The Internet has changed the way we travel in extraordinary ways.
For many, the Internet has become a travel agent, guide book and even the confidant we turn to for advice on where to eat and sleep. But do sites like TripAdvisor, a personal favourite traveller review site, simply offer a skewed view of hotels and restaurants based on other travellers' biases without telling the whole truth?
A recent Edmonton Journal article discusses just this. After staying at a horrid hotel travel site MrandMrsSmith.com recommended, Journal writer Eva Polis swore off travel review sites in favour of spiderwebbing, what Polis defines as a reliance on word of mouth and the advice of locals when booking your accommodation and vacation activities.
Polis turned to a friend who lived in London for advice when booking a hotel. Likewise, she turned to her daughter for tips on where to dine in jolly ol' England.
The result? Polis was pleasantly surprised by both, and even more surprised when an article mentioned actress Cate Blanchett had chosen to stay at the same hotel.
-- NICOLE FEENSTRA IS CANOE.CA'S TRAVEL EDITOR
