My TUG TS review posts

[jp10558]

I've been thinking for a bit that while my reviews may not be of direct interest to everyone on TUG, I do like the opportunity to get feedback on the reviews, the experiences and more. I've been posting them in the geographic forums (and hotel ones in the Travel Information Forum). But I realize that not everyone browses "new posts" and TBH the geographic forums are kind of less active. I wonder if a lot of people who would be interested in say Wyndham stays are just missing the posts? If you were looking to discuss the sorts of reviews people might make, or want to know about resorts vicariously through others - where would you look (aside from the TUG2 text reviews, I also put my most detailed written reviews there).

 

[mountainboy]

where would you look?

Preferably at the appropriate TS forum (or maybe both at TS forum & geographical forum)
TY!

 

[dioxide45]

Preferably at the appropriate TS forum (or maybe both at TS forum & geographical forum)
TY!

Technically duplicate posting is a violation of the forum rules and segregates the discussion.

I've been thinking for a bit that while my reviews may not be of direct interest to everyone on TUG, I do like the opportunity to get feedback on the reviews, the experiences and more. I've been posting them in the geographic forums (and hotel ones in the Travel Information Forum). But I realize that not everyone browses "new posts" and TBH the geographic forums are kind of less active. I wonder if a lot of people who would be interested in say Wyndham stays are just missing the posts? If you were looking to discuss the sorts of reviews people might make, or want to know about resorts vicariously through others - where would you look (aside from the TUG2 text reviews, I also put my most detailed written reviews there).

I voted to post them in the appropriate timeshare system forum. Many people who own Marriott just don't go outside that forum and may never read "What's new".

 

[Sandy VDH]

Isn't the whole point of reviews that access is restricted to members. If you add it to the forums then everyone has access.

Why are you not just posting it in the reviews?

 

[moonstone]

Isn't the whole point of reviews that access is restricted to members. If you add it to the forums then everyone has access.

Why are you not just posting it in the reviews?

Agree! I think all reviews should all be in the reviews section that has member only access. Maybe with the exception of a small basic comment in the regional forums such as we just arrived at ABC Resort in Sometown and the north wing is gutted and being renovated, or the parking area is across the street.

I do watch and appreciate a video instead of just photos of resorts, especially those that are on our 'someday' list, but I am not sure that videos can be posted in the reviews.


~Diane

 

[dioxide45]

Agree! I think all reviews should all be in the reviews section that has member only access. Maybe with the exception of a small basic comment in the regional forums such as we just arrived at ABC Resort in Sometown and the north wing is gutted and being renovated, or the parking area is across the street.

I do watch and appreciate a video instead of just photos of resorts, especially those that are on our 'someday' list, but I am not sure that videos can be posted in the reviews.


~Diane

I believe the OP posts an abridged version of the review on the forums to drum up some discussion while also posting a link to their video. I haven't gone over to the members section of TUG to read the full review to see how abridged the forum version is. Videos can be added as a link from the Resort pages on TUG, but only one video can be linked.

 

[mountainboy]

Technically duplicate posting is a violation of the forum rules and segregates the discussion.

Sorry, newbie here & not aware of all the 'rules'.
OP @jp10558 had asked if they should post in both or one forum, hence my comment...
Defer to all of you Gurus..
TY!

 

[dioxide45]

Sorry, newbie here & not aware of all the 'rules'.
OP @jp10558 had asked if they should post in both or one forum, hence my comment...
Defer to all of you Gurus..
TY!

I thought the question was which forum to post in, one or the other. In any case, I think the resort system forums get the most exposure. Though I agree with others that the forums really aren't the place for reviews but are a good place to post videos since the TUG Review section doesn't really handle videos well and just links to them on YouTube or wherever the video is located.

That said, the Marriott forum has a thread dedicated to videos and photos. Every few years I try to go through the thread and consolidate everything into a single post for easier browsing. The main issue is not everyone who posts a video or photos does so in that thread and I don't see it to consolidate. In fact, it looks like it has been over five years since I updated and none of it really includes resort videos from my own YouTube channel.

 

[jp10558]

Agree! I think all reviews should all be in the reviews section that has member only access. Maybe with the exception of a small basic comment in the regional forums such as we just arrived at ABC Resort in Sometown and the north wing is gutted and being renovated, or the parking area is across the street.

I do watch and appreciate a video instead of just photos of resorts, especially those that are on our 'someday' list, but I am not sure that videos can be posted in the reviews.


~Diane

Isn't the whole point of reviews that access is restricted to members. If you add it to the forums then everyone has access.

Why are you not just posting it in the reviews?

Good feedback - and I think @dioxide45 provided my general strategy. I post all the details and full reviews in TUG reviews listing. The issue I have with *just* doing that is it's not a community there. I can't get comments, I can't get suggestions about stuff "that I should include" or "that I missed" etc. If you look at my first ~4 videos I really only videoed the room and some stuff I did in the area. It was comments about desiring to see resort amenities that prompted me to go get footage of stuff I'd just never naturally run into myself. But I can see it being of interest to others. Some of the most useful content on other threads for me on TUG has been people's posts of various trips or questions about locations they're going to with all the spontaneous comments from others. That kind of extended information and discussion just doesn't (and probably can't) exist in the TUG2 Reviews. However, I do understand the interest in having the reviews being private to members, so to thread the needle I abridge my forum posts. TBH, I've never seen any indication that any TUG members have read the full review in discussions, look at @dioxide45 post - they're familiar with my reviews... only because abridged versions were posted on the forum. So I kinda think more info getting to more people on TUG is a good thing.

