What seems like a long time ago - when people wanted to go on vacation or business trip, have a special-occasion dinner, or sought-out a top-tier culinary experience - they called their travel agent and asked for suggestions, ideas, and recommendations. A conversation might go something like this:

"But, Betsy, have you been there?"

"No, but Brad in our office heard from a client that it was super, really luxurious."

And so the booking would be made, usually based on a color brochure, the travel agent's recommendation, or the suggestion of someone who had actually visited a location. Bookings were often made thanks to word of mouth: A traveler had to trust someone's perception of elegance, luxury, comfort, or even location. Sometimes you put your faith in a guide book or a rating service: You read the Zagat's guides or browsed the Michelin guide and studied the Mobile or American Automobile Association ratings. Other times you might have read a copy of Conde Nast Traveler and scanned their Gold List in your dentist's waiting room.

The rules have changed: Today's traveler is well armed and dangerous! Observe the myriad sources of information and the avalanche of available details to which today's consumer are privy ...