NON-Timeshare trip - Looking at Tour Options to China.....2013

[LisaH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LisaH]

BTW, McD is everywhere in China now. I think you will be fine
I would love to do this...my problem is I can only go away no more than two weeks (including all three weekends) Work really sucks when it interferes with my travel

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

BTW, McD is everywhere in China now. I think you will be fine
I would love to do this...my problem is I can only go away no more than two weeks (including all three weekends) Work really sucks when it interferes with my travel

That is why you will check with your local TAs to make this fit the timeframe necessary - leaving Friday evening returning on a Sunday....if some want to stay an extra day or two it could still work, similar to the Australia/New Zealand Cruise...
That's why we are throwing this around so early - to look at all options.

And please don't make me eat at MickeyD

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Did I hear Mickey?

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

The Official web site of the China National Tourist Office, Toronto, Canada
CNTO - China National Tourist Office
Visiting China - trip Advisor

Yangtze River
Yangtze River Travel Guide - Chinese Culture | YesChinaTour.com - Best China Travel Guide
Three Gorges Travel Guide - Chinese Culture | YesChinaTour.com - Best China Travel Guide

Beijing - China National Tourist Office
Visitbeijing.com.cn, Official website of Beijing Tourism Administration
Beijing Vacations, Tourism and Beijing, China Travel Reviews - TripAdvisor

Shanghai - China National Tourist Office
Visiting Shanghai - Trip Advisor

Silk Road- China National Tourist Office
Xi'an - China National Tourist Office
Visiting Xi'an - Trip Advisor
Terra Cotta Warriers - Trip Advisor
Museum of the Terra-cotta Warriers

Official Guilin Visitors Website
Visting Guilin - Trip Advisor

Lhasa - China National Tourist Office
Visting Tibet - Trip Advisor

Discover Hong Kong - Official Travel Guide from the Hong Kong Tourism Board
Visiting Hong Kong - Trip Advisor

[mpizza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mpizza]

That's a lot of research to digest! (No pun intended on the food comments.)
And actually, I found the Chinese as passionate about food as the Italians, and enjoyed many great meals. No need for Mickey Ds, you can always find a quick meal at a dumpling house. And hey, some of us are from NJ and can push into line with the best of them!

Xi'an and the Terra Cotta Warriors and the Great Wall are must dos in my book.

I think a two week trip with travel days tacked on either end is optimal, not too rushed and not too sparse on experiences.

Maria

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Amazon.com: China (Eyewitness Travel Guides) (9780756660987): Donald Bedford, Deh-Ta Hsiung, Christopher Knowles, David Leffman, Simon Lewis, Peter Neville-Hadley, Andrew Stone: Books



Amazon.com: Beijing and Shanghai (Eyewitness Travel Guides) (9780756660925): DK Publishing: Books



Amazon.com: AAA Spiral China (Aaa Spiral Guides) (9781595082343): Graham Bond: Books


At your library or Amazon....I always buy then 'used' and slightly older volume because tourist sites don't change - if you are not familiar with them, the Eyewitness series has beautiful pictures....

Some different Tour Companies
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/ - interestig - does private small group tours.
http://www.chinatour.com/ - quotes air inclusive/or not!
http://www.chinadiscoverytours.com/china/c-tg.html Grand China Discovery 16 Days / 13 Nights TOUR CODE TG 2011 Beijing - Xian - Guilin - Shanghai - Suzhou - Hong Kong

[dcwojo Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dcwojo]

I love Shanghai. You will enjoy the city. I have only been there Hong Kong and Beijing and loved all three.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

Are there any options for Singapore? I was fascinated by both Singapore and Hong Kong but only spent about 1 1/2 days in each. I have been on only 1 tour and the thing I didn't like was that we had to be either at breakfast or on the bus by 7:00 AM. Are all tours like that?

[IreneLF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close IreneLF]

Pat I"m thinking YES.
And the ones we have been looking at have 5 flights to get to the various places, and then some time in the cities that day, so they must be leaving EARLY.

I have never toured for many reasons preferring to do everything on my own, but I said if I ever go to China it would be on a tour.
I might do this just to see you up and out every day by 7 )

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

Pat I"m thinking YES.
And the ones we have been looking at have 5 flights to get to the various places, and then some time in the cities that day, so they must be leaving EARLY.

