China Tour Operators

How to choose a reliable and good China tour operator?  Unless you’re a veteran traveler who can manage traveling alone or know China well, it would be wise to opt for a good and reliable tour operator. There are a number of tour operators in China and most of them offer tailor-make tour packages and business tours. So how do you choose the best tour company of China? Here’s a list of key factors to consider in choosing a good China tour operator:

◎ Identify the Business License
Identifying the Business License of China tour operators should be one of the most efficient methods for you to choose a reliable and experienced China tour operator. You can learn the license of the tour operator by these ways: 1. read the self-introduction on the operator's website, in which all its basic info should be included. There is no excuse for any reliable travel agency to hide its development history; 2. ask the tour operator to offer its 'Business Travel Permit' and 'Business License'. From them, you could get the full name of the operator, its registration number, address, foundation date and validation period clearly. If you can’t read Chinese, you’d better ask a friend knowing Chinese for help since the documents are shown in Chinese.

◎ By Quality
A reliable and good operator has probably been in business for at least a few years. This has given them time to build a 'track record' and to amass some negotiating clout with suppliers and has given them the corporate experience at dealing with issues and problems, so as to create their own internal systems and management procedures to help your booking go smoothly.

◎ By Payment Method
Variety of the payment method ensures the safety for both customer and travel agency itself. A reliable tour operator usually offers many payment methods, such as Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Paypal and so forth. In addition, a reliable tour operator also accept part/total payment on cash based on the customers’ travel duration and the urgent level of their tour date .

◎ By reviews
Go through online reviews. A large number of big and small tour operators have been reviewed online. Since people tend to exaggerate or understate when it comes to reviewing, reviews are not 100% accurate. Online reviews only help to get a general idea of the type of service being provided by a particular operator.

◎ By Reputation
You need to seek information regarding the company. You can find out how reliable an operator's services through testimonials and feedback by former customers.

◎ By Bank Account
If a company is real, definitely it has a bank account. Consult the related bank to see if there is such a operator by using its bank account.

◎ By Association, or Government Affiliations and Accreditation
It is important to know if a tour operator is affiliated and accredited with some government organizations or other professional association, one such as ASTA or PATA, for instance, holds its members to a code of ethics and operates an active consumer affairs department that monitors travelers' problems and helps to find solutions. That is how you can determine if the operator you are selecting is genuine or bogus.

◎ By Contact Information
If a tour company is real, usually it will have an available address and fixed telephone number. You may check if the address exists or not. Also, you may write to or call them to see if anyone replies.

◎ By Visa Services
A China tour operator can assist you with the documents needed to apply for a tourist visa to China. A professional Chinese travel agency should inform you of travel restrictions and how to apply for the right type of visa for your purpose.

In addition, a good tour operator probably belongs to some sort of agency buying group or consortium or franchise. This gives it access to preferred rates at hotels, and gives it extra commission with other suppliers - extra commission which they might choose to share with you, or at least use to ensure you don't have to make any out-of-pocket payments to the agency as well.

For business travelers, a reliable tour operator in China understand the needs of travelers who have business-oriented plans. From the arrangement of large group tours to first-class travel accommodations, best tour operators in China should offer special services for potential corporate clients. Familiarize yourself with the government travel warnings and local laws/regulations in China. This is the last suggestion.

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