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Trip Reviews – Complete Guide

Thanks for installing Trip Reviews for WP Travel Engine. This plugin adds a simple review and rating system to your travel website, so your customers can share feedback and new visitors can see real experiences before booking.

The goal of this guide is to help you get comfortable using the plugin — from installation to customization. You’ll learn how to enable reviews, manage submissions, and adjust settings to match your site’s style.

You don’t need to be a developer to use it. If you already use WP Travel Engine, this plugin will feel familiar and easy to set up.

What This Plugin Does #

Trip Reviews adds a review and rating feature to your WP Travel Engine trips. When someone books or completes a trip, they can leave a rating between 1 and 5 stars and write a review describing their experience.

Here’s what customers can do:

  • Rate a trip using a 1–5 star scale.
  • Write a short or detailed review about their experience.
  • Read reviews from other travelers directly on the trip page.

And as a site administrator, you can:

  • View, edit, or delete all reviews in one dashboard.
  • Receive an email when a new review is submitted.
  • Customize the review form labels to match your tone or brand.
  • Automatically display average ratings on trip pages.

This helps you build credibility and transparency, which are key for travel businesses. Even a few genuine reviews can make a big difference in convincing someone to book.

Getting Started #

What You’ll Need #

Before you start, make sure your setup meets these basic requirements:

  • WordPress version 5.0 or higher
  • PHP 7.4 or higher
  • WP Travel Engine plugin installed and active

Trip Reviews won’t work without WP Travel Engine, since it’s built to extend that system. So make sure WP Travel Engine is running first.

Installation #

You can install the plugin in two ways: directly from your WordPress dashboard or by uploading a ZIP file.

Method 1: Install from WordPress (Recommended) #

  1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
  2. Go to Plugins → Add New.
  3. In the search box, type Trip Reviews for WP Travel Engine.
  4. Click Install Now next to the plugin.
  5. Once installed, click Activate.

That’s it — the plugin will be live, and new options will appear under the WP Travel Engine menu.

Method 2: Install Manually (ZIP Upload) #

  1. Download the plugin ZIP file from the official source.
  2. Go to Plugins → Add New in your WordPress admin.
  3. Click the Upload Plugin button at the top.
  4. Choose the ZIP file from your computer.
  5. Click Install Now.
  6. After installation, click Activate Plugin.

What Happens After Activation #

Once activated, you’ll notice three main changes:

  • A new Reviews submenu appears under WP Travel Engine in your dashboard.
  • A Reviews tab automatically appears on all trip pages on the frontend.
  • The plugin creates database tables to store and display reviews.

No extra setup is needed to start collecting reviews. You can, however, customize labels and notifications later in the settings.

Initial Setup #

Quick Start – Takes About 2 Minutes #

If you’ve just activated the plugin, you can get it running in a couple of minutes.

Step 1: Open Review Settings #

  1. Go to WP Travel Engine → Reviews → Settings.
  2. You’ll see the main settings panel for Trip Reviews.

Step 2: Enable Reviews #

  1. Under the General tab, find the Enable Reviews option.
  2. Make sure it’s turned on.
  3. Save your changes.

This activates the review form on all your trip pages.

Step 3: Test It Out #

  1. Visit any trip page on your site.
  2. You’ll now see a Reviews tab beside the trip details.
  3. Submit a quick test review.
  4. Then go back to your admin area and check WP Travel Engine → Reviews to confirm it appears.

That’s it — your review system is now active.

In the free version, reviews are automatically approved. This means new reviews go live right after submission, without requiring admin approval. It’s a simple setup designed to help you get started fast.

Notes and Tips #

  • If the Reviews tab doesn’t appear, double-check that WP Travel Engine is active and reviews are enabled in settings.
  • You can change the labels (like “Write a Review” or “Submit Review”) later in the settings if you want to use your own wording.
  • The system uses WordPress email notifications, so make sure your site can send emails properly.

That’s the foundation done — your review system is now running.
Next, we’ll go over how the admin area works and what each option in the settings means.

Perfect. Continuing below with Part 2: Understanding the Admin Panel → Settings Configuration in the same simple, conversational, professional tone and plain text format.

Understanding the Admin Panel #

After activation, you’ll find a new menu item under WP Travel Engine → Reviews in your WordPress dashboard. This is where you’ll manage all review-related tasks — from viewing submissions to adjusting settings.

