1 independent reviews for Taiwan small group tour

Dear Mr. Blaxhult, Thank you for your feedback on our Highlights of Taiwan Group Tour. Following our request for further clarification on the feedback from you, we understand that the focus of the tour, as advertised and run, was possibly not really what you were looking for, as it featured many traditional cultural aspects, such as temples, at the expense of interactions with local people, to experience how everyday life happens in Taiwan. Group tours will generally feature a significant proportion of cultural highlights, to provide a historical context to how a country or region has evolved, as well as sites of natural beauty; our tour of Taiwan was designed with this approach. Regent Vacations does offer both group and individual travel experiences and we hope to be able to help you with a more tailored itinerary for your future travel plans, which allows the interaction with local people you sought on this tour. The tour is run by our local Taiwan agents, a company which is wholly owned, managed and staffed by Taiwanese people. They have been offering tours since 1971 and in that time have become an important contributor to the country’s economy and a significant Taiwanese employer of tour leaders, drivers and guides. The tour is designed to use local hotels which are also owned, managed and staffed by Taiwanese people - we try to avoid using international chain hotels on our tours wherever possible. The tour introduces guests to many parts of the country allowing a deeper understanding of the country’s culture and customs – it is not all about the glitz and bright lights of Taipei. When staying in Taroko Gorge guests stay in the Leader Village Hotel which employs local aboriginal staff and features art made by local craftsmen for sale in the gift store. This not only keeps money in the local economy but also helps maintain their traditions for future generations. The tour is on a bed and breakfast basis with all extra meals sourced locally and paid for by guests in-country which further keeps money in the local economy. The light lunch included at the Foguanshan Monastery is provided by the monks and is paid for by our operator to help support the monastery.