| I'm often asked how I find my 'exotic' places for | | | | Australia a couple of years ago that I doubt I will ever |
| vacations. It's actually pretty simple. | | | | see offered again. |
| You can do it, too. | | | | As you scan look for key words to catch your |
| Basically, I stumble upon them. That's my secret. | | | | attention. Words like 'special,' 'deal,' 'limited time' or 'book |
| The real key however, is that I always have my | | | | until' will make you stop scanning and read. |
| antennas up. I look, I read, I surf, I listen. Then most of | | | | If you do this for a few weeks you'll be amazed at |
| the time, something just clicks and things fall into place. | | | | what you start to notice. Queuing up your brain to |
| There's no requirement for in-depth study. The trick is | | | | recognize deals and destinations comes with this |
| in keeping up the antenna. | | | | simple scanning of these pages each week. |
| First, look at the Sunday paper Travel section or | | | | Another great source of information is your favorite |
| supplement. This section is always chocked full of | | | | magazines. As you flip through pages look for ad |
| destinations, travel specials, deals and tips. Make | | | | campaigns. Cities engage in tourist campaigns. Regions |
| yourself a nice cup of coffee or tea, sit in a quiet spot | | | | engage in tourist campaigns. Entire countries engage in |
| and scan the paper. Yes, just scan it. | | | | tourist campaigns. Scan the pages for those glossy, |
| Pay particular attention to the tiny classified ads that | | | | colorful ads and just note what they are touting. Some |
| pepper the edges of the pages. These are usually low | | | | campaigns I noticed myself this week are Napa Wine |
| overhead, low cost tour agencies or consolidators that | | | | Country Fall Tours, Canadian Cities Weekend |
| have great offerings major agencies do not. Most of | | | | Getaways, Discover Thailand, and San Diego Tourism. |
| them focus on specialty niches such as Scandinavia or | | | | Another resource is your radio. What do you hear on |
| South America. Most will also have website to poke | | | | the radio? Is your favorite station giving away |
| around and all will have a telephone number for you to | | | | Hawaiian getaways? Are they handing out airplane |
| call if you want to talk to anyone. Best yet, most of | | | | tickets to caller number 100? Where are they heading? |
| them will list destinations you never even thought of . . . | | | | Are you filing them away in the back closet of your |
| how do you think I decided to go to Rarotonga and | | | | mind? Anything can be a source of quick information. |
| found a great airfare deal to get there? | | | | And, its fun to do! |
| The big full page ads are worth a scan, too. While | | | | So now that you are accumulating a library card index |
| most of them are placed by airlines or top travel | | | | in your brain of destinations, prices and specials, what |
| agencies, take the time to look at them. I rarely book | | | | do you do with it? |
| travel this way but every now and then the offer is | | | | You either play it safe or take a risk. |
| too good to pass up. I got a United Airlines package to | | | | |