“Exclusive super tour, luxury class” – that what caught my attention when I opened New Tours website. The tour was priced higher than similar tours to China offered by other agencies. I decided to spend extra money, of which I do not have much, in order to have assured peace of mind and quality of service, food, and of the entire trip.
The beginning was good . Then we were introduced to Alexei, tour director, who would escort us for the rest of the tour.
Alexei’s Russian was extremely poor; it was not sufficient at all to conduct tours and present important information about history, culture, and art of such great culture as China. Alexei was absolutely not prepared for the tour; he did not have either notes, or knowledge. I realized that our tour was ruined. I would not learn anything I wanted to learn, what I was so looking forward to learn and experience about the culture, history, and custom of China. I simply followed him and looked around.
Hotels were 4 stars, no one was 5 stars, as we were promised. Also they were located far away from tourist attractions. We went to hotel after dinner, and that was the end of our day. I would have loved to take a walk after dinner in Shanghai or other places!!! I’ve just made an Internet search, and GateOne agency offers a hotel just 0.5 miles from a main shopping street in Shanghai.
Meals were three times a day. According to the itinerary, breakfasts would be in the hotels, lunches – in restaurants of Chinese cuisine, and dinners would be after arriving to the hotel . Lunches and dinners were in cheap Chinese diners. Only once we had a dinner in the hotel!
One more thing was wrong: the tips for drivers and tour guides were collected two day after we arrived. I believe it was not right. I would never give the tour guide a tip for his service.
I believe I have to contact NY officials to inform them about unacceptable services that were provided by New Tours.
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