One of the best things about the internet is the growth of user generated content. This takes the form of online reviews and commentary on the quality of services or products received and helps us all to enjoy a better consumer experience. Today, it is possible to give and receive instant feedback on the restaurant you had lunch at, the plumber you just used, the film you just watched, the holiday you just had or the gift you just ordered and, in doing so, force businesses and service providers to up their game or lose out. Here are some of our favourite consumer review sites – our go-to sites when we want an honest general appraisal of something before we buy into it.

TRAVEL REVIEWS - TRIPADVISOR
www.tripadvisor.co.uk



TripAdvisor gives invaluable travel advice from real travellers, allowing you to find reviews, opinions and recommendations for hotels, holidays, rentals and more. A visit to TripAdvisor lets you plan your perfect holiday by searching its immense database of hotels, accommodation and flights. Browse by destination, look at other travellers photos and videos, find things to do in different cities or ask a question in the forum and never have a bad holiday again.

PRODUCT REVIEWS – CIAO.CO.UK
www.ciao.co.uk



Whether you are buying a new digital camera, lap-top, television, vacuum cleaner or almost anything else, Ciao.co.uk is one of the best places to come in order to make an informed decision. In addition to its price comparison service, it offers over two million consumer reviews and product ratings, allowing you to not only find the best priced product, but one that works well and is of a high quality.

FILM REVIEWS – ROTTEN TOMATOES
www.rottentomatoes.com



Find out which movie to watch next at Rotten Tomatoes, where films are given reviews by members of the public and measured on a ‘tomatoemeter’ which measures the number of critics who have given the movie a positive review. Search by movie, actor or critic to find hits and misses. Each listing includes detailed information covering the genre, cast and related news. Meanwhile, check out the top rentals and new dvds of the week and take part in top film quizzes.

LOCAL REVIEWS – TIPPED
www.tipped.co.uk



An online community where people can share their tips on the best and worst places in their area, Tipped covers everything from bars, clubs and restaurants to hotels, spas, shopping and local services in towns and cities across Britain. Click on a review and you’ll find the contact details of the establishment or service being considered and everything that’s been said about it. You’ll also find a map and links to what's nearby. Share your own thoughts and you might even become a Tippster – a top tipper, recognised as one who really knows their stuff.

RESTAURANT REVIEWS – HARDENS
www.hardens.co.uk



Since 1992, Hardens has invited “ordinary diners” to submit their own restaurant reviews, and it is on these that the Hardens reviews and ratings are based. Described by The Daily Telegraph as a “foodies’ bible,” Hardens lets you search for the best places to eat in London and throughout the UK by postcode or area, price or quality of food or cuisine and gain an overview of each one, based on other diners’ feedback.

WINE REVIEWS – LOVETHATWINE
www.lovethatwine.co.uk



A forum that contains thousands of honest reviews on over 25,000 wines from every-day wine drinkers, Lovethatwine is a great resource when it comes to buying wine in an informed and satisfying manner. Search for a specific wine by supermarket, colour, country, price, grape or food type. Once a specific wine has a number of reviews, it is given an average rating, which is a useful tool if you're contemplating a purchase.

LOCAL REVIEWS – QYPE
www.qype.co.uk



Founded in Hamburg in 2066, Qype is Europe’s largest user-generated local reviews site covering Eating & Drinking, Shopping, Arts & Entertainment, Health & Beauty, Nightlife and Services. With 22 million visits per month (April 2011), Qype features thousands of reviews by real people with real opinions and is a great place to come whether you’re looking for a plumber you can trust or a great local restaurant.

TRADESPEOPLE REVIEWS - PROBLEMSOLVED
www.problemsolved.co.uk



This site helps people find reliable tradespeople, whether they are looking for a plumber, a decorater, an electrician or a window cleaner by allowing members of the public to read and write reviews of those listed tradespeople on the database. The site has a feedback-driven search facility and includes in-depth profile pages, blogs and galleries which are regularly updated by its members. Their goal is simple, 'To sort the men from the cowboys.'

Emily Jenkinson

16th May 2011