I plan on going on a Tibet/Yangtze River tour in year 2000. I haven't decided between the more economical Pacific Delight Tours and the small group OAT tour. Any input would be apprieciated. <BR> When's the best time to go? Spring or fall? Is the river too high in May?<BR><BR>Thanks............Bernie

bernie: i need your help. did you get to tibet as planned? i am going next month. unfortunately i haven't done a lot of homework on it. my itinerary is l.a. to katmandu. that is it. my main concern is that i have not obtained a chinese visa. i figure that a tour company in nepal will obtain one when i hook up with them (which i am winging, i have not booked a tour, i plan to do that when i am there) am i crazy? please help me with info if you have any or someone else that you may have chatted with that has been to the area and may be able to help me. thanks a million yuan. dina

OOOPS!!,<BR> Sorry, I meant that I planned on going in year 2002!<BR> However, I would certainly recommend that you get a visa before you go. Contact any Chinese Embassy or possibly any travel agent can help you...<BR><BR>Bernie

Hi,Bernie I agree with you that Dina should get the details worked out before leaving. Do get that visa now Dina. And if you haven't booked a tour, do that also. <BR><BR>I just returned from 3 weeks in China and part of it was on the Yangtze Bernie. My tour which was previously arranged had a group visa for us, and it was an extra $50. It was good that we did not have to mess with it. I was with SmarTours and they did a good job. They had the most reasonable price and the guides were great. As for the best time to go. I have heard for China at least that the fall is first choice and spring second choice. We went in May. The river was not to high. Our tour was large, 43 counting the guide but all were friendly and we all seemed to help each other. It was a wonderful experience. You might get more individualized attention in the small group. We took an extension to Bangkok and it was just 6 of us in the group. I however enjoyed the large group and meeting lots of people and getting to know them. And I think the guide we had was quite sharp and had a handle on all of us. She was very attentive. Good Luck.

Hi Bernie, <BR>please be aware!!No Chinese visa if you plan to go via Nepal. The chinese amb. there will canccel it and you have to buy new one. Waste of money and sometime a reason to make thinks difficult for you. Just go to Kathmandu, hook on an agent and let them handle it. If you go via Mainland China territory, than you need a visa and the agent there will get you a travel permit and arrange nessesary. Denise

Bernie: I went with an OAT tour to China and Tibet in June 2000--the small sized group, only 16 of us, was one of the strong points for this company. I've been on 3 OAT tours and they just get better and better. Weather was good, except was very hot, like 113 the day we were at the Great Wall. The Yangtze cruise was spectacular. Don't know anything about Pacific Delight, but they've had good reviews on this forum. Have a great time--it's part of the world one should visit if at all possible. <BR> <BR>

geri- OAT advertises itself as being economical. I wonder how the hotels were. Also, what ship were you on?

Dave: Hotels with OAT in China were pretty basic and standard, type that definitely cater to tourists. Only one I remember that smelled of stale cigarette smoke. They were clean and satisfactory but pretty ordinary. We were on a Victoria Cruise, Victoria II, I think. Again, nothing fancy, but you shouldn't expect any frills as on a Caribbean cruise. Adequate, small cabins with a great huge picture window, but how much time do you spend inside? The Yangtze is spectacularly beautiful and supposedly, by 2009, most scenery will be gone due to the dam. Go and enjoy.