What is TripAdvisor and How Does It Work?
By Kay FleuryUpdated on March 18, 2022
Tech Life Unity independently reviews everything we recommend. When you buy something after clicking on a link to another website, we may earn a commission. Learn More
Using online travel websites can sometimes be daunting, as you are constantly overwhelmed with information. That information is usually provided by hotels or property management staff, and so is sometimes dishonest or just not up to date. Deals are offered, showing images from other sections of a resort, to trick consumers into making quick purchases without fully researching where they are traveling.
Imagine a website that gives you information about accommodations straight from the travelers who have actually visited those places. You could learn everything about the experiences of people just like you before booking a stay at a hotel. You’d never again be disappointed by false advertising or misrepresentations of hotels! This is what you get with TripAdvisor, but what exactly is TripAdvisor?
TripAdvisor is an online travel information and booking website that has reviews, photographs, and informative forums about various hotels and resorts all over the world. Users review the places they’ve stayed at for other users, so you can learn everything about an accommodation before you book your stay there.
By visiting www.tripadvisor.com, you can search for a hotel you’re thinking of staying at, and learn everything about it from people who have stayed there previously. If you’re not sure where you want to go, you can also search areas and learn about all of the available accommodations nearby. That way, you can figure out where the best places to stay will be.
In this article, we’ll outline how TripAdvisor works, and how you can start using this website effectively to improve your travel and vacationing experiences.
How TripAdvisor works: 5 ways to get started
1. Book travel with TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor is not actually itself a booking website. Instead, it began as a website that offered information about travel destinations. As it grew, TripAdvisor began partnerships with existing booking websites, so that it could add prices and availability to the information it presents its users.
You can view prices and see instantly the best deal with TripAdvisor partners, as well as the other available deals at the same price or higher. Click on any link to be taken directly to a partner website and book a vacation, knowing you have found the best deal!
2. Read TripAdvisor traveler reviews
TripAdvisor has millions of reviews written by everyday travelers just like yourself, so you can learn everything possible before making a decision about where to book your next vacation. Filter through reviews and select options that apply to your traveling lifestyle to find out which hotel will be perfect for you!
3. Help other users by writing your own review
After staying at a hotel, log back into TripAdvisor and make your own contribution! You can help other travelers avoid bad accommodations, or give them tips about the best places to stay on a resort (or the best time to visit the beach)! Anything you say will help future travelers, just as they helped you before you took your trip!
4. Instant message other travelers about their experiences
TripAdvisor offers its users a messaging service, so you can communicate with other TripAdvisor travelers. If you read a compelling review online or want more information from a traveler who has been where you’re going, feel free to click on their profile and message them. Learn as much as you can and feel free to ask questions or get tips from those who have done it before you!
5. Save your favorite places and locations
While browsing through TripAdvisor, you can save locations so that you can go back and view them again. This is a great tool, because it helps you remember places you’re interested in as you plan your trip. It can also keep a record of the places you’ve been, so you never forget!
That’s our introduction to TripAdvisor and how it works! In the rest of our TripAdvisor course, we’ll review TripAdvisor, we’ll show you how to sign up for a free account, how to use all of the functions of the website, and much more. Consider reading our next article on how to stay safe while using TripAdvisor.