Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for submitting a review of your experience at La Rosa del Mare B&B.
While we certainly appreciate your contribution, it has come to our attention that your review included ratings of hotel features that you had not experienced, such as the sleep quality. As is our policy, we removed your review upon discovering this inconsistency.
Please let us know if you have any questions about your submission or this policy; we look forward to addressing your concerns.
Best Regards,
TripAdvisor Support Team
- – -
Piraino & Gliaca are about 50 miles west of Messina.
I got this message from TripAdvisor, letting me know on June 10 they had deleted my cautionary review of La Rosa Del Mare, a bed and breakfast inn advertised on TripAdvisor as the “#2 of 4 B&Bs” in Piraino, Italy.
The proprietor had been trying frantically, through TripAdvisor, for four days to get me to rescind my review, which accused him on not exercising good faith (among other things) in regards to advertising his property for rent. Seems there is one little detail he forgot to mention: A another family already occupies this entire property!
The proprietor, Pippo Aragona, had sent me a message demanding I rescind my review:
Hello.
Tanks for this very good review(the first noot good review in 5 yars)you dont right that you dont pay nothing money in Lasacogliera.You go without pay .
Sorry, Pippo, wrong again. I had a pre-paid, non-refundable reservation made through Kayak, which charged my American Express card $55.20. I showed you the printed voucher when I met you. You were unimpressed (see below). Actually, I had wanted to cancel the reservation when I saw that it was 50+ miles away from the Messina area – where I had been led to believe it was; but, no! You have a seven-day advance cancellation policy!
Yes, I paid nothing to La Scogliera, which you took me to, told me you also owned, and told me there would be no charge. Of course, after that, you disappeared – and left me to work out my own deal with the front desk clerk at La Scogliera. He could rightly claim I had no direct agreement with him; in fact, he could have demanded any price for the room!
But I think that was part of the scam (I noted that these guys didn’t report any of this to police).
Although there is a suspiciously large number of glowing reviews for such an isolated property (mostly from Italians), there was one cautionary review – from a woman who said the property is hard to find, don’t arrive after dark, and don’t be surprised if you are told they have no record of your reservation, or that it was given away due to your late arrival, or that they will instead put up in a nearby place they also own.
I should have put more weight on that one rant, than I did on the other 15 raves.
So, immediately after leaving the property, while the experience was still fresh in my mind…here is the review I posted on TripAdvisor about my experience at La Rosa del Mare:
One other guest who has written a review of this property mentioned how hard it was to find, and the fact that when she got there, they couldn’t find her reservation…so they got her a room at another place nearby that they were associated with. I have news for you. This was no isolated experience. This is how it works. We found the place…high on a hill near (not in) Piraino. It was occupied by a family from eastern Europe, or someplace. They had been living there for some time, and occupied every room in the property. They spoke not a word of English, or Italian. They just kept saying “Pippo” and pointing to an old woman in the kitchen with a cell phone. She finally called Pippo, got him on the phone for me, and he said, “I’ve never heard of Kayak (who I booked with). And I’ve never heard of you.” Expectations officially lowered. But he did offer to drive up and take us to another place nearby (a beach front motel down the hill). We were so grateful to slither off that hill without plunging to our deaths in our rental car, that we didn’t complain nearly loud enough when the proprietor of the beachfront place stuck us in a room not facing the ocean. (The actual property we thought we were booking faces the ocean, and has an incredible view of the the Aoelian Islands). Instead, our room faced a set of railroad tracks, and trains rumbled by all night, 12 feet from our window. The beachfront place at least has a decent restaurant, and we were so famished after spending hours trying to find La Rosa that we ate our dinner and shut up, and were thankful not to be up on that hill. If you do wind up staying at the actual La Rosa (unlikely, in my view) know that it is in a very treacherous and remote place. Bring food, drinks and supplies because you won’t want to leave until your reservation runs out. The road Pippo took us down to the beachfront hotel was one lane, one way, almost straight down, and something you would never attempt to come back up by yourself. Especially with your precious family along. Oh, and one other thing: If this property turns up in a search for B&Bs in the Messina area of Sicily, like it did for us, know this: It is more than 50 miles away from Messina. Or anything else, for that matter.
