Jim Eagles: One-stop spots to shop

So many fantastic places out there to visit. So many good deals on offer. So many travel brochures to leaf through or websites to visit. How does a traveller with limited time and finite funds make a choice?

A good start might be to attend one of the two big travel expos in Auckland next month:

* House of Travel's Travel Expo at the Ellerslie Racecourse Convention Centre 9am-5pm on Saturday February 11.

* Flight Centre's Travel Expo at the Auckland Showgrounds 9am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday February 11 and 12.

Admission to both is free and you'll find a huge array of national tourism boards, airlines, hotels, tour operators, car hire firms, coachlines and cruising companies promoting their wares, as well as travel agents keen to share their knowledge.

There will also be lots of expo special offers and prizes, advice on itinerary planning and using the internet, and expert guidance on ancillary topics such as insurance and foreign exchange.

Both companies reckon their expos are the biggest - with Flight Centre claiming nearly 100 exhibitors and House of Travel more than 100 stalls - but both offer a great opportunity to see a whole lot of travel information under the one roof.

Flight Centre, for instance, boasts of having attracted a record 18 tourism boards including those from Cook Islands, Dubai, Fiji, Hawaii, Korea, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Northern Territory, Samoa, Singapore, South Australia, Tahiti, Tonga, Australia, Ireland, Vanuatu and Britain.

House of Travel will have presentations during the day on every part of the world: 9.30am Australia, 10 cruising, 10.30 UK and Europe, 11 Asia, 11.30 Africa, noon Canada and Alaska, 12.30pm South Pacific, 1.30 USA, 2 Australia, 2.30 cruising, 3 UK and Europe, 3.30 Asia and 4 South America.

With more and more New Zealanders taking holidays overseas it's hardly surprising that travel expos are getting increasingly popular as people take the chance to check out what is on offer.

Flight Centre says the expos it held around the country last year were attended by more than 20,000 people who booked more than 6000 trips, and it is expecting to do even better this time.

House of Travel says last year's Auckland Expo alone attracted 8000 people and attendances at the present series of expos round the country are running at record levels with bookings up by 50 per cent.

Both companies agree that the big benefit of attending an expo is the opportunity to find all the areas of expertise you might want, and more than can be offered by any single travel agency, under the one roof.

"It's a great way for those thinking about a trip to seek all the advice, information and quotes they could want," says Flight Centre general manager Jeremy van de Klundert.

"You can actually meet representatives of airlines and land operators and discuss your plans with them in detail and get advice at firsthand."

But, with so much information on offer, how do you make the most of the opportunity?

House of Travel's expo co-ordinator, Peter Wallington (who also operates House of Travel shops in Ellerslie and Onehunga) has been involved with many such events and has a few tips to offer.

Before you go, he says, "have a think about what type of holiday you are looking for. This will give you a clear idea of what stalls you need to visit, what people you need to talk to and what brochures you need.

"You may wish to note down specific questions you need answers to so you don't leave the expo without the information you need."

Wallington says people should allow plenty of time to get around the displays and suggests it's worth thinking about going early because things get busier as the day advances.

He also recommends wearing walking shoes "because the venue is large and you will be on your feet for a reasonable period", and taking your full passport details with you, including the often forgotten expiry date, "in case you want to make bookings on the day".

When you get to the expo site, Wallington says, it's wise to take time to plan which stalls and which presentations you particularly want to see so you make the most of the opportunities.

Though it's worth having a good look round at everything, he advises "don't bombard yourself with too many brochures to take home because that will only confuse things. Stick to your priorities."

It's also a good idea to take a break at some stage - a coffee at the expo cafe or a walk outside - to "recharge your batteries and and review the information collected".

Finally, Wallington says travellers should be prepared to take advantage of the "genuine special offers available on the day", most of which will be secured by paying a deposit, so you'll need a credit card.

But, he adds, if you do put down money on a trip it's sensible to take out insurance to cover yourself against loss of deposit if things don't work out.

* If you can't get to the Auckland Travel Expos there will be other opportunities.

Flight Centre's Travel Expo 2006 will move from Auckland to the Queens Wharf Events Centre in Wellington on Sunday February 19 and the Christchurch Convention Centre on Sunday February 26.

House of Travel has already held most of the expos in the present round but it does have the Big World Expo in Whangarei on Saturday February 25.