6 Ways to Book Event Tickets For Your Vacation

Recently, I booked event tickets prior to going on vacation to New York. I’m a Brit, and I wanted to book NBA tickets to see the New York Knicks.

But booking my ticket was not an easy, straightforward process. In fact, I nearly missed out on booking completely, due to my inability to decide where to buy the tickets. I was just inundated with options.

I travel frequently, and this ordeal happens far too often. It made me question how often this happens to other travelers.

So, keeping this article short and sweet, I’m going to tell you how to find the best event tickets whilst on vacation. My aim is the following:

👍 I want to save you from spending hours browsing ticket websites
👍 I want to make sure you save as much money as possible
👍 I’d also like to ensure you’re not scammed – there are a lot of ticket resellers out there…

By the end of this post, you’ll have a better idea about how to purchase event tickets on vacation or before you travel.

Visit an Event Ticketing Website

As we all know, there are also websites that sell tickets to a variety of events. Often, the costs of these tickets will be lower than if you purchase from the event organizer directly.

The advantage of websites like Hellotickets (the site I used to purchase my New York Knicks tickets) is that you can compare tickets from all across the world to find the best deal for you.

Although you should be wary of online ticketing websites, many are reliable and trustworthy. Just be sure to do your research before buying; read reviews and check the money-back guarantee.

Buy at the Event or Visit Online Forums

Depending on the type of event, tickets are sometimes available at the door of the venue. However, if you’re visiting a sports match or music gig whilst on vacation then this is a risky strategy.

On the Internet, you’ll find a lot of forums relating to your event. Searching for tickets online is a common question, so you won’t have a hard time finding a thread about it.

This way, you can skip the wait and skip straight ahead to purchase! Maybe someone who’s been there will have some spare tickets that they’d want to get rid of. You never know.

Buy from a Scalper

Ticket scalpers are people who buy tickets just for the sake of making money when the event is sold out. They sell tickets for a higher price than the event organizer.

The downside to purchasing event tickets in this way is that you don’t know how many tickets they have. Furthermore, some will only sell one or two at a time.

It’s not uncommon for scalpers to approach tourists in the street asking if they want to buy their tickets.

They may be pushy, so if you’re not interested just keep saying no and walk away.

You can also try to ask if they have an extra ticket or two but you’ll probably encounter the same pushiness. So, be sure to keep some cash on hand for this!

The pros of buying tickets from a scalper

👍 You’ll get a ticket when the organizer has sold out
👍 You’re able to purchase last minute
👍 You don’t need to buy before you go on vacation

The cons of buying tickets from a scalper

👎 They may be overpriced or reselling at extortionate prices.
👎 It’s illegal in some countries to buy event tickets from scalpers so you risk getting fined by the police and thrown into jail!

Check If Mobile Apps Have Tickets To The Event

Mobile apps are an incredible technological advancement. There are a lot of event-related apps with the sole purpose of helping you buy your ticket.

You can find out if any such app exists for the event you’re going to and download it before going on vacation. This may even save you a lot of time in the future.

Just be sure to check the event website as well, because not all events have their own app.

Contact The Event Promoters

In this day and age, any reputable event has its own dedicated website from which to buy your tickets. So, always check the event’s website directly to see if buying your ticket online is an option. This is often the last resort, but there’s a chance that you can get in touch with the event promoters and ask if they still have any tickets available.

They may not, but it’s worth a shot. Who knows? Maybe you’re the only person they hadn’t yet sold tickets to. And, if you can convince them of that, you might just get lucky.

If you’re dealing with event organizers directly, be sure to ask them the following questions:

❇️ How many tickets are left?
❇️ When can I pick up my ticket?
❇️ What is your refund policy if something goes wrong? (e.g. event canceled)

Buy from A Friend

If all else fails – and I hope it won’t – ask someone you know if they can and would like to go with you.

If this person is a friend (and hopefully more than just a friend then they shouldn’t mind! You can even split the cost of the ticket. This just might be the easiest option yet, but it’s also likely to be one of the most expensive ones.

There are many ways to find tickets for an event when you’re traveling abroad. So, you shouldn’t have a problem getting your hands on one if you want to.

Just remember the golden rule of buying tickets for events, which is to have a plan B just in case.

Summary: Booking Event Tickets Whilst on Vacation

Event tickets can be easily bought while on vacation, depending on the event. The best ways to buy tickets are through online forums, scalpers, or mobile apps.

If all else fails, try contacting the event promoters directly.

I hope this post has provided a little insight regarding purchasing event tickets whilst on vacation.

With so much choice online, the event ticket buying process can be daunting. But it doesn’t have to be.

There are many ways to buy tickets, depending on the event and your location. Just be sure to spend some time researching the event and the different ways you can purchase tickets so that you’re well-prepared come event day!