The interface follows WordPress’ standard layout, so if you’ve used WP Travel Engine or other admin pages before, it’ll feel familiar.

Here’s what each section does.

Dashboard #

The Dashboard gives you a quick overview of what’s happening with your reviews.

You’ll see small summary boxes showing:

  • Total number of reviews on your site
  • Average rating across all trips
  • How many trips have received reviews
  • A short list of your most recent reviews

There’s also a Quick Actions section where you can jump directly to common pages like Settings or the full Reviews list.

And below that, you’ll find a short Recent Reviews section showing the five latest submissions with links to view or edit each one. It’s a simple way to check new activity at a glance.

Reviews List #

The Reviews page is your main workspace. It’s where all submitted reviews are displayed in a table format.

Each row represents one review and includes:

  • Title – The review headline.
  • Trip – The trip the review belongs to.
  • Rating – The star rating (1 to 5).
  • Reviewer – The customer’s name and email.
  • Status – Whether it’s Published, Pending, or Draft.
  • Date – When the review was submitted.

At the top, you’ll see filters and search tools to help you find specific reviews. You can:

  • Filter by status, trip, or rating.
  • Search by keyword (e.g., reviewer name or title).
  • Sort by columns, such as date or rating.

You can also take bulk actions, such as approving or deleting several reviews at once. To do this, select multiple checkboxes and choose an action from the dropdown menu.

Settings #

The Settings section lets you control how reviews behave on your site. This is where you’ll enable or disable reviews, change text labels, and configure notifications.

We’ll go into detail on these options in the next section.

Support #

The Support page provides links to documentation, system information, and support resources. If you ever contact the support team, this page includes details like your WordPress version and plugin version, which can help them troubleshoot faster.

FAQs #

Lastly, the FAQs page summarizes common questions and answers. It’s a convenient first stop if you’re unsure about how something works.

Settings Configuration #

You can open settings by going to WP Travel Engine → Reviews → Settings.

The panel is divided into tabs for easy navigation: General and Notifications in the free version.

Below is a breakdown of what each setting does and how you can use it.

General Tab #

Enable Reviews #

This toggle turns the review system on or off for your entire site.
When it’s enabled, every trip page will show a “Reviews” tab with existing reviews and the submission form.
If you disable it, that tab disappears completely.

Keep this enabled unless you want to temporarily hide reviews from your site.

Custom Form Labels #

Here, you can customize the text used in your review form. This is useful if you want to match your brand’s tone or make the form more conversational.

Each label can be left blank to use the default wording.

Below are the available fields with examples.

  • Write a Review Label
    Default: “Write a Review”
    Example: “Share Your Experience” or “Tell Us About Your Trip”
  • Overall Rating Label
    Default: “Overall Rating”
    Example: “How would you rate this trip?”
  • Rating Helper Text
    Default: “Click a star to rate”
    Example: “Select 1–5 stars based on your experience.”
  • Review Title Label
    Default: “Review Title”
    Example: “Give your review a short title”
  • Review Title Placeholder
    Default: “Summarize your experience in a few word.s”
    Example: “A wonderful trip with great views!”
  • Your Review Label
    Default: “Your Review”
    Example: “Tell us more about your experienc.e”
  • Your Review Placeholder
    Default: “Share the details of your experience…”
    Example: “We had a fantastic guide and loved every stop!”
  • Your Name Label
    Default: “Your Name”
    You can change it to “Traveler’s Name” or any variation you prefer.
  • Your Email Label
    Default: “Your Email”
    Example: “Contact Email” or “Your Email Address”
  • Submit Review Button Label
    Default: “Submit Review”
    Example: “Post My Review” or “Send Feedback”
  • Summary Box Title
    Default: “Rating Breakdown”
    Example: “How Others Rated This Trip”

This customization is completely optional. It’s mainly for branding or tone consistency — for example, if your site uses casual language, you might change “Submit Review” to “Share My Thoughts.”

Notifications Tab #

Notification Email #

By default, notifications are sent to the WordPress admin email.
You can change this to any email address — or even multiple addresses separated by commas.

For example, if you want reviews sent to your customer service team, you can enter something like:

[email protected], [email protected]

Notify on New Review #

When this option is enabled, you’ll receive an email every time a new review is submitted.

