| China, one of the four oldest civilizations in the world, has a written history of 4,000 years and boasts rich cultural relics and historical sites. It is the inventor of compass, paper-making, gunpowder and printing. It is situated in eastern Asia, bounded by the Pacific in the east. The third largest country in the world, next to Canada and Russia, it has an area of 9.6 million square kilometers, or one-fifteenth of the world's land mass. |
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| Q. |
When is the best time to go to China ? |
| A. |
There are wide variations in temperatures between different regions. Generally, October to March is the most pleasant. December and January can be cold in the North with daytime highs around 6ºC and the minimum around -5ºC. April to June are hot and July & August is the monsoon period. |
| Q. |
What is the size of the group? |
| A. |
If you are traveling on one of our featured group departures, the participation is limited to 16. |
| Q. |
Can we have exclusive arrangements? |
| A. |
All our tours are designed to operate with a minimum of 2 participants. All arrangements are made exclusively for you. Note: You do not join a group at any stage, but enjoy private arrangements. |
| Q. |
What is the mode of travel? |
| A. |
All local transportation is by private air-conditioned cars, mini-vans or buses. On our cruises you will stay in the comfortable, sometimes luxurious, cruise ships. We recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes. |
| Q. |
Where will I stay? |
| A. |
Accommodations
are chosen on the basis of the level of comfort,
quality, and in-house service, a touch of the local
charm with en-suite facilities. Most are at least
4 star and generally 5 star properties |
| Q. |
How can I register for a tour? |
| A. |
We require a deposit of US$ 500 to ensure a place on a tour. The balance payment is due 70 days prior to departure. |
| Q. |
How about meals? |
| A. |
Most of our tours include breakfast and either lunch or dinner. We’d like you to have the flexibility to enjoy some meals at any special restaurants you may like to discover. China is a food lover's paradise with a seemingly endless variety. The entire range of Chinese recipes includes thousands of dishes and is by far the most extensive in the world. |
| Q. |
Can you book our flights? |
| A. |
The cost of the internal flights is included in the tour price. We have a full service air-ticketing division who will be glad to assist you with your international flight arrangements. However please note that if you are traveling on frequent flyer mileage you will have to make reservations yourself. |
| Q. |
Will someone pick me up from the airport? |
| A. |
If you are making your own flight arrangements, please let us know the flight details and we will make arrangements for the pick-up. |
| Q. |
Do I need a visa to go to China? |
| A. |
Absolutely. You can acquire one from the nearest Chinese Consulate. NOTE: You must have a visa before departure from your country. Visas cannot be issued upon arrival in China. You may be denied boarding the aircraft to China if your passport does not a valid visa. All travellers will require a valid passport. It is your responsibility to ensure that there are sufficient blank pages for any visas required and for entry/departure stamps. Please also check that your passport will be valid for 6 months after the end of the trip. If you are travelling on more than 1 passport, please use the same passport for the entire trip. |
| Q. |
Do I require inoculations? |
| A. |
We recommend that you visit a travel clinic specializing in tropical destinations. |
| Q. |
Do I need insurance? |
| A. |
You have made
an investment into your trip; we strongly recommend
that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance.
We will be pleased to provide you with a quote. |
| Q. |
How much luggage can I bring? |
| A. |
If your travel
originates in North America you are allowed 2 suitcases
plus a handbag. Suitcases must not weigh more than
32 kilograms (70lbs) each. Some domestic flights
only permit 20 kilograms, so we recommend that you
stick to one suitcase with 20kgs. That will also
enable you to bring back all your shopping. |
| Q. |
What about tipping? |
| A. |
Tips are not included in the tour price and tipping is entirely at your discretion. |
| Q. |
Can I use my hair dryer in China? |
| A. |
Electricity in China is 220V-250V 50Hz. However most deluxe hotels have 110V sockets in their bathrooms. Alternately carry an adapter with a two/three round pin plug. Most Laptops / Notebooks have adapters that will work anywhere between 110V – 250V.
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| Q. |
Should I worry about food or water? |
| A. |
All establishments we use have high standards of hygiene while preparing food. For drinking use bottled water only. If you have a really fragile constitution, use bottled water for brushing your teeth as well and stay away from salads. |
| Q. |
But I have special meal requirements? |
| A. |
Please inform our travel counselors at the time of booking and we will ensure that your requests are forwarded to the providers. We have handled vegetarian, kosher or similar requests. We ask you to reconfirm same while visiting the dining area. |
| Q. |
How much money should I carry? |
| A. |
Your package tour includes accommodations, sightseeing, entrance fees, transportations and 2 meals a day. So you really require enough money for one-meal, tipping and sundry expenses. US$20-US$40 a day will take care of the above. As far as shopping is concerned, that is another matter. |
| Q. |
Can I use my Credit Cards? Are there ATMs? |
| A. |
Most reputable establishments in China accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Diners Club cards. Major metropolitan centers have Automated Teller Machines (ATM) as well; however do not count on them as the primary source of money. |
| Q. |
Do I need formal clothes? |
| A. |
You can dress casual during the day. It is OK to wear shorts (only while visiting mosques you will have to cover your legs). We also recommend a wide brimmed hat, plenty of sunscreen and walking shoes. You may like to carry smart casual clothes for evenings and dinners |
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