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"BREAKFAST is nasty, the rooms are nasty." So complained a reviewer of an Oregon guesthouse earlier this year. There is nothing unusual in that: all hotels must deal with the odd disgruntled guest. This critique, though, appeared on TripAdvisor, a travel-review website. When the correspondent went on to document drunken housekeepers and licentious receptionists, the owners sued him. It was more than a point of pride. What customers say on TripAdvisor can make or break hotels. Around 260m people visit the site each month to read some of the 125m reviews. The firm makes money by displaying prices from online travel-agents (OTAs) alongside its reviews, and then charging those agents each time a customer clicks through. It is such a good example of a network effect that it is the subject of a Harvard Business School (HBS) case study. The more users post reviews, the more useful the site is to those about to book a holiday. This makes it more important to hotels and travel agents, who offer better deals. This results in more traffic-and more reviews-closing the virtuous circle. Last year TripAdvisor reported revenue of $944.7m. Because users post reviews free of charge, in 2012, Jeffrey Bussgang, an HBS lecturer, calculated that its gross margin was an astounding 98%. For these reasons, some think TripAdvisor may be able to take on the "big two" OTAs, Expedia (from which TripAdvisor was spun off in 2011) and Priceline, which on August 6th bought up to 10% of Ctrip, a large travel website in China. These firms sell flights and hotel rooms directly, rather than pass booking requests on to others, as TripAdvisor does. But, says Blake Harper of Wunderlich Securities, a stockbroker, the two ways of doing business are converging.

Music insiders offered insights and travel tips about the world of music festivals at a Saturday panel at the L.A. Times Travel Show called "On the Road: Traveling for Music & Festivals." The panel returns noon Sunday. Times staff writer Jessica Gelt led the discussion with Betto Arcos, host of KPFK's Global Village; Rick Farman, creator of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and Outside Lands; and Nigel Dick, filmmaker. Secrets to tickets If tickets sell out quickly, Farman recommended companies that sell packages, noting most are VIP packages. Bottom line: Be prepared to spend more if you really want in to a particular festival. If you miss out on buying tickets to the multi-day Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts in England or other big festivals, Nigel Dick suggests checking out smaller festivals in Europe, even if there are no big acts. It's still a chance to have a cool cultural experience. Navigating a festival Do not get overwhelmed by all there is to see and do. "Festivals are not programmed for people to see everything. They're for people to have lots of different experiences," Farman said. Arcos said to "spend some time looking at the program, highlight those shows you have to see and then if you feel you've seen enough you can leave and go see another act." Farman recommends that you "budget more than half of your time for just wandering around." That is how you learn about new artists and acts, he said. Split time between city and festival If the festival is in a field, it may be hard to spend time sightseeing. But if it's in or near enough to a city, plan to squeeze in a few tourist activities between shows. "Spend a few hours in the morning making sure you can check out the sites or leave early and go to a local restaurant," Farman said.

Valentine's is coming up and there are more than enough ways for couples to experience something different but altogether romantic. Instead of going the traditional route, why not go for an intimate getaway in the offbeat track? Planning early? Travelers Today has prepared a list of some of the world's lesser-known gems couples deserve to discover. 1. Plitvice, Croatia For couples who love nature, Plitvice National Park in Croatia can make for a fantastic, educational and unforgettable tour. It's a UNESCO site and is home to Europe's most beautiful nature reserves, which consist of 16 emerald lakes each, connected by a waterfall. Couples should look close enough and focus less on taking photos, as it's incomparable to personally see the colors of the lakes change from turquoise to navy. To add to the experience, it's best to stay in a rustic yet homey B&B. 2. Hiddensee Island, Germany For both beach bums and nature enthusiast, Hiddensee Island is a dream come true. It's a place that's seemingly stuck in time with a picturesque view of the sea and a virgin beach perfect for a romantic escape. Couples should try snuggling into a big beach basket made for two, which locals call Strandkorb and enjoy the view of the sunset. 3. Bettmeralp, Switzerland For nothing short of a cabin romance, settling in Bettmeralp is the best choice a couple can make while in Switzerland. Guests board a cable car, which leads them to a car-free zone and into the quaint little village. There's an incomparable view of Snowcap Mountains. Not to mention the best-tasting Swiss chocolate to add to the sweet vacation. 4. Canary Islands, Spain While Barcelona and Madrid sound good for a vacation, a true romantic getaway this Valentine's Day in Spain is to be brought to the Canary Islands. These lands have everything any couple wants in a perfect trip. Secluded beaches, cozy tapas bars, wine vineyards, volcanic hills and cliffs poss

