I just wanted to share this information...
After reading the boards for the last few days, I just called Leo Hostel to ask about getting a permit to Tibet.
A woman answered and after asking her about a permit, the first thing she did was ask me to wait a moment and then I could hear her asking someone else in the background, "Do we do still Tibet permits?" That was worrying.
She then transferred to me a man on the phone - I don't know if it was Leo or not. He proceeded to tell me that the only thing he could offer was a deal for more than RMB 1,500 for just ONE DAY tour in Lhasa and it didn't include the train ticket! He did say that it cost RMB 500 for the permit and that the other RMB 1,000+ was for local transportation and tour guide to pick me up from the train station.
I told him that I had already asked a number of agencies and knew the prices and that RMB 1,000 for guide and transportation was much more than what others were quoting for "tour arrangements". He just murmured something and said I should go with someone else then.
So far, I am not impressed with the service or helpfulness at Leo Hostel. In other postings, they have recently not been successful in getting permits for a few travelers. I called them because others had recommended them, but given my experience, I cannot recommend them in good faith. I'm sorry for that as I'm always looking for good service providers in China (and elsewhere) that I can recommend to other travelers.
Does anyone have any other recommendations for permit services in Beijing?
Has anyone done their permit remotely (i.e. called from Beijing or somewhere else to Chengdu) and had it done that way?
I am only trying to relate my recent experience as others have.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Travel safe.
Hey Hendri, glad that you finally gave us some real positive information, at last. You've made it without your permit being checked but somehow you managed to get a permit, so you are honoured to be the real "Thorntree`s joke of the year". ;P
Yesterday we sent money from Shenzhen to Chengdu to order permits and train tickets from Helen at windhorsetour.com (not to be confused with windhorsetours.com which is a different company. She has been mentioned before on this forum. Her phone number is 28 - 85593923. The permits cost 400Y each and we will collect them in Chengdu before we board the train. I think the main use of permits is to keep in your back pocket just in case you are unlucky enough to be in Lhasa when the Chinese government decides to have a crackdown!
Hello everyone :)
Just to clarify: We previously offered just Lhasa TTB/TTP permits - without tours. However, now our agents are only willing to issue permits as part of a tour package. Many agencies have changed to do things in the same way, and some have even stopped business altogether (like our previous agents).
We believe that our tour prices are quite reasonable in comparison to other online companies. We have put this month's tours and prices on our site today. You will see that our prices are quite competitive, especially if you travel in groups of 3 or 4. We advise everyone to check them out for themselves.
Please remember that we are not a travel agency. We are a busy hostel trying its hardest to provide a special extra service to our customers. People here have been very satisfied by our service, both before and during their time in Lhasa. Guests continue to leave from the hostel every week.
Once again, if you have any more problems or criticisms, please clarify them with us direct by email first. Not all of the staff deal with Lhasa enquiries so it is best to check our site and then email us if you have any questions.
It's a confusing and frustrating time for everyone going to Lhasa, so let's try to keep things positive :)
Regards
Leo Hostel
PS We were asked today by some agents if we had any customers arriving today in Lhasa. There had been another problem with a foreign traveller (not our customer). We advise everyone to travel responsibly in Tibet, as you might just be the one who spoils it for many others...
www.leohostel.com
Dear Leo Hostel -
It was because of posts like the one above that I originally called your service for assistance, unfortunately when I was actually in direct contact with your establishment, the service was much less courteous and attentive.
I checked your website for the current prices.
At the moment, you post the cost for hard and soft sleeper ticket prices as offered by the train station, and mention service charge will be added. You do not mention how much your service charge is. How much so you charge for the service of getting the tickets?
Also, below are the tour prices you have on your website for what seems to be the most basic 5-day tour package. I had asked for just a permit to travel to Lhasa and you said that was not doable.
DAY 1: The guide will meet you at the airport or station, give you your TTB permit and take you to your hotel. You can then rest overnight in Lhasa.
DAY 2: Rest in Lhasa.
DAY 3: Guided tour of Lhasa: the Potala Palace , the Jokhang Temple, and the Backhor Market
DAY 4: Day tour to Namtso Lake via Yangpachen hot-spring. On the way you will see Nyenchen Thanglha snow mountain ranges, and also you will pass the Nagela Pass. Rest overnight in Lhasa .
DAY 5: Guide will take you to the station or airport so you can leave Lhasa.
Price per person ($1 = 7.6rmb)
1 person group: 5400rmb ($710)
2 person group: 3480rmb ($458)
3 person group: 2840rmb ($374)
4 person group: 2400rmb ($316)
5 person group: 2092rmb ($275)
6-8 person group: 1753rmb ($231)
BUT, in an ad on a different board, you mention (and I quote):
Hello :)
Want to go to Lhasa, Tibet? If you are a foreigner you will need a permit to enter Lhasa.
We are probably the largest independent Lhasa permit/ticket booking agency in Beijing. We are widely recommended on the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree forum.
We can arrange permits from most cities within China. We can also arrange train and plane tickets.
- You do not have to stay at our hostel for this service.
- You do not have to join a tour for the Lhasa permit.
- You can travel to Lhasa independantly.
For lots more information please go to the ticket booking page on our website: www.leohostel.com<BR>Kind regards
Beijing Leo Hostel
You are saying a lot of great sounding things, but from the information I have found and the conversation I had with your staff, your information is inconsistent and it seems maybe even misleading.
I first approached you because I was hoping to find a reliable and affordable travel service. I am disappointed that you seem to be questionable. I have contacted other posters on this board who have put forth your hostel as recommended for Lhasa Travel and the only 2 I have heard back from have said they haven't actually gotten permits from you in the past.
I invite others to comment on this thread with either positive or negative experiences. I am only trying to get at an accurate and fair sense of what the situation is.
I am happy to add that the other ad I mentioned was posted by Leo Hostel on the other board on May 8, 2007 before some of the recent happenings in Tibet. However, there have been several recent reports of people getting permits and traveling without tours in recent days. This leads me to believe that while it may be more difficult, it is not impossible and some travel agents are just using excuses to take money from travelers.
Hello prolyfic
Most of the answers to your questions are in our last message above ^^)
There appear to still be some small agencies offering individual permits without tours. However, all the other big agencies say they are crazy (literally) and will get into big trouble. Our previous agent, who just sold individual permits, has now stopped his business, losing a lot of money as a consequence. He fears that he may be imprisoned if he continues issuing individual permits. We obviously do not want any trouble for our customers or for ourselves, so we must follow the advice from the agencies until we hear otherwise.
Our ticket commission charge is 50rmb or 100rmb per ticket, depending on how long you stay at the hostel, which type of Lhasa ticket it is, and from which city you depart from.
If anyone wants to talk to us about Lhasa/Tibet tours, please check our website first and then EMAIL US. If you are able to come to the hostel, please telephone us first to arrange an appointment with MR LEE. Discussing tours with reception over the phone is probably not a good idea, as they are far too busy and can only give basic information.
Regards
Leo Hostel
PS Hendri. The more people found to be travelling without a permit into Lhasa the more chance there is of another set of restrictions from the government.
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