There has been much debate lately about the value of the much-heralded user-generated content model. Could people really be abusing it? Are hotel owners actually touting their own places, or worse yet, bashing their competition? Of course they are! This is a free, unpoliced advertising media that has a tremendous impact on public opinion; they would be negligent not to take advantage of it. Granted it's a great business model: have the public write your content for free and then make money off them by bombarding them with advertisements, but where is the value for the traveler?

The guidebooks, who supported the independent travel community like a crutch, should have been the ones leading the online travel revolution. But they were slow to adopt, afraid of giving up their cherished, yet outdated guidebook sales, and missed the boat. A new model is emerging, which goes back to the guidebook framework, but provides the online flexibility of updated content with trusted, editorialized recommendations. On The Road Travel (www.ontheroadtravel.com) provides recommendations and advice from local experts in Latin America, for independent travelers who have left their backpacker days behind; Travelfish is a website for backpackers to Cambodia, Laos, Thailand & Vietnam; Suzannes Files connects you with trusted advice for high-end hotel, spas and tour recommendations around the world.

Posted By Jen on April 16, 2007, 11:26 AM

Sure, I'll still use guidebooks, but I don't expect them to be infallible and I recognize that I may end up at some place with a bunch of other tourists toting the same guidebook. That happens all the time in Europe with the Rick Steves books, for example.

I use them as a jumping-off point, then supplement with updated trusted-site Internet info before I go.

Travel magazines and guidebooks need to have a VERY robust online presence, and sooner rather than later....no kidding -- why else did BT start this blog? :)

Posted By Sheila at Family Travel on April 17, 2007, 10:39 AM

For me it comes down to this one question: how long did the writer spend on research? For all the complaints about guidebooks, they are still the most through and easy-to-navigate resource out there. A typical guidebook writer will spend six or eight months researching a destination. For a website, or a user-generated review? Who knows, but almost surely nothing close to that, even if you add hundreds of little pieces together. Plus let's face it, trying to plan a trip based on what's on the web alone is still a pain in the rear.

Posted By Timothy on April 17, 2007, 10:45 PM

It needn't be an either or option. Guidebooks have their uses -- propping open bungalow doors, ammunition for throwing at errant rats chewing through your backpack or even for the odd snippet of useful travel advice. Sure they're out of date -- but so is pretty much anything that's printed on paper. People need to get over this issue -- one of the whole points of travelling is figuring things out for yourself. The bus station has moved -- hey ask somebody where the new one is!

Then there's the vox pop sites like TA -- hardly a substitute -- voice of authority abandoned for the shrill rants of the hard-done-by, masked PR by slimy hoteliers and the occasional earnest real live traveller -- but there's a lack of context and no voice of reason.

Then there's sites like mine (www.travelfish.org) and others (www.turkeytravelplanner.com, www.europeforvisitors.com, www.ontheroadtravel.com and www.brazilmax.com to name a few of the standouts) that are not only written by professionals who know what they're talking about but are also overflowing with cold hard facts that any potential traveller will find invaluable. Some allow limited user contributions, others don't. However they all have an underlying voice -- a voice that knows what they're talking about. These sites won't (yet) replace your Lonely Planet or your Rough Guide but they're invaluable nevertheless -- even if you can't throw then at rats.

Posted By Stuart at Travelfish on April 19, 2007, 2:49 AM