When parents tell me they're going to Europe and ask me where to take their kids, I'm sometimes tempted to answer, "To Grandma and Grandpa's on your way to the airport." It's easy to make the case against taking the kids along. A European vacation with kids in tow is much more about playgrounds and petting zoos than about museums and churches. And traveling with kids can be expensive. Out of exhaustion and frustration, you may opt for pricey conveniences like taxis and any restaurant with a child-friendly menu. Two adults with kids can end up spending twice as much to experience about half the magic of Europe. But traveling with kids, you'll live more like Europeans and less like tourists. Your children are like ambassadors, opening doors to new experiences and countless conversations. With kids, you'll be forced to discard your tourist armor and become a temporary European - as a parent. Some of my best travel memories wouldn't have happened without my kids. Because my son was in the car, I once detoured to watch a "Petit League" baseball tournament in southern France - and debated ball and strike calls behind home plate with a pan-European bunch of parents. I'm no horseman, but because my daughter had her heart set on it, I've trotted along leafy bridle paths in the Cotswolds (next time I'll wear long pants). Let the kid in you set the itinerary, and everyone will have a good time. Somehow even the big-ticket family attractions - the kind I normally avoid - have more appeal in Europe. Europe's Disneyland, outside Paris, has all the familiar rides and characters. But Mickey Mouse speaks French, and you can buy wine with your lunch. My kids went ducky for it. With upward of 15 million visitors a year, Disneyland Paris has become the Continent's single leading tourist destination.

With each trip I take, I make it a point to bring home cultural souvenirs - gold nuggets of experiences I'll remember all my life. Whether it's sitting and talking with a Muslim at the Great Mosque of Granada in Spain, waving a flag at an Irish hurling match, or getting naked with Germans at a spa in Baden-Baden, it's experiences like these that give each trip that extra sparkle. Whenever I'm in Turkey, I make it a point to see a whirling dervish. This is not a performance, but rather, a religious ritual done by the Mevlevi, followers of a 13th-century Muslim mystic named Rumi. Dervishes whirl while praying in a meditative trance. A dervish once explained to me: "As I spin around, my hand above receives the love from our Creator, and my hand below showers it onto all of his creation. " One night, while walking through Istanbul, I came upon a big patio filled with tourists, enjoying a single dervish whirling on an elevated platform. My immediate reaction was negative, as I have a bad attitude about dervishes doing their whirl for tourists, who have no idea what's going on. I prefer seeing the real deal at a place like the Galata Dervish Monastery or the Foundation of Universal Lovers of Mevlana. But on that night, I buried my bad attitude and simply enjoyed the beauty of his performance there in the Istanbul night. In Barcelona, it's a joy to join in the sardana dances to celebrate Catalan culture. Locals of all ages seem to spontaneously appear in the cathedral square. Everyone is welcome. Participants form a circle, hold hands, then raise their arms-slow-motion, Zorba the Greek-style - as they hop and sway gracefully to the music of the band. The rest of Spain mocks this lazy circle dance, but for me, it is a stirring display of the Catalan region's pride and patriotism. Good things come to those who participate. All of my Protestant life I've watched hardscrabble pilgrims and frail nuns climb Rome's Scala Santa Holy Stairs on their knees.

(CNN) --"It takes me three days to recover after the Sevens," says referee Robert Esser, who is called the plays at the famed Hong Kong rugby tournament for 12 years. "If you find out how to survive it, let me know." The annual Hong Kong Sevens Sevens is the city's largest sporting event, attracting thousands of costumed revelers from all over the world. But making the most of the party atmosphere requires strategy and planning. With the Sevens on March 28-30, experts and hardcore fans have shared tips on how ethyl be getting through the three-day mega party. 1. South Stand commitment mandatory Ask not what the South Stand can do for you, but what you can do for the South Stand. The only large public area where Sevens revelers can drink alcohol, the legendary South Stand brings together Hong Kong Stadium's most passionate spectators--all dedicated to having an outrageously good time. 2. Serious rugby fans head for the East and West Stands Don't be afraid to go to the East and West Stands, because that's where everyone goes to watch the rugby, "says 28-year-old rugby player Rowan Varty, who has taken part in the Sevens since he was born as both a spectator and a player. 3. For costumes, (almost) anything goes The pros advise against wearing heavy suits, big masks and hats that'll have you drenched in sweat and blocking other people's views. 4. Walk to the stadium Roads are blocked and taxis are scarce. Once you arrive anywhere near Causeway Bay, start walking. 5. Pace yourself Winnie Poon, a fan who has been to the Hong Kong Sevens five times, has her own sage advice