I also think it is a good discussion starter. If I only posted on TUG2, I'd never heard of the Margaritaville Nashville when I was panning the Wyndham Nashville. I really wasn't aware of it for whatever reason. I think that added context is very useful for other Wyndham owners who may be looking to book one or the other. You won't get that from the TUG2 post - I seriously doubt many reviewers would think to mention that when reviewing the other one.

As to Video reviews - TBH, I'm not at all sure how to even post photos on the TUG2 reviews, much less videos. Part of that is I cannot edit the text version once I've had time to put together the video version. I can (and usually do) make the text review while at the resort, usually 4-5 days into my stay. I can't really edit videos on my laptop that well, so putting them together requires me to get home and put it together. I also again find that while plenty of people seem to appreciate the video reviews on TUG, and again sometimes have useful comments, they're not logging into Youtube to post them there. So again, the community aspect of the forum seems beneficial to all.

On the technicalities of the TUG forum, it's too bad there isn't a cross link system like Reddit etc - I agree with wanting to not segregate the threads and discussions. I have to say, browsing the "new posts" though has really exposed me to a lot more useful info and it's too bad some people basically only are in one forum - they're missing a lot no matter what IMO. Oh well.

 

[dioxide45]

As to Video reviews - TBH, I'm not at all sure how to even post photos on the TUG2 reviews, much less videos.

You can upload photos via this button. Though TBH, the process is rather clunky and there may be a size limit which you can run into when using higher end cameras.

There is a button that can be linked to a video. The button may not appear if there isn't an existing video linked and often the link will go to the timeshare company's website or YouTube channel. So you can still ask that it be changed and linked you your video. Unfortunately, I believe, only one video can be linked. To request the video link be changed or added, you would use the "suggest edit" button on the resort pages.

 

[claraj]

I have a thing for taking pics of the villas and always post them when I can. I should do better at taking pics of the resort.

 

[mountainboy]

any TUG members have read the full review in discussions

*I have never seen or read full TUG reviews on properties, even though I am a paying TUG member (although a newbie here)... (clunky, re-sign-in required before I can access that section while I am logged into the forums, so I just spend the time in the forums vs extra work required to sign-in. The forums have sections on detailed info re various properties (say a HGVC forum, my primary home at TUG, which I find very helpful). Hope we can improve the access to the reviews section but NOT take away from the detailed resort info (not reviews) from the forums..
TY!

 

[mountainboy]

I have a thing for taking pics of the villas and always post them when I can. I should do better at taking pics of the resort.

Both are very helpful... TY!

 

[dioxide45]

I have a thing for taking pics of the villas and always post them when I can. I should do better at taking pics of the resort.

We take quite a few photos at resorts, but I don't post them very often. The process overall isn't that easy and the way to browse the photos, to be honest, sucks. New photos seem to be at the top, but there is no date stamp associated with photos. Photos get older the further you scroll through them. There doesn't seem to be a way to have old photos purged out when newer ones are made available. There is no slideshow viewer to view at the photos. You just need to click on each one, one at a time. Many resorts only have a few photos that look like they may have come from the resorts own website. This is certainly because people aren't uploading photos. Perhaps because they aren't taking photos, or if they are, they have the same issues I have with the process. There also isn't any real incentive to upload photos unless you are listing your timeshare for sale or for rent.

As an example of what I am talking about, look at Marriott's Harbour Point at Shelter Cove. This is a property with a lot of photos. The ones at the top down through where you see the floor plans were uploaded by me. The ones at the bottom look like they are from the 90s or 2000s.

The photo tool seems to need an overhaul and also a process to make it easier. With so many people using their phones for photos, the process really needs to be optimized for mobile.

 

[claraj]

I do think that it would be helpful to remove the old photos if new ones are updated, especially if the villas have been refreshed. This is one of my pet peeves about Tripadvisor photos.

 

[jp10558]

We take quite a few photos at resorts, but I don't post them very often. The process overall isn't that easy and the way to browse the photos, to be honest, sucks. New photos seem to be at the top, but there is no date stamp associated with photos. Photos get older the further you scroll through them. There doesn't seem to be a way to have old photos purged out when newer ones are made available. There is no slideshow viewer to view at the photos. You just need to click on each one, one at a time. Many resorts only have a few photos that look like they may have come from the resorts own website. This is certainly because people aren't uploading photos. Perhaps because they aren't taking photos, or if they are, they have the same issues I have with the process. There also isn't any real incentive to upload photos unless you are listing your timeshare for sale or for rent.

As an example of what I am talking about, look at Marriott's Harbour Point at Shelter Cove. This is a property with a lot of photos. The ones at the top down through where you see the floor plans were uploaded by me. The ones at the bottom look like they are from the 90s or 2000s.

