Jun 22, 2007
Because Beijing will fill up several weeks prior to the Olympics, you have less time than you might think for that long-planned trip to China
The wide publicity that's been given to the starting date of the 2008 Beijing Olympics (August 8, 2008) should serve as a wake-up call for Americans who haven't yet made a trip to China. For a full month prior to August 8, Beijing will begin filling up with thousands of reporters, photographers, television crews, television producers and writers, athletes getting an early start on their tune-up for the games, coaches and attendants for these athletes, and countless other human beings associated with this worldwide event. The same will happen, though to a lesser degree, in Shanghai, Xi'an, and other sporting venues.
This means that July 8, 2007, will be the last date for several months for using the tourist facilities of China and paying normal prices for them. July 8 -- that's only slightly more than a year from now. If you're to undertake that long-contemplated trip to China, you must make your bookings now and plan a fairly early departure.
Several weeks ago, I wrote about low-cost tours of China offered by such companies as China Focus of San Francisco (www.chinafocustravel.com) and Champion Holidays of New York (www.china-discovery.com). A number of readers have asked for recommendations of upscale tours of China, including those of a luxury standard. I really don't think it's necessary to go upscale, but here are the two major operators (there are more) of classier, air-included China tours:
$2,298 to $2,798 for 8 nights in China, is charged by Uniworld (tel. 800/733-7820; www.uniworld.com), a typical mid-value product operated by a long-established company especially known for its river-cruises in Europe and Egypt (and available on the Yangtze River on those of its China tours that are higher-priced than the ones I cited in my earlier post). Here, you receive round-trip air from Los Angeles (or, for $200 more, from Chicago or New York), air transportation from city to city within China, 8 nights in deluxe hotels in Beijing, Xi'an, Suzhou and Shanghai, most meals, daily sightseeing, the Beijing Opera, the Tang Dynasty Review in Xi'an, and much more.
$3,448 to $4,118 for 12 nights in China, from Pacific Delight Tours (tel. 888/221-7179; www.pacificdelighttours.com). Though Pacific Delight also offers various low-priced tours of China (like its 10-night "Golden Route Supervalue" product selling for $1,998 to $2,138), it's better known for its thoroughly deluxe product for groups of less than 16, like its "Golden Route Imperial Experience" for $3,448-$4,118, including air from Los Angeles, spending 3 nights Beijing, 2 nights Shanghai, 2 nights Xian (home to the terra cotta warriors), 2 nights Guilin, and 3 nights Hong Kong at the very best luxury hotels, with many meals, fulsome sightseeing, and two dinner shows, all fully escorted from Los Angeles by a U.S. tour director. The oldest (more than 35 years in business) and largest of the China tour operators, headed by an illustrious pioneer in the field, Francis Luk, Pacific Delight will also fly you from New York or Miami for only $100 more, and give you dozens of other Asian tour options. This is the choice for the most demanding of tour passengers.
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This means that July 8, 2007, will be the last date for several months for using the tourist facilities of China and paying normal prices for them. July 8 -- that's only slightly more than a year from now. If you're to undertake that long-contemplated trip to China, you must make your bookings now and plan a fairly early departure.
Several weeks ago, I wrote about low-cost tours of China offered by such companies as China Focus of San Francisco (www.chinafocustravel.com) and Champion Holidays of New York (www.china-discovery.com). A number of readers have asked for recommendations of upscale tours of China, including those of a luxury standard. I really don't think it's necessary to go upscale, but here are the two major operators (there are more) of classier, air-included China tours:
$2,298 to $2,798 for 8 nights in China, is charged by Uniworld (tel. 800/733-7820; www.uniworld.com), a typical mid-value product operated by a long-established company especially known for its river-cruises in Europe and Egypt (and available on the Yangtze River on those of its China tours that are higher-priced than the ones I cited in my earlier post). Here, you receive round-trip air from Los Angeles (or, for $200 more, from Chicago or New York), air transportation from city to city within China, 8 nights in deluxe hotels in Beijing, Xi'an, Suzhou and Shanghai, most meals, daily sightseeing, the Beijing Opera, the Tang Dynasty Review in Xi'an, and much more.
$3,448 to $4,118 for 12 nights in China, from Pacific Delight Tours (tel. 888/221-7179; www.pacificdelighttours.com). Though Pacific Delight also offers various low-priced tours of China (like its 10-night "Golden Route Supervalue" product selling for $1,998 to $2,138), it's better known for its thoroughly deluxe product for groups of less than 16, like its "Golden Route Imperial Experience" for $3,448-$4,118, including air from Los Angeles, spending 3 nights Beijing, 2 nights Shanghai, 2 nights Xian (home to the terra cotta warriors), 2 nights Guilin, and 3 nights Hong Kong at the very best luxury hotels, with many meals, fulsome sightseeing, and two dinner shows, all fully escorted from Los Angeles by a U.S. tour director. The oldest (more than 35 years in business) and largest of the China tour operators, headed by an illustrious pioneer in the field, Francis Luk, Pacific Delight will also fly you from New York or Miami for only $100 more, and give you dozens of other Asian tour options. This is the choice for the most demanding of tour passengers.
Write and read comments about this post.
Labels: china, tour companies
Fifty years ago, 
Arthur Frommer is generally acknowledged to be the nation's foremost travel authority. He is the founder of the
