My daughter’s take on my trip!

One of the things on my “bucket list” (Things to do before you kick the bucket) was to travel to China. A year ago, my friend who is a retired travel consultant told me about Sinorama Holidays guided tours of China. http://www.sinoramaholidays.com/index.html

The price was unbelievable and if my friend hadn’t just returned raving from the 15 day tour, I would have put it down as “too good to be true.” We took the 22 day tour.  It cost us per person, $3199.00 plus $220 tour guide and bus driver gratuity, $18.00 porter, $65.00 visa and handling fee (they gave us 15 dollars back on the handling when we picked it up in Markham), $50 option Hong Kong tour for a total of $3,552.00.

For this amount we got a polar non-stop flight with Air Canada, 3 internal flights on good planes, comfortable tour buses, Sheraton quality hotels, 3 meals a day except in Hong Kong and Macau, all entry fees, permanent and local guides and an amazing four day cruise of the Yantze River! I notice for 2013, the price is has only gone up by about a hundred dollars. As you get closer to the tour time, the tours fill fast and the prices do go up, so book early.

Our local Sinorama office is based out of Markham, Ont. They had a pre-tour meeting where we picked up our passport with visa and learned some pre-trip tips. For example, as in any country, keep your passport and money in a money belt or around your neck. Our guide said of pickpockets, “Your front belongs to you, your back belongs to China.”

We sent our passports by registered mail to Markham and they handled the Chinese consulate. Otherwise we would have had to go  to Toronto ourselves. Sinorama is somehow linked to the Chinese government and our visas went very smoothly.

You should also consult your doctor about shots. China is a tropical third world country. We got the A and B hepatitis shots which actually last forever and the Dukoral diarrhea oral medicine that also protects from cholera. It lasts 6 months.  This we KNOW protected us, some of our tour got sick. Worth the money.  We drank bottled water supplied by our tour, though you can drink tap water in Hong Kong.  Don’t recommend eating street food. The meals provided were excellent. Touring in April, we didn’t get malaria medication and saw no mosquitoes.

You should also get a power adapter for China for charging your camera or for hairdryers and shavers. Some hotels have hairdryers but others don’t.

As a final pre-tour bonus, if you go to the office in Markham, stop by the “Brother’s Bakery.” I did not know that “Chinese” buns existed. Soft buns filled with red bean paste, or meat or topped with pineapple and sugar. What a treat.