Since 2000, The SL Hotel Inspector has been dedicated to providing honest and unbiased reviews of hotels and resorts in Second Life. My goal is to help fellow residents make informed decisions about their virtual travel experiences.

You can trust that my reviews are based on genuine experiences and are not influenced by any external pressures. I only recommend venues that I genuinely believe offer a positive experience for Second Life residents, and where I personally would spend my time and money.

Key Principles:

• Independence: I maintain complete independence by refusing free stays, sponsorships, or any form of advertising. All stays are paid for out of my own pocket (occasional upgrades are accepted but never requested). This ensures that my reviews are in no way ‘bought.’

• Honesty and Balance: Though reviews are by their nature subjective, I strive to provide fair assessments of each venue. I appreciate that creating an experience takes a lot of effort, so even when I identify areas for improvement, I try to balance them with positive aspects.

• Constructive Feedback: My intention is not to criticize but to give potential guests an idea of what to expect and offer constructive feedback that may help hotel owners enhance their offerings. It's important to remember that paying for a service doesn't automatically entitle a venue to a glowing review. Furthermore, a hotel's response to positive or negative feedback says a lot about its commitment to customer service and willingness to improve.

• Focus on Value: Not everyone has a large disposable income to spend in SL. My reviews often compare pricing structures and amenities to help readers determine whether a particular venue offers good value for their Linden dollars. Naturally, my expectations and criteria will differ depending on a venue's price point. A hotel charging 300L a night will be assessed differently than one charging 3000L a night. I strive to take a global perspective and consider the varying financial realities within the SL community.

• Lag and Performance: I understand that not everyone in Second Life has access to high-performance computers. To ensure my reviews are relevant to a wider audience, I periodically test venues using an older laptop - one which meets SL’s minimum standards - to experience them from the perspective of someone with less powerful hardware. This allows me to assess lag, rendering issues, and overall performance, which are important factors in determining a venue's enjoyment.

• Guest Reviewers: I sometimes work with guest reviewers to provide diverse perspectives and ensure anonymity during check-in. These reviewers adhere to the same criteria and principles outlined in this policy.

A note on RP and personal preferences:

My reviews consider a hotel or resort's overall quality, value, and design. I often participate in role-playing activities to comprehensively understand the experience.

Good RP is an important aspect for venues that offer it, but my assessment also considers other factors, including the quality of the build, design, staff interaction, pricing, and overall atmosphere.

I recognise that different individuals have different preferences, and I encourage readers to consider their own priorities when making travel decisions.

Let's Keep the Conversation Going:

I welcome constructive feedback and dialogue about my reviews. Open communication can help us all better understand the diverse needs and preferences of the Second Life community.

Thank you for reading!

Dirk Absinthe

(Email slhotelinspector@gmail.com)