October 12, 2004 -- You may have been to many places, but if you haven't visited China yet, you must make plans to do so. As the world's largest nation (in terms of population) continues to modernize at logarithmical speed, many of its old ways will disappear, just as much of the Yangtze River's Three Gorges are doing right now. So hurry up and check out some bargains, including the few mentioned here today. There are plenty more!
One of the best tour operators to China, Ritz Tours has several bargains going, including two trips to Hong Kong that are so special they won't take online bookings, but will deal with you on the phone. One is "a week in winter" (actually, late autumn) in Hong Kong, from $799 plus tax, departures from Los Angeles only. The tour uses China Airlines (based in Taiwan), and provides five nights at the Kowloon Hotel from November 11 through November 30, 2004, as well as daily American buffet breakfast, roundtrip airport transfers, a Meet the People Program and a half day sightseeing tour of Hong Kong Island. The package is also available from now through November 10, 2004, at $999.
Another phone-in only bargain is for Hong Kong in a Week, using Cathay Pacific Airlines and starting at $999. This departs from San Francisco as well as from Los Angeles, and includes five nights at the Kowloon Hotel from November 11 through December 13, 2004, daily American buffet breakfast, roundtrip transfers, the half day sightseeing program mentioned above, and the Meet the People Program. It's also available from now through November 10, 2004 at $1,199,and from December 13 through December 31, 2004 at that price as well.
Ritz also has Early Bird Specials, in which you can save $100 per person by booking soon. Most of these are for departures next year, such as a China Discovery 10 Days package which visits that nation for ten days (eight nights), visiting Beijing (four nights), Xian (two nights) and Shanghai (two nights), giving you a taste of the most famous, oldest and most modern of China in one trip. Prices out of Los Angeles or San Francisco start from $1399, from New York $1549, and rise to as high as $1,699 and $1,849, respectively, in the high season. Trips are scheduled from March 18 through November 18, 2005.
Contact Ritz at www.ritztours.com or by phoning 800/900/CHINA (2446).
Gate 1 has a 9-Day China Value Vacation starting from just $999 that includes flights from Los Angeles to Beijing, intra-China flights, then return flights from Shanghai to Los Angeles. Also part of the deal are seven nights of first-class lodging (three at the Beijing Best Western, two at the Xian Royal, and two at the Holiday Inn Downtown in Shanghai), all transfers, seven breakfasts, two lunches, sightseeing, entrance fees, and more. The price indicated is for a December 6, 2004 departure, with booking by October 29, 2004. There are other departures, in November 2004 and from January through March of 2005, with prices ranging up to $1169.
The price includes sightseeing in Beijing to the Forbidden City, among other spots, and to the Great Wall. In Xian you will see the terra cotta warriors and the Big Goose Pagoda. In Shanghai, a highlight is the Yuyuan Gardens and the waterfront Bund. Contact the company at www.gate1travel.com or phone 800/682-3333.