How Much You Actually Save
A route pack costs €49–€99. Here’s what the same level of planning costs everywhere else.
| Feature | ROAM Route Pack | Independent Planner | DIY Research |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | €49–€99 one-time | €200–€650+ per itinerary | €0 — but see “Time Cost” below |
| Delivery time | ✓ Instant download | ✗ Days to weeks, back-and-forth | ✗ 20–40+ hours of your own research |
| Hotel specificity | ✓ Exact room type, floor, orientation | ✗ Often general suggestions | ✗ Whatever you can piece together |
| China logistics | ✓ Full Digital Kit included | ✗ Not usually included | ✗ You’re on your own |
| Bilingual address cards | ✓ Included for every stop | ✗ Rarely included | ✗ Not included |
| Booking markup | ✓ None — book direct at cost | ✗ Some planners charge booking fees | ✗ None, but no vetting either |
| Timing guidance | ✓ Golden Hour Clock for every stop | ✗ Rarely included | ✗ You’re on your own |
| Troubleshooting | ✓ Full playbook included | ✗ Usually not included | ✗ Trial and error on the ground |
A Real Example
A twelve-night custom China itinerary from an independent trip-planning service typically runs €200–€650 — and that’s for the planning alone. You still book and pay for everything yourself, same as with ROAM.
The ROAM Silk Road route pack
— twelve nights, five cities, six hotels, full rail logistics, and the Digital Kit included.
What “Free” Actually Costs
DIY research isn’t really free — it’s your own time, usually 20 to 40+ hours across blogs, forums, and video reviews, with no way to verify whether the advice you’re piecing together is current, accurate, or even still open. A route pack compresses that research into something you can read in one sitting, built by someone who’s actually been to every stop.
A note on fully-guided group tours
Escorted group tours of similar length typically run €3,000–€6,500+ per person — but that price includes international flights, a live guide, most meals, and group transport, which a route pack doesn’t provide. It’s a genuinely different product for a genuinely different kind of traveller. If you want full independence, your own pace, and control over your own budget, a route pack is the tool for that. If you want everything handled for you in person, a route pack isn’t a replacement for a guided tour — and we wouldn’t pretend otherwise.
Figures reflect general market rates for independent custom-itinerary planning services and escorted group tours as of 2026, gathered from publicly available pricing. All prices in Euro (€). Individual rates vary by provider, destination, and trip complexity.