I am a frequent Ctrip user. I used it to book  flight,hotel and holiday package or simply check train information, or read other travellers’ travel log. I know there are a lot websites like Ctrip now in China such as Elong etc. But I still stick to Ctrip. No reason.

Okay, after I decided that I would like to spend my Christmas holiday in Hongkong this year, I started to book my holiday package on Ctrip.

Then I found this flexible flight +hotel package from Shanghai to Hongkong. ‘Flexible’ means I can decide whichever date I want to go and come back and how many nights hotel accommodation I want.

The quotation I got was 3900RMB which included return flights with Dragon Airline Shanghai to Hongkong (21-27 Dec) and 3 nights Cosmopolitan Hotel (4 star) in Hongkong.

Actually the price was not bad. So I placed the order online. A couple of days later, I got a call from a Ctrip lady to confirm the order with me.

Everything was fine until she said:

‘because you are travelling alone, so to book this package, you will be charged with an extra cost of 1300RMB.’

Wow, I didn’t know that travelling alone costs so much.

The Ctrip lady did nicely explained a lot to me the reasons. What I understand was the package was designed actually for two people. So based on the assumption of two travellers sharing a hotel room, the price could be lowered at a certain level. But if only one traveller, such low prices won’t be possible. So additional cost must be charged to make the travel agency profitable.

Then I did a bit research again on Ctrip. For example:

5 day package Shanghai to Hongkong (21-25 Dec)

1 person: 4700RMB

2 person: 6200RMB (3100RMB per person)

So I have to really start thinking about whom I am going to invite to join my 2009 Christmas Hongkong holiday!

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