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TRAVEL INFORMATION
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Baggage
Why take a tour? Why not travel to China on my own? "Escorted tours mean traveling with minimal effort and fuss, and provides camaraderie. You pay lower prices--especially at hotels-- and may also get special access, since a tour is often the only way to take part in certain activities or go places otherwise off-limits to tourists." - Consumer Reports Travel Guide 2000 Independent travel in China is a tall chore. The language barrier alone is enough to frustrate anyone. In addition, ordering food in restaurants, arranging transportation, and making simple purchases in stores can be a real headache. On our all-inclusive guided tours, everything is taken care of for you; all you need to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the experience of visiting this fascinating and very different culture. Our bi-lingual Tour Directors and local guides pay great attention to every detail and are at your service throughout the tour. Our goal is to make sure that when you return from China you will tell your friends how professionally run, worry-free, and enjoyable our tour was. How physically demanding are the tours? This depends on the itinerary you choose. With the exception of the Tibet Discovery, the tours are not very physically demanding. There is a fairly good mixture of guided programs and free time. Of course there is some walking; however, we do our best to offer reasonable options for rest and relaxation. You will not be pushed along at a brisk pace. The Yangtze Discovery is the least physical, most of the walking is flat, and four days in the middle of the tour are spent relaxing on the river cruise. The Tibet Discovery is quite demanding, due to the excessive altitude. Anyone choosing this tour should be in good physical condition and cautious of the altitude. Do we need shots to travel in China? Most travelers to China do not get any special inoculations. However, any inoculation you may wish to get is completely up to you. To protect ourselves from a legal standpoint we do not, under any circumstances, give recommendations on inoculations. Please do not call us about shots. We recommend you check with your own health care professional or call The National Center for Disease Control and prevention at (404) 639-3534. Can we drink the water in China? Tap water is not potable unless boiled. Drink bottled water only. It is cheap and readily available everywhere in China. Why must we send our passports for the visa? The Chinese visa is a full-page sticker that is applied directly onto a page in your passport. We process individual visas rather than group visas in order to convenience our guests. If you travel on a group visa and you must exit China for some reason without the group you will be forced to pay a steep fine. For this reason we process individual visas only, and therefore, we must take your actual passport with the visa application to the Chinese consulate for proper processing. If we process your visa for you, the procedure takes 7-10 business days. Your passport with the Chinese visa inside will be returned via Federal Express. Can we bring U.S. appliances such as hair dryers? China runs on 220 electricity not 110 (the U.S. standard). Most rooms have hair dryers and special shaver outlets. More information on electricity will be provided in your Confirmation Package. HOME | ABOUT US | ABOUT CHINA | TOURS | TRAVEL INFO. | PHOTOS | CONTACT US
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