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Where’s the sexy lady by the pool? Oh no, it’s a photo fakeout

August 25, 2009

riuYou don’t have to read Federal Trade Commission rulings for a living to enjoy this guilty pleasure.

My friends over at the hotel review startup Oyster.com have an irresistible new feature called Photo Fakeout that compares reality with a hotel’s brochure.

It’s jarring, funny, sad — and often, infuriating.


My favorite is the missing “sexy lady” (their words, not mine). The RIU Negril wants to believe lithe models hang out at its pool.

riunegrilpool_marketing

In fact, this is what you’re likely to see …

outdoor-pool-riu-negril-club-all-inclusive-v87186-1152

Where did the woman go?

There’s more. Here’s a before-and-after of a buffet at a Dominican Republic resort. Yuck.

Destination wedding anyone? You probably want to avoid the drunken, sunburned people who will be joining you at this hotel.

Here’s a resort that learned how to use Photoshop. Wow. My seven-year-old could do that.

This feature is an inspired idea. I hope travelers will read it — if not for the warnings, then for the laughs.

(Photo of the Riu Negril beach … I think. Hat tip to Paul.)

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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1 comment

  • Victor Ozols

    After looking at the photos, I must conclude that this is hardly the Woodward and Bernstein smackdown it purports to be. Of course marketing photos portray hotels an ideal light. But if you really expect to find a swimsuit model lounging by the pool at the Econo Lodge because you saw one in the ad, you’re in for a heck of a disappointment. (But then, it *could* happen.) And lest you get your hopes up about today’s lunch, please note that your Big Mac will look nothing like the one in the commercial.

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