4-6 week trip planning, need help
Nov 6th, 2011, 09:44 AM
#1
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4-6 week trip planning, need help
Hi, as new members we have found the blogs very interesting reading and we hope you can help us out.
We (me, my wife and 12 yr old daughter) are planning a trip from Canada to Asia in either December/January 2012 or June/July 2013. Weather is the primary reason we do not have a definate start date. We don't want our daughter to miss too much school, but don't want to travel in July/August.
We are definately going to China but have no idea how much time to budget there, how many other countries to visit and for how long. This is our first trip to Asia and we will not likely be going again for a considerable length of time and certainly won't have 4-6 weeks the next time. Obviously we want to see and do as much as we can, but not be exhausted doing it. Having a 12 year old along is a huge factor in our planning as well. While money is a factor, it is not a huge priority. That said, if there are places that we can see without a guide or tour we would appreciate knowing. Your tips and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
We (me, my wife and 12 yr old daughter) are planning a trip from Canada to Asia in either December/January 2012 or June/July 2013. Weather is the primary reason we do not have a definate start date. We don't want our daughter to miss too much school, but don't want to travel in July/August.
We are definately going to China but have no idea how much time to budget there, how many other countries to visit and for how long. This is our first trip to Asia and we will not likely be going again for a considerable length of time and certainly won't have 4-6 weeks the next time. Obviously we want to see and do as much as we can, but not be exhausted doing it. Having a 12 year old along is a huge factor in our planning as well. While money is a factor, it is not a huge priority. That said, if there are places that we can see without a guide or tour we would appreciate knowing. Your tips and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Nov 6th, 2011, 10:14 AM
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First congrats on your trip many great ways to go there.
www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/china
Would be a big consideration for me May/June best for Bejing
then work my way around based on budget and desires from
there.When a newbie with a family tours of quality tended to
be best www.affordabletours.com/china many options Globus 40%
off now good personal experience with them in the past.
would consider a round robin of all the major areas
perhaps a cruise... ctrip.com best locals
3-4 weeks for me at least there maybye hook on Phuket or
Bali or Angkor theangkorguide.net largest temple complex
in Asia. www.zicasso.com good for upscale
www.kensingtontours.com for more adventure...
It is a little harder but way cheaper for me to self-guide
book my own hotels usually Priceline Hong Kong asiarooms.com
fly econos like airasia.com or train around seat61.com.
Stay flexible for best experience.
China and major tourist sites are all pretty safe...
insuremytrip.com always wise I avoid the monsoon season in
the south and extreme cold of the north in winter.
There are many scammers touts on the travel boards do careful
research I never wire money always pay with CC/Paypal.
Happy Planning!
www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/china
Would be a big consideration for me May/June best for Bejing
then work my way around based on budget and desires from
there.When a newbie with a family tours of quality tended to
be best www.affordabletours.com/china many options Globus 40%
off now good personal experience with them in the past.
would consider a round robin of all the major areas
perhaps a cruise... ctrip.com best locals
3-4 weeks for me at least there maybye hook on Phuket or
Bali or Angkor theangkorguide.net largest temple complex
in Asia. www.zicasso.com good for upscale
www.kensingtontours.com for more adventure...
It is a little harder but way cheaper for me to self-guide
book my own hotels usually Priceline Hong Kong asiarooms.com
fly econos like airasia.com or train around seat61.com.
Stay flexible for best experience.
China and major tourist sites are all pretty safe...
insuremytrip.com always wise I avoid the monsoon season in
the south and extreme cold of the north in winter.
There are many scammers touts on the travel boards do careful
research I never wire money always pay with CC/Paypal.
Happy Planning!
Nov 6th, 2011, 11:26 AM
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You can see any/all of China without a tour or a guide. You can opt to have a company set up hotels and transport for you, but you can do this yourself.
China has much to see and do, you could spend your whole time there or add on somewhere else. Take it slow, you want to enjoy your trip.
China has much to see and do, you could spend your whole time there or add on somewhere else. Take it slow, you want to enjoy your trip.
Nov 6th, 2011, 01:55 PM
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As Kathie says, you can visit China without a tour or guide if that is your preference - and you can have a wonderful time! Even with as much as 4 to 6 weeks, you'll need to be selective in what you visit.
I spent 4 weeks on my own in northern China. If you haven't seen my trip report, click on my name. Fair warning: it's a long report!
I spent 4 weeks on my own in northern China. If you haven't seen my trip report, click on my name. Fair warning: it's a long report!
Nov 6th, 2011, 10:06 PM
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If I were you I would try to avoid winter. Most of China wil be quite cold. In the south the temperature also goes below 10 degrees and often there is inadequate heating.
4 to 6 weeks is enough time if you only want to do China. Actually you will not see it all in 6 weeks. The question is, what are your priorities? Culture, history, nature...? Understand that most of the culture and history is in the north and most of the scenery is in the south and west.
It is fairly cheap to travel in China compared to many other places in the world. however the country is huge and it takes time to go from one place to the next.
For such a long trip you should invest in a good travel guidebook with photos to help you pick places. Typically, on a first trip people will go to Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'An, Guilin/Yangshuo and Hong Kong. This takes 3 weeks or so. Then, depending on your interest you pick from Sichuan (Chengdu), Yunnan (LiJiang, Dali, Shangrila), a number od towns surrounding Shanghai (Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing and some water towns). And if you feel adventurous you can look at places such as Pingyao.....
You can easily book hotels yourself on the internet. You can also book domestic flights (not too far in advance) on ctrip.com or travelzen.com. The bigger cities have good subway systems and are easy to navigate on your own. You may wish to hire a guide in smaller place. It is rather cheap.
4 to 6 weeks is enough time if you only want to do China. Actually you will not see it all in 6 weeks. The question is, what are your priorities? Culture, history, nature...? Understand that most of the culture and history is in the north and most of the scenery is in the south and west.
It is fairly cheap to travel in China compared to many other places in the world. however the country is huge and it takes time to go from one place to the next.
For such a long trip you should invest in a good travel guidebook with photos to help you pick places. Typically, on a first trip people will go to Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'An, Guilin/Yangshuo and Hong Kong. This takes 3 weeks or so. Then, depending on your interest you pick from Sichuan (Chengdu), Yunnan (LiJiang, Dali, Shangrila), a number od towns surrounding Shanghai (Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing and some water towns). And if you feel adventurous you can look at places such as Pingyao.....
You can easily book hotels yourself on the internet. You can also book domestic flights (not too far in advance) on ctrip.com or travelzen.com. The bigger cities have good subway systems and are easy to navigate on your own. You may wish to hire a guide in smaller place. It is rather cheap.