Each notification email includes:

  • The reviewer’s name and email
  • The trip name
  • The star rating
  • The review content
  • A direct link to view the review in the admin panel

Since the free version auto-approves reviews, you’ll receive notifications for every submission, whether good or bad. It’s a good way to stay aware of customer feedback as it comes in.

If your site gets a large number of reviews daily, you can disable this setting to reduce inbox clutter.

Tips for Settings #

  • You can experiment with label changes without breaking anything — simply leave a field empty to revert to the default text.
  • Always click Save Changes before leaving the page.
  • If notifications aren’t arriving, check your spam folder or use an SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP to improve email delivery.
  • The plugin doesn’t currently include advanced moderation or response tools — those are part of the Pro version.

That’s everything you need to know about the admin area and settings.

Next, we’ll go over how to manage, edit, and filter customer reviews directly in WordPress.

Perfect. Continuing with Part 3: Managing Reviews → Frontend Display in the same clear, natural, and conversational tone.

Managing Reviews #

Once customers start submitting reviews, you’ll see them appear under WP Travel Engine → Reviews in your WordPress dashboard.
This section works a lot like the regular Posts or Comments screens in WordPress — you can view, edit, filter, and delete reviews all in one place.

Here’s how it works.

Viewing All Reviews #

Go to WP Travel Engine → Reviews.
You’ll see a table listing all the reviews submitted on your site. Each row includes details such as the review title, trip name, rating, reviewer name, and submission date.

You can sort, filter, or search through these just like regular WordPress posts.

Understanding the Review Columns #

Each column gives you specific information about a review:

  • Title – The review’s headline. Click it to open and edit the full review. When you hover over it, you’ll see quick action links like Edit, View, or Delete.
  • Trip – The trip being reviewed. Click the trip name to edit it, or click View Trip to open the trip page on your site.
  • Rating – The customer’s star rating. You’ll see both the visual stars (e.g., ★★★★☆) and the numeric value.
  • Reviewer – The reviewer’s name, email address, and sometimes IP address (for reference).
  • Status – The review’s publication state: Published, Pending, Draft, or Private.
  • Date – When the review was submitted or last updated.

Editing a Review #

If you need to fix a typo, change a rating, or update details, you can easily edit a review.

  1. Go to WP Travel Engine → Reviews.
  2. Hover over the review you want to edit.
  3. Click Edit or simply click the review title.
  4. Make your changes — you can adjust the review title, content, rating, reviewer name, or email.
  5. Click Update to save.

Whenever you update a rating, the plugin automatically recalculates the trip’s average score, so your displayed ratings stay accurate.

Deleting a Review #

If a review is spam or not relevant, you can remove it.

To delete a single review: #

  1. Go to WP Travel Engine → Reviews.
  2. Hover over the review.
  3. Click Delete.
  4. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

This action is permanent — once a review is deleted, it’s gone.

To delete multiple reviews: #

  1. Check the boxes next to the reviews you want to remove.
  2. In the dropdown above the table, select Delete under Bulk Actions.
  3. Click Apply and confirm.

It’s a quick way to clean up multiple fake or test entries.

Changing Review Status #

Each review can be set to a specific status depending on what you want visible on your site.

To change a single review: #

  1. Open the review in edit mode.
  2. Look for the Review Status dropdown.
  3. Choose one of the following:
    • Published – Visible on your site.
    • Pending – Waiting for approval (not visible yet).
    • Draft – Saved but unpublished.
    • Private – Only visible to site admins.
  4. Click Update to save.

To change several reviews at once: #

  1. Check the boxes beside the reviews you want to update.
  2. From the Bulk Actions dropdown, choose Approve or Unapprove.
  3. Click Apply.

While the free version auto-approves reviews, you can still manually unpublish them if needed.

Filtering Reviews #

If you have lots of reviews, filters can save you time.
You’ll find filter dropdowns above the review table.

You can filter by:

  • Status – All, Published, Pending, Draft, Trash
  • Trip – Choose a specific trip from the dropdown list
  • Rating – Show only 5-star or 1-star reviews, for example
  • Date – Filter by submission date or a specific time range

You can combine filters too — for example, show only 5-star reviews for a particular trip.

Sorting Reviews #

You can click any column heading (like Title, Rating, or Date) to sort the table.
Click once to sort in ascending order, and click again to reverse it.

For example:

  • Click Rating once to sort from lowest to highest.
  • Click again to sort from highest to lowest.

