Our extensive experience as China tour operators has helped us identify the types of questions you may
have before embarking on your China travel adventure. The information below addresses many of the common
inquiries we receive from people considering travel to China including those considering a Yangtze River
Cruise, Beijing, Tibet, and/or Shanghai tour.
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GENERAL QUESTIONS
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 What’s the relationship between China Spree and Tour Beyond?
China Spree is operated and wholly owned by Tour Beyond. Tour Beyond, Inc. is the corporate name that will appear on your tour invoice, receipt, and the credit card authorization form.
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What is the best season to embark on a China Tour?
China has a hot and humid summer, and a dry and cold winter. However, all seasons are good for travel in China depending on what you want. Springtime (March, April, May) and autumn (September, October) is a good season to visit because the weather is mild throughout most of China. If you are visiting Tibet, summer would be the best season because the oxygen content of the summer air is greater. Winter (November to early March) will see the best prices of the year. Many experienced travelers choose to take a China Tour in late October and early November to take advantage of the huge seasonal discount while the weather is not yet too cold. No matter when you travel, China Spree guarantees you a memorable China Tour at the best value.
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Does China Spree work with travel agents?
Yes. Travel Agents can benefit from recommending clients to our scheduled China Tour departures. Agents can also customize personal itinerary for their clients with our Tailor-Made Programs. Please contact our office for complete information.
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How many arranged shopping stops in China Spree tour?
China is bargain shoppers’ paradise and we realize that shopping is an integral part of a travel experience. Unlike most other tour companies, China Spree tour features maximum one shopping stop in each destination city where our tour stays at least two nights. Each shopping stop is strictly limited to 40 minutes. All China Spree shopping stops are related to a learning experience as well.
Exclusion: our 10-Day China’s Golden Triangle tour has two shopping stops in Beijing.
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What is your average group size of China Spree tour?
China Spree is committed to small group travel. Only small groups can give clients the full individual attention and maximize their exposure to the local culture. China Spree is the only tour operator who intentionally controls the group size for our budget China travel package.
For our “First Class Travel”, the average group size is 10-16 travelers; the maximum group size is 24, except for the low season special promotion tours. For our Affordable Luxury tours, the maximum group size is 16. We don’t have any limitation on group size for private party.
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RESERVATION
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I have a couple of friends want to travel to China with me, how can China Spree help?
China Spree welcomes individual travelers as well as private parties for its China Tours. You may join our scheduled China Tour departures or customize a private China Tour for your party. If you can recommend as few as 15 paying passengers to us, we will be more than glad to provide you with a free trip! It’s our way of saying thank you for recommending us to your friends.
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How far in advance do I need to make a reservation for my China Tour?
Our China Tours are based on "first come, first serve". We recommend that you make reservations as far in advance as possible thus ensuring the best air and hotel possible. Reservations made within 45 days prior to departure date require payment in full at the time of the booking.
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Why do I have to provide my name as it appears on my passport?
Internationally introduced security measures (USA included) dictate that any name change including minor spelling corrections may require airline reservations to be canceled and rebooked. Once full payment is received, airline tickets will be issued. Subsequent name corrections will be subject to air space availability at the time of rebooking and airline imposed penalties. China Spree is not responsible for the denial of boarding by a carrier or denial of entry into China due to any name discrepancy.
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What do I expect after placing my online reservation?
Upon receipt of your online reservation, our agent will contact you, usually, within 24 hours to confirm the availability of your reservation, answer your questions regarding the trip, and provide you with payment instructions.
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We are interested in a custom china tour, how can China Spree help us?
Unlike most other group travel operators that only focus on "per packaged group travel", China Spree specializes in both group travel and individually tailor-made tours to China. We boast the best China travel planners in the business and "craft" personal itinerary to suit your needs. For more information, please visit our Customized Tours.
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Can I purchase land only from Chinaspree.com?
Yes, you may purchase only the land portion of any All-Inclusive package, or simply choose from China Land Only programs.
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If I travel with a scheduled China Tour group departure, can I choose to arrive China early or/and depart later than scheduled date?
Yes, you may, but not at same group rate. Our scheduled China Tour departures reflect deep discounted group rates based on the condition that all group members arrive and depart China on the same flight.
