Online "Reviews"/Feedback etc.

[Bird]

So looking to book a weekend away for the club in the Grampians in November. We usually stay at Lake Fyans CP, and have done 4-5 times over the years and never had a problem. Always clean, and usually plenty of room.

So googled for their number, and thought I'd check the reviews... Well looking at the google reviews, specifically a few that are more recent than when I was there last make it sound like a Shithole... Could things have changed that much?
I guess its like most "Online" reviews, feedback etc - they could be written by anyone, inc some of their opposition. how would you know?

How much weight do you put on online reviews these days?
I know ebay feedback is a joke these days, but how else do you know about places?
What did people do before the interwebs... my mind doesn't go back that far... 

[Rumpig]

Abit like reading someone's trip report saying how bad the corrugations are at such and such location, when you know you've driven that road yourself and it's just a typical outback dirt road...some people's expectations are rediculous. Many a modern traveller these days expects fully renovated 5 star accomodation at a caravan park, and when they don't get it the place is a dump apparently. About all you can do is start a thread asking if anyone has been there lately to get real info, then if they say it's bad, get them to elaborate on what the problems actually were.

[Bird]

Abit like reading someone's trip report saying how bad the corrugations are at such and such location, when you know you've driven that road yourself and it's just a typical outback dirt road...some people's expectations are rediculous. Many a modern traveller these days expects fully renovated 5 star accomodation at a caravan park, and when they don't get it the place is a dump apparently. About all you can do is start a thread asking if anyone has been there lately to get real info, then if they say it's bad, get them to elaborate on what the problems actually were.

I reckon your right on Expectations v Reality! ... But its hard in general bout feedback on the interwebs these days...

But when you read Shit like these recent ones, it makes you second guess if its going to turn to hell...

"Worst experience at a caravan park we've ever had and will never return. You'd think for the expensive sites that the owners would be able to give a smile and some decent customer service. Had heard from many other people that the customer service at this park was poor but didn't believe it until we saw it ourselves. Absolutely appalling people skills, shouldn't be in tourism. And the toilets were always dirty. It's unfortunate that the people are horrible in a beautiful place but with other parks around - stay at one of them. "

and

"The park was packed like SARDINES with literally not a single foot of space between campsites or caravans.  This has to by far the most crowded / Congested caravan park we've ever been to.
OH and HORRIBLE RUDE SERVICE, Thank you but we won't be back , there are far better places around to give my money to.
LAke Fyans, where you pay premium prices to stay in a crowded ghetto."

But then again there are a few newer reviews that are more like I've seen from the place... ****in confusing.

[HEM19X]

My mantra is "Believe none of what you hear[or read], half of what you see & all that can be proven" ...

Reviews [like from Wikicamps etc] don't stop me from stopping somewhere, however when travelling I usually have a couple of "back up" place to stop.

[Bird]

My mantra is "Believe none of what you hear[or read], half of what you see & all that can be proven" ...

Reviews [like from Wikicamps etc] don't stop me from stopping somewhere, however when travelling I usually have a couple of "back up" place to stop.

Yea fair call to I think..
the issue is when booking for a group Hard to have backup plan if you wanna make sure you get a spot although I don't think it will be busy the weekend I selected. it aint Melb cup weekend!

[ronmac]

What about Halls Gap caravan park as a back up. Although it was quite a few years ago I was there it seemed all ok . cheers Ron.

[tryagain]

How much weight do you put on online reviews these days?

My rule of thumb is to disregard the top and  bottom about 10% of reviews. I find this normally then give a pretty balanced picture.

[Bird]

What about Halls Gap caravan park as a back up. Although it was quite a few years ago I was there it seemed all ok . cheers Ron.

Hey Ron.
that's good to know.. I'm looking at 3-4 down that way all within pissing distance of each other...

Halls Gap Caravan park
Halls Gap GARDENS caravan park
Halls Gap caravan AND TOURIST park....
Halls Gap Lakeside Caravan park


Really original naming of th places eh...

PS... some allow fires, some don't, and one has communal fireplace.. that would Shit me. 

[Trots]

Stayed at the Lakeside Tourist Park in Halls Gap last week. Really nice park with good clean amenities and the block up the front has about a dozen ensuites as well. The sites are really big, we got our side fold 12ft tent on a powered site no problems & the unpowered sites down the bottom looked even bigger. Oh and the staff are really friendly too Highly recommend.

[Bird]

Stayed at the Lakeside Tourist Park in Halls Gap last week. Really nice park with good clean amenities and the block up the front has about a dozen ensuites as well. The sites are really big, we got our side fold 12ft tent on a powered site no problems & the unpowered sites down the bottom looked even bigger. Oh and the staff are really friendly too Highly recommend.

[Lori]

Just read some of the reviews, the way management is replying to negative reviews is a worry.

The park seems to minimise/ dismiss issues or blame them on the reviewer. I know you get people out there who have unrealistic expectations or will exaggerate problems but im seeing a pattern in blame shifting and issues being dismissed as simply not true.

The other thing that would concern me about the negative reviews are the amount that are pointing to the same issue - rude management. Even a couple of the positive reviews comment on it.

[Bird]

Just read some of the reviews, the way management is replying to negative reviews is a worry.

The park seems to minimise/ dismiss issues or blame them on the reviewer. I know you get people out there who have unrealistic expectations or will exaggerate problems but im seeing a pattern in blame shifting and issues being dismissed as simply not true.

The other thing that would concern me about the negative reviews are the amount that are pointing to the same issue - rude management. Even a couple of the positive reviews comment on it.

agree.

