Internet operators
 

We're doing a lot of research into our trip in NOv 2003 and have found a myriad of tour operators over the internet. My question is - have other travellers found these pre-packaged tours to be value for money? I'm not talking about the coach tours but rather the off-the-shelf type that cater for a couple. Most of the forums (fora?) i've joined seem to be geared to the independent backpack traveller, with all the trials and tribulations associated. We're prepared to spend the extra rupees and travel fairly comfortably, but naturally are looking for decent service and accomodation at the same time. Any views?

Where are you going? If you're headed for Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, or anywhere on the tourist trail in Cambodia and Laos you can make your own arrangements for less money and have more flexibility. For China, many peope prefer a packaged tour. I normally book my hotels online and make any arrangements for drivers or guides once I arrive in a country.<BR><BR>Lonely Planet's forum, Thorntree, is certainly oriented toward backpackers, though many non-backpackers utilize it as well for info. This forum is more oriented toward the independent traveler, but there are those who prefer to book packages who also post here.<BR><BR>Let us know where you are going, and I'm sure there will be people who have been there and have suggestions.

Hi kathie,<BR>Thanks for the reply. We're going to India for 30 days, hoping to see both the south and north, with a few days in Calcutta. I'm faced with the choice between developing my own itinerary and firing it off to various tour operators for a price (usually more expensive), or booking one of the pre-planned tours (one from Delhi, one from Cochin etc.) - usually cheaper. Naturally, the pre-packaged is cheaper but one has to put up with the route and locations that the operator wants you to go to.<BR>Any advice?

Sorry, I haven't traveled in India, so I don't have advice for you. Perhaps someone who has been will respond. If you don't get a response in a few days, try re-posting the question with India in the title.

I have travelled in India three times on holiday and been there numerous times on business. If you have been to Asia before, I don't see any reason why you can't do this trip yourself. A month-long package tour will be expensive, and I also think it would be tiring, as you will be moving every few days. You need to leave time to just relax, and you may also want to change your itinerary once you are there. A month in India is a fabulous opportunity, and you should see what you really want, not what some tour operator wants you to see. Buy a Fodors guide and start looking. You could work out a basic itinerary and do your own airline, train and hotel reservations. There is very little that you need a guide for; major monuments of course, but much of your travel you can do on your own. When you need a guide, you can hire one for the day through your hotel. There is lots of information on this site about favourite/suggested places, run a search. There are even some private tour guides who have advertised their services on this site who you can contact for help in specific cities (not really allowed under the rules of this site, but run a search). I have responded recently to several questions, and could probably hunt up my responses if your search does not turn up anything.<BR><BR>If you have never travelled in Asia before or if you want a partial tour, then why don't you sign up for a 2 week tour and stay on another 2 weeks on your own to see the sights not included in the package? That way, you can take advantage of the great airfare prices which packages generally have. You can get your feet wet, so to speak, on the tour and then go out on your own. The tour operator should not have a problem with your staying on longer after the tour, especially if you can agree/arrange to fly back with the next group at the end of the subsequent 2-week tour. I can't imagine that people are lining up to take package tours to India with a war looming and Pakistan next door. Use this to your advantage to work out a deal with an operator that lets you stay longer and fly back with the package.<BR><BR>I am not a packback traveler at all, and can give you suggestions for good hotels in many places, especially Agra, Rajashtan, Delhi, and Mumbai. <BR>