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Nov 13, 2008 -- Yelp for help and user-generated reviews when traveling

Clark has long talked about TripAdvisor.com and how valuable it is for gleaning the collective wisdom from other travelers when you're planning a trip. There's also a site called Yelp.com that similarly culls the reflections of locals on what they know best -- their own neighborhoods. It's especially great for people who want to eat and play like a local when in unfamiliar territory.

The penny-pincher and his wife discovered Yelp during a trip to San Francisco, which happens to be the website's hometown. Whenever the couple wanted to dine out, they simple "Yelped" and got great suggestions on the top local restaurants.

If you want to use Yelp, be forewarned that you'll encounter a lot of foul language in the user postings. Yelp tends to attract younger, hipper posters who favor 4-letter words.

The New York Times reports there are 4 million reviews on Yelp from all around the country. When Clark was in Portland before a flight, he got a bad case of bagelitis and wanted to find the best local bagel shop. Yelp directed him to an unassuming, counter-culture kind of place that he normally wouldn't frequent. He was rewarded with the best bagel he's had outside of New York City.

The Times article also reports that food snobs and high-end chefs are up in arms about Yelp. It turns out they resent ordinary people reviewing their restaurants!

Unfortunately, Clark won't be able to answer any questions submitted via commenting. If you have a question, please try posting it to our message boards.

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What others are saying

  • Yelp
    Yelp is fine for fast food, etc. However, many businesses find themselves "blackmailed" by YELP. Great reviews abound. Then suddenly several highly negative reviews. Follow up call by YELP to make you a paid business. By paying you are promised that your best reviews go to top. Mysteriously bad reviews disappear. Some have claimed YELP actually pays certain reviewers. There is certainly something amiss.
  • A Yelp! Elite Reviewer Responds
    Thanks for the mention! The Atlanta Yelp presence is growing and those of us on the "Elite" squad are mostly lovers of food (and just being "in the know" about all kinds of cool places) in town . . . and we don't all use lots of cuss words! Maybe a review of "The Clark Howard Show" is due!
    Thanks again!
    "Carrie Neal W."
    Yelp Elite '08
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