Low Cost Tour Providers

It's been about a year now since we have had a meeting on the topic of Low Cost Tour Providers and since the dollar is in sad shape and the price of gas a nightmare, maybe its time we revisited this kind of travel. Having taken a trip with China Focus this year and having just received my brochure from Gate 1, I am amazed how these tour providers have been able to keep their prices reasonable. Our 11 days in China was only $1399 before the visa fees and tax were added and that included airfare and almost all meals. Gate 1 shows a 13 day trip to Turkey (yes, I going to do this one also) for $579 land only or about $600 more with flight included, that includes 11 breakfasts and 7 dinners. Sure there are probably extra costs, but still those are pretty amazing prices these days. I?m pretty sure that these and other tour providers have locked in prices with airlines before they issue their catalogs for the year and that is why the prices are still reasonable for this year.
There have been changes in the tour provider field in the last year and there is little doubt more will come in the troubled time ahead. So time to review are list and with help from your expertise and experience revise the list. We will add new tour providers who members have used and recommend and either eliminate or at least put a caveat with ones on the list who have treated members badly. So bring your information with you and we?ll have some fun. Hope to see you there.