Los Angeles Travel Shows

Last year, there was only one Travel & Adventure Show in Los Angeles. This year, the Los Angeles area gets two travel shows. The Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show will be January 14-15 at the Long Beach Convention Center, and the Los Angeles Times Travel Show will be January 28-29 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Both will have a lot of destination exhibitors, several hands-on activities on the sidelines, and speakers and panels talking about travel.

Full disclosure; I own Los Angeles Online Travel, which is a media partner with Unicomm for the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show in Long Beach. I’ll also be moderating a panel on Saturday January 14th about some of the best travel apps. I’m planning on attending both travel shows.

Here is an excerpt of a blurb from the Los Angles Travel & Adventure Show:

• Southern California’s Largest Travel Show Returns to Long Beach for 2012—The Only Place You’ll Find Over 400 Destinations, Top Speakers & Travel Experts in One Great Location. Now in its seventh year – the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show is your ticket to discover authentic travel experiences, snap up the deals, win trips and giveaways, and be entertained and delighted at this amazing travel extravaganza. You’ll hear travel tips from the experts including travel legends Andrew Zimmern, Samantha Brown, Pauline Frommer, Peter Greenberg and Patricia Schultz. Experience ziplining, dive in the scuba pool, and see cultural performances. NEW for 2012! Test your taste buds at the Culinary Stage and International Fiery Foods Challenge. Whether you want to escape to the Caribbean, discover the thrill and beauty of Costa Rica, or see America like never before you’ll meet the experts who can help you plan and book your next trip. – Bon Voyage!

Now, it’s worth noting that several of the fun activities at the Los Angeles Travel 7 Adventure Show will also be available at the LA Times Travel Show, two weeks later and in downtown Los Angeles. Different speakers of equal stature will be there (including, curiously, Arthur Frommer. Note that his daughter Pauline is coming to the Show in Long Beach).

Here is an excerpt of the Los Angeles Times Travel Show’s press release blurb:

• Exhibitors representing destinations around the globe, from the warm waters of the Caribbean to Alaska’s glaciers, will present a wide variety of options to satisfy every traveler’s palate. The Travel Show will also feature activities designed to provide a mini-vacation in the heart of downtown L.A. Attendees will have the opportunity to hop on an exhilarating zip line presented by Ecuador Ministry of Tourism, “walk on water” inside bubble rollers, climb a rock wall and glide down a rappel tower. The show’s Culinary Stage, sponsored by Tourism Ireland, will serve samples of regional and exotic cuisine. Performers representing cultures from Africa to Japan will also add to the international atmosphere and The Times’ award-winning Photo staff will be shooting exclusive souvenir photos.

Tickets for both are $10. Coupon code LACOT will bring the ticket price down to $7 at the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show this weekend, and coupon code LATPR brings the LA Times Travel Show’s admission cost down to $8. Parking costs are additional at both as well. Only the powers-that-be know the real reasons why Unicomm and the LA Times have parted company, but it certainly makes for an interesting January. Any travel fan living in Southern California should consider attending both!