May 26, 2008

Thank you all so much for a fantastic trip, and as you asked we would like to send off a few thoughts on what we enjoyed and what we liked less.

First of all, we are so happy that we found you and used your services. Although we went to the many places that were frequented by many other tourists, and were on a "circuit" that many others were on, we did feel that we were quite lucky to be on a "private" tour with only my husband and I and your guides. Our arrival in Hong Kong was great and we were met by Christina who was so enthousiastic and we felt completely at ease and in good hands. Having the drivers at the Airport was an essential, and having the cold water was such a great plus for us.

Our Hotel: the Regal Kowloon is very nice, great staff, very helpful, fantastic location. 2 blocks from the harbour, and a 5 minute walk to Nathan street. Quiet, with no smoking floors, and a very attentive and fantastic breakfast, with a good mix of Asian and Western, would definitely go back.

Beijing, we had a fantastic guide: David, whose English is very good, and he is very attentive, and always wants to know if things are good for us, if we want to spend more time, or less at a site. The Holiday Inn Central is fantastic. Very clean, and new, with a great staff, very helpful and friendly, a good concierge that recommended a good local restaurant when we had a free dinner "Youth", just down the street. Not Centrally located in terms of Forborbidden City, but a very interesting neighbourhood, which gave us a good feel of the local Beijing scene. The best Breakfast choices, the wonton soupe in the morning was a good start. The hotel really was a plus.

The day with Tiananmen, Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven, plus the show, with the Duck dinner before, was very busy, it would have been nice to have perhaps less, but with 5 different cities, it is difficult.

The Great Wall at MuTianYu was a wonder, and amazing, with not many people, and at times, we were on parts just the two of us. Just incredible!!!!! The Summer Palace fantastic, and very interesting, and as in each place our Guide just made everything so much more vibrant. We were able - thanks to the guide and the Driver- to pass by many of the Olympic venues, and that was exciting for us, and an extra we could have only had with our private tour. The last lunch before heading to the airport the Hainan, was absolutely Fantastic, the service top and the food excellent, the fish unbelievable.

We were just so happy that when we contacted you that we were not very interested in going to the Government Stores/Factories, we just felt quite pressured (not by the guide, but by the salespeople) to buy, and they were quite pushy, and it was not very agreable. We did buy a couple of things at the pearl place, and tea - which we ended up buying more tea much cheaper at a local store in Guilin, and that was such a fun experience trying to explain what we wanted with a couple of Chinese words, smiles and hand gestures, for us that was the best types of shopping experiences, not being herded to official stores. But, after our mail, the guides were so conscious of asking us, and skipping something if it was not of interest. Although the silk factory in Guilin was a great visit, and very interesting.

XI'AN brought us to again a great hotel, the Grand New World, beautiful lobby, and fun to walk in the neighbourhood, but the breakfast at the hotel was not up to Hong Kong nor Beijing, often not very hot, but a good selection. Our guide Lily was good and interesting, and the Driver a Pro in the difficult traffic. The warriors were mind-blowing, and having a private guide made all the difference to see things and understand better, and have a very good personal visit.

The pagoda we did not spend a lot of time at, because there was sort of a dust storm, and it was good to cut this visit short, since it was not of great interest to us as the warriors had been, and good to rest at the hotel before the show. The dumpling banquet was good. The show was fantastic, and very interesting and just beautiful. The next day, after a fantastic massage in the hotel in the morning, we visited the mosque and the bazaar was interesting, and good to have a short but complete visit. The Wall was very beautiful and a great view of the city, and once again Lily made the difference to make things come to life, and gave a thorough visit, and very detailed. She even helped some British tourists in giving directions to a Starbucks. The lunch we had where we met Flora was Very Good, and another highlight.

Guilin, was indeed beautiful, and a good hotel, great location, and we enjoyed our 1/2 day off walking around the little shops, and even a department store that was fantastic. Helen our guide was Very Good, and very complete in telling us all about Guilin. The boat trip was a bit long for my husband, and it rained, but that made the scenery very beautiful, with mist around the mountains. We ordered Shrimp on the boat and that was a good alternative to the lunch served. The show of the Ethnic songs was very good, and beautiful. When we returned to the hotel Helen had explained that there was a night market near the hotel, and we went just the two of us to explore, interesting. The gardens and the Reed Flute cave was a good way to end our stay in Guilin, under a beautiful sun.

Shanghai, our guide Sean/Shin met us at the airport. Our guide was good, very proud of his city. Unfortunately we were not very fond of the hotel. Good location near the Bund, and Nanjing street, and an interesting neighbourhood, but after the fantastic experiences in the other cities, we thought the quality was not up to par. Compared to the other cities, very surprising for Shanghai. The breakfast was not very interesting, and the service not at all attentive as in the other cities, it was as if the Servers ignored the clients, and didn't seem to care.

The free day was a treat, and we returned to the Museum, and wandered through the Old Town. We took a taxi in the evening to the French Concession and had dinner, a very enjoyable day.

The next day returned to Hong Kong, and our lovely hotel, and we were Very Happy to find our Guide Christina.

The Tour in Hong Kong was good, only a 1/2 day and the rest of the day for us, and she arranged for us to stay in the hotel until 10 at night, since our flight was at 1:50 am. A very nice touch for the personal service, and showed how she looked after everything, including confirming our return flight to Paris.

All in all we are so thrilled with our trip to China, and very happy to have used TravelChinaGuide. Your pre-trip service was fantastic, and very prompt answers to all emails and questions, which put us at ease. It would have been nice to have had a bit more "free time", but with so much to see, not always easy. The choice of restaurants in certain cases could be improved, and we felt at times, not to be having "Chinese" food, in the sense that when we saw dishes at other tables, it was not the same. We recommend your services highly, and would like to plan another trip, but now that we have been once, more independantly, with a Driver, hotel, and some suggestions, but we are enchanted by your country.

On another note, we would like to extend to you all and all of China our profound sadness at the tragedy of the Earthquake, we were in Shanghai at the time, but did not feel a thing. The people of China and your wonderful country remain in our thoughts and prayers.

We were very touched by the pride all we met and our guides were in their country, China, and we understand why.

Thank You again for all,

Most Sincerely

Toni and Jean-Claude TINDILLIER

Etigny France