Searching Reviews #

Use the search box in the top-right corner to find specific reviews.
Type a keyword such as the reviewer’s name, part of the title, or even a phrase from the review text.
Press Enter, and the list will instantly filter the results.

Frontend Display #

Now that you know how to manage reviews in the admin, let’s look at how they appear on the public trip pages.

When the plugin is active, every trip automatically gets a Reviews tab alongside existing ones like Overview, Itinerary, or Cost.

You don’t have to add it manually — it’s handled automatically by the plugin.

What Customers See on the Trip Page #

When a visitor opens a trip page and clicks the Reviews tab, here’s what they’ll find.

1. Rating Summary (Top Section) #

At the top, the plugin shows a summary that includes:

  • The average star rating (for example, 4.5 out of 5)
  • The total number of reviews
  • A visual breakdown showing how many people gave each rating (1 to 5 stars)

This section gives visitors a quick overview of how travelers rated that trip overall.

2. Review List #

Below the summary is a list of individual reviews. Each entry includes:

  • The reviewer’s name and profile image (using their Gravatar if available)
  • Their star rating
  • The review title and main content
  • The submission date (shown as “2 days ago,” “1 week ago,” etc.)

By default, the plugin displays ten reviews per page, with a “Load More” button that fetches more reviews without reloading the page.

3. Review Submission Form #

At the bottom of the Reviews tab, customers can add their own review using a simple form.

The form includes:

  • A star rating selector
  • A title field for the review headline
  • A large text area for the review content
  • Name and email fields (for guests)
  • A submit button

If the visitor is logged in, their name and email are filled automatically.

Automatic Display #

Once you’ve enabled reviews, the plugin automatically displays the Reviews tab on every trip page.
There’s no shortcode or manual setup required.

When reviews are disabled in settings, the tab disappears completely.
If there are no reviews yet, the tab still shows up — it just displays the empty form and a note saying there are no reviews yet.

This makes it easy to collect the first few reviews on new trips.

Small Notes and Tips #

  • The form supports both logged-in users and guests, but all submissions are still tied to the correct trip.
  • The plugin loads reviews dynamically using AJAX, so the page doesn’t reload when someone clicks “Load More.”
  • Each review submission triggers an email notification if you have it turned on in settings.
  • You can hide reviews entirely by turning off “Enable Reviews” in settings, which also hides the tab from all trips.

That covers everything about managing and displaying reviews.

Excellent. Continuing with Part 4: Using Shortcodes → Customization in the same tone and structure.

Using Shortcodes #

The Trip Reviews plugin includes shortcodes you can use to display reviews, rating summaries, or review forms anywhere on your site — not just on trip pages.

This gives you flexibility. For example, you might want to show a list of recent reviews on your homepage or add a “Write a Review” form to a custom thank-you page.

Here’s how each shortcode works.

Review Form Shortcode #

You can display the review submission form for any specific trip using this shortcode:

[trip_review_form trip_id="123"]

Replace 123 with the actual trip ID.

What It Does
Shows the same review submission form you see on trip pages — complete with star rating, title, review text, and name/email fields.

Example Uses

  • Adding a review form to a landing page for a specific trip.
  • Creating a standalone page like “Share Your Experience.”
  • Including a review form in a sidebar or footer widget.

Example

[trip_review_form trip_id="456"]

This displays the form for the trip with ID 456.

Review List Shortcode #

If you want to display reviews for a trip anywhere else on your site, use:

[trip_review_list trip_id="123"]

Replace 123 with your trip’s ID.

What It Does
Shows all approved reviews for that specific trip, including reviewer name, rating, and review text.
It looks the same as the review list inside the trip’s “Reviews” tab.

Example Uses

  • A testimonials or customer stories page.
  • Displaying reviews on your homepage for credibility.
  • Embedding reviews in a custom layout built with Elementor, Gutenberg, or another page builder.

Example

[trip_review_list trip_id="456"]

Rating Summary Shortcode #

This shortcode lets you display the average rating and rating breakdown for a trip:

[trip_rating_summary trip_id="123"]

Replace 123 with your trip ID.

What It Does
Displays a small summary box showing:

  • The average star rating
  • Total number of reviews
  • A visual rating distribution (1 to 5 stars)

Example Uses

  • Add to trip archive pages to show ratings at a glance.
  • Place in a sidebar widget or trip list template.
  • Use it inside a promotional section for a highly rated trip.