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Do you offer pre/post China Tour accommodation in LAX or SFO?
Yes, we do. We have contract with Radisson Hotel San Francisco Airport and the Radisson Los Angeles Aiport. Both of these hotels provide 4-star accommodations with complimentary shuttle services to the airport at a very affordable prices. Please contact us for details. Please be advised that if your layover time in the designated gateway is more than 24 hours, a $30 stopover tax for each way may apply to your add-on airfare.
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Can I earn mileage credit when flying with Air China?
As a general rule, the airlines don’t give mileage for discounted group airfares which are lower than published fares. So you may not earn mileage when traveling with Air China on your China Spree tour.
Air China group tickets (class: T, E) do not earn mileage points. However, some individual air tickets can earn partial to full mileage with Star Alliance depending on the Air China ticket booking class. L class can earn 50% mileage, K class and up earn 100% mileage. Business class 130% mileage; First class: 150% mileage. Note the class of service mentioned above has nothing to do with where you sit on the airplane and the class of your seat. Mileage points are calculated using the airline pricing system.
This is an airline policy and beyond the control of China Spree. You should ONLY contact the airline regarding any mileage points when you receive your air tickets from China Spree two weeks prior to departure. The Air China Call Center can be reached at: 800-882-8122. You may also be required to provide the original ticket receipt and boarding pass to the related airlines.
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Can I use my United mileage to upgrade to business class with Air China?
No, Air China does not allow upgrades to business class using your United Mileage. However you can redeem your United Mileage points to purchase Air China flights by dealing with United only since Air China belongs to the Star Alliance and is a code-sharing partner with United Airlines.
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Why do China Spree air taxes look higher than other tour operators’ taxes?
Airline ticket taxes and fees include fuel surcharges, air taxes and other government fees for both the United States and China. Please note that the taxes and fees are not part of the tour fare and are therefore subject to change.
Some tour operators include the fuel surcharges and China domestic air taxes as part of the basic tour fare. The international air taxes and airport fees are then listed as the only taxes.
China Spree tours uses Air China for transpacific flights, as well as most domestic flights within China. By issuing your airline tickets in the U.S., the taxes for both the domestic and the international flights are applied correctly, and do not need to be tacked-on to the price of the land portion of your tour.
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PAYMENTS
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What are the acceptable forms of payment for a China Spree China Tour?
Master Card, Visa, American Express, Discover, Check and Money Order are all acceptable forms of payment. Third-party credit cards are not acceptable. Your check or money order should be made payable to "Tour Beyond, Inc". If you reside outside U.S. or Canada, either a bank wire, or an international money order are the only two acceptable methods of payment. Please read complete details on Payment & Cancellation.
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What’s your Cancellation and Refund policy?
We have one of the best cancellation policies on the market. If you cancel any time for whatever reason more than 50 days before departure, you only loose $200 per person. For complete details please read Payment & Cancellation.
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Can I make payment with more than one credit card?
Yes, you may. Please specify desired payment options when you make a reservation. Detailed information is required for each credit card. Please note: Third party credit cards are not acceptable.
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What is additional on top of the listed China Tour fare?
All listed tour fares exclude U.S. imposed fees & Air taxes and China domestic airport taxes. Peoples’ Republic of China Visa processing fee is also additional. Please refer to the specific program for detailed air taxes and visa fees.
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Is there any hidden cost that I should be aware of?
No, not with China Spree.
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PRE TOUR
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Do I need a passport or a visa to visit P.R.China?
Yes, please read complete details about Passport & Visa.
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My China Tour is paid in full, when do I expect to receive my travel documents?
Usually, the packet containing air tickets, passport & Visa (if applicable), final itinerary, luggage tags, credential holder, contact information and other travel essentials will be sent out to you approximately two weeks prior to departure.
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I received my travel documents but cannot locate all airline segments, do I miss anything?
Air tickets for China domestic portions (where applicable) are either attached to the transpacific segments, or will be presented to you when you are in China.
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What are the physical requirements for a Tibet adventure?
Generally speaking, you need to be in a sound physical condition to visit Tibet. The altitude at Lhasa is 12,000 feet. Summer is the most desirable time to make a visit. Summer’s warmer air means a greater oxygen content. People may experience light-headedness, shortness of breath and may tire a little more easily. We recommend that you consult your family physician for advice.
