The other part of your question about packing, you need to put a holdall which is large enough to take what you need for 2 days, because your suitcase will stay at the hotel in Beijing while you are going to Chengde. I found a holdall, which folds very flat when it is new and takes up very little room in your case. Looking back at previous posts it appears that the hotels and cruise ship will do any washing and ironing that you want, for a small fee. A real CHINESE LAUNDRY!!

Peter

If you booked your holiday through JY you should have had an application form for your VISA from JY several weeks ago. I paid the fee to JY when I booked originally. As a matter of URGENCY phone JY and let them know that you have not received the form. You do not need to send your passport to JY but you will need colour photocopies of the last 2 pages to send to them with a new passport photograph. Be quick doing this because you do not have a lot of time left.

My doctor said that I had to have the following jabs:

Hepatitis A

Typhoid

Tetanus Booster.

My doctor said that I do not need to have Maleria Tablets as I would be travelling in Tourist Areas. If we were off the beaten track, then yes I would have needed them.

These cost me £91.00 but you shouldn't need to pay anywhere near this. In Jersey you have to pay to see a GP and also for holiday/travel jabs. My surgery had the jabs in stock, but that may not be the case in the UK, you may have to get a prescription to get them from the chemist.

Do not delay, phone JY about your Visa and check with your surgery about any jabs that you may require. Time is running out!!

Peter

Heathrow is very well signposted so there isn't really a problem getting from one terminal to another. If you are arriving at Terminals 4 or 5 there are FREE buses and trains to get you into Heathrow Central. Heatrow Central serves Terminals 1, 2 and 3.

Still trying to figure out how to put an empty holdall into my case and leave enough room for clothes and work around a 20 kg weight limit!!

Had all my jabs, so just got to wait now for the big day.

Peter

Hello Phil

I received my Visa application today. 18th and it was dated the 11th. so hopefully you should have received yours by now. Looking forward to meeting up with you and the rest of the group on the 12th Sept. Are you doing the Yangtze Add On

Last. I heard was that there were 26 of us with 12 doing the Cruise.

Peter

Hi Peter,

I've now received my passport with the visa included. The passport was sent to the travel agent who I booked through and I've picked it up. I'm not doing the cruise,i couldn't afford it unfortunately but it does look great. I have to admit the flight down to heathrow and subsequent transfer to another terminal makes me a little nervous.

Phil

I received my Visa application today. 18th and it was dated the 11th. so hopefully you should have received yours by now. Looking forward to meeting up with you and the rest of the group on the 12th Sept. Are you doing the Yangtze Add On

Last. I heard was that there were 26 of us with 12 doing the Cruise.

Peter

I have spoken to our Visa team and they have said you should of received it by now, can you please email me your phone number to btaylor@travelsphere.co.uk and I will see that someone calls you right away,

Kindest,

Ben

I'm going to China on the 12th September and wondered when you send out the visa pack.

Thanks

Phil