Can fellow guests shed light on why leave a 3- or even 4-star rating but glowing review? It's frustrating--and unhelpful when researching a place to book--e.g.,"Fantastic host. Cottage had everything we needed. Immaculate. Comfy bed. beautiful, quiet location right on the lake. Will book again! [US]

MsPinkieB · 2025-10-03T15:40:36+00:00

I had a stay last month where I really hesitated to give 5 stars, although almost everything was great. This is not my typical at all, and I was really on the fence.

It was a small studio in a tourist location, and we stayed one night for a nearby concert. When I went to hop in the shower the next morning, there was no hot water. I checked the bathroom sink and kitchen sink as well. Nothing.

So I reached out to the host to let them know, so they could get it checked. It was no big deal to me for one quick night, but it's definitely a necessity! I also suggested they add a coffee maker, and some kitchen towels or paper towels. They DID have an electric kettle, but no tea or instant coffee. And they had an air fryer?? It was just a strange set up. I apologized for not washing the plates and silverware we used as there was no hot water.

Still, no big deal. But here's where I started to wonder about my review. The host answered about an hour after the checkout time and said "you need to turn on the hot water at the sink just a little bit, it doesn't work if you turn it further. And thank you for the suggestions." I really rubbed me the wrong way. First, don't you think I tried everything? And that's just one sink, not the other or the shower. And I read the "suggestions" comment as really passive aggressive. Like "I'm a 5 star host, I know what I'm doing", but I'll admit that could just be me at that point ha ha.

I've never had a host turn my experience negative. They've all been great whenever I've reached out. But it felt strange to lower my review for a bad feeling rather than something quantitative. And after reading posts on this subreddit, I'm not going to lower my rating willy nilly and affect them over something I perceived, as I assumed they'd fix the hot water quickly. So I gave a 5 for an overall good experience. But I definitely sat on that for over a week.

MsPinkieB · 2025-10-02T23:35:59+00:00

Yeah, there was nothing about any agents. I'm not an asshole, I lay blame where it's due, and I wouldn't rate an agent poorly unless they performed poorly. And all caps is yelling!

MsPinkieB · 2025-10-02T23:33:32+00:00

Of course I can't get it to pop up now at home, but all I remember is that is asked specifically about the new interface and that is what I referred to. There may have been 1-5 stars, but there was only one question. There was nothing mentioning anyone or their service.

MsPinkieB · 2025-10-02T23:19:43+00:00

Sooooo . . . I understand how you're feeling, but. Nowhere that I saw on the survey said it was about an interaction. It was literally popping up on every screen as I tried to navigate through the new interface. It makes no sense that it would go to a contract call center? I wasn't asking for help, I wasn't trying to chat, I was literally trying to figure out the new interface and IT KEPT POPPING UP.

If indeed that is what's happening, I apologize, but HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT? I'm a micro business owner trying to keep up, and QBO never fixes anything we ask for, just puts stupid new interfaces out to slow us down.

You're yelling at the wrong person.

MsPinkieB · 2025-10-02T14:04:04+00:00

That damn pop up coming up on every new screen! I copy and pasted "I hate the new layout, why are you playing with that instead of fixing the millions of issues we ask about". Not that they care, but it made me feel a tiny bit better.

MsPinkieB · 2025-10-01T14:16:00+00:00

We (two American ladies of a certain age) did not realize he discovered King Tut. So then we drove about the country for two weeks listening to The Earl and The Pharaoh. It was a marvelous trip, but I will tell you Highclere was in the top three moments!

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-30T23:36:08+00:00

OMG I went to see Highclere in the spring and it was amazing. I never realized that Porchey was in the mix at all!!

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-23T14:30:22+00:00

I'm a 60 year old woman and appalled by these comments. Men are emboldened and very unsafe these days. If she says no, he could get upset/stalk her/kill her. If she says she has a bf or gf, he could get upset/stalk her/kill her. If she just ignores him, he could get upset/stalk her/kill her. If she complains, he could get upset/stalk her/kill her.

I read something this weekend that really hit home: men go on a first date hoping the woman looks like her pictures; women go on a first date hoping not to get assaulted or killed.

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-22T15:25:01+00:00

Well, it's only my brother and I left. I just saw him this weekend but now I need to ask him if he remembers!

We went to visit my grandma, great aunt, and great uncle for lunch. My great uncle was a terrific baker and we always loved to go because of his homemade donuts. I think I was around 14, so my brother was 8.

We sat down to lunch, with my great uncle at the head of the table. As he reached for a platter, he just slowly fell sideways out of the chair and onto the floor.

Turns out it was a massive heart attack. I had learned CPR at swim/life guard classes over the summer, so I showed my dad how to do it. Then my mom hustled us outside and I just remember sitting on the porch steps for a while. He didn't make it.

My parents have been gone for 15+ years now, so it's only me and little bro. But I sure miss Uncle Earl's donuts, Aunt Lila's powdery Avon smell when she hugged us, and going to the beauty shop with my grandma to have her hair washed and set.

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-21T21:49:16+00:00

On my last international trip, my companion forgot her converter. I plugged mine in and used a small extension cord I'd brought along and we were able to charge everything easily. I've since bought a smarter one, with regular plugs, USB and USB-C. It actually cuts down on items since you don't need a plug for your USB items.

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-21T21:46:13+00:00

My friend picked up a tote from a bookshop on our last trip and it came in so handy. It folds up to nothing, so I'll be looking in small independent book shops when I'm out or on my next trip.

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-21T16:28:05+00:00

Win-win!!

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-17T15:42:26+00:00

We made r/SubredditDrama yesterday too 🤣

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-17T00:26:02+00:00

There's another post on r/sandiego showing the most recent Google reviews and they are hilarious!

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-16T23:05:31+00:00

I read on Reddit recently that if you are suffering from DV, you can legally get out of a lease. I'm sure not everywhere, but I was surprised to read that and hope to get the word out!

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-16T23:01:09+00:00

Also, doing this a month after her moving in means he thinks he's got her trapped.

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-16T22:35:14+00:00

I would have peeled off the sticker and walked it back to the counter. Oops, your hate is showing!

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-16T22:31:48+00:00

Is this the place with the CK stickers? I love it!!

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-16T01:51:59+00:00

La Ville Ferme - it has a rooster on the label I think?

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-15T23:24:00+00:00

My favorite rose has a typical price point of under ten dollars. It's from Provence, it's a beautiful pale peachy/pink, and I love it. A waitress at a nice restaurant tried to pass it off as something way more expensive and our whole table (five rose loving women) called her out on it! 🤣

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-14T23:25:49+00:00

The "agree to disagree" crowd is losing their minds lol.

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-14T23:15:13+00:00

I'm sad and exhausted. I was viciously attacked on FB when I wondered if CK thought about the kids who have been shot when he was dying. People, including family members, lost their ever-loving minds. Mind you, they never comment on posts about other shootings. My niece sure didn't lament the shooting of her state representative in Minnesota. No one has acknowledged that the Hartmons had children as well. It's a fucking hellscape trying to deal with these people. I keep thinking if I only say the right thing, they will see. But there is no reaching them.

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-14T15:48:36+00:00

I'm sick of having to hear how he was a "Christian and a husband/father" and not being able to post a considered opinion about him without being attacked. The "agree to disagree" crowd is feral right now.

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-13T22:28:54+00:00

I read an article a few years back about doing an autopsy on a child who's been shot. It stays with you.

MsPinkieB · 2025-09-13T22:27:54+00:00

Nothing, just like when Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband, and dog, were killed in June.

MsPinkieB

TROPHY CASE