they are cheaper (if you can find English speaking ones at all) because they operate under different rules. If you purchase the tour in Canada, you are protected by provincial travel industry protection funds. Agencies in China, none. Also please read the long thread on this forum about a Canadian who bought packaged tour in HK (part of China, but with better consumer protection than the mainland). Tour was canceled by the agency before departure. He couldn't get all his money back, as allowed by local law.

Not to mention there is no real need for packaged tours to Japan and most of Asia.

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This post was determined to be inappropriate by the TripAdvisor community and has been removed.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

Our staff may also remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. Thanks for being a part of the TripAdvisor travel community!

Thanks all, for the helpful information. I didn't realize Chinese travel agencies were such a risk! Actually, I do realize that most parts of Asia I could do on my own, but I was thinking that perhaps a tour package may provide cheaper accommodations (for hotels at a higher star level). Anyway, I will definitely check out the other sources of information you have provided. Thanks!

I would not categorize Chinese travel agencies as a risk. Rather, I would say it might be difficult to recover funds if things go wrong. This is natural. For maximum legal protection, you should book from your home country so the laws of your residence applies to both you and the agency. (Ever try an international lawsuit??)

If you lived as a citizen in Shanghai, I am sure the city's agencies are no more risky than a Canadian agency for a Canadian citizen.

Always pay with your credit card, even if offered a hefty discount or 6% fee imposed, as it provides you decent protection if travel arrangements fall apart and are not received as agreed. Many of the "riskier" agencies around the world take cash and wire trangers only. Then how do you get your money back? Sue in Chinese courts in English?

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.