Last summer I had gone on a trip to the USA with SOTC. I had chosen SOTC for they were the cheapest in the market with a fairly good tour combination that suited my requirements.
SOTC, I feel is still the cheapest amongst the biggies. However, there are certain extra expenditure that one will have to make which they do not disclose in the advertisements. The visa cost, the mediclaim insurance charges and if you would like to alter the date of travel(which most people do i.e stay back to visit some relatives) you will have to pay a bit extra. However, the extras do not add up to much and still it is the cheapest.
SOTCs Indian offices do need to improve. They delivered the tickets just a day prior to our leaving(but I believe that is done by all tour operators to save money in case of cancellations and certain airline rules), did not brief us anything(not even the fact that we need to take a conversion plug for the camcorder as in the USA there is a different electricity socket or that we need to take a mug for those used to the Indian way of cleaning up) and not single representative showed up even at the airport. In fact over our Red Label on Air India’s flight(which was very comfortable), we(my friend who had also booked with SOTC and I) even wondered if anyone would be there at JFK to receive us.
However, things changed as soon as we landed at USA. The guide was fantastic and the entire tour was smooth and meticulously planned. It was a memorable trip thereafter. The hotels were good, food great and there were no hassles whatever. Everything was taken care of. Overall at the price they charge it is definitely quite a’value for money’ tour.
S.R.Saha