Called the Lakeside one, and got some info there.. so that looks like a winner on earlier recommendations.

[cruiser 91]

The world is breading to many F^&kers these days. The A%^holes are expecting 5 star in sticks for a couple of $ a night.
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

[BaseCamp]

I always check and consider reviews carefully....    On yelp for instance - reluctant to eat anywhere under 90% (or higher) review rating .... 

Consumers expectations have increased exponentially in recent times - but I don't think it's about them being "unrealistic" for the most part....   

Its about professionalism and value for money from the operators soliciting your money.....  There are cps etc I have swerved away from due to a string of poor reviews and / or nill or poor response from the operators...

Regarding value for money etc as mentioned above -- an example is a stay at Gordons Country our group did about 6 months ago....   where both the huge tanks of LPG RAN OUT - plunging the main shower complex into cold water....   REALLY??   ... But this was the same Sunday we saw a ute with an Australia Post logo on the door taking care of a profit centre for the business though - (delivering a tray load of bagged firewood, go figure. .. LOL)...

There's no excuse for that...  its a reasonable expectation that these things are sorted and working and won't run out. ....   

And no mentionabout it; no apologies; refunds; or offers of "a complementary" for next time etc etc....

Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk

[JCOJ]

Another vote for Lakeside from us. Have stayed there three times now and love it every time.

Funny thing is, I originally chose this one because of the reviews I had read about it!

[brickiematt]

Hey  bird, do you need power and amenities?
If not, and you're all self sufficient, Old Man Emu farmstay is a cracker of a spot. 5 mins out of Halls Gap, great hosts and firewood supplied.
 

[whitey001]

Haven't stayed at Lakeside but it rates highly for accommodation from other runners when the Wonderland Trail Run is on in August.  We normally stay at Halls Gap Caravan park on the main st for convenience as it's the start/finish line also.  No complaints about the cabins or the staff.

Al.

[Bird]

Hey  bird, do you need power and amenities?

Club trip - weemen and kids, so Shitters are pretty much a must...
and I don't have the stomach to empty the portaShitter either.

[Bird]

I always check and consider reviews carefully....    On yelp for instance - reluctant to eat anywhere under 90% (or higher) review rating .... 

Whats a yelp?
Your probably missing out on dozens of top places and you would never know - this is what I was sorta getting at at the start... do people take too much notice of reviews..  how can you tell they are genuine reviews on any of these review websites

With food, everyone has different tastes and expectations on time to get served, or get their meals etc etc. I don't mind waiting if its top food...  I don't mind paying good $ for good food, but hate paying $ for Shit food... But if you had 10 of friends with same taste then the reviews from them would be worth more compared to 100 strangers.

And more people (like the old dear at work today about some place they went to dinner at on the weekend..) write bad reviews, but would never write a good one.

Like a Chinese we go to... awesome food (Cantonese beef on hot platter to die for..) , never oily, service is pretty good always, and prices on par with other places around it... but reading some of the reviews on it you wouldn't go there... but its packed nearly all the time. My only complaint is that if you park out the back, you have to walk through the kitchen to get inside But there is little to no parking in the 1klm strip every night due to all the restaurants in the area

There was an thing going on with Ebay a few years ago where 3x 4wd stores from the down this way were leaving each other bad feedback to try and bollox up each others business... Not daily, but semi regularly.. enough for you to notice it.  its an easy way to destroy someone with no basis.

YMMV

[brickiematt]

Club trip - weemen and kids, so Shitters are pretty much a must...
and I don't have the stomach to empty the portaShitter either.

No worries!

[Joff]

I travel a bit to new places for work so I tend to read reviews on Trivago, Trip Advisor etc before booking. I look for trends on things and if they are the sort of thing that would piss me off then I avoid.

I'm by no means hard to please, clean room, hot shower, cumfy bed and a smile at the counter pretty much has me done but if the reviews all talk about smelly rooms or shitty staff or road noise etc etc then I avoid.

Trends - look for trends

[#jonesy]

I find reviews are almost always negative and occasionally glowing. When you think about how often you read a review that is just "good". Most people don't post reviews unless they hate something, for example do you post reviews when you stay somewhere?

[Footy Shorts Shane]

Whats a yelp?
Your probably missing out on dozens of top places and you would never know - this is what I was sorta getting at at the start... do people take too much notice of reviews..  how can you tell they are genuine reviews on any of these review websites
 .

YMMV

Lefty's Maroochydore

Yelp
https://www.yelp.com.au/biz/leftys-restaurant-maroochydore

Others
https://www.zomato.com/maroochydore-qld/leftys-restaurant-maroochydore

 

[Bird]

I'm by no means hard to please, clean room, hot shower, cumfy bed and a smile at the counter pretty much has me done

same...

but if the reviews all talk about smelly rooms or Shitty staff or road noise etc etc then I avoid

fair enough too...

Lefty's Maroochydore
Yelp
https://www.yelp.com.au/biz/leftys-restaurant-maroochydore

Others
https://www.zomato.com/maroochydore-qld/leftys-restaurant-maroochydore
 

"Lefty himself is a disgusting piss head. Getting rowdy and loud in his own restaurant...? He should be embarrassed. I really feel for the lovely waiter who has to out up with his unprofessional manner. Would not reccommend at all " 

[Alan Loy]

I know this is on the level of a rumour but in conversation a guy I know mentioned that he has a permanent site for his caravan at Lake Fyans, been there for years.  Recently a change in the Management had made things difficult and people were leaving in droves.  He said that he is stubborn so he is staying.

Didn't sound good at the time.  Clearly 3rd hand info though.