River tours in China - please share your experiences
Mar 26th, 2015, 06:26 AM
#1
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River tours in China - please share your experiences
Although we usually avoid tours and prefer research our trips abroad and travel on our own, China seems large and daunting enough to leave it all to the pros. We had been considering a tour with The New York Times travel group, or National Geographic, but they are very expensive. For less than half the price, and very similar itinerary (4-star rather than 5-star accommodations), we can take a Viking River cruise and tour. The difference in price would allow us to take a second vacation this year!
We've read many glowing and very good reviews, but a few random comments and complaints have us wondering about: first, an exceptionally grueling schedule with many 5 a.m. wake-up calls; second, "forced" visits to factories to buy stuff we don't want; and, finally, not getting to see pandas outside a zoo.
We plan to spend two weeks in early June this year, and would appreciate any comments from people who have taken the Viking tours, or similar ones.
Thanks
We've read many glowing and very good reviews, but a few random comments and complaints have us wondering about: first, an exceptionally grueling schedule with many 5 a.m. wake-up calls; second, "forced" visits to factories to buy stuff we don't want; and, finally, not getting to see pandas outside a zoo.
We plan to spend two weeks in early June this year, and would appreciate any comments from people who have taken the Viking tours, or similar ones.
Thanks
Mar 26th, 2015, 07:51 AM
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No reason to take a tour. Go to the top of this page, choose view by country and choose China. Then look for those posts flagged trip reports. Read a few of the reports by independent travelers to China.
I don't recommend a Viking River cruise - look for some of the reviews here of the river cruises in China. You can easily book hotels and transport yourself - you don't need a tour company.
Decide exactly what it is you want to do/see/experience in China and build an itinerary around that. While the complaints you mention "grueling schedule with many 5 a.m. wake-up calls; second, "forced" visits to factories to buy stuff we don't want; and, finally, not getting to see pandas outside a zoo. " are valid, China tours are plagued by other problems. Yes, there will be plenty of shopping stops, but be aware that the guides for these tours will tell you the propaganda they learned which often has little to do with the actual history of a place.
I don't recommend a Viking River cruise - look for some of the reviews here of the river cruises in China. You can easily book hotels and transport yourself - you don't need a tour company.
Decide exactly what it is you want to do/see/experience in China and build an itinerary around that. While the complaints you mention "grueling schedule with many 5 a.m. wake-up calls; second, "forced" visits to factories to buy stuff we don't want; and, finally, not getting to see pandas outside a zoo. " are valid, China tours are plagued by other problems. Yes, there will be plenty of shopping stops, but be aware that the guides for these tours will tell you the propaganda they learned which often has little to do with the actual history of a place.
Mar 26th, 2015, 06:03 PM
#4
If you want to see pandas outside a zoo you need to go to Chengdu, not on a river cruise.
I have been to China three times, once on a Smithsonian tour, once on an Intrepid tour and the third time was seven weeks on my own. On the Smithsonian tour I felt that I was in a cocoon, and although the food was good (unusual for tours) there were plenty of shopping ops. The Intrepid tour, from Beijing to Kashgar, was quite different, involving local transport, meals on our own and minimal shopping. But it might be too "budget" level for you.
Traveling on my own was the most rewarding. I agree with Kathie's suggestion, and you could start by clicking on kja's name and reading her TR.
I have been to China three times, once on a Smithsonian tour, once on an Intrepid tour and the third time was seven weeks on my own. On the Smithsonian tour I felt that I was in a cocoon, and although the food was good (unusual for tours) there were plenty of shopping ops. The Intrepid tour, from Beijing to Kashgar, was quite different, involving local transport, meals on our own and minimal shopping. But it might be too "budget" level for you.
Traveling on my own was the most rewarding. I agree with Kathie's suggestion, and you could start by clicking on kja's name and reading her TR.
)
Mar 27th, 2015, 02:19 PM
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kja, and thursdaysd, it sounds like an absolutely amazing trip -- and one that we might have loved 25 years ago. But at this point in life, we don't want to be struggling with figuring out subways, or jostling bags through crowded airports or train stations, in a country where everything (including both the language and the food) is so totally foreign. I like knowing for sure that we can get some fresh fruit and coffee every morning -- a given in Italy or France, or South America. kja's TR confirms my suspicions that traveling on our own in China is outside our comfort zone!
