kt

WE HATE TOURS! but... we don't speak Chinese and feel we probably need a tour for our October visit. Can anyone recommend a top notch tour company that offers lots of time on your own? We went to S. America with only airport transportation and hotels pre-arranged, but feel that would be too difficult for China -- right?

Kathy

Hi kt, I'm also anti-tour. For starters <BR>try entering in the "text search" box something like: china tour, then click the "match exact phrase". A number of hits appeared. I went to China several summers ago, a quick one week, very low cost tour, organized in my town here in WI. Stayed in Beijing at the Palace Hotel..beautiful, desk staff spoke English + they had a super concierge who sent us to shopping areas (walked or taxis) and a Western bar area that we visited on our own one evening (fun). We were picked up just about every morning for tours all day in and out of Beijing. Good luck. <BR> <BR>

Chuckie

Don't be too afraid of China. I travelled solo knowing only a little Chinese and while I was frustrated at times -- it was worth it. I ended up spending time with both Americans and Chinese natives who helped ease some language problems but at times their presence created more difficulties then it solved. There is always a chance that things could go very wrong but that's part of travelling. <BR> <BR>IMHO, I would just start studying Chinese and go.

jeanette

do you recomend a tour guide or idnependant. <BR> <BR>what did you do and what will you do next time. <BR> <BR>thailand.

andrew

China is a tough place to travle if you don't speak the language and don't wnat to deal with all the logistics. <BR> <BR>Recommend Pacific Delight is the number 1 tour operator from the US to China and the Orient. They have a great reputation for value (due to their purchasing power) and quality. Pacific Delight was the first to offer tours form the US to China when diplomatic relations were established in the 1970s. They are the best ... I recommend them without hesitation. <BR> <BR>There web site is www.PacificDelightTours.com, and telephone number is 800-221-7179 to order brochures. Their brochures are beautiful (e.g. China Experience brochure and Regal Yangtze River Cruise brochure) and have many variations (from deluxe to budget) on the Yangtze river. They use Victoria Cruises and Regal Cruises for the Yangtze River and due to their volume, have better rooms and service. <BR> <BR>Feel free to e-mail me if you need more information. <BR> <BR>

Andrea

It really depends on how many places you are planning to travel and whether you will be backpacking or staying in "tourist class" hotels (in which case the concierge will be bilingual and can help you a lot). <BR> <BR>I am an American living and working in Shanghai, who arrived 2 years ago not speaking a word of Chinese. <BR> <BR>I think that your S. America plan sounds just fine for China. Having been to many other countries with a complete language barrier (little/no English spoken, different alphabet or characters used on street signs, etc), I find China to be no more challenging other similar places. <BR> <BR>Do get the name and address of your hotel in every city faxed to you in advance. That way, you can just get off the plane (or train) and hop in a taxi (always the most efficient form of transport except in Hong Kong). <BR> <BR>I would recommend that you bring a phrase book with you that has simplified Chinese characters, pinyin, and English. This will be more and more helpful the farther you are away from the desk at a 5 star hotel in Beijing or Shanghai. If you are lucky enough to find a guidebook that has the destinations written in both English and Chinese, snap it up!! That will be really helpful as well. <BR> <BR>In Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, and other major tourist destinations, your hotel concierge should be bilingual and can point you in the right direction for self-directed exploration of the city. Even if you do go get a planned tour, do take advantage of the concierge for your free time exploration. Have them write the destination on a piece of paper for you to show taxi drivers (or passers-by if you're walking - but taxis are really cheap and plentiful). <BR> <BR>I do recommend a private tour for the Great Wall (it is usually combined with the Ming Tombs). We had a private tour that wasn't too expensive and was very "hands off." They picked us up in a private car, drove us to the sights and dropped us off, letting us explore on our own. MUCH nicer than a bus full of other tourists. Do be aware that unless you SPECIFICALLY INSIST that you don't want them, they will take you to several tourist traps on the way to and from, like jade and porcelain factories. The things there will be very overpriced compared to what you will find in the main city. <BR> <BR>There are 3 areas that you might run into SLIGHT problems (or adventures, depending on how you look at it!). <BR> <BR>Taxis: Be sure to insist that they use the meter. Even if you get cheated by being taken the longest way (more of a risk in BJ), it should never cost you more than US $10 - $15. One way of cutting down on taxi trickery is to make a big show upon entering the taxi of writing down their licence number (on the dashboard) when you get in. They can have their licence revoked if they cheat someone. You can also loudly confirm the time it will take to reach your destination with the hotel staff. <BR> <BR>Eating out: If you want to eat in Chinese restaurants, language will be a problem, as most will neither have English menus nor speak any English. Some do, though, and a guide book with some food or dish names in Chinese should work just fine. <BR> <BR>Bargaining: In markets or stalls, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, reel in shock, laughing or gasping for air when someone tells you the first price. Even if the price is one tenth of what you expected. Try offering 30% of what they first offered, then laugh at their insistance on such a rediculous price and try walking away. Bargaining is an art in China, and it is half the fun for both the seller and the buyer. <BR> <BR>Gosh! Long post! Feel free to post other questions, esp. itinerary or hotel questions.

Margaret White

Travel Message Boards Asia and the South Pacific China <BR> <BR>We have been to China five times and the third time spent two weeks on our own. I wouldn't have felt comfortable before then but the Chinese people are very helpful (if they speak English) and it was a good experience. Be prepared to be stared at a lot - just smile and you'll get a lovely smile back. We are escorting a great tour through Rim-Pac in October. See below. <BR>17-day Trip to China and the Yangtze <BR>Margaret H. White - 09:44pm Jan 22, 2001 EST <BR> <BR>My husband and I are escorting a tour to China October 21 to November 6 through Rim-Pac Int'l and will visit Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Yangtze River Cruise, Shanghai, Suzhou and Zhouzhang. The price is very reasonable. This will be our sixth trip to China and we'd be glad to send you more information if you are interested. Our phone number is 509-375-1616 and e-mail is [email protected]. Margaret and Stuart White <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>