Travel expo 101: Tips on finding good deals at the PHL’s biggest travel sale

It's that time of the year again where we max out our cards, empty out our savings, and troop to the SMX Convention Center to comb 800 booths for the best travel deals.

 

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) will be holding the ‘’Travel Tour Expo 2015’’ over the weekend in Pasay City, and they have offered us some valuable tips as to how to conquer the 16,230 square-meter exhibition space:

 

1. Come early. As with any valuable offering, deals at the travel expo are available only until supplies last. Shrug off the lazy vibes and troop to the venue early to avoid long lines. In some popular booths, one might need to line up for hours, so being at the event early means catching the best deals, as these usually are on a first-come-first-booked basis. 

 

2. Bring a photo/photocopy of your passport to facilitate booking. In some instances, airlines and travel agencies ask for passport details to secure a booking. Don't lose a good deal just because you left your passport details at home. A photo/photocopy/scanned soft copy should come handy in these situations.

 

3. Be organized. Do your research and identify where you want to go and which deals you might want to comb through. The Expo has 288 exhibitors spread through more than 16 thousand square meters of space. Take note of where your "targets" are on the map to know where and which one you want to go to first. Take note of good deals that you see along the way and take the time to compare and contrast offerings.

 

4. Come with family and friends. Bring people and delegate areas to them so you can attack more "targets" at once. The lines can be long and the crowd may grow impatient. Having one person at each location may help you have first dibs for the most sought-after deals.

 

5. Ask about special deals with your credit card. Most credit card companies are offering special deals and discounts for the event. Go to your credit card's website or social media page to check. Comb your phone's inbox for text alerts, too.

 

6. Write down the routes and travel dates you want to book. Confer with friends and family as to what your common dates are. Travelers need not book on holidays alone, as airlines may not even offer such deals on those days. Agreeing on the common days will save you time in confirming bookings while you're at the counter.

 

Entrance to the exhibit costs P60 for regular patrons and P30 for senior citizens. — Renee Fopalan/VC, GMA News