What I realized after I posted this, and saw the frantic comments from the proprietor was that this looks lot like a scam. Get a non-refundable booking from someone. Chances are they won’t show up, because they can’t find the place. If they do somehow find it, take them down to La Scogliera, get them a cheap room, and let the proprietor at La Scogliera tell them the next morning – when they go to retrieve their passports and check out – that he has an unpaid for them. And who is this Pippo?
I think travelers ought to be warned about potential pitfalls such as this. I think TripAdvisor would – or should – agree. But in the end, TripAdvisor seemed more inclined to address the proprietor’s needs, than the traveler’s.
So, what rationale did TripAdvisor use to delete my review? Very clever: Since I had not actually stayed at the property, I couldn’t accurately check the box for “sleep quality”. Maybe I should post a review of La Scogliera, and warn travelers about passing trains?
When I emailed TripAdvisor that they might be letting a scammer off the hook, they replied they were looking into it. That’s the last I heard about it.
Jerry Garrett
June 14, 2012
UNBELIEVABLE!! I’d be fuming steam from every pore!! At least you have THIS means to voice your complaint. Thanks for the warning. I will not be relying on Trip Advisor ratings anymore. ugh
By: Karen Whitcome on June 14, 2012
at 9:57 pm
Any suggestions as to how we can voice our displeasure with Trip Advisor? I used them for a trip to Ireland and found the information very useful and mostly accurate. I, too, would have been furious if we had encountered something like you did.
By: John Hennelly on June 15, 2012
at 3:02 am
So far, I’m shocked by how they have handled this. I don’t know what, if anything, is the next step. But I think if TripAdvisor loses the trust of the traveling public, it loses everything it has to offer.
By: Jerry Garrett on June 15, 2012
at 3:30 am
I hope the case will be soon to be your’s won, that’s a shame…
By: bashshinycap44 on June 27, 2012
at 7:59 pm
My wife and I made a Christmas reservation at a Florida b-n-b that went out of business–they charged us $200+, then closed within a month, and never told us–and tracked down the owner that had shafted us. We found out that owner had a long track record of shell company bankruptcies and had also stuck it to others at the same place. When we alerted Trip Advisor about the situation, they not only did deleted our comments on the original b-n-b (which was still taking reservations) but eventually, after we kept submitting new comments that were ‘in line with their standards,’ they deleted the entire B-n-b’s thread. Never mind the other part, that we knew this owner was now going to do the same thing again with another company–Trip Advisor not only made it next to impossible to post negative info about them, TA went out of its way to obliterate the whole review–even when OTHER posters were badmouthing them on the same site!
As a result, I don’t trust TripAdvisor and I would not rely on their word as valuable. If a place DOES have negative comments, you know it is the pits. But if it doesn’t, that tells you nothing, because a sleazy owner can obviously manipulate their system.
By: RR Kesselring on September 8, 2012
at 8:45 pm
TripAdvisor needs to address this. If they don’t have integrity, no one will use them as a resource. (Deservedly so.) The bad reviews are as important as the good reviews. Maybe even more so. I’m sorry you had this experience. No traveler should have to put up with this kind of BS. Be sure to post a complaint with BBB. That does work.
By: Jerry Garrett on September 9, 2012
at 5:39 am
I too have received an email today to say my review has gone, I was served raw fish and treated so badly, I took the time to write a review and post pictures but lots of the terrible reviews have disappeared along with mine. It appears the vendors can ask for them to be removed and their wishes are answered. Here is my review, can you find a problem? I do have photos to share if required.
Subject: Black Boy Inn
Location: Caernarfon, Gwynedd, North Wales, Wales, United Kingdom, Europe
Title: Raw fish, if I could rate this with a danger to health rating I would. Full breakdown of high charges, photos inc
ID#: 143073893
Please see the photo of the raw fish that was served to my son. I would never leave such a long review but the disgraceful way we were treated needs to be made public as I gave the staff every chance to apologies and advise what went wrong.
