Aug 28-30: NATAS Holidays 2009, Singapore largest travel fair

One thing I've learned during my brief stay in Singapore is that travel is a way of life here. Unlike Manila where discussions in the pantry revolve around the latest chismis revealed n The Buzz, Monday morning chitchat in Singapore tends to focus on where one spent the weekend. I attended a surprise birthday party last week wherein one of the guests got out of a cab lugging a suitcase, having just recharged her batteries in Bali. Aside from some good-natured ribbing on the lack of a tan, no one batted an eyelash.

When you consider that a plane ticket on Jetstar/Air Asia/Firefly could (if purchased during one of the frequent promo periods) cost less than a dinner at Clarke Quay or Dempsey Hill, does one still wonder why Changi Airport is packed during the weekends? Or why the ferries are filled with people on their way to neighboring Indonesia or Malaysia? =)

That being said, the uncertainty brought about by the financial crisis is still prevalent. Even if travel is a way of life, more and more families are looking long and hard for bargain travel destinations. It does help to know where your money will go the furthest.

Here's a bit of good news for travel-mad bargain hunters. The country's largest travel fair will be held this weekend at the Singapore Expo.

NATAS Holidays 2009

Event Date: 28 - 30 August 2009 (Fri - Sun)
Time: 10am - 9.30pm
Venue: Singapore Expo Halls 4 & 5
Admission Charges: Adult S$3.00
Children below 12yrs - FREE

Be it an adventure, an exotic getaway or a romantic sojourn, NATAS Holidays 2009 brings together expert travel specialists, tour operators and national tourist organizations to present to you popular and unique holiday experiences around the region and the world.

Especially for visitors with a passion to discover new experiences in travel, culture, adventure, shopping and culinary delights, visit Singapore Largest Travel Fair, NATAS Holidays 2009 from 28-30 August 2009 at Singapore Expo, Halls 4 & 5 to book your dream holiday!

For more information, please log on to www.natastravelfair.travel or contact the events department at events@natas.travel .

Tip: The August 27 edition of TODAY has a special supplement giving readers ideas for quick (and long) breaks such as the places less traveled in HK or the ultimate high for the fashionista with money to burn - Milan. The supplement also contains the promo offerings of the various participating travel operators. Be sure to sit down and study these before heading off to the Expo -- you don't want to make the wrong decision in the heat of the moment due to info overload. =)

Btw, if you can't get a physical copy of TODAY, the PDF version is available online at http://www.todayonline.com/PrintEdition/NF