Fodor's is delete happy - Where did the China Focus trip report go?
Sep 25th, 2002 | 03:35 PM
#3
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Jon,<BR>Let's see if they take this off the bulletin board.<BR>CHINA FOCUS TOURS - I defy anyone to give you more bang for the buck...a definite 'champayne tour on a beer budget'. Just returned from the 22 day tour of China with China Focus Tours out of San Francisco. Everything about the tour was superalative! Guides, clean 4-star hotels (with endless boxes of ammenities that we don't get in the states even with our 5-star hotels), {we took ours daily and gave them out to the poor we met while photographing}, bottled water was provided at many hotels but you were able to purchase water on the bus each day $1.00 for 2 bottles (that was a real convenience) ALL meals included daily (full western breakfast with a chef that will make you an omlet as you like it), lunch and dinner and sometimes whenever we flew within china....additional meals served on board, comfortable motor coaches, everything well airconditioned....... we are still trying to figure out how they do it so inexpensively - $2495 for 22 days including superb hotels, r/t airline to China from San Fran, 4 inner China flights, very well educated guides in each city as well as guide that is with you from day 1 to day 22. Also an incredible cruise in a very deluxe cruise ship on the Yantzee River for 4 days and seeing the famous dam and its 30,000 workers up close and personal. Starting off in Beijing was so wise and climbing the wall before boarding the cruise ship to rest our tired, legs from the climb. The Terra Cotta Worriors are unbelievable ... ..seeing pits 3 times bigger that football fields with hudreds of clay figures just feet away from you. If ever you had planned to visit China, do it now!!!! China is changing so quickly. Communism and it's benefits are preached but 'capitalism' is prominent everywhere..... There is an openness that we did not expect...we were free to visit anywhere. One tour was of a university campus....and students were free to speak with us....as a matter of fact everywhere you go in china, the YOUNG want to practice their english. I am not marketing for china focus but we did a comparison of all tours and trust me, this is tops. Almost forgot, we also attended three "las vegas" type performances.....Beijing Opera (ok), Dynasty Show, and Acobat Show. At all these shows we had superb seating....China Focus was always closest to the stage. These were incredible shows. My husband and I have taken many tours and always when we arrive at the first city all the optional tours are offered for more $$$$$.....this is the first tour that had no optionals.....everything was included in the initial price. Before going, get familiar with the dynasties. It will make your visit more enjoyable as there is so much history in china and our guides were historians. The best part of visiting china for me was actually our daily excursions through the cities or countryside viewing the millions of people passing by.....so many bikes....be prepared to bid farewell to blue skys....they have a serious polution problem but it will be solved. They are survivors. Hope you go....shopping is incredible and you like me will come away having a new fondness for China. If you go, don't wait until Shanghai to shop. They are all government stores and there is little bargaining. Our best buys were before we arrived in Shanghai. It was so much fun, I'd go again. BRING STACKS OF ABSOLUTELY NEW CRISP DOLLAR BILLS.....YOU'LL NEED THEM FOR THE 'DOLLAR' FOLKS WHO WANT NEW MONEY. YOU'LL NEED THEM TOO FOR BUYING WATER DAILY AND FOR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE...WHICH IS EVERYWHERE. TIPPING IS INCLUDED BUT YOU WILL WANT TO REWARD THESE HARD WORKING PEOPLE...AT LEAST WE DID! DON'T BRING TRAVELERS CHECKS...AND DON'T BRING AN ATM CARD. BE PREPARED....BRING CASH US OR CHINESE. YOU WON'T LIKE WAITING IN LINE AT HOTELS TO COVERT MONEY. ALL ROOMS HAVE SAFES IN THEM. <BR>
Sep 25th, 2002 | 06:57 PM
#4
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Shanghai is not all government run stores, and it probably has some of the best shopping in China. There are lots of outdoor markets where bargaining is absolutely necessary. However, the tour companies probably shy away from these places. Xiang Yang market is good for inexpensive gift/home decoration items. I picked up embroidered handbags, table linens, pillow cases, chopstick sets there last time.
