I am going on this trip and haven't done a long haul flight before. Is anyone else booked on this? It would be nice to get incontact with someone else who is going at this time. Is there someone who has been and can give me [/size][/font]any advice?

Hi Voni,

I'm doing this trip at the end of May (well, 9 days time to be exact!!) and it will be my first long haul trip. Am getting really excited and should be able to answer some questions for you when I return. If I can help beforehand please don't hestitate to ask.

PaulineD

I am going on this trip and haven't done a long haul flight before. Is anyone else booked on this? It would be nice to get incontact with someone else who is going at this time. Is there someone who has been and can give me [/size][/font]any advice?

Hi Voni,

I'm doing this trip at the end of May (well, 9 days time to be exact!!) and it will be my first long haul trip. Am getting really excited and should be able to answer some questions for you when I return. If I can help beforehand please don't hestitate to ask.

PaulineD

Thank you PaulineD, I look forward to hearing how you get on and will welcome any tips.

Voni

Marie

Hi Voni, I'm going to China on 7th August so may have some tips on my return. At the moment I've just sent off my visa application and paid my balance but happy to help in any way if I can.

Marie

Thank you, any advice you have would be very much appreciated. I hope you have a good time.

Regards Voni

Hi Voni, I'm going to China on 7th August so may have some tips on my return. At the moment I've just sent off my visa application and paid my balance but happy to help in any way if I can.

Marie

Thank you, any advice you have would be very much appreciated. I hope you have a good time.

Regards Voni

Hi Voni,

Have just returned from an absolutely amazing time in China!!

There is so much to say that I really don't know where to start. Yes, it is a very busy holiday with a lot packed in and a lot of early starts but you can appreciate that when you have been to the attractions and you see hordes of people coming towards you just starting out!!

The one thing that was really bothering me was the toilet situation but I needn't have worried!!!!!! There were usually a couple of western toilets in each location and most times toiler paper as well!!!! It is still a good idea to take your own and a certain major store beginning with T stocks flat packed loo paper!!

All the hotels are very good and the food is amazing. The only disappointment on the food front was the hotpot evening in cheng du. We had cooking pots in front of us and raw food on the table which we had to put into the pot to cook. I don't think I am alone in saying that most of us came out of there hungry!!

I think I will sign off for now as I will be rambling on forever but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any concerns or worries no matter how trivial I will be happy to help in anyway.

PaulineD

Hi Pauline, sounds like you had a great time. I have just a few queries that you may be able to answer. I've read on previous threads that often there is no time to change for dinner etc when returning from a trip; and you go straight to the restaurant. I just wondered if this is still the case and if so did you find you didn't need to take a lot clothes to wear in the evening (just thinking ahead for my packing!). Also do you recommend taking a lot of cash with you and did you change it over here or in China? Did you do the additional Tsang Dynasty and/or Shanghai by night tours and if so would you recommend them as I haven't booked those yet and not sure to whether to wait and decide until I get there. Any tips gratefully received! Thanks, Marie

Hi Marie,

I had a brilliant time and I am sure you won't be disappointed.

I don't know if you have got the same Tour Manager John as we had and whether the timings vary with different TMs' but we always returned to the hotel even if it was only for half an hour. I was surprised that I could shower and get myself together in that short space of time but it is possible!!

As usual, I packed everything plus the kitchen sink and taps and the only thing I didn't wear was a jacket that I took for the evenings. Although the weather wasn't brilliant and it went from sunny and warm in Beijing through to overcast in Xian and Chengdu and drizzly rain in Shanghai it still wasn't that cool in the evenings. I took a cagoule and umberella with me but only used my cagoule as we were driven everywhere on the coach.

I was really concerned about the weight issue as I am not a light packer and even my hand luggage, which consisted of a small rucksack and a small flight case on wheels, got through!! and during the internal flights weight wasn't an issue as we had our suitcases collected at the hotels and then we didn't see them until we got to the next one.

If it helps I took the equivalent of £300 in Yuan with me and came back with £130!!!!!!! The main expense of money was for tips for the coach drivers and local guides. Our Tour Manager was tipped in English money. I only drank in the bar of the hotel one evening but if you like a regular tipple then that could get a bit expensive. Also if you are prone to buying souveniers then that can all add to the cost especially at the Silk, Jade and Pearl factories. On the whole I was really surprised at how cheap things were out there. I know some people were advised not to take too much cash and to change it when they got out there but that did seem a bit of a hassle to me and sometimes they had a job finding an ATM that worked with English cards although I do believe all the hotels had money changing facilities. I took my credit card with me and used that at the Silk Factory although they work it out in English Currency and it comes out with about £3 extra on top of the price of things.