Example

[trip_rating_summary trip_id="456"]

How to Find a Trip’s ID #

If you’re not sure what the trip ID is, you can find it easily.

Option 1: From the Trip List

  1. Go to WP Travel Engine → Trips.
  2. Hover your mouse over a trip name.
  3. At the bottom of your browser window, you’ll see a small link that includes something like post=123.
  4. That number (123) is the trip ID.

Option 2: From the Trip Edit Page

  1. Open the trip in edit mode.
  2. Look at the browser URL.
  3. You’ll see something like post=123 in the link — again, that’s your trip ID.

Once you know the ID, just replace it in the shortcode, and it’ll work anywhere on your site.

Customization #

You can customize the way reviews look so they match your website’s design.
Trip Reviews follows your theme’s base styles, but you can always add your own CSS for a more refined look.

Styling Reviews #

If you’re comfortable adding a bit of CSS, the plugin includes several class selectors you can use to style each part of the review display.

Here are the main ones:

Review Container

.tre-reviews-container { }

Rating Summary

.tre-rating-summary { }
.tre-average-rating { }
.tre-rating-breakdown { }

Individual Reviews

.tre-review-item { }
.tre-review-header { }
.tre-review-content { }
.tre-reviewer-name { }

Review Form

.tre-review-form { }
.tre-star-input { }
.tre-submit-btn { }

Load More Button

.tre-load-more-btn { }

You can target these classes in your CSS to change colors, spacing, fonts, and layout.

Where to Add Custom CSS #

There are a few easy ways to add custom styles.

Option 1: WordPress Customizer

  1. Go to Appearance → Customize.
  2. Click Additional CSS.
  3. Add your custom CSS code.
  4. Click Publish to save.

Option 2: Child Theme
If you’re using a child theme, open your child theme’s style.css file and add your styles there.

Example:

/* Custom Trip Reviews Styles */
.tre-rating-summary {
  background: #f8f8f8;
  padding: 20px;
  border-radius: 8px;
}

Option 3: CSS Plugin
If you prefer, install a plugin like Simple Custom CSS or Custom CSS Pro and paste your styles there.

All three options work the same way — it’s just about where you feel most comfortable managing your code.

Example Customizations #

Here are a few common tweaks site owners like to make.

Change Star Color

.tre-star-rating .star-full .star-svg {
  color: #ffcc00;
}

This makes the stars gold instead of the default color.

Style the Submit Button

.tre-submit-btn {
  background-color: #0073aa;
  color: white;
  border-radius: 4px;
  padding: 10px 16px;
}

.tre-submit-btn:hover {
  background-color: #005f8a;
}

Add Shadows to Review Cards

.tre-review-item {
  border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
  border-radius: 8px;
  padding: 20px;
  margin-bottom: 20px;
  box-shadow: 0 2px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
}

Adjust Review Form Spacing

.tre-review-form input,
.tre-review-form textarea {
  margin-bottom: 12px;
}

These small CSS changes can make your review section blend perfectly with your site’s color palette and typography.

Important Note About Customization #

  • Always test your CSS on both desktop and mobile.
  • Avoid modifying the plugin files directly — updates will overwrite your changes.
  • If something doesn’t seem to work, check your browser’s Developer Tools (Inspect Element) to confirm the correct CSS class.
  • The plugin doesn’t include custom hooks or template overrides in the free version. Those features are part of the Pro edition.

You now know how to display reviews anywhere on your site and style them to match your theme.

Perfect. Continuing with Part 5: Tips & Best Practices → Troubleshooting in the same simple, natural, professional tone.

Tips & Best Practices #

Once Trip Reviews is active and running smoothly, there are a few ways you can make the most out of it. These tips will help you collect more authentic reviews, handle negative feedback professionally, and keep your review section effective and credible.

Encouraging Customers to Leave Reviews #

The hardest part of any review system is getting people to write them. Here are a few practical ways to encourage more submissions:

1. Ask at the Right Time
Send a short, friendly message to travelers after their trip ends. A simple “We’d love to hear how your experience went!” works well.
If you use automated booking emails, include a link to the review form there.

2. Add a Reminder on Thank-You Pages
After a booking or contact form submission, add a message like:
“Just returned from your trip? Share your experience and help other travelers!”

3. Keep the Form Simple
The built-in review form already asks for just a few fields, which helps people complete it faster. Avoid adding unnecessary steps or questions.

