A real story about ETHOS Adventures in Sapa
Ethos (on their site and forum) states themselves as an ethical travel group strives to offer tours while supporting local minority tribes. Their guides are committed to have “vast knowledge and skills to support you (the travelers). But what are behind the screen? Ethros have lots & lots of excellent reviews on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor reviews: can we trust them? On Telegraph, Charles Starmer Smith has pointed out that “Tripadvisor’s online reviews now shape the way we plan our holidays but, as Charles Starmer-Smith discovers, they are not always what they seem See the reviews for Ethos “Highlight of our Vietnam Trip”- from CaffreyFamily- Briagolong, Australia. CaffreyFamily has only one review on Tripadvisor so far. Is this the first time CaffreyFamily travelled and reviewed? Or is this a fake review on tripadvisor for Ethros? Another title from the review “Fantastic experience!” from the user Spencer_Knight on tripadvisor with only one review in the tripadvisor history. TripAdvisor is not the only site to have built a business around user-generated reviews – Holiday Watchdog and Holidays Uncovered are among its rivals – but it is by far the most influential. Holidaymakers are increasingly aware of the power they have at their fingertips. Privately, hoteliers admit that guests and corporate groups have tried to use the threat of a bad TripAdvisor review or the promise of a series of good reviews to secure discounted room rates or upgrades. Hotel and b & b owners also complain that it is difficult to have a review changed or removed even when they present proof that it is untrue. They claim that TripAdvisor adopts a “guilty until proven innocent” policy with hotel management. McCready said: “The process involved in posting a management response is arduous, and I have found it almost impossible to have a response posted without censorship.” I want to ask Phil Hoolihan if the Ethos is a real group of ethnic travel...
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