CTrip.com Review: Flight, Car, and Tour Services

First things first, I would like to THANK everyone for providing extremely resourceful tips on my trip planning to Asia (PEK-SHA-CAN-HKG) back in Sept 2010.

CTrip.com - If the rating scale is from A to F where A is = Best, this site certainly deserves a solid A. The booking was simple and any questions were easily answered via email (always got a polite response either same day or the next business day depending on when I email them) or on-line chat service. Note that the online service is operated during Asia time zone, meaning evenings for me in EST zone.

Air and hotel were booked 1-2 months prior to trip since I am one who liked a certain peace of mind when I am far, far away from home.

1. AIRFARE: Booked one-way First Class seats from Beijing to Shanghai Hongqiao and Shanghai Hongqiao to Guangzhou. We selected the "Early Bird" pricing via China Eastern Airlines and chose a morning flight with the biggest plane (not a propeller person). Reservations were made online and credit card was charged in RMB, currency of country. Seating is not pre-assigned and only given at check-in. Boarding is an adventure. When the time for boarding nears, EVERYBODY flocks to the gate. When First Class boarding is announced, EVERYBODY disregards and runs to the attendants. I had to "nagivate" along the sea of people to the front with child and stroller in one arm, while holding an elder on the other.

Note: Some airlines in China do NOT allow children in First/Business Class.

a) Beijing to Shanghai: VIP check-in was a breeze and the lounge was a wonderful experience with more food choices for breakfast than the previous Presidential Lounge in Newark. The Airbus A330 flatbed seats were large and spacious with a 2-2-2 configuration. Full lunch service with china and silverware for this short flight. Flight cost for US$190/p.

b) Shanghai to Guangzhou: VIP check-in also a breeze and the modern lounge was the best of this trip. Breakfast was a chinese-style buffet. The Boeing 737 is also large and spacious with a 2-1-2 configuration. Full lunch service with china and silverware. Flight cost was US$215 for adult; US$203 for child.

2. CAR SERVICE: US$53 for mini-van service (Buick) from/to airport in Beijing. US$50 for mini-van service (Buick) from airport to hotel in Shanghai and US$45 for mini-van service from hotel to airport. All drivers were very polite, helped with the luggage, offered safe driving, and no one hinted that a tip was required, although I did provide them with one. At both airports and hotels, drivers held up large printed signs with my last name and flight numbers and they are easily spotted in a sea of people.

Note: Drivers do not speak English. Thanks to the 2 years of Mandarin that I took (way) back in college, the driver and I was able to briefly conversed on local sights and food recommendations.

3. Tour - we stayed in Shanghai for 5 days of which 1 day was reserved for the World Expo. We decided to take a tour of the famed "watertowns". The Le Meriden offered English speaking guided tours but at over double the $$ of what I found on CTrip! The day before the trip, I booked a 1-day trip to Suzhou. The online booking was again extremely easy and I got email confirmation shortly after. The tour guide even texted me with her name, bus number, meeting place, along with her phone number in case I have questions -- AMAZING. I have NEVER been on a tour where the tour guide contacted me before the trip!!! The trip was about 2.5 hours each way and we spent 7 hours in Suzhou. A ride on the canal on a little canoe with provided (the paddler of canoe asked for tips to sing for us. The 10 other fellow riders conversed happily with us. They are all from mainland China and was happily surprised to meet folks from the other half of the world! ), as well as extrance to a musuem. Lunch was not provided and I lucked out (well, not quite luck but it was during lunch time and what better restaurant to choose one where it is nearly packed with locals) and found an amazing restaurant which served delicious food - wontons, noodles, soup, etc. Our table was filled with food and everyone looked at us as if we had starved for days. I guess it is not hard to single out us non-locals, besides from our skin color or the way we dress!! The name of the restaurant if I remembered correctly was called "Dong Wu Mien Guang" on the main street. Cost of tour was US$79/p. Tip was not demanded nor asked of us. Drop off was at the same location and we came back at the expected time. An excellent tour and I highly recommend it!