4. Explain Why Reviews Matter
A short note like “Your feedback helps other travelers choose confidently” can make a difference. People are more likely to contribute when they see value in doing so.

Handling Negative Reviews #

Every business gets a bad review eventually — and that’s okay. What matters is how you handle it.

Do:

  • Read the review carefully and look for legitimate issues.
  • Respond politely and professionally if you can (the Pro version allows direct responses).
  • Use feedback to identify real problems in your trips or process.
  • Thank the reviewer for taking the time to share their thoughts.

Don’t:

  • Delete every review that’s not positive.
  • Argue or respond emotionally.
  • Ask friends or team members to post fake reviews.

A mix of positive and neutral reviews looks more trustworthy than only perfect ratings. Travelers know no company is flawless — honesty builds credibility.

SEO Benefits #

Trip Reviews automatically adds structured data (Schema.org markup) to your trip pages.
This helps search engines understand your ratings and sometimes display star ratings in Google results.

You don’t have to do anything for this to work — it’s built into the plugin.
When Google picks up this data, your listings can show review stars, which helps attract more clicks.

Just keep in mind that Google decides when and where to show this, so results may vary.

Email Notification Tips #

If you have a small team, keep things organized with these ideas:

  • Single Admin Setup: Use your main admin email and check for new reviews regularly.
  • Multiple Admins: Use a shared address like [email protected] and forward it to relevant people.
  • High Volume Sites: If you receive many reviews daily, set up filters or folders in your inbox to organize them.

If you ever stop receiving emails, check your spam folder or set up an SMTP plugin to ensure reliable delivery.

Building Trust Through Responses (Pro Feature) #

In the Pro version, admins can reply directly to customer reviews.
When you thank happy travelers or acknowledge negative feedback, it shows visitors that your team listens and cares.
This engagement can increase conversion rates because it feels personal and responsive.

Troubleshooting #

Sometimes things don’t work as expected, especially after installing a new plugin or changing your theme.
Here are some common issues and how to fix them.

Reviews Not Showing on Trip Pages #

Check the following:

  1. Plugin Activation
    Go to Plugins and make sure “Trip Reviews for WP Travel Engine” is active.
  2. Enable Reviews Setting
    Go to WP Travel Engine → Reviews → Settings and confirm that “Enable Reviews” is turned on.
  3. WP Travel Engine Active
    This plugin depends on WP Travel Engine. If it’s deactivated, Trip Reviews won’t display anything.
  4. Clear Caches
    If you use a caching plugin or Cloudflare, clear all caches. Cached pages sometimes hide recent changes.

If everything looks fine and reviews still don’t show, try temporarily switching to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four) to check for theme conflicts.

Review Form Not Appearing #

  1. Go to a trip page and look for the Reviews tab.
    If it’s missing, make sure “Enable Reviews” is checked in settings.
  2. Check if your theme uses a custom layout that might override WP Travel Engine tabs.
    You can test this by switching to a default theme temporarily.
  3. Make sure the plugin isn’t disabled by a caching or optimization plugin. Some aggressive cache settings hide dynamic content.

Email Notifications Not Arriving #

  1. Check Spam/Junk Folder
    Sometimes email providers flag automated messages.
  2. Confirm Email Address
    Open WP Travel Engine → Reviews → Settings → Notifications and verify that the recipient email is correct.
  3. Test WordPress Email
    Try installing a plugin like WP Mail SMTP and send a test email to confirm that WordPress can send emails properly.
  4. Notification Toggle
    Ensure “Notify on New Review” is still enabled.

If you’re still not receiving notifications after these steps, it’s usually a server email configuration issue — your host can help with that.

Star Ratings Not Displaying Properly #

If stars don’t appear or look broken:

  1. Hard Refresh Your Browser
    Press Ctrl + F5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac) to reload assets.
  2. Check for JavaScript Errors
    Open your browser’s developer console (usually by pressing F12). Look for red error messages — they might point to a conflict.
  3. Plugin Conflicts
    Temporarily deactivate other plugins one by one to see if one causes the problem.
  4. Theme Conflict
    Switch to a default theme to test. If stars appear, your current theme may need a small CSS adjustment.

“Load More” Button Not Working #

This usually means a JavaScript conflict.

Fixes:

  1. Try deactivating other plugins temporarily to isolate the issue.
  2. Clear your caching plugin and browser cache.
  3. Check the browser console for errors — this can help identify the exact source.
  4. If the issue persists, contact support with the error message.

