First step to a travel bargain

If you're going to nab the travel bargain, first you have to get on the list.

The old shotgun approach to advertising and marketing is dead. The shotgun approach was to blanket the audience with advertising (like putting an ad in 2 million newspaper copies)  and hope to "hit" 2-4% that would actually respond/buy. But now, in this Internet era, big businesses are really targeting their audience and often saving their very best deals for the folks who are already regular customers or subscribers.

So if I were to offer a very specific plan, it would be this:

Open up a generic hotmail/or similar e-mail account for your junk mail/subscriptions. Then grab a notebook and write down all your usernames, passwords or details for these specific subscriptions. Subscribing to Safeway's newsletter, Beaches Resorts etc etc all have different password formulas  - like must be 8 characters, or must contain numbers and letters. Way too confusing. And don't ever use the same password as your online banking or other secure info. Minimize your risk of getting hacked.

Then specifically choose the resorts, hotel chains, airlines and car rental agencies that you are most likely to use. Subscribing to their newsletters will show benefits right away.... some offer airmiles or similar points just for signing up.  Also "like" their facebook pages if you are on FB.  This will ensure that you are up to date on the offers.

Some offers are as good as 40% off regular rack rates at hotels, just for belonging to their President's Club or Preferred Guest Program. In addition to discounts, you can also learn a little about the products, services and activities that are offered.

It's best, truly, to have the separate e-mail set up for offers (as noted above) because if you subscribe to even 10 different sites, and you receive one e-mail a week, they can sure add up fast. Chances are you'll become frustrated with the clutter of all the e-mails amongst your important mail, so best to separate from the beginning.

Atlantis resort (Atlantis.com) and West Jet (westjet.com) have good newsletters and offers. I enjoy receiving theirs. Though sometimes it's so tempting I find myself constantly dreaming of the Bahamas!