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If I would like to bring some gifts on my China Tour, what kind of gifts would you recommend?
Many travelers choose to bring small gifts for those they meet in China. If you choose to do so, suggested items include commemorative stamps, pins, pens, hometown souvenirs, English reading material, T-Shirts, instant Polaroid photos etc. Whatever gift you choose to present, the recipient will be most grateful.
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Do I need any inoculations or medical attention prior to going to China?
No shots are mandatory per Chinese Customs. However, we recommend Hepatitis A & B and Tetanus. Traveling to any exotic destination like China may cause diarrhea; Imodium is a must for all China travel. If your proposed tour includes Tibet (at 11,000 feet), you are strongly recommended to visit your family doctor for their professional advice about traveling at high altitudes.
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I noticed that the baggage allowance differs on the transpacific and China internal segments, how can we handle that?
As a general practice in the air transportation industry worldwide, international baggage allowance is usually more than that could be possibly allowed for the domestic flight due to the smaller aircraft operated on these routes. Currently, you may take two pieces of checked baggage, each one up to 50 lbs, when flying with Air China on the transpacific portion. Domestic flights inside China allow only one piece of checked baggage, not over 44 lbs. We strongly recommend that you travel light!.
Nevertheless, in practice, while you are in China, your checked baggage will be handled on a group basis, if your group has 10 passengers or more, some airports may not be very strict with group baggage. A few places like Guilin, are very fussy about baggage limits. Despite the fact that tourism is Guilin’s top industry, the local airport is very strict about the limit of one piece at 44 lbs. In contrast, they are not very strict about limiting carry-on bags; in most cases, you can take multiple carry-on bags aboard.
On the transit from Shanghai to Beijing where your international flight departs for the U.S., you are allowed two pieces of checked baggage because of the same day connection to the international flight.
Most of the time, China’s internal airports are not very strict about carry-on baggage. Passengers taking a carry-on plus a backpack usually have no difficulty.
We have provided detailed information about baggage because people are often concerned about what they need to bring along for their trip. China is a country with many regulations, but flexibility does exist. Many of these regulations may be unique to China, but on the whole, it really isn’t too complicated, and is distinctively Chinese in character. The unique culture and splendid scenery make visiting China appealing to all of us. Please remember: Those who travel happily must travel light. Our observation may not be correct. It’s your decision that matters.
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Can I rent a cell phone to use in China?
Yes, We would strongly advise our customers to get an unlocked tri-band (multi-band) mobile phone from the States and buy a local SIM card as soon as they arrive in China. The cards are prepaid -- e.g. RMB100 will get you quite a bit of talk time and at lower cost than the hotel IDD service...About two weeks prior to departure date, we will mail a booklet to you with more information about cell phone rental.
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WHILE ON TOUR
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Who’s going to take care of us while we are on our China Tour?
We use double guiding system to ensure your maximum safety and convenience while you are in China. For a tour group with 10 travelers or more, a professional China tour director will be assigned to accompany the group throughout mainland China, supervising the work performed by local agencies and smoothing over any possible difficulties along the trip. Your China Tour director is a licensed professional who gives you a personal care and is accessible 24 hours a day throughout your trip.
In addition to your national guide, local guides are assigned during your tour to provide local arrangements and insights on local attractions. For a party less than 10 travelers, local guides will be assigned in each destination city, meeting you upon your arrival in their city, guiding you to local attractions and seeing that you safely depart for your next destination; A Tour director for small groups of fewer than 10 people is arranged only upon request; additional charges will apply.
In case it is needed, your China Tour director’s cell phone number will be given to you before your departure. Using this number your relatives or friends at home can easily reach you if an emergency arises. To keep in touch with our clients, our staff in the U.S. office will keep track of your group and may phone some of the clients to ensure that the itinerary is progressing smoothly and satisfactorily. If there is a situation that demands immediate attention while you are on tour, you can email us at tellus@chinaspree.com, we will attempt to contact you within 48 hours. Whenever and wherever you travel in China, you can rest assured that China Spree and our reputable China partners are all with you every step of the way.