When in Doubt #

If you’ve checked everything and it still doesn’t work, gather a few details before reaching out to support. This saves time for everyone.

Include:

  • WordPress version
  • PHP version
  • Plugin version
  • Steps to reproduce the issue
  • Any error messages or screenshots

You can find most of this info under WP Travel Engine → Reviews → Support.

FAQs #

Here are the most common questions users ask about Trip Reviews for WP Travel Engine.
These cover general use, admin management, display options, and technical details.

General Questions #

Q: Is the plugin free?
Yes. This is the free version that includes all the essential features to collect and display trip reviews.
A Pro version is available if you want more control, like manual approval, admin replies, or photo uploads.

Q: Does it work with any WordPress theme?
Yes, as long as your theme is built properly and works with WP Travel Engine.
The plugin automatically hooks into the WP Travel Engine tab system, so you shouldn’t need custom coding.

Q: Can I import reviews from another plugin?
Not in the free version. Import tools are planned for the Pro version.

Q: Will it slow down my website?
No. It’s designed with performance in mind. Reviews load dynamically using AJAX, and the database queries are lightweight.
If your site already runs WP Travel Engine comfortably, this plugin will too.

Q: Is it translation-ready?
Yes. It works with translation plugins like WPML and Polylang. You can translate all front-end labels and admin settings.

Review Submission #

Q: Can non-logged-in users submit reviews?
Yes. Anyone can leave a review by entering their name and email address. Logged-in users will have their details filled in automatically.

Q: Can someone submit multiple reviews for the same trip?
No. The plugin blocks duplicate reviews from the same person for a single trip.

Q: How long does it take for a review to appear?
Immediately. In the free version, all reviews are auto-approved.

Q: Can users edit their reviews after submission?
Not in the free version. Editing and updating reviews is a Pro feature.

Admin Management #

Q: Can I reply to reviews?
Only in the Pro version. The free version doesn’t include admin responses.

Q: Can I feature or pin reviews?
You can manage reviews normally, but highlighting or pinning specific ones is available only in Pro.

Q: How do I delete spam or fake reviews?
Go to WP Travel Engine → Reviews, hover over the review, and click Delete.
For multiple entries, select them in bulk and use the “Delete” action.

Q: Can I export my reviews?
Not in the free version. The Pro version will include CSV export and import features.

Display & Customization #

Q: Can I change how many reviews appear per page?
By default, ten reviews are displayed, with a “Load More” button for the rest. This number isn’t customizable in the free version.

Q: Can I hide the review form but still show existing reviews?
Not at the moment. If you disable reviews, both the form and existing reviews are hidden.

Q: Can I show reviews on my homepage or another page?
Yes, using the shortcode [trip_review_list trip_id="123"].

Q: Can users upload photos with their reviews?
No, but the Pro version adds photo uploads, allowing customers to attach up to five images per review.

Technical Questions #

Q: What data does the plugin collect?
It stores the reviewer’s name, email, IP address, star rating, review title, and review content.
This data stays in your WordPress database — it’s not shared externally.

Q: Is it GDPR compliant?
Yes, but you should mention review data collection in your site’s privacy policy for full compliance.

Q: Does it work with page builders like Elementor or Gutenberg?
Yes. You can use any shortcode in your builder, just like a text or shortcode block.

Q: Can I change the email notification template?
Not in the free version. The Pro version adds email template customization.

Upgrading to Pro #

If you’re happy with the free version but want more flexibility, the Pro version expands everything.

Here’s what it adds.

Advanced Features #

Manual Review Moderation
You can review, approve, or reject submissions before they go live. Useful for large or public sites.

Review Images
Customers can upload photos with their reviews. Admins can moderate these images before they appear.

Voting System
Visitors can vote reviews as “Helpful” or “Not Helpful.” The most helpful ones can be sorted to the top.

User Control
Logged-in users can edit or delete their own reviews. They can also see their submission history.

Spam Protection
Includes reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, and Akismet integration to block bots and junk submissions.

Admin Tools
Admins can reply directly to reviews, feature top reviews, and filter reviews by keyword, rating, or helpful votes.

Custom Rating Categories
Add rating fields for different aspects like “Guide,” “Accommodation,” or “Transportation.”

