Comment Policy FAQ

Why do I need to sign in to leave a comment?

Oyster requires commenters to sign in in order to eliminate -- or at least minimize -- anonymous comments, which we believe undermine the value of online forums. Anonymity fosters hidden agendas -- praise for a hotel, for example, that's secretly written by the hotel's owner, or the owner's mother, or a paid employee, or a paid employee's mother. Or criticism of a hotel that's secretly written by a hotel's top competitor. Asking our users to log in doesn't prevent comments from biased people, but it makes it much harder for those people to hide their bias.

What are my options for signing in?

If you have an account with Oyster.com, you can sign in using your email address and password. Those who don't have an Oyster.com account are welcome to make one now. If you're not an Oyster.com member but you have a Facebook account, you can sign in via Facebook Connect, a tool that allows you to sign into websites using the login information from your Facebook account.

How can I register for an Oyster.com account?

Joining Oyster.com is fast and easy. Simply visit our registration page and fill in your name, email address, and password. Your account will be created immediately, and you'll be ready to leave comments on our hotel reviews.

Do I need to sign in if I just want to tell you something?

No. Anyone can get in touch with Oyster by using our contact form. You can use this form to tell us about an error on the site, give us feedback, or make a suggestion. But, again, if you want us to post a public comment about a hotel, you'll need to click the "Add a Comment" button on the hotel's review page and then sign in using Facebook Connect or your Oyster.com account.

What is Facebook Connect?

Facebook Connect is a tool that lets you sign into Oyster using the login information from your Facebook account. Once you're signed in, your name and photo will automatically appear on comments you submit to us, which means that every comment on Oyster will have a real identity attached.

What if I don’t have a Facebook account?

If you don't have a Facebook account, you can log in via your Oyster.com account. If you're not already an Oyster.com member, creating an account is quick and easy. Simply visit our registration page and fill out the short form. We want to ensure we connect folks in an authentic manner by insisting that they use their real identities.

Why can't I see everyone's name and photo?

When reading comments, you may notice that you can't see the names and photos of everyone who has left comments via Facebook Connect. Once you sign into Facebook Connect, the names and photos should appear. Due to certain privacy settings on individual Facebook profiles, there will occasionally be photos or names that you still can't see.

Do you post every user comment that’s submitted?

No. In fact, many comments do not get published. Oyster's approach to comments is different than a lot of other sites out there, and we have a high bar for what we accept. We monitor comments as they come in and approve only those comments that we feel contribute to the quality of the site. Please note that we may reach out to you to discuss your comment.

What are you looking for in a comment?

If you've stayed at a property we've reviewed and you experienced something that we didn't cover in our review, we'd love to hear about it. You can help us supplement the information we're already providing to our readers. The best comments add new information rather than simply reiterating what we've already said on the site. They are also are objective and fact-based, and do not include personal details or highly subjective opinions. Every opinion should be backed up with examples. Think of your comment as an extension of the existing Oyster review.

Take a look at the "good" and "bad" comments below to get a sense of what we would accept and reject.

• Good: "The shower pressure in the Luxury Suite was phenomenal, and the bathroom had numerous thoughtful details, including a hair straightener and bath salts next to the tub."
• Bad: "I really loved the bathroom; my husband and I wanted to spend our whole trip there!"

• Good: "The service was very hands-off. When we called for room service, it took over an hour to arrive, and we had to call three times before our request for extra towels was fulfilled. We received much better attention at the neighboring Awesome Beach Resort when we went there last year."
• Bad: "This hotel had terrible, rude service, and I would never return."

• Good: "The bathroom in our Deluxe Room was very small. There was only one sink and no counter space. The showerhead had some water stains and the grout between the tiles looked moldy."
• Bad: "The bathroom was GROSS."

What would prevent a comment from being posted?

• We're unlikely to post comments that simply reiterate information or perspectives that we already provide.
• We will not publish comments that are overly subjective; if you can't back up your opinion with examples and proof, it will get rejected.
• We don't publish comments that are full of personal details, or describe an experience specific to only your trip. If you had a terrible experience and submit a comment about how everything went wrong for you, we won't publish it. If you submit a thoughtful, objective comment about what the hotel needs to improve, you'll have a much better chance of getting accepted. A comment must be useful and applicable to all readers, and discuss things at the hotel that others can observe; we don't want to hear about something that may have been a one-time experience.
• If we suspect that the comment is biased, we won't post it.

I’m affiliated with a hotel. Can I still make a comment?

Right now the ability to comment is intended only for those who have stayed at a hotel and want to share their experiences as a guest. If you're affiliated with a hotel and would like to share thoughts or point out factual inaccuracies, you may email us at customercare@oyster.com.

Can I post a comment anonymously?

No. We require all visitors to identify themselves by logging in through Facebook Connect or an Oyster.com account.

Will my comment be posted exactly as I submitted it?

In most cases, yes. We may edit your comment for spelling or grammatical errors or for length, but we will not change the substance of your comment without permission. We reserve the right to omit any profanity or other language we deem inappropriate for our audience.

If I submit a comment today, when can I expect it to be posted to the site?

We will be reading submitted comments daily, so you can expect your submission to appear on the website within a few days. If you don't see it within a few days, it's likely that we chose not to post it.