Finding the best deals, episode one: travel

If that’s the case, then travel fairs are next on your to-do list. But which is the right one and who offers the best deal? 

To make the right purchase, take a look at the differences between the fairs.

The first difference lies in the core content of the promotions offered at these events. During the first quarter of the year, there usually are two travel fairs held back to back. One focuses more on international travel. Exhibitors at this fair range from first-tier airlines and travel agencies to tourism organisations from countries around the world promoting attraction highlights, hence the various cultural shows featuring Korean drumming, Chinese masks or Japanese ninjas. 

The second travel exhibition focuses more on domestic travel and hotel voucher sales. This is where you can find great bargains for rooms at big and small lodgings all over the country.

The second difference between fairs is their organisers. Some fairs are organised by not-for-profit travel associations to create a marketplace for their members, who in turn pay no extras for the space, while other fairs are held by professional event organisers whose objective is to make a profit from selling floor space. 

Third, different fairs offer different promotions. Look out for the promotion campaign that best fits your budget. 

At these fairs, bargain hunters can pay anything from a few thousand baht to hundreds of thousands. Big transactions are usually paid for by credit cards – a huge opportunity for card providers to profit from fees and charges. Credit card companies see this as a golden opportunity for them to encourage their members to switch cards and make more purchases. 

The average turnover of a four-day travel fair can be as high as Bt300 million for just a single credit card operator; therefore, investing a few million baht on marketing and promotion is worth it for the card company. And that means you, the customer, can get big discounts, cash back, or bonus mileage by using a certain card. To make a deal even more attractive, a no-interest instalment payment plan is often given as an option.

In addition to exhibitors’ promotions, on-top discounts, give-aways, and lucky draws provide some of the bedrock lures. 

Finally, what makes or breaks your dream trip is the different conditions set by exhibitors, promotion campaigns and/or fair organisers. There are a couple of things fairgoers should know:

_ Reliability of exhibiting merchants is crucial. Travel agencies who are members of travel associations are definitely more trustworthy. So always ask to see their membership numbers for your reference.

_ Hot deals are sometimes too good to be true. Study carefully the terms and conditions, especially the travelling period, blackouts, and return and refund policies, before making any decisions. Otherwise you might be very disappointed later when, for example, you find out you cannot use the voucher on pre-specified dates.

So, dear bargain hunters, good hunting and good luck on your journey!

 

Janejit Ladpli is vice president, Travel and Leisure Marketing, Krungthai Card (KTC).