Hi, my name is Douglas Thompson and I am the managing director of Utopia Tours and I would like to comment about our prices. We offer all-inclusive packages that include airport transfers hotel accommodations (including tax and service), breakfast daily, sightseeing with a private English-speaking guide and, in most cases, private car and driver and admissions costs. Our customers get the benefit of our experience. You can certainly spend a lot of time booking hotels and trying to find guides who meet our standards (good luck!) It's easy to get the name and email address of someone's boyfriend back in Thailand. However, they are probably not licensed, probably have no experience, are probably udependable, and will probably take you to shops where they collect a commission on what you buy.

Despite comments on this thread, we don't mind customizing trips at all. Because no groups are involved we can be very creative. We realize that every customer is different so it would be foolish for us to take a "take it or leave it" attitude about packages. I do not believe any participants in this thread have had first hand experience with a customized itinerary from Utopia Tours.

We realize that price is an important factor that our customers use in making the decision to use us or not. In post-tour questionnaires an overwhelming number of guests consider our prices "expensive but a good value." That's why almost 40% of our business comes from repeat customers, including Mr. Cruz, who we look forward to seeing again here in September.