Beijing Package Tours: What's REALLY Going On? Look Inside!
-
Alas, I've decided that I won't recommend this tour group to anyone anymore, be it the older generation or young people. The experience was rather unpleasant for everyone.
- Itinerary rush, "checklist" sightseeing:
On yesterday's itinerary, we only had one hour at the Temple of Heaven (a very large historical park where emperors used to pray). The entrance fee had to be paid by ourselves. After buying a ticket and entering, I was struck by how vast it was! I hustled frantically but hardly managed to go back out without even taking a few photos due to the short time limit. My mom stayed waiting at the entrance instead of going in too. I could barely manage with only one hour, is this even reasonable?
Moreover, Qianmen Street (a prominent shopping street where souvenirs are sold but this was unexpectedly not included in the itinerary and skipped without explanation). I planned to buy something there, but it was canceled out of nowhere. Is this justifiable to cancel such free shopping areas?
- Elongated shopping time, shortened sightseeing hours:
In the morning of today, we were kept in a shopping center for three to four hours. If you didn't purchase anything, you would have to stand aimlessly inside. Then, after lunchtime, both the Summer Palace (a historic palace used by emperors during summer) and the Old Summer Palace (another significant historical site) had us rushing through, spending merely one hour each place! It was almost impossible to see much at all since the Old Summer Palace alone required a lot of walking, and with the tight schedule, I could only move as fast as possible.
️ Beware, my friends!
Because I wasn't able to exit within the allowed ten minutes, the tour bus didn't stop and wait for me! Even though it drove past where I was standing, they chose not to stop despite seeing us waving. The driver said the parking spot wasn't allowed, but other buses had parked there! Finally, I had to hail a taxi to catch up. Is this how they treat people who don't purchase goods at shopping centers? Also, what they did not consider is that hailing a taxi and navigating in a foreign city while being stranded on the road can be very inconvenient!- Poor accommodation, no response:
Also, the hotel's conditions are awful, and lodging problems like insects were simply ignored. All in all, I ended up with red welts all over my body from bug bites.
When enquiring about the matter, I was told that it’s because my tour fee didn’t cover a better level of accommodations, and they still refuse to offer an option to add extra charges to upgrade rooms, so we suffered from worse beds and services compared to others paying similar amounts. Not to forget, non-Shopping people were still lured into these cultural experience centers filled with goods that were basically sold for their actual value to maximize profit margins.
- Chaotic management:
Tourists and guides were constantly switching seats around. A couple more strangers joined the bus with pre-booked seats but occupied ours instead, forcing us to carry bags and find new seats. This created a chaotic feeling. It's the basic hospitality that the tourists deserve.
- Unpalatable meals and remote hotels:
The dining situation is also poor. I estimate breakfast costs less than 3 CNY. Lunch mainly comprises of potatoes and cabbages repetitively. Faced with this situation, I decided not to eat lunch, planning to fix myself food at the hotel.
However, living too far away from convenient amenities resulted in an inconvenience of having to take a long ride every time I tried ordering a meal or dinner. During the night, takeout meal delivery was my only way to eat.
- Itinerary rush, "checklist" sightseeing:
-
How did you sign up? Tell me. You might have paid less, but it's probably because the person who booked it for you scammed you out of some money.
-
I booked it through WeChat. It was about 1800 RMB per person, not including transportation to and from the city. They promised zero out-of-pocket expenses and no shopping stops.
-
Report it to the Bureau of Culture and Tourism! We just got scammed too, also on a group tour.
-
Complaining is useless, though.
-
We went there too.
-
Was it the same shopping trap?
-
Mine was 2000 RMB, not including major transport, and I stayed in a 4-star hotel within the Second Ring Road. Absolutely no shopping stops. They promised the group wouldn't exceed 28 people (adults and kids combined), and we had 26 on our bus. It really pays to go with a reputable, larger travel agency.
-
You can get a 4-star hotel within the Second Ring Road for just 2000 RMB?
-
I'm going through that right now.
-
Hahahaha
-
Seriously, I recommend independent travel for domestic trips. It's truly fantastic!!!
-
I always travel independently nowadays. The only downside is that planning everything, booking hotels, and grabbing tickets can be exhausting.
-
Why even bother with a group tour? Isn't independent travel way better?
-
Definitely next time!
-
Don't join a group tour when you come to Beijing! Taxis and the subway are so much more convenient. Seriously, I'm begging anyone visiting Beijing – don't do a group tour.
-
Even if you go to seemingly desolate places in the Northwest for travel, the food will fill you up. Let's not generalize about regions, okay? Northern Chinese food is known for its large portions and generous ingredients.
-
I'm a Northerner myself! I've traveled to the Northwest and didn't find it bad at all. It's just this recent Beijing trip that was really terrible.
-
Independent travel was absolutely awesome for me!