We're doing the highly recommended China Focus HCS "loss-leader" tour in late March.
www.chinafocustravel.com
M

Anyone familiar with China Plus?

Hi Everyone,
Thank you all for your patience and guidance.
Since we have until May I still welcome any first hand experience you might have had with different tour groups.
Judy

Well I'm back again trying to glean more tour info.
Just read quimbymoy's trip diary. It was fabulous and well thought out. I'm going to try to incorporate some of the finds into my trip even tho we will be on a guided tour.

Why pay a U.S. agency a mark-up when they use local tour operators anyway? And then spend your entire China experience with other Americans? Today with the internet it's just as easy--and more economical--to use a local Chinese tour operator (we used the former government agency just after it was privatized) and book a small group or private tour. Try Googling "China Tour Operators" and see what you find...just be sure to check references. We paid $2000 a person all inclusive of meals, hotels, cruise, guides and all transportation including domestic airfare, and we had the same trip people paid $4000 to $5000 for through U.S. agencies.

Again, the China Focus prices are pretty user friendly and the feedback is very positive.
M

Just throwing out the SmarTours group. We went to China with them and after MANY contacts with people on other tours within the country, we learned that we were doing the same things but paying much less! We couldn't have had a bettter experience!The following link is worth looking into - and it's on sale at the moment!!
http://smartours.com/china.htm

Warning - the groups are large but not a problem as they are always a great group of people!

Hi Judy Sue-
Glad you read my diary. Have you looked into Chinahighlights.com? They also have pooled service with a set itinerary available, but I chose to have just our own little group and customize. I was very happy with their services. But remember, the smaller the group, the more flexible you can be if something comes up during a tour.
Good luck!
Tina

I'm also trying to find a reliable and good tour operator to China. Have you decided on one yet?

We went to China in June 05 and used East Tours - www.east-tours.com. It was a customized tour with just my husband and myself. They were very receptive to designing a tour to meet my needs - i.e. including all must must sees and must dos. the price was very similar to one of the package tours and included many events that other tours may list as optional. we flew on frequent airline points (business class as well), as getting to China and leaving was not an issue. we were met in Beijing by a guide and driver as well as being met at each other city we were to tour - 8 internal flights. We also tweaked our tour duing our stay. Our tour included a Yangtze River cruise. The tour was for 19-20 days, then we flew to HK for 5-6 days - HK we did on our own.

JudySue,
My husband and I are not usually group travelers, but we booked through Laurus Travel located in Vancouver. Then came SARS. They returned all of our money promptly, and if we were to book a group tour of China in the future,we would probably choose Laurus. We chose them initially because they specialize in China and offer a wide variety of tours at reasonable prices. We live in the US, and their add-on fares were also low.
You asked about Gate 1. In general, I believe they offer budget tours.
We have several friends who enjoy group tours and all have been pleased with Pacific Delight.

Check out Jasmine's China Adventure Tours. She has small tours, no more than 12, and travelers make their own flight arrangements to Beijing, so FF miles can be used. The May tour does not go to Shanghai, however, but has many of the other things you asked for and more.

Hi!
I'm back again and nearing the timne when I will have to make a decision. My friend seems stuck on Bestour. I never heard of them. It seems a travel agent with whom she has dealt in the past is pushing them. As far as I am concerned there are so many other tour groups that appear to be better and more inviting. Is there anyone who has taken a China Bestours tour?
Thanks.
Judy

Have narrowed our trip to: Uniworld, Ritz, Grand Circle, Oddyseys. Which one would you take for the 18-20 day tour including the Yangtze River cruise? Is there a difference between taking the river cruise upstream or downstream? Which you recommend?
I can't believe I am making such a big deal out of this!
Judy

The downstream Yangtze cruise is shorter by a day and more expensive than the upstream cruise. Most people want to go Chongqing to Yichang (downstream).

Marija is right on both accounts. We took the downstream because we felt one day shorter on the boat is better.

Daryleann,
After all the questioning and planning it seems my friend isn't going. I just called smarTours. Their regularly scheduled trips tp China for May are filled but they have added another trip to the May schedule. Since this one is nearly filled I have to make up my mind before Monday,
Could someone who has taken the smarTours China trip tell me a little first hand information and your impressions. I would appreciate it.
Judy