Okay, give me the Chinese title! I'm ready.
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Hey, friends visiting Hangzhou, pay attention; I need to vent!
- I signed up for a Hangzhou tour package with a 4-day itinerary. Sounds appealing, right?
- However, out of the 4 days, we were spending a whole two days doing nothing but shopping! 🤯
- It felt like the main goal was to lure us into spending money, rather than enjoying the scenic views. What about the beautiful scenery of West Lake? Perhaps the tour guide believed that those shopping receipts were even more beautiful!
️ Important warning for foreign friends:- In many parts of China, tour packages may include shopping stops (Not only in Hangzhou, but many tour groups in China might include shopping stops).
- Tour guides or travel agencies often receive a commission from these shops (The tour guides or agencies might get a commission from these shops).
- Avoiding pitfalls (How to avoid this issue):
- Double-check before you sign up (Ask clearly before booking!): Ask the salesperson or customer service representative how many shopping stops there will be during the tour? How long will visitors spend at each stop? It’s best if they can provide a written itinerary. The fewer shopping stops, the better; if possible, opt for a package labeled “pure play, no shopping.”
- Carefully review the contract (Check the contract): Certain contracts may specify the number of planned shopping stops. Should the actual number exceed this limit, that’s a reason to lodge a complaint.
- Avoid simply choosing the cheapest tour packages (Don't just look for the cheapest tour): Especially cheap packages might rely on shopping commissions to make up for the costs. You know the saying - we all eventually pay the price!
Therefore, there should be someone overseeing the Hangzhou tour packages now; otherwise, it will dampen visitors’ spirits. #HangzhouTravel #TourismPitfalls #ChineseJourney
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Sigh, what can you do? It's a classic case where one side is willing to offer a bad deal, and the other is willing to take it.
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Didn't you check the itinerary before you left? Does 1200 yuan for four days even include major transportation? No wonder there are now policies against mandatory shopping on tours – it's because too many people fall for these kinds of deals.
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Sounds like someone was trying to get a good deal and it didn't pan out.
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You probably didn't do your own research, did you? Does Hangzhou even need a tour group? And even if you join a tour, you shouldn't go for the super cheap ones. That's basic common sense.
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Is 1200 yuan per person considered a low-priced tour?
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You actually need a tour group for Hangzhou?
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Because it was several families, 15 people in total, with elderly folks and children, we thought joining a tour would be more convenient, so we found one.
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If it were a reasonable amount of time at shopping centers, I could understand – like, three days of sightseeing and then some shopping on the last day. But two out of four days spent at shopping centers? They initially said just showing up and being counted was enough. But when no one bought anything, the tour guide started guilt-tripping us on the bus, saying we didn't spend money, she got reprimanded, she had no income, and all that. It was really frustrating.
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Haha
! Exactly the same as the Suzhou-Hangzhou 4-day tour I joined in mid-April. -
Look, I'm not trying to argue. I've already called 12315, 12345, and the Culture and Tourism Bureau. I'm just an ordinary person and I've tried all the avenues I could think of. I'm just sharing this to express how I feel. And for those asking why I joined a tour or if I can't plan a trip myself: as I said, it was several families together, with elderly people and children, and we just wanted convenience. As for why not a custom tour – we're not wealthy; we're just very ordinary people. I saw the 1200 yuan price online, and most tours were around that price. It was also my first time booking a tour, so if I fell into a trap, I accept it and will take responsibility for my mistake.
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If you're not satisfied, you're right to complain. Let the official authorities analyze the situation for you; that's your right.
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My friend went to Chaoshan, 5 days and 4 nights for 1380 yuan per person, and came back saying half the time was spent shopping. It's not just Hangzhou; tour groups are like this all over the country. You want cheap and convenient? That's impossible!
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Shouldn't you do some research before you travel? Why join a tour group?