user_ratings_total No longer available in google places API. Alternative for getting total number of reviews?

Question

As of today (5/25/2016) there seems to no longer be data for user_ratings_total in the Google Places API. I use this to get the total number of reviews for a business. Is th

Answer 1

If you would like Google to reinstate the previously undocumented user_ratings_total result key (or something similar), then please go to: https://code.google.com/p/gmaps-api-issues/issues/detail?id=3484 and add your vote for this feature to be officially added.

This issue was "Acknowledged" by Google way back on Jun 3, 2013 and is still open as such (other similar issues like https://code.google.com/p/gmaps-api-issues/issues/detail?id=9824 have been "closed" with status like "WorkingAsIntended").

Hopefully if we get enough up votes then maybe they will see the need and put it back in and make it official (as opposed to undocumented).

(Unfortunately I couldn't post this as a Comment as I just registered; so I'm going to post it as an Answer and hope it is okay.)