.jpg)
Music Editor Barry Fenton weighs up TikTok and Google reviews for the most reliable travel recommendation site, and deliberates the question is new always better?
If anyone has ever searched for nightclubs on Google while travelling, you will notice the stark contrast that exists in the reviews section. It often goes something like this:
“Best club EVER! My friends and I went three nights in a row and loved it every night. I’d like to give a huge shout out to Alexandra and Jan behind the bar making everyone’s experience a night to remember. OF COURSE, Eliška the bar manager was excellent when it came to customer service and keeping the party going with great music! WOW. Definitely coming back, BEST NIGHT EVER!”, followed by,
“DANGER. DO NOT COME HERE. I went with my 4 friends (all guys) and we were brutalised by the security. One of my friends was hit by the security for spilling a drink and when I approached to see what was going on, I GOT HIT TOO! This is a dangerous place…”
These are two very real Google reviews for Prague’s famous nightclub Duplex.
Something I noticed when interrailing last summer was the unreliability of reviews for nightclubs, restaurants and tourist attractions. As many do, I often resorted to TikTok to give me an idea of how things actually were.
This story is not uncommon. For a litany of reasons, finding honest and genuine reviews from the internet seems about as rare as the James Joyce Library Short Loan section having your book in stock. Traditional review sites like Trip Advisor and Google Reviews are flooded with AI bots and biassed accounts probably made by the businesses themselves.
With clubs in Europe, it is common for people to get a free shot for giving a venue five stars on Google. So naturally, this is the last place you should be looking. On the other hand, TikTok offers quick and down-to-earth testimonials - the majority of which are unsponsored - that feel more like advice from a friend who’s been there, saving you time, money, and regretful decisions.
Tiktok’s algorithm suggests what it knows you will like and has no affiliation with the actual businesses. As of now, there are more than 50 million posts under the #travel tag on the media platform, ranging from luxurious high-end destinations to cheap travel options. Valued because they are meritocratic, TikTok reviews are offered by a wide range of people, not just travel journalists who may be out of touch with what us college students might be looking for on holidays.
However, using TikTok for your travel plans isn’t without its perils. TikTok has its share of sponsorships, and basically everything on the internet has some element of deception these days. You might think you have found a ‘hidden gem’ only to find mile-long queues and huge crowds. Every man and his dog are using the app to find recommendations, meaning many local spots are becoming overrun by tourists. Locals are increasingly forced to wait in line for what was their quiet neighbourhood dinner spot.
Regardless, compared with Google reviews and Tripadvisor, TikTok is still the best travel guide on the market. TikTokers have a much closer relationship with their viewers. They’re us. When you search “Prague Activities” in TikTok, you get a customised selection of what the algorithm knows you like. If you're in a new place for the first time, then nine times out of ten TikTok is the way to go.You can avoid tourist traps in favour of real advice from real people. While some may say that every ‘hidden gem’ has been uncovered, TikTok has helped small local businesses go viral.. It’s a double-edged sword, but it has opened up a whole new way to travel.