Oh, I hear you loud and clear about people speaking for a place based on a mere brush with it. I'm very willing to listen to their reactions or impressions--but as their reactions and impressions, not as claims to the position of advocate for the place, or expert on the place.

It sounds from what you say as if in this case, the pluses of what the woman says and does outweighs the minuses, and I'm glad for that.