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Yelp and Google Reviews -indispensable for travelers

Two apps that I find highly useful are Yelp and Google Reviews. While I use them both for finding good restaurants and attractions when traveling to a new city or country, they differ in many ways.

Yelp is also great for rating local businesses, while Google is excellent for finding businesses based on their geographic location using Google maps. Just this past month I used Yelp to find a painter based on its review ratings. I found a small company with 4.9 stars and 500 reviews that I picked, and they did a superb job, just as the reviews predicted. Also I checked out the ratings of a new Thai restaurant a few miles away by googling the restaurant. I found dozens of reviews for a place only opened for a week.

Yelp vs. Google Reviews: A Traveler’s Perspective on Finding the Best Experiences

When traveling, it’s just as easy to wander into a mediocre restaurant as a stellar one, so I usually check both apps. Both offer lots of user-generated content, but they differ in functionality, reliability, and overall user experience.

Here’s what I learned about the relative strengths and weaknesses of each, especially for travelers navigating unfamiliar territory.

Yelp: Built for Depth and Community

Yelp’s platform is designed for users seeking detailed, well-organized reviews. Its strength lies in the granularity of its features. You can search, say, for Greek restaurants, and you’ll get a list.

Filters and Search Customization: Yelp allows users to filter results by price range, business features (e.g., “Takes Reservations,” “Good for Groups”), and even neighborhood. This precision is useful for travelers trying to narrow options in a large city.

Review Depth: Yelp reviews tend to be detailed, with many users including insights into the atmosphere, service, and standout dishes, especially in the US. Photos are often high-quality, giving a clear idea of what to expect. I especially like the user-created photos of the menus.

Local Expertise: Yelp’s user base tends to lean heavily toward local contributors. This is particularly useful for travelers looking to avoid tourist traps and discover hidden gems, known mostly by locals.

Trustworthy Ratings: Yelp uses an algorithm to filter out potentially fake or untrustworthy reviews, which helps ensure reliability. While not perfect, it offers an added layer of confidence when selecting a business. Often Yelp will list the unreliable reviews anyway in a separate link. Many are segregated based on being a replication of another review or the reviewer having just a few reviews.

However, Yelp does have its limitations. It’s not as comprehensive outside the US as Google Reviews. In countries like Japan or some areas in Europe, I found Yelp’s coverage to be sparse, often only a few reviews for a restaurant. In Sicily, it was of little use.

Google Reviews: Breadth and Convenience

Google Reviews excels in accessibility and integration, but it’s best to be used with Google Maps. To access reviews open Google Maps and then zoom to fill your screen with the area you want to search, and then search, say “restaurants,” using the window at the top. You can also just do a Google search and you’ll get reviews, but nothing to compare it to nearby alternatives.

Here are some of Google’s key features:

Global Reach: Google’s database is unmatched, covering nearly every corner of the globe. Whether you’re in a remote village or a bustling metropolis, you’ll likely find reviews for nearby businesses, landmarks, and attractions. That’s because Google Maps is widely used while Yelp has had trouble gaining international usage.

Map Integration: Reviews are directly embedded within Google Maps, allowing users to check ratings and photos while planning routes. This convenience is especially helpful when time is limited.

Volume of Reviews: Google often has more reviews for a business outside of the USA, which can be helpful for International traveling.

That said, Google Reviews isn’t without its flaws. The platform prioritizes quantity over quality, leading to many generic or vague comments like “Great place!” without much actionable detail. Additionally, Google doesn’t offer as many filtering options as Yelp, which can make it harder to refine results to meet specific needs (e.g., “good for solo travelers” or “open late”).

Side-by-Side Comparison

Which Should Travelers Use?

The simple answer is use both.

Use Yelp when you’re in a major city, especially in the United States, and want to discover hidden gems, highly-rated restaurants, or businesses that cater to specific preferences. The detailed reviews and advanced filters are unparalleled for curating unique experiences.

Use Google Reviews when traveling internationally or in areas where Yelp has limited coverage. Its global reach and integration with Google Maps make it a convenient option for general decisions.

What about Open Table? Open Table is also good for restaurant reviews, but they tend to be more positive because they encourage reviews each time you visit, even the same restaurant.

Of course the caveats of reviews apply to both. Ignore the outliers and concentrate on the others. Most businesses take their reviews very seriously because these ratings can significantly help or hurt a business. The painter I used would have never been able to spend enough money on advertising to gain the visibility that he did on Yelp. These apps are a win-win for both the business and for us.