Note: This client traveled alone, so we customized the tour mix with private and seat in coach bus tour just enable to match his budget. Below is his review. His tour was for 14days, in Beijing( seat in coach bus group tour)- Xian(private tour) – Guilin(private tour) – Chongqing( day trip just for boarding the Yangtze cruise) – Yichang( only transfer) – Shanghai( seat in coach bus group tour).

 

 

I am fine, still 'recuperating' - trying to get back to day-to-day work. Let me split my answer into the 4 categories you have mentioned.

 

Organization===

 

Was very good up until the big hiccup in Shanghai. Having to take a taxi to a different hotel to start a tour does not make sense. What was infuriating is that they refused to drop me off at my hotel (in torrential rain) although it would have been less than a 5 minute detour.

 

Hotels===

 

Beijing - location would have been great were it closer to a subway. Walking 20 min to the closest subway is too far. I was also surprised by the poor English level of the reception staff. Other than that the hotel was adequate for my needs.

 

Xian - surprisingly good hotel room, clean quite and central enough for a walk in the center of town.

 

Guilin - good location - allowing for a walk in town in the evening, fairly clean, staff spoke just enough English to be able to answer questions.

 

Yangtze cruise - the "Blue Whale" (if I recall right) is an ok vessel, however it should not have been advertised as 5 stars. It is more like 3 - 3.5 stars.Shanghai - hotel location very good, clean, but again was surprised of the almost not-existing English spoken by the reception staff.

 

Tour arrangement===

 

The itinerary for each tour day was well organized and almost always on time.

 

Guides===

 

All have provided the required information about the site, most times in a clear enough English.

 

Beijing - every day had a different guide. I don't recall their names. However the guy on the first day was by far the best. His English was very good and he explained many things about China other than dry information about the visited locations.The other two were OK, nothing special to mention.

 

Xian - the guide has done her job well. If you recall I was considering seeing another museum - she has asked (on behalf of the driver) for another 350 RMB (or was is 450?) except the entrance fee if I would like to visit. That made it quite clear that she will not go anywhere that was not on the original itinerary.

This issue became irrelevant since I was too tired for the additional visit anyway.

 

Guilin - the guide explained everything clearly. Her English was good enough for converse. She even helped me to try to look for a local Chinese brand cellphone (which apparently is sold on the internet only).

 

Yichang - again, not much guiding. The guide just took me to lunch, then to the airport. Nothing special to mention.As a bottom line - I will recommend other people to use your services when visiting China.At some point I would like to visit Tibet as well, so I may contact you myself as well.It was nice meeting you and your husband.

 

A nice touch on your (and company's) part to meet clients that reach Guilin.

 

Marcel