China/HK Tour in October - Help finding tour groups

[smurfgun]

Hi all,

I am looking to travel to China and HK in October and at this moment I am unsure how I should approach finding a tour. Here are some questions I hope some of you can answer.

1. Where can I find tour groups in Vancouver? toureast.com and ?
2. If it is cheaper in HK to find a tour into China, are there guaranteed tours in china? I don't want to go there and find out my tour is canceled. Are there any Chinese tour websites that has English? I'm okay with a Cantonese speaking tour but I need an English website to read.

Thanks,

[darth wolf]

Hi all,

I am looking to travel to China and HK in October and at this moment I am unsure how I should approach finding a tour. Here are some questions I hope some of you can answer.

1. Where can I find tour groups in Vancouver? toureast.com and ?
2. If it is cheaper in HK to find a tour into China, are there guaranteed tours in china? I don't want to go there and find out my tour is canceled. Are there any Chinese tour websites that has English? I'm okay with a Cantonese speaking tour but I need an English website to read.

Thanks,

It's prob cheaper to go to HK and find a tour into China. Problem is you don't know what's really available and could run the risk of being cancelled. If you are indifferent then just go in and ask what tours are available the next day and go on the fly. If you are looking at doing multiple tours in China during your stay in HK, you will prob. see the same sites on each tour. For example if you are touring the North, you will most likely fly into beijing and tour Beijing for a day or two.

That being said, I'm going with a 22 day tour (from TO to beijing) going south and west and finally ending up and leaving from HK. This way i know where i'm going and when and don't repeat the same sites. My tour cost $3000 tax-in, includes flight from TO to Beijing, all hotels and food, domestic flights in China, cruise and return flight from HK to TO.

If you are staying in HK long term then I would do the Hk to China route, but if you only have a month and want to make the most of your trip then book it from Van. It'll definiately cost more but your saving your time.

Sorry not sure of the Van. groups. I know there are sites in HK but havent' seen any in english.

[shopGirl]

don't bother booking now, book it in asia
if you have friends/family in hong kong get them to book it for you.

the tours are in chinese, and hardly information was available when i went in english.

I have tried WING on travel for KOREA and some other place for Beijing, both were pretty good.

[moonda204]

Hey - I just came back from HK and we booked a tour there that went into China (June 09). MUCH cheaper booking in HK than booking in Canada (though more so if you choose Chinese-speaking tours); also heard better quality tours when booked thru HK than in mainland China.

English is my first language and Cantonese second; my tour was booked by family more familiar with Cantonese as the entire tour was in Cantonese; but they may also have English-guided tours (if so, at higher price). Not sure what the guarantees are, but i think they do need a minimum number of people on tour before they decide to go. i think they let you know by a certain date whether or not its good to go (well in advance, i believe).

We booked through Hong Thai agency, which I think is one of the bigger, well-know ones there. In terms of Canadian standards, I thought we got a really good deal; 7night/8days that stopped in Beijing, Shanghai, and several interesting but not as well-know cities in between. approx $1300CDN plus tip and optional excursions. http://www.hongthai.com (but dont think there's english site). IF you can, book a Cantonese tour in Chinese; you can save hundreds, even thousands compared to what i found on english sites.

Tour included all return-transportation (meeting and ending at HK airport, flight to Bejing, Shanghai and coach buses in between), all food (nice restaurants with lots of food in traditional chinese dinner style), nice and modern 4 & 5 star hotels all the way through. Plus, there are a few things included in tour such as boat rides and other guided tours (Pearl & silk factories). The entire trip is guided in Cantonese and takes you to all the big, well-know tourist sites.

Super easy tour if you know some Cantonese and are tight on time; this tour will take you everywhere you need to go and see without worrying how to get there, places to store your stuff (on bus) throughout the day, and haveing someone else manage your logistics as well as your baggage/check-ins everywhere you go.

p.s. - my Cantonese is not the greatest, can only understand and speak some, but cant read. If you can do that, (understand what time the tour guide tells you to meet, where washrooms are, etc) then you might be okay. There were other people from all over the world on the tour (i.e. US, Canada, Australia, France, HK) that knew english, so worse comes to worse, make friends with eng-speaking people :razz:

Hope this helps. Happy travels!