自由行的樂趣 Travel Fun

自助旅遊其中一個重要環節是參加當地團和安排路上交通。對這些方面,我們已經累積了一定的經驗,當中發生的趣事妙事也是一籮籮的。

一般來說,到了當地你會看到滿街都是旅行社,所有的行程亦大同小異,因為所有旅客熱點都不外乎幾個,人去我去。結果你會發現絶大部份旅行社不過是「艇仔」,不管你在哪一家旅行社報的團,有旅遊巴來接你,然後發現全車旅客是透過不同的旅行社,各自付出不同的團費參加的,至於當中運作得非常暢順而又不透明的程序我就沒有再深入鑽研。

再說,我也試過參加一些冷門一點的行程,我只能說除非你打算大灑金錢包團,否則也是徒然。沒有人報的團老實一點的會告訴你要取消,否則像我在巴西時,被當人球般拋來拋去,最終還是只能跟著其他人走,否則就孤身流落亞馬遜…..

特別是在發展中的國家,自駕遊不太可行的情況下,有時還是難免得要隨波遂流。

隨波遂波也不一定是壞事,人家都已把路都走順了,你自然也好走一點。

在越南參加當地旅行團所要付出的價錢簡直是超值:

在胡志明市參加半天遊到古芝,來回五個多小時,連導遊講解(不包括入場費用),每人才收費HKD33,我們如果自己安排,是無論如何辦不下來的。

今天在大叻參加了郊區一日遊,為的只是到郊外的一個瀑布,行程中安排了很多其他景點,老實說,全都是非常低水平的景點,很多連用購物來坑遊客這一點也欠奉,真教人有點摸不著頭腦….不過,以HKD100收費,各取所需,亦無不可。

我們本來買了今早七點的巴士票到芽莊。昨晚上在酒店上網時,旅行社的職員突然到訪….比較有經驗的那一個帶著今天幫我們訂車票的男孩,告訴我們說因為過來的巴士出了點意外,明早的巴士要取消,只能讓我們改坐下午的巴士。

我們雖感無奈,但被他們的誠意大大感動,他們大可明天才告訴我們巴士取消了…細問之下,他們說其實有給酒店打電話,但酒店說我們房間沒人接聽…(其實我們的房間根本沒有電話),沒有辦法之下只能上門告訴我們。這樣堅持一定要為我們安排妥當,實在加很多分數。

今天的是一輛載29人的冷氣中巴,我們上車時除了最後一排已沒有任何兩人座位,因為很多老外一人佔雙人座,有些更明顯地意圖不讓別人坐,把腳擱在旁邊座位上,竪起腳之類,讓人側目。我們佔了最後一排的旁邊兩個座位。巴士繼續出發接其他客人,結果巴士是全車滿座,原來以為自己霸了最好位置的人被安排拼座,反而成了擠迫戶,可謂自食其果,我們不免有感幸災樂禍的味道。

不為他人設想的人的確是任何國籍也會有的。

沒錯,旅遊的其中一個樂趣就是特別的出奇不意,和看透人間百態。在沒有特定時間表的旅程上,這樂趣自然更特顯。

By: Jo

A key part of travelling on your own involves arranging a lot of local tours and ground transportation. We have accumulated a fair amount of experience in this regard, and there are plenty of funny stories.

When you arrive at a town, you will generally find that all tour agents offer pretty much the same packages.  I guess that’s because all tourists go to those places of interests.  You will end up noticing that, wherever you book your tour, they are all just agents of a few bigger companies, that take on all customers.  When the bus comes and picks you up, everyone on the bus book their tours from different agents and pay different prices.  Whatever the mechanism is, it works with no transparency but always seamless.

I have tried to book tours to roads less travelled, and it is not very wise neither.  Tours that has too few customers, may end up being cancelled if the company is a responsible one.  For less responsible companies, like the one I experienced in Brazil, I ended up being passed along from one group to another and still ended up with a different tour.  I don’t have a choice unless I wanted to be left alone in the Amazons.

Especially in developing countries where driving is not an option, you will have to just follow the trend.  Having said all these, travelling on local tours aren’t all bad.  Roads have been well pathed for you, and they have all been designed for your best benefits. 

Joining local tours in Vietnam is so affordable:

A Half day tour to Cu Chi tunnel costs us HKD33 per person.  This is a five hours trip, including tour guide (no tickets), we cannot even make it happen on our own with this amount of money.

We wanted to visit a waterfall in the country side of Da Lat. We chose to go with a tour, and the tour included tons of other activities which are really crappy, not even qualify as an act to rip off tourists…. But we get what we want for HKD 100 per person, that is good value for money.

For today, we have booked bus tickets to go to Nha Trang.  Last night, while we were web surfing in our hotel, the guys from the tour agent turned up.  The more senior guy brought along the young guy who booked our tickets.  They said due to some accident with the bus that came yesterday, they need to cancel the morning bus and offer to change our tickets to the afternoon.  Although a bit disappointed, we were truly thankful for what they did.  They could totally choose to let us know this morning that the bus was cancelled but they came all the way.  We found out that they actually called the hotel but the hotel said we did not answer the phone (while there is no phone in our room).  We really appreciated that they come all the way to fix the arrangements for us.

When the bus comes, it is a 29 seater.  All of the double seats except the last row were being occupied, many of them by one person.  Some obviously are trying to prevent the other seat being taken by putting their feet up on the seat, laying down, etc.  We took two seats on the last row and the bus continue to pick up other customers.  Well, the bus ends up being full, those who thought they have taken the best advantage now has to sit with others and ends up with the worst seats.

I think unhelpful people exist in all nationalities.

Well, that is the fun bit about travelling –a lot of things are unexpected and you see all kinds of people!  With a trip that does not have a time limit, that is even better!

By: Jo