Ariel Sam

Review of West Coast Holidays

DO NOT BOOK tours from this company (ESPECIALLY on...

DO NOT BOOK tours from this company (ESPECIALLY online).
Problem #1: Our tour guide had to leave at the last day so we were transferred to a tour guide named AMY from mainland China (average height, short hair bob that is evenly cut, a bit chubby). For brunch, she took us to the Buffet@Asia located in the Silverado Ranch Plaza in Nevada. We did not want to eat buffet so decided to wander around the plaza and hopefully find a restroom to use, as the next drive would be to the Barstow Outlet (151 mi away, around 2.5 hours). We went into GNC and Amy had the audacity to come with us and inform the manager that we were part of her tour and she will be getting a commission on the things we buy. We left the store and decided to go to Target to shop and use the restroom. Amy came to us and said why go to Target, it's not open and there's nothing to shop around. It was 9:30 in the morning on a Sunday - Target is definitely open and there are definitely things to shop for (evidently she does not get commissions from Target). She treated us like we're not locals so beware! After brunch, I confronted her politely regarding her behavior and she started YELLING at me and pretended not to know what GNC was. I pointed at the store and she walked in the other direction and said "I don't know what GNC is. I don't know what you're talking about." At that point, it was close to a yelling match and I walked away. But man was a pissed and so I'm writing this here to try to prevent this from happening again. 2nd incident: when we got off the bus at the end of the day, Amy got into a fight with another passenger on the bus. Right before we stepped out, she said, "Who gets into a fight with the tour guide?!" EXCUSE YOU. Who gets into a fight with your passengers?

Problem #2: We were told the admission fee was $170/person for the 7-day tour (Antelope, Horseshoe Bend, Monument Valley, Arches, Yellowstone, Salt Lake City, Free Airforce Museum in Utah, Bryce, Zion, Las Vegas, Free Chocolate Factory, Barstow Outlet). However, once the bus left, we were told it was $215/person (additional $45 for the Monument Valley Jeep tour). All 36 tourists (booked via agencies and online, myself included in the former) did not know about this and had to produce this cash to attend Monument Valley as the attraction requires you to have a car or join the Jeep tour. People who did not pay basically did not experience Monument Valley, despite paying the admission fee for this. Zhongxin Tianyi - West Coast Holidays ( ) did not inform their customers before letting them book the tour and that's just not right.

Problem #3: We stayed at Rodeway Inn in Salina, UT for a night. Our beds and another passenger's beds had hair all over and were not changed nor made. I checked Expedia and for 2 people, it was only $60 that night. It was a 1.5 star. I am not extravagant and tend to book Motel 6 because it's the cheapest when I go on my own trips, but this is just a new low, especially when you paid Zhongxin Tianyi - West Coast Holidays ( ) for the hotels and you wonder how much they are making behind the scenes.

Other Problems (that I'm assuming are consistent with all Asian tours):
1. They will take you to buffets most of the time: tour guides get commission from this and if you don't go eat there, they will give you a dark look or will try to make your trip hell (like in my case).
2. At Las Vegas, we stayed pretty far from the strip (at the Stratosphere). Fabulous casino. The tour guides will then try to sell you night tours ($35/ person was the going rate.) The tour guide also tried to sell us the Las Vegas shows for more than what you can get online. I checked. The water show was only $135 and they were selling it for $170. Talk about bonus!
3. If you only understand English, this is not for you. They are not that fluent in English and will explain the highlights in 2 sentences. You would be missing a lot of history and background of the attractions/city. There is no translator - only the tour guide.
4. Your luggage may be moved without your permission!!