought that was a really good post Tweety.

Tweetie - I think that just about sums HT up for me

Couldn't have put it better myself Tweetie!!

thanks Lilyflipflop, its good to know you enjoyed it Gran Ventana. its a long way to travel if its not very good lol.


agree with Sanji, tweetie and others.
Bev

thanks all...I hope our visitors read my post and realise we are special...not just a holiday forum...but a forum for people who have been or go on holidays or just planning to go at some point in there lives ....and there are good reasons to join us and be part of HT...you dont need to ask questions or give answers....just come and be part of something worthwile and join in when you can...there is a place for everyone and a warm welcome for all ....tweetie