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What’s your tipping policy?
Gratuities have become customary in the sector of China’s inbound foreign tours. Many travel magazines and web sites debate openly about tipping your China tour guides. Back in the early 90’s, tipping in China is officially forbidden; even today, it’s at least not publicly encouraged. Nevertheless, tips have already been widely accepted for more than 15 years among the tour guides and hotel porters serving western travelers. As a result of China’s opening up to the world and the growing influence of foreign cultures - especially from U.S., your Chinese tour guides do expect gratuities as a reward for their hard work. It’s not realistic to see western business franchises all over China and still expect that your Chinese guides will refuse any tips. Although tipping is relatively new in China, it has become a widespread practice. To thank your guides for their loyal and conscientious service, tipping is advised. However, if you are NOT satisfied with the services your guide provides, DON’T TIP. We encourage you to report any service from your guide that you feel is substandard. We will treat this matter VERY seriously.
The amount any tip is completely dependent on your satisfaction with the services you receive. A general Gratuity Guideline is outlined for the convenience of our travelers. The recommended amount of gratuities is calculated using the length of your China Tour and will be clearly marked in the travel documents you will send to you about two week prior to departure. If you have any comment on this policy, you are more than welcome to contact us.
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What are the best things to purchase in China?
China is known as a "shopper’s paradise". There are marvelous selections of arts and crafts, luxurious silk, embroidered linens, carpets, jade carvings, chops (ink seals), cloisonné, wood-block prints, patent medicines, reproductions of old art, hand-painted snuff bottles, etc. Your experienced China Tour director knows where to find the best buys in each city.
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Do our China Tour director and local guides speak good English?
Yes, each China Tour professional selected is highly educated, licensed and chosen for the ability and talent to relate to English speakers.
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How is seating determined on the motor coach travel?
We suggest daily rotation of seating. This allows everyone a variety of views. If you require special seating for medical reasons, your tour director will be glad to help you in making arrangements.
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POST TOUR
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What do we do about the trip evaluation form?
At China Spree, we are eager to know your feelings about your recently completed trip to China. Clients are the best source for our information. Please spare some time and log into your Member Area at chinaspree.com, to fill out our Evaluation Form. We value your comments!
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HOTELS
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How about the hotels we will stay in during our China Tour?
All hotels we select offer first class accommodation with private facilities. Each hotel is visited regularly by our staff to ensure the uncompromising quality that China Spree is known to provide. The same attention is also given to all the dining establishments we utilize.
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What facilities and services do our hotels normally provide?
All hotels on your China trip have Foreign Currency Exchange Service, a business center with access to Internet and fax, postal service, gym, and International Direct Dialing telephone in your room. You may also find a hair dryer, iron, converter and adaptor (subject to limited supplies) with housekeeping. Many hotels have swimming pools.
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Can we have non-smoking room?
Yes, we always book non-smoking rooms unless a smoking room is requested by the client.
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Does our hotel have laundry service?
Yes, all our hotels offer same day laundry service. Prices are fairly reasonable.
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What is the voltage requirement in China?
China’s electrical current is 220V, 50 cycles AC. Plugs and Outlets come in a variety of shapes. You are advised to bring along adapters and converters for your U.S. purchased appliances. Hair dryers and irons are readily available at most hotels, simply contact hotel housekeeping when you need them.
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TRAVEL INSURANCE
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Should I purchase travel insurance?
We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance to protect yourself and your investment in case you must cancel or interrupt your vacation. Please read more details about Travel Insurance.
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Does the travel insurance cover my pre-existing medical condition?
Yes. In order to waive your pre-existing medical conditions, you must enroll in Travelex Insurance within 7 days of your initial trip deposit made to Chinaspree.com.
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SPECIAL REQUEST
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What if I have special dietary needs?
If you are vegetarian or have allergies to certain foods, please list all details on our Online Reservation Form. We will forward your needs to our China land operator. They will make every effort to accommodate your requirements.
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Can we request a king size bed?
Hotel rooms in China are usually standard rooms with two twin beds. We cannot accept requests for king-size beds at the time of booking. To request a king sized bed you should talk to the hotel directly or seek assistance from your tour director when you are in China.
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