FEES

Our services are provided as a complete "package" of arrangements, separating out only the cost of international and regional air transportation from the "package cost".  Most of this cost, up to 70% in some cases, is in your accommodations, so the selection of hotels and room-types in those hotels is very important. Never do we use sub-standard rooms, even in luxury hotels. And, we will always specify not just the hotel, but the room-type in that hotel included in your arrangements.

Generally, our package includes daily accommodations with breakfast, services of a professional local host, the best local vehicles and transport along the route, admissions and fees at sites you see, and, in remote areas, most meals. This is presented as a full package price on a per person (or party) basis and is inclusive of all these services, our administrative fees, and all local taxes and fees with no hidden charges or "extras". We do not provide an itemized cost breakdown, only a package price. We do not make only hotel reservations or arrange local sightseeing outside of our full service package. The following guidelines can be used to determine costs of our services:

International Airfare:
From North America, prices to our region can be as low as $700 at some times of the year, usually our winter months. During the June through August period, that increases to over $1,200 for a "cheap seat". By far the best value in air transport is the American Express International Airline Program (IAP), a "two-for-one" in Business Class (and First Class on some carriers). In this program you can get two seats "up front" for the long ride to our area for around $3200 each, or less on some carriers. Because this element of your trip is the horse that pulls the cart, it has to be settled first in the planning.

If you are an American Express Platinum Card holder and decide to use China Airlines on the IAP, Asia Desk can make that arrangement and issue the tickets. We have worked closely with China Airlines over the years and feel their service, route structure, and schedule into Exotic Asia is the best. Because they are a "national carrier", they do not spend lavishly on advertising and promotion but their equipment is always new, their in-flight service excellent, and the fares they offer in Business and First Class are the best over the Pacific.  Other carriers in the program must be booked directly with American Express. For a full explanation of the program, see www124.americanexpress.com/cards/platinum/airprogram.jsp

Regional & Internal Airfare:
We can book flights and issue all of these tickets for you. We use the same airline reservations system as Thai International, called Amadeus. Airfares in the region are quite reasonable, from $50 to $130 for a one-hour flight segment.

Land Arrangements:
This is best estimated on a per person, per day basis, and for a full program including all the services mentioned above. The range is from $250 and $425 per person, per day or higher, depending on the quality of accommodations. However, should you have an extended stay in an area, like at a beach destination where the only daily cost in accommodations and breakfast, this per diem can be less.

We hope this does not give you "sticker shock", or, if your plan is more in line with "Asia On A Shoestring", perhaps our services are not for you.  But we do feel if you are looking for a full program when you travel and do some research into the cost of doing things yourself, you will quickly see the value of our service. For you to book all the hotels online (which is notorious for incorrect "bait & switch" rates), chase down local air tickets, line up a vehicle at each stop, and try to find a local person after you arrive to show you around (taking the chance that someone might be out to cheat you), you may save some money making arrangements on your own. But the "hassle factor" of accomplishing this alone could very easily ruin the experience you seek. Our service is seamless, hassle-free and we are happy to give you plenty of excellent references who will confirm that claim with no qualms.