Recently we have received lots of travel magazines and other magazines with ratings in them.  To be honest those are my favorite issues.  My guess is you also like them since many magazines always have some kind of ratings in them.

First before you look too hard at those ratings, it would be nice to know who made them.  Did the readers vote?  Did the editors vote?  Did they get paid to do this rating from their advertisers?

Second how long did the readers, editors, etc have to vote.  Was this only open for 1 day, 2 weeks or 3 months?

Third and very important to me is can you vote more than once?  Can I log in or send an email 1000 times?

My two favorite travel magazines just came out with polls.  Just like anyone I agree with some of the ratings and others I have to wonder what went wrong.

I get those publications and scream how can they get it so wrong!  My real issue is this, Angel and I visit many resorts every year and  we see these resorts first hand and know the good and the bad.  There are a few bad ones that keep getting in the top every year.

Maybe folks going to those resorts really love it.  Maybe folks going to that hotel answered the email to vote and others did not reply.  Or maybe some of those folks have never been to other hotels or resorts and just have no idea how to compare them.

MAYBE.  I caution our couples to be very suspect of all ratings.  Buyer Beware.  

In fact I just stayed at a 4 diamond resort this past weekend.  You have to be kidding me.  Everything outside of the room was very nice but the room was a dump.  I just could not believe it.  I guess it got enough points for the nice pool and the great bar that it got a high rating. I am glad I did not pay for this room.

This is the one big reason you should find a travel specialist to help you through the maze of resorts and hotels that are around the world.  Your travel agent has been there or knows another agents that can give them feedback.  

Beware of polls, ratings etc. unless you know and trust the source.