Bargaining With Tour Agencies

I am presently in discussion with quotes for a an organized private tour with driver and guide in Beijing (March 11-18) through the China Xinhua Travel Company. While I know that arranging trips myself will be cheaper, however, I like the convenience. My question is whether one can bargain when given a quote. I am being quoted $1400 for 4 of us for a private guide and driver to take us to the usual places which will include many meals, and Peking Opera and Acrobat show (I selected the Theaters and they are supposedly high quality seats as well) and includes one day of Guide and driver for a shopping day.... I choose the stores.

How unreasonable is the quote, and can I bargain?

Bargaining With Tour Agencies

Ask them for a discount. If none given, tell them you%26#39;ll check out another agency, and don%26#39;t call them back for 3 days.

Bargaining With Tour Agencies

I tried two companies. Both quotes turned out to be remarkably similar in TOTAL but differered re individual tours. Ask this company to split up the total to see what they are charging per tour then compare with another company on the same basis. Pick who you go with on a per tour basis to cut your costs down. Or as bibimbob said just ask straight out for a discount and say the price is too high. See what their response is.

Another way to cut costs is to NOT to include lunches/dinners. Choose your own instead. Buy a LOnely Planet or some other guide and go eat at the recommended places instead of tourist traps. Taxix are so cheap it should not be a concern about how to get to and from places.

For Beijing you only need to book a tour to the wall, acrobatics and that%26#39;s about it. Catch a taxi to every where else. Four of you should be able to manage that.

Thanks you both... will try for a discount. Actually their price was pretty similar to a bit cheaper than others and they detailed and named all their restaurants.