I am trying to work out how much money I will need to take for 3 weeks (China/Tibet add-on). Perhaps someone who has just come back from the China/Yangtze add-on may be able to help with a couple of questions as you had extra days added onto the holiday, guess there's some logic in there somewhere!

Ideally I would like to know:-

How much roughly did you take and spend? Majority of the meals are covered, so the cost of things like beer/wine, tea/coffee, water etc. would be very helpful.

If you took Yuan and bought extra with GBP did you get a better rate there or here and was GBP readily accepted for exchange? I don't want to use credit/debit cards unless I'm desperate.

Any advice on the money front would be greatly appreciated.

Avocet

I think there are a few reviews on the China trip under Reviews section and if I remember correct, there is some advice about how much money to take. I personally think it is better to take more rather than less. Enjoy your trip and do write a review as I would love to visit Tibet one day.

Jaya

Hi Avocet

I think there are a few reviews on the China trip under Reviews section and if I remember correct, there is some advice about how much money to take. I personally think it is better to take more rather than less. Enjoy your trip and do write a review as I would love to visit Tibet one day.

Jaya

Thanks Jaya, will write a review when I get back.

I did have a quick read through the travel tips and reviews before I posted my post. MarieW did write a good review on tips for Inspirational China but that was back in 2013 and I am kind of hoping that someone who has been to China in the last 3 or 4 months will be able to give me a more up to date cost of things. If a bottle of beer and a glass of wine cost £5 - £5.50 in 2013 how much would it be now?!

I think the fact it will be a 3 week holiday has thrown me off kilter a bit, apart from Shanghai and Chengdu, Land of the Dragon is a new holiday and we will be taking a step into the unknown so to speak. Sometimes you can do extra optionals on top of the optionals already available and things like that, but who knows? If I can get my basics worked out I can then allow myself a bit more for extras. As you say, its better to take too much than not enough. I went to China in 2007 and although I can't remember that far back I probably took GBP as a back up, if I do any spending its more likely to be in Tibet.

Avocet

I did the China and Yangtze add on summer 2013. You can change English money easily in hotels. I took around £300 in Chinese currency and £200 in English. I also took my credit card and some people took debit cards and cash out at ATM. My advice would to be to take extra English money to change if you don't want to use your credit card. I only really spent on souvenirs, drinks and any extra trips we were offered.

Thanks Marie, as nobody who has been just recently has replied I think I'll just stick to my usual daily budget, although the cost of things like beer/wine seem really expensive to me compared to other places I've been, but sometimes you get a complimentary drink with meals. I'm not big on souvenirs, although I might be tempted in Tibet if I can pick up something typically Tibetan. Although I never use it I will have a card with me and take some GBP.

I too always take local currency and English money plus one credit card for emergencies. I always say that I will not use the credit card, but do end up using it! In Turkey I bought a beautiful rug - a very expensive buy which I would not have bought if I did not have the credit card with me!

Jaya

I did the China trip with Yangtze add-on in October 2014 and would agree with MarieW that you can change Sterling easily in the hotels. However, your notes must be in good condition with no tears or bad creases. They also reject notes with writing on them so make sure your currency is as pristine as possible.

One hotel also initially rejected a £5 note of mine because they hadn't seen one before, but I eventually managed to convince them that it was legal UK tender!

As all your food is included, I only spent money on drinks, tips and a few souvenirs, so maybe £300-£400 will be enough together with a credit card for emergencies.

Hope this helps and have a great time

Cheers

Mike

Hi Avocet64,

I did the China trip with Yangtze add-on in October 2014 and would agree with MarieW that you can change Sterling easily in the hotels. However, your notes must be in good condition with no tears or bad creases. They also reject notes with writing on them so make sure your currency is as pristine as possible.

One hotel also initially rejected a £5 note of mine because they hadn't seen one before, but I eventually managed to convince them that it was legal UK tender!

As all your food is included, I only spent money on drinks, tips and a few souvenirs, so maybe £300-£400 will be enough together with a credit card for emergencies.

Hope this helps and have a great time

Cheers

Mike

Many thanks Mike, I'll make sure any sterling I take is good, someone told me they had an almost perfect sterling note rejected (not in China) because it had a tiny little fold in one corner. I would imagine this holiday will be on a very similar basis to yours and Marie's, so having your guidelines has been very helpful.

Avocet

Avocet

Just one further tip for this trip - if you are planning to do the 'Panda Keeper Experience' at the Chengdu Panda Research Centre (a.k.a becoming a 'Panda Hugger' for a blissful hour), you will need to put aside some Yuan in cash because you have to pay on the day they don't take anything else. (Your local guide will book it for you when you arrive in Chengdu but get in quick because numbers are restricted)

Last year, the cost was 2000 Yuan per person (about £200 at the time), it may be a little more now. It sounds expensive but, trust me, it's the experience of a life time. The four of us in our group that did it still had trembling hands for the rest of the day and silly goofy grins on our faces for the rest of the tour!

All the best

Mandy

Hi All

Just one further tip for this trip - if you are planning to do the 'Panda Keeper Experience' at the Chengdu Panda Research Centre (a.k.a becoming a 'Panda Hugger' for a blissful hour), you will need to put aside some Yuan in cash because you have to pay on the day they don't take anything else. (Your local guide will book it for you when you arrive in Chengdu but get in quick because numbers are restricted)

Last year, the cost was 2000 Yuan per person (about £200 at the time), it may be a little more now. It sounds expensive but, trust me, it's the experience of a life time. The four of us in our group that did it still had trembling hands for the rest of the day and silly goofy grins on our faces for the rest of the tour!

All the best

Mandy

Don't know what the current situation is but, when we went to the Chengdu Panda Research Centre in May, all panda hugging had been suspended until further notice after 4 pandas had died at the Xi'an Panda Research Centre from canine distemper at the beginning of the year. Just as well you went when you did, luckily I don't think anyone on our trip wanted to do it anyway.

Avocet