My First All-inclusive Packaged Travel Experience To Shanghai

Before we departed for our journey to Shanghai, I was kind of uneasy with the itineraries of this trip, wondering how we could visit so many tourist spots and cities in only 8 days. This was my first experience of travel by all-inclusive vacation package. Before this, I used to self-travel or travel by ‘Free and Easy’ package where we could plan ourselves those tourist spots we are going to visit, the food we are going to eat, the place we are going to stay, the retails we are going to shop, and even whatever sweet time we are going to spend or relax. Not for this trip. I was going to experience a totally different perspective of travel.

I called it All-inclusive vacation package because once you signed up, the travel agency will plan everything for you, even when and where you are going to shop and buy souvenirs from! No doubt, having a full time local tour guide to lead you from one place to another, introduce you the place you are going to see means that zero time you are going to waste on searching for transport, places and every other things. On the other hand, however, we lost some real fun of travel with those same reasons as well, sometimes.

In terms of budget, group travelling has surely got a better deals in dining, accomodation and transport. For a total package cost of RM2,350.00 per person, we might not be able to get as high star-rated hotel, or the same quality of food and restaurant, if we were travelling by ourselves. On the other hand, we would not be able to experience what the local people are doing, eating and the flee market that they are going and shopping, if we were travelling by all-inclusive package.

However, with no argument, all-inclusive packge is the better option when we travel with old folks (Yes. I travelled to Shanghai with my mother-in-law). We couldn’t expect our parents to walk from one street to another to search for the best budget hotel! Also, her stomach would not be feeling good if we were to try out all those local foods from the roadside stalls! And I’m too lazy also to explain and introduce to her those history of where we are visiting to…. 🙁

After all, my verdict for this trip is: NOT TOO BAD. At least, I drove my Lumix real hard. My digital photo album size has now become larger with an additional of 2000 photos, taken from 6 significant cities and towns in South-East China (my available hardrive space of my laptop has also become smaller though 🙁 ). Also, my body gained weight significantly after this trip as full course Chinese local menu are being served in every morning, afternoon and evening! (also those junk local foods as our supper 🙂 )

This is my short introduction of our 8D7N all-inclusive packaged travel to Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuzhen, Nanjing and Wuxi. Stay tuned for more! – Travel Feeder, the Shanghai travel guide.

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.