So, I am back to asking for reviews from people who have taken tours of China!
So, I am back to asking for reviews from people who have taken tours of China!
Mar 27th, 2015, 08:10 PM
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Just note that at any 5-star hotel on the usual route for a first timer (Beijing-Xi'An-Shanghai), you'll have fresh fruit, coffee and excellent food every morning.
Most of the regulars on these forums tend to be the DIY type and rarely do tours. So there isn't much expertise about them here. However I have read enough comments about tours and have friends who worked as guide to give you a few warnings.
If one tour is half the price of the other, then there is a reason for it. There is nothing magic. Cheaper tour will put you in hotels in inconvenient location (fringe of town), there will be several "shopping stops" so that they can earn a commission, the food will be bland and they will take you to all the free site and not always the best sites. You will probably a Chinese company. So I would cut the middle man and deal directly with a Chinese agency. The only thing that you are losing is potentially some protection offered to consumers in your home country.
Depending on your budget, rather than being hauled around like sardines, you may look into a private tour. You make the decision and they execute. It is not really expensive. Ultimately you could just book guides in each city but that would still require you to do some work which you appear not willing to to. Then a reliable Chinese agency may be your solution. The following are well established and get a lot of positive reviews: http://www.chinahighlights.com/ and http://www.chinaodysseytours.com/ and
Most of the regulars on these forums tend to be the DIY type and rarely do tours. So there isn't much expertise about them here. However I have read enough comments about tours and have friends who worked as guide to give you a few warnings.
If one tour is half the price of the other, then there is a reason for it. There is nothing magic. Cheaper tour will put you in hotels in inconvenient location (fringe of town), there will be several "shopping stops" so that they can earn a commission, the food will be bland and they will take you to all the free site and not always the best sites. You will probably a Chinese company. So I would cut the middle man and deal directly with a Chinese agency. The only thing that you are losing is potentially some protection offered to consumers in your home country.
Depending on your budget, rather than being hauled around like sardines, you may look into a private tour. You make the decision and they execute. It is not really expensive. Ultimately you could just book guides in each city but that would still require you to do some work which you appear not willing to to. Then a reliable Chinese agency may be your solution. The following are well established and get a lot of positive reviews: http://www.chinahighlights.com/ and http://www.chinaodysseytours.com/ and
Mar 28th, 2015, 10:45 AM
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You don't say what age you are, but "at this point in life" you might be interested in Road Scholar, a large non-profit US based company that offers educational tours for seniors. We have been only to New Zealand with them but they are very highly rated by those who take trips just about anywhere. They do not allow guided shopping excursions.
You also might want to take a look at Peregrine, an adventure tour company based in Australia. We went on a small group tour of China with them in 2006 and were quite satisfied. The local guide earned a degree as a tour guide, was knowledgeable and courteous and spoke excellent English. He did not engage in political discussions, nor would I expect any Chines national to do so with a foreigner. There were a couple of shopping stops.
Like you, we felt the logistics were just too daunting particularly given we knew nothing of the language and could not read even the most basic signs. all we felt we got a good opportunity to see something of the fascinating country.
You also might want to take a look at Peregrine, an adventure tour company based in Australia. We went on a small group tour of China with them in 2006 and were quite satisfied. The local guide earned a degree as a tour guide, was knowledgeable and courteous and spoke excellent English. He did not engage in political discussions, nor would I expect any Chines national to do so with a foreigner. There were a couple of shopping stops.
Like you, we felt the logistics were just too daunting particularly given we knew nothing of the language and could not read even the most basic signs. all we felt we got a good opportunity to see something of the fascinating country.
Mar 28th, 2015, 06:43 PM
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BTW, if my trip report scared you, please note that I went rather far from the beaten Western-tourist path. If you stick with the major cities (e.g., Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, and Hong Kong), you really shouldn't have any trouble on your own. Just wanted to clarify that....
