Making the most of travel expos

When the 26th Travel Tour Expo opens this weekend at SMX Convention Center Manila, expect thousands of visitors, exhibitors, VIPs and industry stakeholders to gather for the annual three-day event touted as the biggest travel event and trade fair in the first quarter of the year.

The expo gathers trusted names in the travel and leisure sector, with each offering great bargains and super deals on the most preferred local and global destinations. Massive crowds are bound to flock the expo, jockeying in search of sales and discounts offered by local and international airlines, top hotels and resorts, theme parks and cruise companies, as well as retailers and global service providers.

While it is exciting, travel trade shows like this can also be overwhelming as hundreds of booths are dispersed within the sprawling 16,230 square meters of exhibition space. To make the most out of the travel expo experience, here are some tips and tricks.

Come early

Deals offered during the travel expo are a limited resource; they are only available until supplies last. The best way to beat the lines is to arrive early. Gates officially open at 9 a.m. but lines may form outside the venue as early as an hour or two in advance. The earlier you arrive, the better the chance of bagging that travel deal, as most are offered on a first-come-first-book basis.

Plan ahead

Grab a copy of the exhibit map and use a pen to mark the locations of the booths you are interested in. Take a quick look and identify which areas would you want go first or which booths to prioritize. Make a note of interesting bargains as you go along and compare later.

Zero in in your target destination

The hundreds of vendors and exhibitors in attendance can easily overcome you. Narrow down your field of interest to a handful of destinations. For example, create a bucket list of the top five places you want to go to and focus your effort on the vendors that cater to those spots.

Check your credit card

Check out the website and social media page of your credit card company or give their customer service hotline a quick call, as most credit card companies offer special deals and discounts that are only available during the travel expo.

Bring a copy of your passport

Some airlines and travel agencies may require passport details to secure a booking. Nothing is more painful than losing a good deal just because you left a copy of your travel documents at home. Don’t forget to bring a photo/ photocopy/scanned soft copy of your passport.

Divide and conquer

Bring friends and family along and divide tasks accordingly. Beat long lines and massive crowds by delegating responsibilities to different members of the group so that each may seal the deal. Dad may take charge of booking airline tickets while mom looks for hotel accommodations and kids search tour packages.

Wear comfy clothes

Dealing with long lines, limited times and huge crowds can be daunting, even for the most seasoned bargain hunter. Having comfortable clothes and a sturdy pair of shoes will help in braving the lines and running your way to the cash registers. And also, bring your trusty water bottle to keep you well hydrated all throughout the day.