| Bargain hunters don't only go to Chinatown | | | | for the group to stop for meals. This is |
| for knock off designer handbags, they also | | | | usually simple fare such as a rest stop food |
| look there to find the best prices on bus | | | | court or a Chinese restaurant. |
| tours of America. Travelers in east and west | | | | |
| coast US cities have come to love the | | | | How do they do it? |
| "Chinatown Bus" for their no-frills service | | | | |
| and rock bottom prices. However, the bargains | | | | $99 for a 3-day tour from Los Angeles to Las |
| do not stop there. If you want to find the | | | | Vegas and the Grand Canyon; $85 for a 2-day |
| cheapest way to see the most popular tourist | | | | tour from NYC to Washington DC, Baltimore, |
| attractions in the US, try a Chinatown tour | | | | and Philadelphia-it is hard to fathom how |
| operator. | | | | they can offer such low fares. |
| | | | |
| Just as Chinatown bus service began by | | | | These companies run very streamlined |
| catering to the recent immigrant community, | | | | operations and work on slim margins. The key |
| for years these tour operators have targeting | | | | to their model is that the tour buses are |
| their tours only to the Chinese speaking | | | | full. They tend to operate tours only to the |
| community. However, more recently they have | | | | most popular destinations (ie. Grand Canyon, |
| been discovered by the broader market and are | | | | San Francisco, Niagara Falls, Washington DC), |
| increasingly popular for visitors to the US | | | | and they sometimes cancel a tour if not |
| and residents alike. | | | | enough people book it. Often these tour |
| | | | companies use charter buses and therefore do |
| Sayaka Singh who lives in New York said that | | | | not have the expense of maintaining and |
| any time she has family visiting from India | | | | operating a fleet of buses, something that |
| they inevitably want to take a trip to | | | | may not really be their area of expertise. |
| Niagara Falls. She discovered several | | | | |
| Chinatown tour companies online and has since | | | | Since the tour companies run tours on a |
| sent many family members to the Falls with | | | | regular schedule, they are able to negotiate |
| them. She said, "You can't beat it, for less | | | | very good room rates with hotels. Therefore |
| than a hundred dollars they get | | | | they can still offer low rates even during a |
| transportation in a nice motorcoach, hotel | | | | busy time of year. They also save money by |
| accommodations, a tour of the Falls area, and | | | | paying their tour guides very little. |
| several other stops along the way. They loved | | | | Customers are expected to tip the tour guides |
| it." Several of her relatives then booked a | | | | and this really their main source of |
| tour to Washington DC. | | | | compensation. |
| | | | |
| What to expect | | | | What exactly is included? |
| | | | |
| These are definitely budget tours, but the | | | | All tours include hotel, tour guide and |
| value they deliver is truly unbeatable. | | | | transportation. Most include entrance fees to |
| Hotels are usually 2-star level but they tend | | | | any national parks when applicable. Some also |
| to be national chains and are quite adequate. | | | | include admission to attractions. Read the |
| Plan on something equivalent to a Travelodge, | | | | tour details carefully or inquire before you |
| however many times the hotel quality is | | | | book if you are not sure. Optional tours can |
| higher. Hotels are commonly not situated in | | | | add to the cost of your tour and you should |
| the downtown core of the city or right near | | | | budget accordingly. Usually the tour guide |
| an attraction. | | | | will organize the optional tours for the |
| | | | group and you will pay the guide directly. |
| In a style typical of tours throughout Asia, | | | | |
| the tour itinerary is usually quite full. The | | | | How do I find these tours? |
| pace of these tours is very rapid. You will | | | | |
| see as many attractions as possible but will | | | | Almost any city that has a sizable Asian |
| not stay at any one attraction for very long. | | | | population will most likely have a tour |
| This can be frustrating for people who like | | | | operator specializing in multi-day budget |
| to linger or have time to explore. It is | | | | tours. New York, Boston, San Francisco, |
| perfect for travelers who want to see a lot | | | | Vancouver, and Los Angeles have dozens of |
| in a short period of time. | | | | tour operators. Most likely they will not |
| | | | advertise in the same places that traditional |
| People from all over the world go on these | | | | tour companies do. Your best bet is to look |
| tours and it is impossible to predict the | | | | online. |
| demographic makeup of a group. However, do | | | | |
| not expect an "all-American" crowd. You | | | | These tours are a terrific option for |
| should expect multilingual tour guide and | | | | travelers who want to see some of America's |
| many non-English speakers on the tour. Many | | | | most popular sights but do not have a lot of |
| people cite the mix of people as their | | | | time and want a great value. For far less |
| favorite aspect of the tours ("I felt like I | | | | than you would pay if you went on your own, |
| was part of a UN delegation, it was great!"). | | | | you can sit back and have someone else make |
| The tour guide will not give an in-depth | | | | all the arrangements for you. As an added |
| narrated tour and will speak in both Chinese | | | | bonus you will also get to experience a great |
| and English. The tour guide will also arrange | | | | diversity of cultures along the way. |