| The last few trips we have organised have been quite | | | | with by local operators who clearly knew their |
| an eye opener for us as we have avoided holiday | | | | business and had designed the itinerary, booked the |
| packages and gone in search of somewhat more | | | | accommodation and transport, recruited English |
| customised experiences.All this came about as a result | | | | speaking guides, (real ones) and done all the other |
| of travelling on a package tour to Nepal and India | | | | work necessary. Our package seller in New Zealand |
| some five years ago. There was nothing wrong with | | | | had simply located the local operator and, presumably, |
| the tour mind, except that it was expensive and the | | | | worked with them to design the tour and add their |
| person we thought was our guide turned out to have | | | | mark-up. Oh and of course recruited (and paid for) a |
| little knowledge of either country and was there | | | | New Zealander to ride herd.Now if, like us, you feel |
| primarily to shepherd us and carry our passports for | | | | able to carry your own passport, the package tour |
| us.On our package, travel arrangements were dealt | | | | adds little or no value and substantial cost. |