Extra Settings

  • Terms and Conditions checkbox on the form.
  • Verified Purchase tag for real customers.
  • Priority email support.

How to Upgrade #

  1. Purchase the Pro version from the official website.
  2. Install and activate it like any other plugin.
  3. Deactivate the free version.
  4. All your data — reviews, ratings, and settings — will carry over automatically.

You won’t lose anything when upgrading. The Pro plugin simply adds more features to what’s already there.

Support & Resources #

If you run into a problem or have a question, help is available.

Getting Help #

For the Free Version:

  • Visit the WordPress.org Support Forum.
  • Read the online documentation and FAQ.
  • Check for plugin updates in your dashboard — some fixes are automatic.

For Pro Users:

  • Priority email support with faster responses.
  • Live chat for active licenses.
  • Enterprise users get phone support.

When contacting support, include helpful details like your plugin version, WordPress version, and a short description of the issue. If possible, attach screenshots showing what’s happening.

These links are all available in the WP Travel Engine → Reviews → Support page within your dashboard.

Before Contacting Support #

To make support faster and more effective, gather the following:

  • WordPress version (Dashboard → Updates)
  • PHP version (found in Reviews → Support)
  • Plugin version (on the Plugins page)
  • Clear steps to reproduce the issue
  • Any screenshots or error messages

This saves back-and-forth emails and helps the support team pinpoint the issue right away.

Appendix #

This section includes system requirements, default settings, and what happens when you uninstall the plugin.

System Requirements #

Minimum Requirements

  • WordPress 5.0 or newer
  • PHP 7.4 or newer
  • MySQL 5.6 or newer
  • WP Travel Engine is active

Recommended Setup

  • WordPress 6.0+
  • PHP 8.0+
  • MySQL 8.0+
  • HTTPS enabled
  • Caching plugin for performance

Default Settings (When First Installed) #

SettingDefault
Enable ReviewsEnabled ✅
Auto-ApproveEnabled ✅
Reviews Per Page10
Notification EmailWordPress admin email
Notify on New ReviewEnabled ✅

You can change all of these under WP Travel Engine → Reviews → Settings.

User Permissions #

Administrators

  • Manage and delete all reviews
  • Edit settings
  • Approve or unapprove reviews
  • Access all tools

Editors

  • Can’t access review management

Authors, Contributors, Subscribers

  • Can submit reviews from the front end (if logged in)

Guests (Not Logged In)

  • Can submit reviews using name and email
  • Can view all public reviews

Uninstalling the Plugin #

When you deactivate the plugin:

  • The Reviews tab disappears from trip pages.
  • The admin menu for Reviews is hidden.
  • All your review data stays safe in the database.

When you delete the plugin completely:

  • All reviews, ratings, and settings are permanently deleted.
  • Database tables and entries are removed.
  • You can’t recover this data afterward.

If you just want to pause reviews, deactivate the plugin instead of deleting it.

Safely Removing the Plugin #

If you want to temporarily disable it:

  1. Go to Plugins in your dashboard.
  2. Click Deactivate under “Trip Reviews.”
  3. Everything remains saved — reactivate anytime.

If you’re sure you want to delete everything:

  1. Deactivate the plugin.
  2. Click Delete.
  3. Confirm deletion.
  4. All data is removed from your database.

Changelog #

Version 1.0.0 (October 14, 2025)

Initial release of the free version.

Features:

  • Star rating (1–5)
  • Review submission form
  • Auto-approval system
  • Review display with “Load More”
  • Rating summary section
  • Admin review dashboard
  • Custom labels
  • Email notifications
  • SEO schema markup
  • Shortcodes for reviews and forms
  • Multilingual support

Security:

  • Input sanitization
  • Output escaping
  • SQL injection and XSS protection
  • CSRF token validation

Performance:

  • Lightweight database queries
  • AJAX-based review loading
  • Efficient rating calculations
  • Small plugin footprint (≈1MB)

Thank You #

Thanks for choosing Trip Reviews for WP Travel Engine.

This plugin was built to help travel businesses collect genuine customer feedback and display it in a clean, trustworthy way.

We hope it helps you showcase your customers’ voices and build more confidence around your trips.

If you enjoy using it, please consider leaving a review on WordPress.org — it helps others discover the plugin too.

Happy reviewing! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Plugin Version: 1.0.0
Documentation Version: 1.0.0
Last Updated: October 15, 2025
Developed by: WP Travel Kit Team

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