Job Discussion Forums

[kev7161]

We will each pay 3950rmb (+ 200 for "tips" to tour guides or bus drivers or ???). That will include airfare to all countries, "3-star" hotels, 3 meals a day (although I'm guessing these won't be of quality fare), and several tours which we may or may not join with. Yes, my friend needs visas for Thailand and Malaysia, I think. I need to get a re-entry visa for China.

I believe almost all travel agencies have tour groups like this, you just need to inquire. We stressed that, although we are not Chinese, we live and work in China and earn Chinese money, but the travel agency said it was not their doing, rather the touring company over in Thailand and such. Whatever - it's discrimination, but it's still cheaper in the long run than doing all this ourselves. The tour is for 10 days.

[amandabarrick]

Most Chinese airlines do charge foreigners more than they charge Chinese for tickets. In case you havn't already figured this out, most everything will cost more if you are a foreigner rather than a native, simply because they think you have more money, are willing to pay the price they tell you, and are used to higher prices for things, etc... Try shopping with a native, and you will see how much cheaper everything is for them. I believe some but not all airlines do the same. To use a good rule of them when bargaining or shopping for goods, perhaps including airline tickets, offer them half of what they say the price is.
AB

[KES]

You can book a flight on a domestic air carrier in Beijing, Air China for example and get the standard rate. I recently did (Thanks CJ750).

Although a Chinese national actually made the call, it was obvious, given the names and passport information, that the booking was for a Foreigner.

However, when the tickets were to be picked up and paid for at the LOCAL travel agent (distant from Beijing) office, the agent said the price was a mistake and another 200RMB per ticket was needed.

When relayed the message, I responded that I wasn't at all interested in the tickets unless they were at the price quoted. The agent said that maybe there was another mistake, it would be necessary to call the airline. 10 minutes pass. So sorry, you can have them at the original price quoted by the airline.

That was my experience, naturally, your milage may vary.

[ContemporaryDog]

I still say Kev is making a huge mistake going with the tour. China is the sort of place you want to stop and linger in, not stop for 2 hours taking pictures of cheesy people doing V signs before getting back on the bus and going to your next port-of-posing.

[7969]

well i'm in the process of buying an air ticket from shanghai to bangkok and back for about 2700RMB tax included. i'm going to ask a chinese colleague to email the same agency and see if he gets the same price for the same ticket.

kev, your tour seems to be ok for the price. however, i would avoid going on any tour with your new travel mates. they'lll rush around so fast taking happy snaps you won't enjoy anything. i've seen the tour groups in action in several places already.... too fast paced for real enjoyment....

[kev7161]

OMG! I've said this about a dozen times over in the thread where I started talking about this: We are not planning on actually going on the tours. We will feign tiredness, illness, or "stupid foreigner" if we have to. We just took this tour so we could get cheaper flights and hotel rooms. If something sounds interesting during our trip, we'll tag along. Otherwise we're doing out own thing. Our Chinese guide will probably be relieved not to have to deal with two complaining foreigners!

[7969]

in that case, you could have booked with air asia for a roundtrip ticket to bkk for about 1100 RMB and had the rest of that money to spend on your own. bkk/thailand is very very easy to get about on your own cheaply. no need for pre booked hotels.