No soup for you? How to get those 'forbidden' travel offers

December 2, 4:49 PMBest Value Travel ExaminerDT Regula

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Best Value Travel Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

I've got to admit it, I was genuinely excited. This great offer on travel to Ireland landed in my e-mailbox and I was immediately posting it to share with all of you. Then I realized - hm, there's a promotional code. A personal promotional code, with detailed caveats on how it could only be used once and could never be reissued.  So I contacted both the airline and the Irish Tourism board to ask if there was a public form of the code I could share.  Nope, sorry. You'd have to be subscribed to the e-mail newsletter.

This got me to thinking. If you're willing to trade off a bit more mail in your emailbox and a half-hour of your time, you may be able to save big on a trip. Here's how:

• Decide where in the world you would like to go.
• Identify several possible "tourism" bureaus in that region. These are usually at least three-fold - at least one  national country-based bureau, a state or regional office, and then any larger town or city within that region will also have their own promotion office. Sometimes, if an area is also known for a specific activity or product, there will be a governing body that is also promoting specialty travel to the region - the Winemakers  Association or the Resort Operators Guild.
• Generally, these will all have a way for you to sign up and join their email lists. Do so.
• Do the same for any airline serving the region. Don't skip the little ones - they may offer the best deals. Sign up for their frequent-flier programs.

You're now in a perfect position to receive those special, limited offers. And, as a bonus, you'll receive loads of local information which will enhance your travels. Not to mention some delightful interruptions to your workday as another email comes in filled with pictures and descriptions of your desired paradise!

And if Ireland is that paradise for you, here's where you can sign up for their ezine and special offers and see some deals on flights and sightseeing passes from American Airlines