Whilst researching for my own website about Australia's Gold Coast, I discovered something really scary. No wonder people are wary about information they find on the internet.

The following is a scary tale, that could play out to become someone's disastrous holiday nightmare. However, I want to reassure readers and web surfers that there are some serious websites written by dedicated local destination content providers - but you might need to change your perceptions to actually check them out.

Above all, this story shows that size doesn't mean anything. So next time you are surfing for a travel destination, you are most likely to find some real gems and really great tips on those websites that focus on content. Websites written by locals, perhaps not the slick global websites, but packed full of real information.

Sure sometimes you have to read through a bit of waffle, but we are all capable of scanning, if we are on the internet that's what most of us do anyway.

I am confident, that this tale is not unique to the Gold Coast, I am sure you would find a similar situation occuring at any travel destination. So the adage, buyer beware certainly holds true.

Here's my travel webite horror story.

I was trying to find a good booking service for my international visitors. Somewhere they could go to get good value online prices for flights, accommodation and car hire.

I was checking out a very high profile travel website, who shall remain nameless as I don't want to get sued, but really, the facts are the facts.

First off I went to their local Australian version of their website, because I figured I would be better able to work out value for money on the flights, car hire and hotels and you would think the local version would be able to give me a better choice and quality local information

I plugged in the following information:

Leaving from Melbourne, flying to Gold Coast, a two week holiday for two adults, two children out of Australian school holiday times.

Their hotel and flights booking search engine went trundling away and came back with this..

Flights were to Coolangatta. Excellent start - the correct airport.

FYI, if you are flying in directly from overseas Brisbane is usually the airport to choose, but there are some exceptions to that.

Now on to the hotel choices - I was presented with 10 options in this order:

#1 - Hotel in the middle of Brisbane.

Approximately 105kms from Coolangatta Airport and definitely not on the Gold Coast.

#2 - Inn at Ballina, NSW.

Ballina is a regional town in Northern New South Wales. It is definitely NOT on the Gold Coast, not even by an enormous stretch of the imagination. Approximately 93kms and over an hour in a car. It is south of Byron Bay. It is on the coast, just not the Gold Coast!

#3 - Resort on the Sunshine Coast.

The Sunshine Coast is north of Brisbane and approximately 200kms from Coolangatta Airport and some 2 hrs 20 minutes by car. I wouldn't be too happy on booking that one to discover that there were two closer airports (Brisbane Airport and Maroochydore Airport). Now don't get me wrong, the Sunshine Coast is a great place for a holiday, but it is not the Gold Coast.

#4 - Vacation resort right next to Maroochydore Airport on the Sunsine Coast

See #3 for details of travel!

#5 - A Resort in Ashmore.

Finally, we have lift-off. This is actually on the Gold Coast. Not my choice for a Gold Coast holiday. This is not highlighting the best the Gold Coast has to offer here as it is actually a holiday park that has cabins not hotel rooms. It is away from the main beach strip of the Gold Coast, but not a bad location if that is what you want.

So, here we are Top 5, and only one option actually in the Gold Coast. At this point, I probably should stop, but I feel a need to continue, you'll see why.

#6 - Upmarket hotel in Brisbane.

105kms from airport, not the Gold Coast.

#7 - Bingo! A Hotel right in the heart of Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast!

#8 - Hotel in Brisbane.

#9 - Hotel in Brisbane.

#10 - Apartments in Brisbane.

To summarise, out of the top 10 options for hotels on the Gold Coast, there were only two actually on the Gold Coast. The other 8 options listed were between 100 and 200kms away from the airport and definitely NOT in the Gold Coast.

Imagine your horror if you booked a holiday to the Gold Coast only to discover you landed in Coolangatta, hired your car and then realised your accommodation was 100 to 200kms away in a completely different location. Devastating, holiday ruining stuff.

The moral of this potential holiday booking horror story?

I guess I am suggesting that you seek out real local information. Do your homework or end up in the wrong place. Just because the website is a big brand name doesn't mean they know exactly what is going on locally.

I checked out some other holiday packages on other major travel websites, and although this was the worst of the stories it was not the only horror I found.

If you are only given a choice of 4 hotels for the Gold Coast when I know there are some 600 plus accommodation options, I cannot think you are getting the best information. I know sometimes the choice can be daunting, but isn't research part of the fun of a holiday?

I know that there are many other locals like me who have put together information for travelers to their location. We are passionate about our destination. We are not all professional travel agents, and our websites don't profess to be, but they are a wealth of information.

Go on support real content on the web, support the locals NOT the globals and enjoy your trip.

And don't forget if you have a passion about a location why not discover the secrets of creating a real travel website...