Sinorama
 

I have read a few reviews of Sinorama on this site. At least one negative and a few positive. I wanted to add my thoughts since I just returned from one of their trips 9/16.

Their main tour guides, the ones that stay with you for the entire trip were excellent. The ones that join you in each city are a mixed bag, some B+ some C-. Our hotels were generally excellent. The Yangtze cruise was fantastic, the best part of our trip.

Some cautions, negatives, advice:

Do not go in the middle of the summer. It is extremely hot. Do a little seasonal research. Spring and fall are much better times. Late winter in Beijing can be bitterly cold.

On the cruise: If you can afford it, upgrade to a suite. They are much more spacious and nice.

I have been to China several times and the food on my previous trips were much better, more varied, than the Sinorama trip. We had French fries on almost every meal with Sinorama. Not sure if this is some new trend in China or just a cost-cutting thing with the food venue. The food was good, just not quite as varied as I would have liked. The food on the cruise was excellent.

This time I was 'exposed' to a new experience in the hotels. In many of them the bathroom is open to the rest of the room with sliding doors or curtains separating the two rooms. Not on the cruise though.

When looking at prices for these vacations look at what the different sites offer as part of the entire package. Some will have a lower listed price but include fewer meals or some excursions will be optional. These additional meals or optional excursions can change what the overall price of the tour can be.

Last: Sinorama

They are a Canadian company. If you are a resident of another country taking their tour they cannot take care of your visa for you. If you are from the USA you will have to find a Chinese Consolate that you can access to take care of this for you. If you are not in the city with the Consolate then you cannot mail the visa request to them. It has to be done in person. We found a travel agent in our town that took care of it for us for a small fee.

Sinorama is a large company with strict procedures. If you sign up for a tour and then see something with them you like better a few days/week later they will not allow you to change. Be sure you have what you want before sending them your deposit.

That's all I can think of. Have a nice tour.

Thanks for the TR. I still hold that the best trips to China are independent.