Before you buy something or book a place, how much do you rely on online reviews and ratings?

B Natural answer

Before I book a place or buy something expensive, I usually read reviews first. I want to know if the overall experience is good, not just whether one person liked it. I also pay attention to the most recent comments, because old reviews can be out of date. If I see a lot of people talking about the same issue, that matters to me. But I don't make the decision from ratings alone. A high score can still hide small problems, and a lower score can sometimes come from one unfair review. So I use reviews as a guide, then compare a few options before I choose.

Key phrases in this answer

• overall experience — the general quality of the whole visit or use“I care about the overall experience, not just one detail.”
• most recent comments — the newest user feedback“I always read the most recent comments before I book.”
• reviews as a guide — using reviews as a helpful reference, not the final answer“I use reviews as a guide, then I compare a few options.”
• same problem — the same issue happening more than once“If people mention the same problem again and again, I take it seriously.”
• pay more attention — focus more carefully on something“I pay more attention when I'm booking a hotel.”
• my own judgment — my personal decision after thinking“I still use my own judgment before I buy something.”