The photo tool seems to need an overhaul and also a process to make it easier. With so many people using their phones for photos, the process really needs to be optimized for mobile.

I do tend to only take videos now, I also really haven't noticed photos in TUG2. Can you tell I literally only go there to submit the full text reviews? There's probably an obvious button, but can I do that separate from a review? I do kind of wish I could (like with a forum post) edit to attach pictures later. Though you're also right - without datestamps on the photos (at least when they were uploaded) it can be hard to make use of them if you find them. I see this on RCI/II also, their photos seem like they were uploaded once when the resort was added - some are obviously from the 80s/90s because of the cars in the pics!

Though, aside from "view from the balcony" posts - I don't personally see a lot of reason to have pictures outside the videos I'm already creating and will cut in if relevant. I also don't know that I want to "kick out someone" from the TUG2 video link, or even seem to start that sort of process. I'd prefer similar dated links, though I understand if Brian decided the current process is preferred - one link, presumably from the last time someone asked to update it.

 

[TUGBrian]

after posting a review, the screen immediately prompts you to upload any photos for that resort.

generally we rely on either an email message from a member, or someone using the SUGGEST EDIT button on the review page to remove an old/outdated photo...but it is something we do quite frequently!

sadly in some cases people will just email "delete the old photos" without specifying which photos they feel are old/outdated. Some resorts is super obvious, especially when we go to the resorts own website and see the same (or similar) photos there.


interesting comment on the slideshow or scroll, i could have sworn that existed as ive certainly seen ti in the past (or at least arrows left or right to manually scroll).

 

[dioxide45]

interesting comment on the slideshow or scroll, i could have sworn that existed as ive certainly seen ti in the past (or at least arrows left or right to manually scroll).

There is certainly no where that I can see to scroll or use arrows to move between images. At least not on a desktop browser (Chrome).

 

[TUGBrian]

i dont see it either...will see what happened with that and get it back!

 

[Timeshare Von]

I have posted A LOT of resort reviews . . . and prefer to post AND read in the format provided on the members' only side of TUG. (And yes . . . photos are great too!)

 

[jp10558]

after posting a review, the screen immediately prompts you to upload any photos for that resort.

I guess this is just an issue with my workflow - I don't usually have pictures ready to go right after posting the review, but if I waited till I got back, my memory would make the review less detailed and worse. I suppose I could write up the review and then save it till I got home, but knowing me that'll be "risky".

Anyway, I also just didn't really "see" the photos - again, they didn't jump out at me I guess. I don't spend that much time on TUG2. I will try and keep this in mind on my next TS trip, but that's a few months away due to family health issues. I can get photos, I just haven't been. Maybe with my phone rather than my camera, due to wanting to get them before we spread out all over the unit.

 

[dioxide45]

I guess this is just an issue with my workflow - I don't usually have pictures ready to go right after posting the review, but if I waited till I got back, my memory would make the review less detailed and worse. I suppose I could write up the review and then save it till I got home, but knowing me that'll be "risky".

Anyway, I also just didn't really "see" the photos - again, they didn't jump out at me I guess. I don't spend that much time on TUG2. I will try and keep this in mind on my next TS trip, but that's a few months away due to family health issues. I can get photos, I just haven't been. Maybe with my phone rather than my camera, due to wanting to get them before we spread out all over the unit.

You can also go back and add photos later. I pointed out the button to do so in post #10.

 

[TUGBrian]

I guess this is just an issue with my workflow - I don't usually have pictures ready to go right after posting the review, but if I waited till I got back, my memory would make the review less detailed and worse. I suppose I could write up the review and then save it till I got home, but knowing me that'll be "risky".

Anyway, I also just didn't really "see" the photos - again, they didn't jump out at me I guess. I don't spend that much time on TUG2. I will try and keep this in mind on my next TS trip, but that's a few months away due to family health issues. I can get photos, I just haven't been. Maybe with my phone rather than my camera, due to wanting to get them before we spread out all over the unit.

yes sorry, i didnt mean to imply thats the only way photos were able to be uploaded, vs just an extra prompt so that people submitting reviews can immediately attach a photo (or multiple) as they are submitting the review.

for me personally, I always write my reviews in an email to myself so i can regularly go back and reread it to make changes or add items id missed in my first few drafts so its simply a matter of copying and pasting the review in the main review field and hitting submit!

but there are plenty of folks who write reviews in one go on tablets and phones as well!

perhaps it wouldnt be a bad idea to create a reminder email with a link to upload photos sent a week after the review was submitted...I kind of like that idea! I know there is an automated "thank you" email sent immediately after the review has been submitted, but im not sure if it contains the link to upload photos directly.

either way a reminder in email a week later might not be the worst idea!

 

[SusanRN]

*I have never seen or read full TUG reviews on properties, even though I am a paying TUG member (although a newbie here)... (clunky, re-sign-in required before I can access that section while I am logged into the forums

If you use a Password Manager, it should take a couple of seconds.
Sometimes the reviews include info about unit updates, local restaurants etc., that are helpful...sometimes not.