I recently stumbled across something interesting in my quest for cheaper airfares, hotel rooms, and even just updated travel information. And it all comes back to the conspiracy theory that is cookies...
When you log onto just about any site, that company stores a cookie in your computer. This can be a good thing so it remembers who you are, what you're doing there, gives you faster access, information, allows you to track customers if you have a web store of your own -- the list goes on. But did you know it can also hinder your ability to find those last minute deals on hotels and killer airfare?
If you're planning a trip to Jamaica and have already been lurking on Orbitz, Expedia, and Sherman's Travel, chances are those sites stored a cookie on your computer. So it already knows what airfare you've looked at. What happens if you go back a few days later? Chances are it's going to show you the same kind of deal or airfare you looked at days ago and not show you the latest fare that just came in. This can work to their advantage by dumping some of their 'inventory' so to speak. Other times it might actually help you by showing you some amazing deal you already saw and want to jump on. Either way, it's worth the gamble to see the latest and greatest wherever your browser lands. And there's an easy way to do this. Simply go to your preferences in your browser and delete your cookies, or just the ones that are nesting there via a travel search engine.
And this same rule of thought can also go with discounts on all kinds of web retail, too. Cookies can be our friends, but they can also cause us to pay too much for a trip to Jamaica. And that kind of blows.
Just a heads up, I'm in Hotlanta for the rest of the week visiting with family before I take off for Cleveland. A day in the life of an innovative traveler just never dies. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the blog and what you'd like to hear about. Or write about, I welcome posts as long as they're innovative and give back to the traveling community.
Cheers!
The Cookie Phenomenon and Cheaper Airfare
Bonjour to Belinis...
I went to a Quebec press luncheon today to learn all about their tourism industry. Since I was officially there to represent a family travel site I write for, I stayed clear of the casino press table and made nice with the Jazz festival and Just for Laughs table. While parents are getting down listening to jazz or the comedy show, there's apparently plenty of stuff to keep kids busy. I like the sort of events that keep in min that most of the population has off-spring and doesn't want to just stop traveling until their tykes turn 18.
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I'm always surprised (and at the same time embarrassed) when the French speaking Quebecians speak to me in flawless, Midwestern style English. I'm always tempted to ask if they're American, but somehow I know better -- and that they would surely be mortified to think that I thought they were American. It's also hard not to accept the endless amount of Bellini's, puff pastries, food, chocolate covered strawberries, wine, etc, etc, that are put into your hand at these sort of events. It's my opinion press trips and press events are designed to put its attendees in the best mood (and preferably intoxicated) mood as possible.
I'm also surprised more of my colleagues and friends don't utilize the proximity of New York to Canada as a viable vacation destination. True, those Canucks just recently passed our measly dollar (gone are the days when you could delight in a $.40 dollar over there), but the currency rate is close. Certainly a lot closer than the annoyingly all-mighty Pound. But when you live in New York, prices in most other cities like San Francisco, LA, Chicago, Atlanta and Montreal seem the same if not somewhat of a bargain. I can usually judge a destination on if it has "Manhattan" prices or "Brooklyn" prices. As a guide, Manhattan prices are $2 for a bottle of water and Brooklyn is $1.50 or under.
But this innovative post isn't so much about all the glory that is Canada and Montreal (which I absolutely adore and will not be able to stop posting about anytime soon), but about being part of the press. I'm not going to lie and say throw up a blog and insist that you're press and get invited to stuff and free trips. You need to be a part of some kind of publication that people read regularly and has some kind of reputation and stats. But the site I freelance for isn't exactly Parents Magazine or The New York Times. We're sizable, sure, but even small publications get noticed.
I knew a kid in college who worked for our student paper (the Yale Daily News we certainly were not) and got into all sorts of sold-out concerts and sporting events. And he didn't lie about it, he told them exactly where he was from. But the thing about entertainment, media, tourism and the likes is that they need small publications to cover their bases and earn unique street cred. While it's worthwhile for Columbus, OH to get written up in the LA Times as a family destination, at the end of the day a small press from Indiana that writes a feature on it is going to get read by people who will actually get in their cars and check it out.
So the trick is to develop some kind of angle. Start with your local newspaper. Instead of demanding that they send you to New York, Montreal and beyond, tell them where you're already going. Got a trip planned to London? Write your paper and pitch them an angle. Pay attention to what they like to publish. Art, family, community, education, avant-garde? Then pitch all the surrounding publications, websites, etc within your reach. Google "travel pitch letters" to get an idea of what they should say and work hard to perfect it. Once they agree to give you a shot, casually ask if they're able to provide any press passes in the area you'll be visiting. Some people may look at you blankly, roll their eyes, or tell you that you're on your own. That's okay. But others might get on the horn and call up the tourism board of where you're going and negotiate a city pass or discounted hotel room. You have to start thinking like a journalist to feel like one. And once you start feeling like one, then you're more apt to seek out more than just the cookie-cutter fare listed on (insert airline carrier here).
Surf the Polyester Cushion Wave
Anyone who's an innovative traveler probably knows all about the new (at least in the mainstream) phenomenon called couch surfing. It all boils down to this: Need a free place to crash coast to coast or sea to sea? How about a stranger's couch?
It's just about that simple, though CouchSurfing.com boasts a delicate philosophy: "CouchSurfing seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance, and facilitate cultural understanding." And there is some truth that when you open your door to a stranger who shares the same love of travel, cultural understanding, and trust as you do -- well, you're sure to get all zen-like at the thought of creating a warm, fuzzy world.
The logistics of it may seem little different and less fuzzy though. Once you create a profile at CouchSurfing.com, you can then join some discussion groups and start searching for couches to crash on. So if you're going to Europe for a few weeks, you can search for couches in the cities you're visiting and wait for offers. Supposedly you'll get many offers and you can then match up your interest and general personality with that of your potential hosts. From there it's up to you. Maybe you'll end up touring the latest museum exhibits, hand in hand, or maybe you'll flee in the middle of the night.
But CouchSurfing.com has an innovative system for what they call vouching. "Every user is linked to the other users he or she knows in the system through a network of references and friend links. In addition to the solid network with friend link-strength indicators and testimonials, we have our vouching and verification systems. Some of these are new technologies invented by the CouchSurfing founders. Not just anyone is a vouched for member. Members can only become vouched for by an already vouched for CouchSurfing.com member. Essentially, it's a trust circle."
But don't worry -- anyone can join and surf the community of couches. They love it when people get involved and become part of the couch community phenomenon. But what do couch surfing hosts get out of it? They're generally not paid (though it's expected their visitors will contribute whether in ways of cleaning up or pitching in for groceries or treating them for dinner). But if they're hosting, then they're getting vouched and have a wider network to couch surf themselves. It's full circle!
So CouchSurfing.com does have safety in mind and considering this whole business on vouching through an internationally based community website is surely not an easy feat, it's impressive they have a system at all. There's even vouching going on in Antarctica, so pack your parka and head North. Unless you're reading this from Antarctica, then in that case head South. Just not to my couch.
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