My son had a whole plaice and swapped his plate with me when he finished as I could not eat my Sunday carvery (full sorry details to come on that one) I immediately saw the raw fish that he did not know was so serious. Plaice believe it or not is a white fish when cooked, it is not meant to be eaten raw and in fact knowing my health and safety on fish is a most serious risk of worms, parasites and bacteria, to say I was disgusted was an understatement. I do not take kindly to my family being put at risk and it was on seeing this that I gave the waitress the chance to respond.
Before leaving this review I gave the waitress and then the chef a chance to apologies to us for risking our health and all I got was treated like dirt. Had I been treated like a decent human being, it would never have come to this.
I now ask Marius, (I called on the phone later that day and got the chefs name) to tell me in writing what he argued with me about on Sunday, that the fish I have pasted a picture of was meant to be like that. In his words ” that is how it comes” The fish you see in the photo was stone cold and slimy, it was as if it had just come out the fridge but Marius said it was only cold at the end of the meal as I had left it.
I will explain the whole sorry episode in full, accurate and correct.
We had visited the famous castle and looking for a place to have a meal decided “The black boy” was our choice for Sunday Lunch. My daughter and I choose the carvery and my son plaice and chips, my husband tiger prawns, let me say every single dish was a disgrace but of course the raw fish was the health risk.
I will describe the dishes in full after explaining why I have come to write this long but must read review.
We all had our meals and when my son passed me his plate and I saw the raw fish I called the waitress. I pointed the fish out quietly, not wishing to draw attention for other diners. I took a picture for future reference as I knew this was really serious and this was not even under cooked fish, this was raw. She did not apologies at all or acknowledge me (the name on the receipt was Sian), she took the plate and walked too the kitchen. I thought ok she is going to see the chef and come back and apologies. I was so very wrong.
She came back minus the plate and stood there boldly saying very loudly so other guests could hear ” I can take a drink off cos you ate the meal” yes you have read it correctly. There was no sorry, just a total jumping to the conclusion I wanted a free meal and that was as far from the truth as you can get. I was now in shock, other diners were looking and I said, ” that is not why I called you over, that fish was raw, you risked my sons health and I don’t want a free drink ” She said shall I get the chef, still no apology I must add. I said yes get the chef.
Well it only gets worse from here. The chef came out, yet more shocks. Not chefs clothing. Jeans, orange shirt, jewellery, cocky attitude, in fact as far removed from any chef I have ever seen. He was a polish man and very rude to me, nothing against other nationalities but his attitude to me was terrible, he needs training and I would love to see his chef qualifications. He treated me just like the waitress had, like I was out for a free meal. He argued with me that the fish was meant to be like that, said he had probed it and it was 74° (probing is not fool proof and I don’t believe this chef knows what he is doing ) I said that the fish I sent back was slimy fridge cold. He said it was only cold as I had eaten the dinner and there was nothing wrong with it as we had eaten the rest. Oh my goodness, this was going from bad to worse, I said to him he was so very wrong and if we got ill I know why. I made him aware that this was serious but he said that is how it comes from the fishmongers and that is just the roe, now I know he was talking rubbish as that is not the roe and if those parts are meant to come out then he did not do it or they should have been cooked. The fish we had on that plate was not a fish that is meant to be eaten raw. In fact fish that is meant to be eaten raw is frozen for extended periods to kill bacteria and parasites and this was not the case with this fresh plaice as it was meant to be fresh fish daily according the advertising around the pub.
He said we would not have eaten the fish if it was raw, I said I only saw it when my son passed me his plate and my son did not know what that was he had pushed to the corner, but of course the chef and waitress just thought we were out for a freebie. I wish I had asked to see the kitchen, the chef was not wearing any chef whites, I dont believe he had the time to remove trousers, shoes and a chef jacket, I just think he was not doing what he should be. Wearing jewellery whilst cooking is not in my opinion hygenic as a chef.
I now add I am the director of 2 very successful companies, we are based in South Wales and employee local people from our region and I would never treat anyone in the manner in which I was being treated. I have no need to want free meals, but I know the value of money and I do not rip off my customer and now continue with the break down of the other meals and the health cost of this disgraceful service let alone the high financial one.