I have never toured for many reasons preferring to do everything on my own, but I said if I ever go to China it would be on a tour.
I might do this just to see you up and out every day by 7 )

That may actually keep from going. I am so miserable when I have to get up early. A couple of days would be okay but not every day.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

That may actually keep from going. I am so miserable when I have to get up early. A couple of days would be okay but not every day.

If you look at my post #6 (an itinerary I like as long as we could add on a Hong Kong option for those interested (and able to stay longer) at the end) - you will see that not all tours/touring are "included" so you could opt out of morning trips and arrange afternoon departures on your own/private group if you like.

I also like that there are 'only' 5 dinners - so we could also do our own thing those evenings, extend the touring day/add other activities and eat independent of the group.
The one 'complaint' my friend who did a uniworld tour for 14 days was that while the breakfast was a buffet that u could pick foods and/or skip if u like, the rest of the dinners were 'same same' every night.

I am beginning to think that the lower priced/less inclusive type Gate 1 Travel Tour would work out better because of the flexibility of everything NOT being included - because if you pay for it you HAVE TO DO IT, don't cha!

Something to think about.

[PeelBoy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PeelBoy]

Pat，

I am thinking of doing one of those trips next year, i.e. 2012. Here in Toronto, Canada, the competition is really cut throat that a two weeks Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, plus the river cruise will cost $1999 Canadian dollars. Tibet or Xinjiang or Guilin costs $2999. A lot cheaper than what you have found.

See this as an example: China Picturesque 14 Days Tour

[PeelBoy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PeelBoy]

Also, you can take a look at Tian Bao Travel at Tian Bao Travel.

This company leads in the competition and offers a very low price.

You can attach a one week time share in Beijing before or after your trip. RCI has lots of availability.

[davhu1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close davhu1]

After several months of search, we decided on China Essence 14 Days Tour Code: PCE with Peony Tours (Ritz Tours) for ~$3,200 NYC departure.

One thing nice about this tour is that the air carrier is Cathay Pacific. No additional charge for later departure. This allows us to stay an extra week. Taking the train back to Guangzhou. The carrier also partner with American Airlines and we can get enough miles for a dometic ticket.

We decided not to do the Yantze Cruise. Most people who have been there did not highly recommend it.

http://www.peonytours.com/ChinaTourD...x?tourcode=PCE

Visit: Beijing - Xian - Guilin - Yangshuo - Shanghai - Suzhou - Hong Kong

-Round trip transpacific air ticket
-China domestic air ticket(s)
-Daily comprehensive sightseeing program as outlined in the itinerary
-Fine meals as specified in itinerary including daily breakfast in hotels and local specialty cuisines (all meals covered, except in Hong Kong)
-Special entertainments:

Beijing --- “The Legend of Kungfu” Stage Show
Xian --- Tang Dynasty Stage Show
Yangshuo ---“Yingxiang Liusanjie” Stage Show on Li River
Shanghai --- Chinese Acrobatics Show

Knowledgeable tour guide throughout China

Travel Insurance is provided at no addtional charge if full payment is received by Peony Tours 60 days prior to the departure date

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

After several months of search, we decided on China Essence 14 Days Tour Code: PCE with Peony Tours (Ritz Tours) for ~$3,200 NYC departure.

One thing nice about this tour is that the air carrier is Cathay Pacific. No additional charge for later departure. This allows us to stay an extra week. Taking the train back to Guangzhou. The carrier also partner with American Airlines and we can get enough miles for a dometic ticket.

We decided not to do the Yantze Cruise. Most people who have been there did not highly recommend it.

http://www.peonytours.com/ChinaTourD...x?tourcode=PCE

Visit: Beijing - Xian - Guilin - Yangshuo - Shanghai - Suzhou - Hong Kong

-Round trip transpacific air ticket
-China domestic air ticket(s)
-Daily comprehensive sightseeing program as outlined in the itinerary
-Fine meals as specified in itinerary including daily breakfast in hotels and local specialty cuisines (all meals covered, except in Hong Kong)
-Special entertainments:

Beijing --- “The Legend of Kungfu” Stage Show
Xian --- Tang Dynasty Stage Show
Yangshuo ---“Yingxiang Liusanjie” Stage Show on Li River
Shanghai --- Chinese Acrobatics Show

Knowledgeable tour guide throughout China

Travel Insurance is provided at no addtional charge if full payment is received by Peony Tours 60 days prior to the departure date

Thank you - the price quoted is with air?

Do you know what is it without air as many will have FF miles to use.