Freda's Feedback on 21-Day China Tour

The most outstanding tour guide would have to be Le Le. I am saying that because he was the one we spent the most time with and we got to know the best. All of the tour guides were so good to us.

Hello Michael! How are you? Terry & I made it home safe and sound and in one piece! We had so much fun meeting you! When I get the photos organized, for sure I will send you some. I came home with a cold, so have been a little under the weather for the past week.

I will answer the questions you have asked:

My overall impression of our China tour was beyond great! I had no idea what to expect and landing in Beijing was perfect as it started the tour off with gradual physical endurance! The tour you put together did exceed my expectations. However I must say that I was very unfamiliar with China and what one could or should expect while traveling there.

I think the most memorable attraction for me was the Terra-Cotta Warriors. I knew there were some found, but I never imagined the magnitude of the excavation and what was found. It was truly amazing. Although - I also did really enjoy the tour of the local family in Yangzhou. It is very hard to pick 'the most' memorable though because there was so much that we did and saw.

The most outstanding tour guide would have to be Le Le. I am saying that because he was the one we spent the most time with and we got to know the best. All of the tour guides were so good to us. They had a great sense of humor and we got along so well with all of them. It was nice to get to know a little of them and their lives as well. They were all very flexible and made sure we were always happy and had everything we needed. It was great that they gave us water every day and a map every time we were in a new city.

The drivers were all excellent. Their English was a little rusty, but they really, really were very friendly and easy going. They were all able to accommodate our luggage too!

The hotels and meals were good and adequate. I know we were not staying in 5 star accommodations and that was all okay. Sometimes the rooms were not cleaned as well as we would have liked, but that may be because they knew we were staying a 2nd night and didn't think it was necessary? Of course the room in Sanya was excellent, Kowloon was such a great location and the Shanghai hotel was a very modern place. Even the hotel in Lhasa - as old as it was - was such a charming place! The food, especially the food that the guides helped us choose was an experience that we were lucky to have! We tasted some foods that not many other tourists would have been able to thanks to the guides!

As for WOW factor - just being in the great country of China was a WOW factor for me. The sights, tastes, the number of people! You have such a fabulous country and I only saw such a small part of it.

One thing I would pass on to people is to let them know how very hot and humid it is at the time of year we were there. We were in India two years ago and China was much hotter! I would also advise them they have to handle heat and humidity and do some pretty physical tours. People have to be in good shape to do it. We marvelled at the tourists who wore high heels to climb the Great Wall! Their poor feet!

I would recommend China Highlights to everyone! In fact, while on the tour meeting people, we always told people that we were with China Highlights and how great your company was to us!

The mobile was a GREAT thing to have. As you know we ran into a flight cancellation on our way to Lhasa and without the telephone, it would have been way worse. But, we were able to call you and let you know so you could tell our Lhasa guide. The mobile allowed us to keep in touch with our guides as sometimes the planes ran late and so we were able to give them a heads up if we were going to be late arriving. Wi-Fi in the hotels was good to have even if some hotels had it just in the lobby.

The welcome kit was nice. I only have one comment... If there are 2 of us, could you give each client a bag. Terry & I shared 1 kit which was hard because there wasn't 2 of everything in it!

You can publish any of the reviews I wrote and for sure - if anyone wants to speak with a previous customer, I would be happy to talk to them. I would prefer if they used my email address.

When I go through my photos I will send some to you.

Michael - I can not thank you enough for your patience (over a year!) and for putting the tour together for us. I am so happy we got to meet and spend a few hours with you! It was such a great trip and mostly thanks to you for booking it up for us! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Take care and I'll be in touch!

Freda