Reviews help build trust
Reviews help future guests understand what a Place is really like and help hosts improve the experiences they provide.
After a completed booking, you may be invited to leave a review based on your genuine experience.
The most useful reviews explain what happened clearly without exaggeration, abuse or unnecessary personal criticism.
What makes a helpful review?
A helpful review gives future guests a balanced picture of the Place and Experience.
You might comment on:
- Whether the Place matched the listing.
- The accuracy of the photographs and description.
- Communication with the host.
- Arrival instructions and ease of access.
- Cleanliness and condition.
- The facilities provided.
- Privacy and atmosphere.
- Whether the Experience suited your needs.
- Anything future guests should prepare for.
Keep your review relevant
Focus on the booking, Place, Experience and host communication.
Avoid including unrelated complaints or matters that were outside the host's control.
The woodland was peaceful and matched the photographs. The access track was muddy after heavy rain, so waterproof footwear was useful. The host provided clear directions and responded quickly to our questions.
Everything was terrible and nobody should ever book here.
Be accurate
Only describe events you personally experienced in connection with the booking.
Do not:
- Make claims you cannot support.
- Exaggerate what happened.
- Present assumptions as facts.
- Include information from other people's experiences.
- Review a Place you did not visit.
Distinguish facts from opinions
It is acceptable to describe your personal opinion, but make clear when something is a preference rather than an objective problem.
The Place matched the description, although the walk from the parking area was longer than we personally preferred.
The Place was inaccessible, when the listing had accurately explained the walking distance before booking.
Reviews after a positive experience
Positive reviews are most useful when they explain what made the experience enjoyable.
Consider mentioning:
- What made the Place special.
- How the host helped.
- Which facilities were particularly useful.
- Who the Experience may suit.
- Whether you would return.
Reviews after a disappointing experience
You are welcome to leave a negative review where it reflects your genuine experience.
Explain:
- What you expected.
- What happened instead.
- How it affected your visit.
- Whether you contacted the host.
- How the host responded.
A factual account is more useful than insulting or emotional language.
Give the host an opportunity to help
Where possible, report problems during the visit rather than mentioning them for the first time in a review.
This gives the host a reasonable opportunity to explain or resolve the issue.
Contact the host or Hidden Places promptly if a problem needs immediate attention, particularly where safety, access or payment is involved.
Do not include private information
Reviews are visible to other users, so do not include personal or confidential information.
Do not publish:
- Home addresses not already shown publicly.
- Telephone numbers or email addresses.
- Payment information.
- Private access codes or security details.
- Sensitive personal information about the host or another guest.
- Private messages copied without a valid reason.
Respectful language
Reviews must not contain:
- Threats or intimidation.
- Abusive or insulting language.
- Discriminatory remarks.
- Harassment.
- Obscene content.
- Personal attacks unrelated to the booking.
You can describe poor service or behaviour clearly without attacking someone personally.
Do not use reviews to demand something
Reviews must not be used to pressure a host into providing a refund, discount or another benefit.
Refund me today or I will leave a damaging review.
Raise payment, cancellation or refund concerns through the proper support process.
Reviews must reflect the completed booking
Reviews should relate to the Place and Experience that were actually booked.
Do not review:
- A different Place owned by the same host.
- An Experience you did not book.
- A private disagreement unrelated to the visit.
- A cancelled booking where no meaningful experience occurred, unless the review system specifically permits this.
Seasonal and outdoor conditions
Keep in mind that natural Places change with weather and the seasons.
Mud after rain, autumn leaves, long summer grass or reduced winter vegetation may not mean that the listing was inaccurate.
It can still be useful to mention these conditions so future guests know how to prepare.
Photographs in reviews
Where review photographs are supported, only upload images that are relevant to your booking.
- Do not photograph private areas outside the booked space.
- Do not publish identifiable people without permission.
- Do not reveal access codes or security arrangements.
- Do not upload edited images that misrepresent the Place.
- Make sure photographs are appropriate for all users.
Can a host respond?
Hidden Places may allow hosts to respond publicly to reviews.
A host response may provide context, explain what was done to resolve an issue or describe improvements made after the visit.
Reviews and responses should remain factual, relevant and respectful.
Review moderation
Hidden Places may review or remove content that breaches platform rules.
This may include reviews containing:
- Threats, harassment or discrimination.
- Private or confidential information.
- Spam or advertising.
- Content unrelated to the booking.
- Demonstrably false information.
- Review manipulation or extortion.
- Obscene or unlawful material.
A review will not normally be removed simply because it is negative or because the host disagrees with the guest's opinion.
Editing or removing your review
The options available to edit or remove a review will depend on the functionality provided within Hidden Places.
Contact support if:
- You accidentally included private information.
- You submitted the review against the wrong booking.
- The review contains a significant factual error.
- You believe your account was used without permission.
Support may not change a review simply because you later regret a fair opinion that you chose to publish.
Suspicious or dishonest reviews
Contact Hidden Places if you believe a review:
- Was written by someone who did not attend.
- Contains threats or blackmail.
- Includes private information.
- Is discriminatory or abusive.
- Was created in exchange for money or another reward.
- Relates to a different booking or Place.
Explain clearly which part of the review may breach the rules and provide relevant information where available.
Reviews help future guests
Your review can help another guest decide whether a Place suits their plans.
Practical details are especially useful, such as:
- The type of footwear needed.
- The walking distance from parking.
- The level of privacy.
- The facilities available.
- How suitable the Place was for children or dogs.
- How clear the arrival instructions were.
Reviews help hosts improve
Constructive feedback can help hosts improve descriptions, facilities, directions and future guest experiences.
We enjoyed the Place and would visit again. An extra sign at the entrance would make it easier for first-time guests to find.
Before submitting your review
Take a moment to check:
- Is the review based on your genuine experience?
- Is it factually accurate?
- Is it relevant to the booking?
- Have you removed private information?
- Is the language respectful?
- Would the review help another guest?
Honest, balanced and specific reviews create a more trustworthy Hidden Places community for guests and hosts.