About this new forum
Hello,
People have asked for something like this for years. This is our first foray into having a thread in our Travelers Helpline that does not require you to ask a question. We do require that the initial post (or posts) be about a trip you recently had. The ensuing discussion is up to you.
This forum is still considered temporary as we need to make sure that people follow our Community Guidelines when posting in this new space. We will take this forum away if people can't follow the golden rule. If you don't have anything nice to say, move on to the next post.
We hope that this forum turns into a great way for people to share what they loved about their trips and we hope other travelers can learn from your shared successes, failures, and tips.
Enjoy,
RS Webmaster
Webmaster
Edmonds, WA USA 3/28/12
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Is there a way to design the "ask your question" page to encourage people to put their destinations and approximate travel dates in the heading? When I'm planning a trip, I'd really like to be able to scroll through the list, looking for the places I'm headed and the time of year that I'm going. Or if I'm looking for ideas for a winter trip, I could easily find reports on different places in that season.
And thank you, Webmaster, for adding this forum.
What a good, easy-to-execute idea! I've added a line asking for that info.
I have a question about this forum.....if we tell about out trip can we mention the places we stayed or is that advertising? I would think that people would like to have good recommendations .
Talking about places at which you stayed and ate, etc is just fine. I consider such things to be recommendations. There can be a fine line between a recommendation and an advertisement, but most people have good judgement about what the difference is. It is the advertisers that tend to cross that line even when they try to mask their intentions.
What we will be wary of are posts that essentially only serve to talk up (or trash on) a single commercial entity. Those are less of a trip report and more of an advertisement (or competitive trash talking).
Thank you for asking!
Members of the Helpline e-community have for many years been asking for a Trip Reports section. Now we have one. Thank you!
Is there any way to change the format so that one doesn't have to make 3-4 posts for just one trip report?
Right now they are new and in order, but I can see this rapidly changing once people start making comments on various ones.
I found it very unwieldy when I was writing mine, and had to keep consolidating it. One person already gave up on the 3rd posting after making 2 posts. It is really frustrating.
Something will have to be done to prevent (or discourage) a person from making multiple threads (as opposed to multiple posts on one thread) based on the same trip experience. This will quickly get (already is) unwieldy and lead to many consecutive 0-comment threads at the top of the list.
Yes, I don't understand why threads here come out as multiple numbered threads instead of continuing as answers.
Is it because people don't understand the character counter, or is the counter too small, or is the counter too low in the trip report area?
Maybe more instructions above the text box? Can the text box character counter be more accurate? Many a message I have posted has failed with 100 or 200 left on the counter. Or maybe a better "failed" message instead of the rather bland unable to process at this time, webmaster informed message? I know what it means but it is pretty lamely worded.
Thanks for listening Webmaster.
Clearly, people aren't understanding that when they split their report into multiple posts, they should reply on their own thread that they started. I'll try and clarify the instructions I wrote for this forum.
I'll try and clarify the error message too... though there are so many reasons for getting that error message that doing so effectively is difficult.
I like the idea of this new board and will probably post my own "trip reports" sometimes. It seems unwieldy to post a long report however it is divided up.
My suggestion is that posters break up their reports into separate topics, not the entire detailed report of their entire trip. For the reader (me) it isn't that interesting to read thousands of words on someone else's vacation.
I will write some things regarding: my experiences traveling with limited mobility, dealing with travel hitches when airline misses scheduled connection, new places to stay, new experiences, money wasted, money saved, Cinque Terre views, eating. Don't expect to see these topics all together. I'm just now recovered from jetlag, so will report as topics come to mind.
Need a "specific trip" example
http://tours.ricksteves.com/tours/europe-14-days
this can be especially helpful for those of us either contemplating specific trips or have already booked and looking for ideas and info that would be tailored to those who have a special interst in these cities and areas.I would think it might help in planning. If comments from those who have taken these trips and those who may be on it currently could post pics and ideas as well as suggections would be priceless. Their experiences in easting when on their own , shopping etc etc . You can see for those who follow can learn fom those who went before or are on it as they post.
For Harry,
We do have a Tour Reviews area in the Tours section of our website. Here's a link for you:
http://tours.ricksteves.com/evaluation/publicevals/