Tour packages: Cheaper, more convenient<\/p>\n
T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Holiday -- It is a magic word. It is a time to forget the
\ndemands at the office or annoying household chores; it is time to
\nescape from the daily routine and to indulge in a new experience.<\/p>\n
For most people, holidays means traveling. When there are few
\ndays off, they might just drive to a nearby holiday resort and
\nspend the night there.<\/p>\n
During a long holiday, people might travel around the
\narchipelago with Bali as one of the favorite destinations.
\nIndeed, the island of the gods remains popular among holidayers
\nall over the world. Millions of people come to Bali every year to
\nenjoy its rich culture and panoramic beauty.<\/p>\n
Bali boasts many exotic resorts. One of the newly developed
\nresorts is Ubud Hanging Gardens. The property is scheduled to
\nopen in early July, 2005.<\/p>\n
Surrounded by ancient trees and gravity-defying terraced
\ngardens, Ubud Hanging Gardens nestles on a hillside overlooking
\nthe Ayung river gorge, and truly deserves its unusual name.<\/p>\n
Ubud Hanging Gardens features 38 villas available in three
\ntypes: Deluxe Pool Villas, deluxe Suite Pool Villas and Family
\nPool Villas.<\/p>\n
The breathtaking property's villas are all constructed in
\ncontemporary Balinese style with thatched alang-alang roofs. The
\nvillas are set high on wooden pillars with king-sized four-poster
\nbeds, indoor baths, outdoor showers and dramatic individual
\nplunge pools with adjoining Bale.<\/p>\n
Each of the villas has an infinity pool, a traditional
\npavilion for relaxing called a bale, an open-air shower, an
\ninterior bathroom and a huge bedroom with a four-poster bed and
\nmosquito net.<\/p>\n
For the true traveler, distance is no longer a constraint.
\nTourists travel across the globe, crossing the ocean to see
\nthings they do not find in their own country. The unique
\nexperiences leave unforgettable memories.<\/p>\n
Traveling around the world is quite easy now, thanks to
\nabundant travel agencies that are ready to arrange everything for
\nyou -- from the ticket to the hotel and even the visa. They also
\noffer tour packages to various destinations, including ASEAN
\ncountries, as well as Hong Kong, China and Japan.<\/p>\n
A tour package offers various kinds of benefits to travellers.
\nBy buying a tour package, you, for example, can save by about 25
\npercent pver the same trip on your own. Besides being less
\ncostly, buying a tour package also means peace of mind.<\/p>\n
As part of the tour package, local travel agencies generally
\nrovide an Indonesian guide for the group as well as a local guide
\nfrom the foreign country.<\/p>\n
Since the tour packages are offered for people who travel in a
\ngroup, the number of participants is a key factor. A travel agent
\nwill cancel a trip if the number of participants is not
\nsufficient -- the minimum number is usually 15. For some travel
\nagents, however, 14 or even 10 will do. But if the number is
\nfewer than 15, the travel agent might not send an Indonesian
\nguide with the group.<\/p>\n
Travel agents also have different policies regarding the
\nprice. Some include the visa, the meals and tickets for the
\nvarious tourist attractions on offer, while others do not. Prices
\nalso vary depending on the airlines, the hotels and the meals,
\nbut joining a tour package in a group is usually cheaper than
\ntraveling alone.<\/p>\n
Wita Tour, for example offers an eight-day Special Japan tour
\nfor US$2,560. If you take this tour, you will fly by Cathay
\nPacific or Singapore Airlines, stay in five-star hotels and dine
\nin fine restaurants.<\/p>\n
\"We will pay for the meals and you don't even have to worry
\nabout tipping,\" said Kurniadi of Wita Tour.<\/p>\n
Among the attractions on offer is the Aichi Expo 2005, as well
\nas the magnificent view of the Mount Tateshina and Shirakaba
\nLake.<\/p>\n
The Japan Supersaver package is offered by Rotama Tour at
\n$1,849. Those taking this package will fly by Philippine Airlines
\nand stay in four-star hotels. The trip will last for seven days
\nwith visits to Osaka, Universal Studio, Kyoto, Toyohashi,
\nHamamatsu, Kawaguchi, Disneyland and Disneysea.<\/p>\n
Both Rotama Tour and Wita Tour do not include cultural shows
\nlike Kabuki or other traditional performances.<\/p>\n
\"Well, Indonesians prefer to go to Disneyland and Universal
\nStudio rather than watching such a show,\" said Olivia of Rotama
\nTour. \"But of course, if you want to see Kabuki, for example,
\nthis can be arranged upon your arrival in Japan,\" she added.<\/p>\n
Japan is a great place to see, but ASEAN countries or other
\nplaces like Hong Kong and China are no less attractive. In fact,
\nthere are more people who join tours to these countries,
\nespecially because the trip is not that costly.<\/p>\n
Dream Holiday, for example, offers a four-day tour to Thailand
\nand Singapore for less than $500 while a seven-day tour to
\nMalaysia and Singapore is about $650. You can also travel to
\nThailand, Malaysia and Singapore for nine days for less than
\n$800.<\/p>\n
If you want to go to Hong Kong and China, there are several
\ntour operators that offer a five-day package to Hong Kong and
\nShenzhen, located in Kwong Tung province, for about $800.<\/p>\n
A travel agent, TIM, names its tour packages after the
\ndelicacies in the respective country. The tour to Hong Kong and
\nChina, for instance, is called Hot Dim Sum. Sweet Kelapa Bakar, a
\nfive-day tour to Bangkok and Pattaya, costs about $450, Amazing
\nTeh Tarik, a seven-day tour to Malaysia and Singapore starts from
\n$568 and Delicious Sushi Bulgogi, a 10-day trip to Seoul, Mount
\nSorak, Everland, Osaka, Kyoto, Mount Fuji, Tokyo, Disneyland,
\nDisneysea and Universal Studios, is about $2,000.<\/p>\n
\"Our theme is taste the world,\" said Erwin of TIM. \"Therefore
\nwe bring our guests to a restaurant that serves traditional
\nfood.\"<\/p>\n
Participants of the Hot Dim Sum tour will spend two nights in
\nShenzhen and two nights in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
\"In Shenzhen, we will take you to the Window of the World, a
\nminiature of the world in a park, and the China Folk Art &
\nCultural center, where you can watch cabaret performances.<\/p>\n
\"And of course, you will have time to go shopping,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Hong Kong, they will take you to The Peak, where you can
\nsee the town from above, and you can visit the Madame Tussaud
\nMuseum and Repulse Bay, which is famous for the statue of Kwan
\nIm, a Buddhist goddess.<\/p>\n
There is a wide variety of tours to China, which is not
\nsurprising considering it vast area with so many things to see.<\/p>\n
Wita Tour has several packages, including the China Muslim
\nTour to Beijing, Yinchuan, Zhongwei, Xian and Shanghai, that
\nlasts for 12 days and costs $1,760. During the tour, you will be
\ntaken not only to the tourist attractions, but also to the
\nmosques, where you can pray and to restaurants serving halal
\nfood.<\/p>\n
While KIA tours and travel offers nine packages starting from
\n$988 for a nine-day China Experience tour covering Shanghai,
\nWuxi, Yangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhou and Hongzhou. The Great China
\ntour, which lasts for 15 days, costs $1,649.<\/p>",
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