Good addresses: the routard's guide method to avoid bogus reviews

INTERVIEW

They have made the

internationally famous

.

The reviews of the guide, recognized for their quality, are the subject of many fantasies and urban rumors.

Guest of 

, his co-founder Philippe Gloaguen tells how he makes sure not to publish bogus reviews.

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The huge investment in travel costs

At 69, Philippe Gloaguen is delighted with the Internet, which according to him reinforces the need for rigor of the 

"It's been a long time since we know that we can't screw up readers. But it's all the more true now, with social networks, because readers are aware of everything very quickly. And so much the better" , he explains.

"The best advertising is word of mouth. The more quality you do, the better the audience will give it to you."

Each time a guide is updated, Philippe Gloaguen sends a freelance writer, in other words a freelance journalist, to check that the recommended addresses maintain their quality.

This mode of operation has a cost: 800,000 euros per year in travel expenses.

"It is considerable, but it is at this price that the readers trust us", explains the co-founder of Routard.

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"The idea of ​​the 'Guide du routard', it was that of a friend who speaks to you", underlines the co-founder Philippe Gloaguen

One bad experience since 1975

According to him, it was impossible for a freelance journalist to fake his opinions.

"If someone gland and we publish the book, we learn ten days later by mail to readers," he guarantees.

"If people are not happy, we know it right away."

The

would have had only one real bad experience since its creation, in 1975. "We once were very disappointed by a collaborator, who went to cover Thailand. He was young, he left with his girlfriend and he preferred to stay on the beaches rather than to check the addresses. We can not blame him either ... ", remembers Philippe Gloaguen, magnanimous.

"He resigned by the way, and I decided with my editor to pound the book and redo it." 

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The advocacy of the Guide du routard for suburban tourism

Avoid American review sites

This guarantee of quality at all costs is not found, according to this traveler, on TripAdvisor type sites.

"It bothers me to have an opinion of an American on a restaurant: it crashes all the time. On TripAdvisor, the problem is multiplied by 50,000", he annoys.

"We have French sites that are very good at cooking, when traveling. We don't need the Americans."

The creator of Routard cites among these French references the Michelin guide, "competitor but friend".

But also some tour operators.

And, of course, the

  and its website.

Philippe Gloaguen also advises an article on the

 which lists the countries to which you can go, despite the health crisis linked to the coronavirus.

More topical advice than ever.