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