I prepaid to do both of the trips which I found was a good idea. To my mind they are both worthwhile doing. There were only 2 out of 33 that didn't do the show and one that didn't do the night trip. You even get a free glass of wine, beer or water at the show and they have ice creams on sale which was a real treat!!!!!!! It might pay you to ask on the forum if anyone else going at the same time as you is going on the trips then at least you will know if you are the only one or not!!!

Phew, I think that is enough of me prattling on for now but, as I said previously, if there is anything else I can help with please do not hesitate to ask and ENJOY!!!!!! I am sure you will have a fabulous time.

luvpxx

You are both very welcome. If there is any more I can do to help don't hesitate to ask!! and ENJOY!!!!!!

luvpxx

Thanks for all the information Pauline. It has confirmed my choice of this holiday so I have booked for the April 2014 trip with the add on river cruise. So excited about it. Hope to hear from others who have booked this too. Is there a forum to meet up with others on the same tour and date?:thumbup:

Hi cheryl,

Yes there is. If you go on this one and put in the Place and Date you are going all you need to do is just ask if anyone is doing the same trip. That is what I did and after getting to know Pauline71 on this forum we met up at Kings Cross and travelled down to Gatwick together which was brilliant.

You won't be disappointed.

luvpxx

This is the only forum to meet up with others on the same tour, so you just have to hope others on the tour come here. Most on my tour didn't, Pauline being one of the exceptions. Most of us exchanged email addresses on the tour with the intention of swapping photos, etc.

Steve

I have upgraded the cabin. Apart from tea and coffee what benefits do I get. ie a better/quiter view or bigger room. Do they have balconeys. Is it warm enough for a dip in a pool if they have one? Is it just You people on board or other holiday makers?

Cheryl

Hi Cheryl and Marie. I've just got home from the same trip as Pauline, except I did the add-on, which Pauline didn't. Great holiday. If you are doing the add-on, I think the cabin upgrade is well worth the money.

This is the only forum to meet up with others on the same tour, so you just have to hope others on the tour come here. Most on my tour didn't, Pauline being one of the exceptions. Most of us exchanged email addresses on the tour with the intention of swapping photos, etc.

Steve

I am so excited I have ordered a new camera and tour guide books

Cheryl

Thanks for all the information Pauline. It has confirmed my choice of this holiday so I have booked for the April 2014 trip with the add on river cruise. So excited about it. Hope to hear from others who have booked this too. Is there a forum to meet up with others on the same tour and date?:thumbup:

Hi cheryl,

Yes there is. If you go on this one and put in the Place and Date you are going all you need to do is just ask if anyone is doing the same trip. That is what I did and after getting to know Pauline71 on this forum we met up at Kings Cross and travelled down to Gatwick together which was brilliant.

You won't be disappointed.

luvpxx

Marie

Laundry. 4 free pieces per room per day, which since we are all single means 4 pieces per person. A very useful perk because the cruise is at the end of the holiday when you are probably running out of clean clothes.

Complementary tea / coffee / coke / Sprite / cookies during the day.

Access to a separate outside viewing / sunbathing area away from the masses.

Cheryl. There's no pool. All the rooms have balconies, but I don't know what the inside of the ordinary ones is like.

One of our group managed to get an upgrade to a suite, which was amazing. It included a jacuzzi and a private sunbathing area, great view at the front of the ship, and was big enough for her to hold a pre-dinner drinks party for 16 people! I don't know how much she paid for that.

Food. For dinner you get an a-la-carte menu instead of having to use the buffet. You also get to eat in a better, quieter, dining room away from the masses. In our group there were 11 upgraders and 5 non-upgraders. The tour manager arranged for the non-upgraders to eat in our dining room but on a separate table and without the a-la-carte option.

Laundry. 4 free pieces per room per day, which since we are all single means 4 pieces per person. A very useful perk because the cruise is at the end of the holiday when you are probably running out of clean clothes.

Complementary tea / coffee / coke / Sprite / cookies during the day.

Access to a separate outside viewing / sunbathing area away from the masses.

Cheryl. There's no pool. All the rooms have balconies, but I don't know what the inside of the ordinary ones is like.

One of our group managed to get an upgrade to a suite, which was amazing. It included a jacuzzi and a private sunbathing area, great view at the front of the ship, and was big enough for her to hold a pre-dinner drinks party for 16 people! I don't know how much she paid for that.

I'm trying to guess who that is now!!

I'm booked on the same date (4th Sept) - Flying from Gatwick on CA852

I just sent off all my visa info so it's beginning to get real (I booked last September).

I've also pre-booked the two optional excursions today and plan to book the third one when we reach China.

Really looking forward to this holiday - it's my first time with Just You.