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Anyone with experience w/ their tours? recently promoted on travelzoo? Thank you!

9 nights: 3 Beijing;1 Suzhou;; 1 Hongzhou;1 Shanghai; 3 Hong Kong. hotels usually favored by Business travellers not within walking distance to sights favored by tourists from what I have read So far.

Have you read the MANY cautionary tales on this board about the downsides of ANY tour in China? You will be much better off traveling independently - and no, you do not need to speak or read Mandarin to do so.

easier to do if you're closer to 21 than 71! There's a pt when having your bags picked up and flights arranged is nice! and yes I remember the freedom of traveling light w/o checking a bag and hopping off a plane. (from former Peace Corp volunteer west Africa ''65-'67).

Well, I'm mid-60s and still traveling independently, but I hear you. If you decide where YOU want to go, rather than where a tour is going, posters here can help. Taxis are cheap...

I did use a tour on my first visit to China, the Smithsonian, but even they had too many shopping ops. My second was with Intrepid, but I think they would be too basic for you. The third time was seven weeks solo and I really enjoyed being on my own.

Thanls for taking the time!