With the summer here, many travel agencies are placing ads to attract tourists. But how can different travel agencies quoted prices – sometimes varying as much as several hundred yuan – for the same travel package, that is the same route, meals, contents and other amenities? Except for their cost-controlling skills, is there any other profundity in it? An experienced travel expert gives an insiders view:

Hotels. All advertisements will state clearly what kind of hotels the agency will offer. But different locations of the same star hotels will determine different prices. Tourists who find themselves in a hotel far from the center of things will find whatever they have saved in lodging taken up by having to shuttle between the hotels and scenic spots.

Airlines. Agencies list the plane model but seldom the take-off time. When tourists appear to sign-up for a tour, the travel agencies will say the take-off time will be given later. Generally, the price of a plane ticket with an inconvenient take-off time – late at night or earlier in the morning -- is much cheaper. The travel agencies choose those to save money. This leaves tourists, however, fatigued the next day to decrease their enjoyment of the sites. And, when they are dropped off back at the airport at the end of the tour to fly home -- if they have been booked on a night flight, tourists will have the further expense of having to take a taxi home on their arrival since the bus service will have stopped for the night.

Meals. The advertisements well mark how many meals they will offer, some even show the standards. But who knows whether they are at the fair prices or not? Some say each meal is at ten yuan for each person, but usually, tourists find the meals are not as good as what they have been expected.

Itinerary. Many possibilities exist on the itinerary. For example, a flight to Beijing can go directly from Guangzhou, convenient and fast. Or it could also go by way of Tianjin with a transfer to Beijing by train. Or there could be a drive to Foshan airport for the flight to Beijing. The more the itinerary zigzags, the cheaper the price.

Tour buses. Tourists will be taken around by buses when they arrive at their destinations. But some will be in better condition than others. Likewise, guides may have expertise or they may have to glance around to see where they are. Some vehicles have insurance, but some haven’t.

Entry fees. Travel agencies may say that the quoted price includes the entrance fees to attractions. However, many scenic spots have “small” tickets in “big” ones. Tourists have access to the first gate of the scenic spots, but once they are inside they will find they have to pay again for access to exhibits, scenery, inside gardens.

Shopping. The price will be cheaper if, given the same number of days, the travel agent has arranged more shopping for one tour than another.

Scenic spots. Some travel agencies offer a long list of scenic spots to visit, with colorful descriptions. But, in fact, any could see at first glance that the detailed list is really a main attraction with many subsections. Or agents just pile up several cheap or free entrance tickets. In this case, the price is certainly reduced.

People who are ready to sign up with tourist agencies must pay attention to the eight points listed above. If inexperienced people cannot grasp these points, they’d better choose a travel agency with an outstanding reputation.

(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2001 Chinese edition. Translated by CIIC.)