Absolutely! Integrity is HUGE in my opinion, and I always aim to maintain a high level of it. 😉

That is definitely one piece of it I’m sure.

It sure is. It’s much easier to adore something when you didn’t have to pay directly for it. So I keep that in the forefront when I’m evaluating something. After the absolutely amazing brunch we had, the first thing I did was find out what it costs. It was pricey, but in all honesty it’s something I would definitely save up for so I could enjoy it again. It was just too darn good. But I’ve definitely been to things that I enjoyed but wouldn’t have felt so rosy about if I had paid the full price for admission, so I write accordingly.

Personally, I don’t feel it’s much of a detriment. I hardly do any research at all, and I find it helps me have a better experience. Then again, I also don’t get bent out of shape when a popular place feels touristy. 😉

And there is so much that can affect it, too. When we first went to Bangkok, I really didn’t like it that much. Part of it was a string of bad experiences with the taxi drivers. When we came back, we had a much better experience, and I found that I ended up enjoying Bangkok. So much can color a visit either way.

I’m always amazed when I find so many glowing recommendations for a restaurant yet find their food abysmal. I have to wonder if the people were drunk when they went there.

I try to read as little as possible about a place I’m going to, but then again I also keep my expectations VERY low. I’ve found that works best for me as it helps me be more open to experiences. When I’ve researched too much or have high expectations, I find myself constantly comparing things to what I read instead of just being present to the moment. I’m also not a big planner, so that helps.

For comped stuff, one definitely has to remain focused on not getting lost in the VIP treatment so they can be more objective.