NYC Travel Planning Research
When friends visit New York CIty, we are sometimes asked (or more
often we just volunteer) for some suggestions – usually things we have
done recently or recall enjoying. Or more often, things we think would
be unique and interesting for our friends based on their interests.
But what happens when you dont have friends where you are going or if perhaps you dont always share their tastes?
Search means you are ever more likely to turn
up maps, news, images and blogs on Google, Yahoo or Microsoft. The
travel planning process seems well suited to iterative search, as you
might do for any other product or service. So if for example, you read
thar NYC has good hamburgers and want "best burgers in New York City"
or Chelsea area has great art, so "Art Galleries in Chelsea". Google’s
got you covered.
We thought a little about what else we use to navigate the dizzying
array of choices in New York City. The professional content folks such as New York
times have a bite sized guide
for short trips to NYC (pf course spending a little time on NYTimes.com
and you realize the breadth of their content. The Economist, which we
love for other content, is in on the local guide
action with a practical twist for their audience from transport to tipping for business travelers more focused
on efficiency (and with the additional support of an expense account).
For a different, out of the mainstream perspective, we use Gridskipper, Gothamist or Flavorpill
which all have their own unique views on whats happening and whats worth
doing in the city.We like reviews and opinions as we have discussed
previously. Yelp is a great way
to double check recommendations – not that we dont trust our friends,
but Saturday night out with a baby sitter is expensive. Ditto for Tripadvisor if you want to know what other real people think about hotels and places worth seeing.
So what do we recommend when asked? We created the map below
to highlight some of the place we enjoy in New York City.
[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&s=AARTsJrgjefBCQiIJmSsmqdb3hGAsRerOA&msa=0&msid=117758981489279450280.00044a9ecdf87c03249d3&ll=40.74507,-73.974758&spn=0.091038,0.145912&z=12&output=embed&w=425&h=350]
Posted in: Research | Tagged: | 2 Comments
2 Comments to “NYC Travel Planning Research”
Here is an example of how Yelp operates. Paid Yelpers communicate on a Yelp Topic Site ( http://www.yelp.com/topic ) .
Below, 3 Yelpers who have never been in a certain establishment ( Razzberry Lips) plot revenge because of the bad press brought to Yelp by this establishment .
The worst part is that these are either Paid Yelpers or your common everyday non paid Yelper who “hang out “ in the Yelp “ether” . They hide behind Fairy Tale names and identities . They premeditate , coordinate and target rage and vitriol on businesses they have never even patronized ! :
Linda “JuRae” L. says:
Oh yeah, I totally want ROTD now! aargh!
4 hours ago Jack “.” W. says:
wtf thats some fuct up shit yo fuck rasberry lips imma give them a 1 star
08/11/2008 Sun E. says:
Glad you posted this here, Linda.
As per your words…
“For this business owner to go on the news and cry about this
forum because she didn’t like the negative post…..
You have my vote for ROTD!
If you’re wondering what ROTD means , I found these definitions on the web:
ROTD Rage of the Dragons (game)
ROTD Requiem of the Dead (game)
ROTD Return of the Dragons (gaming, Warcraft III Campaign)
ROTD Review of the Day
ATTENTION TO ALL BUSINESS OWNERS:
YELP IS NOT YOUR FRIEND . THEY ARE IN FACT PREYING ON YOU BY PAYING / ENCOURAGING UNEDUCATED , IMMATURE HATE FILLED “YELPERS” TO POST LIBELOUS REVIEWS ON RANDOM BUSINESSES SO THEY CAN THEN ATTEMPT TO SELL THEM BUSINESS OWNER ACCOUNTS TO DELETE THESE NEGATIVE REVIEWS.
Bill,
I am not sure this is the best place to express your frustration but I am interested in learning more about what you think is going on here.
One core issue with many reviews is identity – ie. who is the person writing? Some bloggers do a good job disclosing things like clients or associations as they understand the value of transparency, but I think many organizations still try to hide without discovery.
What is your involvement in this dispute? Is this your business? I want sure what topic or forum you were trying to point out. I was not able to access it.