VIP Travel Blogs

[LL_Travelfan]

As of late, I find the VIP Travel Blog is plastered by Travel Blogs by TravelBen. I find these travel blogs detract from the regular VIP Member blogs. It is one thing for the members to write about a personal travel experience. However, it is unlikely, that TravelBen has visited all these properties in person. By the sheer number that TravelBen puts out, the regular member blogs get sort of lost.

In the beginning, LL had a section where LL Travel Editors posted, a summary of the various contries, cities, with additional comments and the members could add to it. This section has gotten lost in the shuffle.

It would be helpful, if the Travel Blogs by TravelBen could be put into a separate LL Blogs (or something similar) Section, distinguishing these blogs as LL Editor Blogs vs. Member blogs.....

Just my opinion and my two cents worth....

[Mountie]

LL_Travelfan, do you really find Ben's blogs that bothersome? I think part of his responsibility is to blog about travel opportunities available here at Luxury Link and I think his work is well written.

The stock photos he uses seem to apply as well.

For my part, I don't read everything that is posted any where in the community. If the subjects don't interest me, or the threads start going off subject or I just don't care about the writing style or perspective of the contributor, then I move along to something else.

I do find the contributions from other community often the most interesting, just because I know or at least assume they have been to the location and have no other motivation other than sharing.

There is plenty of room for everyone to offer their contributions.

[LL_Travelfan]

Mountie,
I don't find TravelBen's Travel Blog bothersome, nor do I find his writing objectionable; I just think there should be a separate category of LL Editor's contributions and blogs and leave the VIP Blog to the LL members.

[[email protected]]

I agree with LL - I think the folks that work at LL should have a separate area to write - they are an interesting read, however, they are more of a selling feature as opposed to a review from someone who has been there.

[TravelerBen_ll]

Hi LL_Travelfan,

I hope the blogs I post on behalf of Luxury Link aren’t intrusive. I'd probably have the best job in the world if I were able to visit all of the properties profiled and report back first-hand, but time and budgets obviously don’t allow! I always try to conduct an interview with the hotel’s concierge, on-site manager, or another high-ranking representative in order to make these write-ups insightful for the Luxury Lounge community, and give a true sense of what a stay there is like. Otherwise, there would be nothing to distinguish them from the descriptions that appear on Luxury Link's property pages. We actually have an upcoming blog post on a London property that we commissioned a local to shoot photos and videos of...

There are no more than one or two of my blog posts per week, and in between I would LOVE for that section of the Lounge to be populated by a robust library of blogs from Luxury Link travelers. One of my goals here is to grow the Luxury Lounge community; in fact, whenever I see a Facebook or Twitter user comment about their upcoming Luxury Link vacation, I encourage them to blog about their trip in the Luxury Lounge afterwards.

As of now I feel the Blog tab is the best place within the Luxury Lounge to consolidate all reviews and editorial-type content, but let me discuss the possibility of a separate tab for blogs that originate from Luxury Link itself. What are the thoughts of others VIPs?

[kyshel]

I enjoy your travel blogs, Ben, and can tell they are more than just a description. Not cut and paste, like some posts. I think splitting blog tabs is detrimental--it is after all, the BLOG section and multiple divisions mean we have to go hunting for a category. I sometimes ask if you've been there, Ben, because you are giving us some juicy info about a property.
I keep trying to encourage others to visit the lounge and participate, too.
I once asked my sister, who bought a LL pkg to do so and she wrote a little blog. (But I'm pretty sure she has only returned once. She's not addicted to travel, like I am!) She will be in London for the games--her son competed for a spot on the hammer throw team, but placed 5th at. the trials. I'll invite her to check out the London feature. Of course they have their lodging set.
So that's my tuppence....

[LL_Travelfan]

Hi TravelerBen_ll,
I appreciate your detailed response. It would indeed be a dream job to visit all the properties you write about in person and then have the opportunity to write about them as you have experienced them. I am not critical of your Blogs in itself. I just feel, that blogs by LL Editors ought to have their own section.
You are probably too new to remember, that in the beginning of the LL Forum, there was such a Section of articles and first hand reviews of countries, cities, LL properties and restaurants, by LL Editors, that members could add comments to. I felt this section was quite helpful. it was written by LL editors who had actually been to the various locations they wrote about. After that, the VIP Blogs were created and then the Individual Blogs were added.
It seems the LL editor blogs, as well as the individual blogs have disappeared in the revamping of things. However, I feel by your prolific posting (even if it is just 2 blogs a week, the individual contributions to this sections get lost.
I have to say, that I disliked the 2 Blogs about the two Luxury Gadgets section the most. This seems to be sheer advertising, which LL has always advised against.
Not every contributor is posting 2 blogs a week and so you have to scroll down quite a bit to find the member contributions.
I would be most happy to see your blogs under a different LL Editor Blog. Perhaps the possibility of a separate tab for blogs that originate from Luxury Link itself could be discussed by LL..

[kyshel]

LLTF--I'm with you in regard to Merilee Kern's blogs. At least the last one was actually travel related. I looked at some of the items and agree that it's more of an advertisement than an endorsement based on personal experience with products.

[Mountie]

LLTF--I'm with you in regard to Merilee Kern's blogs. At least the last one was actually travel related. I looked at some of the items and agree that it's more of an advertisement than an endorsement based on personal experience with products.

Although usually well written, the content of Ms. Kern's entries are too commercial to hold my interest...just too much of a female slant. Maybe if I watched The View on afternoon television rather than Fox Business News, I would read her stuff.

Ben, keep the travel content coming!