With travel, expenses, set up, union fees, and shipping, destinations are already spending close to $5000 a booth to be there.

Renting Javits Center is insanely expensive.

Bitch at the company putting on the show, not the exhibitors.

GoTravel, I agree that trade show expenses are crazy (I've exhibited at some) so that maybe my "annoyance" is a bit misdirected. And yes, the company running the show is certainly making money (based in part on the number of attendees, so you'd think it would be in their interest to have more people come)
Still, from a consumer's point of view, some people (myself included) balk at the idea of paying to enter a place to have the opportunity to pay for additional services. I also understand that this show does also offers some seminars and exhibitions, not just 'booths', so that may be worth the price of admission.
At any rate, my friends and I would prefer not to pay $15 a head, so if anyone has any other suggestions, they would be appreciated.
And I'm still curious if anyone has attended it before, and thinks it's a fun way to spend the afternoon.
Thanks

As far as I've seen, the $5 AmEx discount is the best out there. I'm surprised the entrance fee is this low, actually. A lot of other Javits Center shows are much more expensive.

In reality your final cost will be $13
as a $3 service charge is tacked on
to the $10 price.
Have you seen last wk's pull-out
section? Free seminars by Pauline
& Arthur Frommer, Rick Steves, Mark
Tennant, etc. if that is of interest. Or, maybe you can win one of the exhibitors trips.

Are you a frequent flyer or frequent stay member with a lot of miles or points?

If so call who you have the most pull and ask them if they have any free passes.

Rhea58, Yes I did see the program in the Times last weekend, and it does look like some interesting programs are being held.
Thanks all for your suggestions

I am attending (for free) -- I contacted an operator, with whom I booked a prior trip, and they sent me a ticket. Do you have past experience with any of the exhibitors?

what day is the prize giveaways?

As a update (as long as someone else topped this)I managed to go last year and got free admission as a New York Times home delivery subscriber. No such offer this year.

ICruiseALot, what kinds of prizes are you thinking of? Many booths have raffle type drawings where they take your information and get back to the winner after the show. Some have smaller on site raffles each day (or several times a day) but for those you usually get a ticket and have to come back at a certain time later that day (on each of the days of the public show) The space is so huge and crowded that sometimes that's not easy.

There are lots of trinket giveaways each day at many of the booths--luggage tags, pens, that sort of thing.

I've gone for the travel lectures (which IMO were so-so and covered lots of obvious information for example how to find discounted hotels)and to scope out places for new regions to visit.

I wouldn't pay to go to the show at this point.

While the show is this weekend, note that it was originally posted five years ago!