Everything was well planned and ran smoothly. All internal flights (6) with luggage collection went without hitch. However no one actually informs you of the time all these flights take, especially the Journey from Shanghi to where we picked up the river cruise, this consisted of an early morning start, 7.30, a bus journey, a flight of 2 hours, a bus journey, a train journey of 3 hours complete with an hour wait at the station, a bus journey, [/font]to embark not before 6pm. A whole day..... If I had known it wouldn't have been such a shock, a whole day of my holiday spent travelling!

However it was worth it.

Hotels were of high standard only the one at Zian was a little tired.

Food was always Chinese but of good quality, some western breakfasts in the Hotels. Hotels always seemed off the beaten track, so difficult to take yourself out. Not unsafe but easy to get lost.

Money - whoever said China was cheap think again easly matched western prices. Hotel drinks very expensive. Market stalls very cheap if you haggled but goods quite poor. Hotel ameneties very good.

Toilets - the big question... Use your Hotel bathroom, most outside were squatties, clean but difficult if your not used to the position!

My best: Visiting the Pandas, The Wall, Rick Shaw ride, Terracotta Army and the River Cruise. River Cruise upgrade was disapointing should never be advertised as executive. Cabins were tired and no different. Refreshments on offer quite poor and exposed quite often to flies.There was more space in the dining room and a lovely calm atmosphere. Big thanks to JY and my fellow playmates for making this experience possible.:)

As you say, the upgrade should not be classed as executive, the executive cabins were on the floor above us!

Also, we were not told that the "executive" dinning room does not open on the first night, so only had the three nights in there. I would still have upgraded, but it would have been nice to know......All in all though, it was an unforgettable experience.

The tour manager, John Drylie was excellent with his knowledge, stories and anecdotes, also sorting out various things along the way.

JY really need to start listening to its travellers, we need hotels nearer to things to explore when we have free time, also we need free time, not just a couple of hours. My other gripe is really not everyone needs to be lead all the time, I know some travellers need more assistance than others.

If you are reading this and think this tour is not for me, don't, you must go before china changes too much, and the speed it is changing

is amazing.

You see all the known top spots of China, the travelling between cities is considerable but unavoidable, in the main the hotels are excellent, Xi'an hotel needs to be changed as it is not up to the standard of the others, don't get me wrong it is very clean and the staff are excellent, its just dated and requires refurbishing.

The Yangtze add on is worth it, but I can't see how people say its relaxing, its full on like the whole tour. JY should not sell the ship as 5 star or executive, its not, its clean and again the staff are excellent, it just the ship is in need of its cabins refurbishing, the executive upgrade should be only sold as an added amenities package, the non-upgraders only had to put up with the argy bargey for food, they had the same cabins, on a lower deck, same food, except in the evening. Only not having the drinks and washing extras.

China is not cheap, unless you haggle, hotel drink and coffee etc. prices are very similar to home.

Food on this trip is of good quality and plentiful, and in my opinion, lunch could be left out to give more time in some of the sites.

It seems the local agent books the restaurants, so each tour probably gets different location. Breakfast has a great choice in most hotels,

but lunch and Dinner are almost the same everyday till you move from Xi'an. We where told that years ago they dished up allsorts, but found us tourists did not eat it. so the food has been tamed down to suite our fussy nature.

I know it is usual to be taken to places to buy the local quality products, but I would like the option to do other things, there are three

selling catches on this tour, silk museum, jade shop and pearl shop, I know you don't have to buy but its a waste of time if you are not interested.

So all you review readers, this tour is worth the money, China is worth the trip, this tour is full on and has lots of walking and stairs,

If you go be considerate to your fellow travellers, get back to the meeting place on time. The Yangtze add on is a must.

JY read my review and others, we need more free time, hotels in better locations and the ability to explore on our own, and a maximum group size of less than 30.

Moan over, another great holiday, and a few new friends.

Thank you to JY and the group for such a fantastic experience.

Cheers,

Bob

I am sure there will be enough people for your trip to go ahead. I have noticed that China has been very popular as a destination each year. I too would love to do this trip one day when I am a lot fitter and stronger.

Regards

Jaya

I see on another thread you have a couple of holidays booked for this year, I hope you have a wonderful time and look forward to reading your reviews when you get back.

Fingers crossed for China, I know it's a popular tour but the other Sept date has a lot more booked on it, so my date doesn't seem too popular at present - early days yet, hoping this will all change in the coming months.

Cheers,

Bob

http://www.gooners-website.co.uk/travel-blogs/china 

All in all a great trip, my first with Just You but wont be my last, already looking for my next one.

I have recently returned from the China tour & Yangtze add on. It was fantastic. I think JY listened to your comments on the long days travelling to the cruise as we had a short flight and then bullet train & coach to the boat. It was a long day but saved around 3 hours over your journey. Although the difference in rooms was minimal the upgraded rooms were higher on the ship & did not get noise the ones on the lower decks did, some of these are next to where people congregate for meals or for trips & also closer to ships engines & noise. The buffet was a fight for the few on my trip that ate there & the upgrade restaurant had a nice relaxed feel & was worth the upgrade on its own.

http://www.gooners-website.co.uk/travel-blogs/china 

All in all a great trip, my first with Just You but wont be my last, already looking for my next one.

Hi Alan,

Many thanks for putting the link up to your blog, it was brilliant! I'm heading off to China with JY on 3 Sept and your diary has really given me an insight into what lies ahead - I hope we have as much fun as you obviously did!

Cheers,

Bob