Google Reviews: A Practical Guide
Before booking a holiday rental in the Algarve, most travellers check the establishment's Google profile, often before even comparing listings on Airbnb or Booking.com. A steady flow of recent, genuine reviews influences both local search visibility and the traveller's decision. The difficulty is that, in April 2026, Google significantly tightened the rules governing review requests. Practices that had previously been tolerated — targeting satisfied guests, asking them to mention a name, or offering a commercial benefit — are now expressly prohibited, with automated penalties.
What changed in April 2026
Two updates were introduced in quick succession: on 16 April, AI-assisted moderation and proactive alerts for business profile owners; and on 17 April, explicit new restrictions in the review manipulation policy.
The following are now prohibited: quotas imposed on a team to generate a specific number of reviews; directed content; selecting guests through “review gating”; putting pressure on guests during their stay; and rewarding a review with a discount, gift or service.
Allowed or prohibited at a glance
- Send the same neutral link or QR code to every traveller without exception: Allowed
- Reply to every review, whether positive or negative: Allowed
- Ask for an honest review without directing its content: Allowed
- Send the request only to guests who appear satisfied: Prohibited
- Offer a discount, late check-out or gift in exchange for a review: Prohibited
- Ask guests to mention a person's name or use specific wording: Prohibited
- Insist or request the review while the traveller is still staying at the property: Prohibited
The method that still works
1. Wait for the right moment — the day after departure rather than during the stay, to avoid putting pressure on the guest. 2. Send the same message to everyone — use the same short thank-you message with the link or QR code, regardless of how the stay went. 3. Keep the wording neutral — “An honest review of your stay helps us greatly” is suitable; asking for a specific detail or name is not. 4. Follow up only once — one discreet reminder one or two weeks later remains acceptable; beyond that, it becomes pressure. 5. Reply to every published review — a calm response to a negative review reassures future travellers, and Google values active profiles in local rankings.
Create your review link or QR code
Open your Google Business Profile in a browser — rather than the mobile app if you need the QR code — go to “Reviews”, then “Get more reviews”, copy the direct link or download the QR code, and add it to a post-stay message, an automated email or a discreet card in the property.
A link or QR code generated this way is neutral by design, with no filtering or suggested content — exactly what the 2026 policy allows.
Rules checked against Google's documentation and analyses of the April 2026 update. Review policies change regularly, so an occasional check of the Google Help Centre remains the best way to stay compliant.