My daughter and I had roast pork, it came with slopped on apple sauce in amongst the gravy, well I do not like apple sauce and had no choice as it was on the plate, it should have been in a dish so people can have a choice if they want it or not. One roast potato each that was so hard as it had clearly sat for ages, and dry pork, sloppy stuffing that I could not eat. We waited for the vegetables to come out separately and this took ages, they were fine but no gravy to pour on, just the gravy on the plate that the pork had been sat in to try and make it have some moisture (did not work)
My husband had what was advertised as Tiger Prawns and salad but it really was anything but. Tiny prawns in batter, white and gooey and no side dish of any chips, jacket, rice or similar, just a garnish, oninons, as you can see in the photos, not a salad as I believe a salad should be more than one slice of tomato and one slice of cucumber and I am not exaggerating. My son had the same garnish with his plaice and a small cup of chips so I know it was not a meal salad but just a garnish. To charge £13.95 for 9 small prawns and a garnish is a rip off. I request the invoice to show that Tiger prawns had been purchased to retail as I do not believe they were tiger prawns.
I could not eat my meal and after my son had eaten most of his fish we swapped plates, it was then I saw his raw fish (picture attached)
The drinks, oh my, how you can charge what was charged on the bill I do not know. There is false selling as the lemonade on the bill reads 16oz and it was only a slim half pint glass so this is robbing me, short or mis-selling measures is a crime and I am not accepting this at all.
I have taken and uploaded a photo of the receipt and you will see there is tea for 2 on the receipt – £7.50 these were tiny cups, the short 150ml cups, not mugs. £7.50 is more than excessive for a small North Wales pub don’t you think for small cups of tea. I believe we have been over charged on this.
2 tiny orange juices. 160ml mixer bottles – £2.00 each, not even a half slim Jim glass
1 x half pint of lemonade and orange – £2.90 – you read correctly – a half pint of soft drink not a pint.
I do not know what is going on at this place but I do know people are not aware of the measures they are getting and are putting their life at risk eating here as the photographic evidence supports.
The staff as mentioned in other reviews need training in manners, customer service, and the chef needs training in what clothing to wear when working, how to cook and as I say I would love to see his qualifications.. I asked on the phone if Marius had worked at the Black boy pub for a while and was told by an older gentleman that he had, so this is not a Polish worker stepping in for the day.
I am disgusted, my son had a stomach upset and I have purchased worming tablets to take as a precaution.
I would like a full answer to my questions throughout this review.
By: Cybercat on October 31, 2012
at 2:40 pm
Your full review is included here. While I have no reason to doubt your version of events, my guess is that TripAdvisor pulled your review because they felt you made legally “actionable” charges against the establishment. You directly accused the establishment of doing something that risked your son’s health. That might be tough to prove in court, after the fact, if the establishment wanted to pursue legal action against you (and/or TripAdvisor). If you had said something like “I felt you risked my son’s health…” or had posted a shorter review, saying something like, “It was an appealing facility from the outside, but we were not happy with the preparation or quality of our meals…” I think your review would have had a better chance of being published. I know my review was spiked because I accused the innkeeper of running an illegal enterprise – also tough to prove in court!
By: Jerry Garrett on October 31, 2012
at 4:22 pm
I also encountered a similar problem. I posted a negative review for a local business I received the worst service and it was also removed… Now I question whether to use trip advisor for my road trip.. Its sad really, businesses should not be allowed to remove customer reviews unless its slander.
I also noticed that particular business only left the highest ratting reviews.. Not one negative review and I know thats not accurate… every one I know has had a really bad experience there at one point.
By: shar on November 17, 2012
at 7:53 pm
Yes, I have the suspicion that even some of my “average” reviews have been pulled. I can’t find them anymore. There’s got to be integrity in the process. I know I keep saying that, but it’s true. I’ve been encouraged to hear that lately TA has been going through and weeding out obviously bogus reviews. I approve of that. There are some really devious people, who flame competitors (i.e., “I got food poisoning there”, etc.); who leave flattering reviews for their own places of business; people who leave one star for a restaurant that didn’t like their antics, such as sending food back, verbally abusing wait staff, etc. There are many kinds of abuse possible in this system, sadly. It’s not perfect, but overall I find TA a helpful resource – as long as you do a little research, due diligence and reading between the lines.
By: Jerry Garrett on November 17, 2012
at 8:48 pm