17 Day Grand China & Yangtze Cruise (2010)

I have just returned from China Spree's 16 Day Grand China and Yangtze Cruise.(Sept.15-Oct.1.2009) I want to let you know that from beginning to end, this tour exceeded my expectations. Our national guide, Ronald, became a friend and mentor. He went out of his way to meet the needs of 16 very different individuals, and he did it successfully with a smile on his face and kindness in his heart. With him as our guide, I never had a worry and I felt extremely secure under his "care". All excursions and cruises were carefully planned and, with Ronald's help, left me with a new knowledge of Chinese culture, and a tremendous respect for this ancient country which still seems to be young and growing. I felt most fortunate to be traveling with a wonderful group. I became ill during the trip, and my traveling companions went out of their way to show me their concern and caring. I met them as strangers, and now think of them as friends. I send my thanks to them all and even greater thanks to China Spree for making it all possible!!!

CS: What did you like about this trip?

Answer: Our national guide, Ronald, was excellent. He really took care of his group--answering our questions, giving us a thorough education about China, making sure we were happy and comfortable. His presence made me feel very secure!!!!! Excursions were always enjoyable, and accommodations were truly "5 star!!!

CS: Based on your experience from this trip what would you like to say to potential travelers to China?

Answer: Go with an open mind, and fill it with wonder and amazement !!!

If you are looking for a truly excellent and reasonably priced tour to China, I recommend China Spree highly. I have traveled with theme twice lately, in 2008 and again in 2009. Both times, I found their tour arrangements and tour guides to be excellent in every way. As a frequent visitor to China, I rate them as the best, and I am planning to travel with them again.

Mary

CS: What did you like about this trip?

Answer: The entire program ran smoothly and nicely. The five-star hotels are above expectations, one better than the other. Above all, the National Tour Guide, Ronald Wang I-pin, was exceptionally good or excellence. He is best I have encountered in my all my tour trips to China (total 14 times).

Since I am a frequent visitor to China, I would say the splendid 5-star hotels that you had selected for us. They are true show-cases of the immense development and progress that China has made in the 21st century so far.

CS: Based on your experience from this trip what would you like to say to potential travelers to China?

Answer: The 16 Day Grand China & Yangtze Cruise is especially organized to enable the participants to have a good understanding of the history and culture of China, including 21st century China.

Wang Yiping - Ronald - is an exceptional tour guide. His command of the nuances of the English language - vocabulary, grammar, idioms, intonation, inflection, pacing - make him a pleasure to hear. He is incredibly knowledgeable about Chinese history (ancient and modern), culture and modern social issues and knows how and when to speak of them for the best impact. He is willing to talk about himself, his family, and his own history and thus becomes something more than a "tour guide"; he becomes someone to whom we can relate personally. His sense of humor, patience, sensitivity to others were ever present on this trip. At the operational level, Ron is nothing short of miraculous. He organized baggage transfers, plane check ins, etc., to be nearly painless. Restaurants under his watch were ready and waiting for us. His response to unexpected and emergency situations was effective in solving the problems without disrupting the entire group. He reminded us frequently of his availability to us under any circumstances and made it easy for us to reach him. China Spree is lucky to have a guide of this caliber. Treat him well.

We had a fantastic trip, and would recommend China Spree to all future tourists. Our national tour guide was fantastic. The pace was busy but gave us the opportunity to assimilate so much more than we would have ever been able to learn about the culture and history of China on our own.

CS: What did you like about this trip?

Answer: EVERYTHING! Lucy Yu was a fantastic national guide...patient, caring, informative and able to keep to schedule. Local guides, Robert, Lisa, Peter and Karian did very well in the local cities. We enjoyed the cruise too. Crew was excellent. Food good all the way aorund. Most importantly, we felt that we really were able to interface with the people of China. Hotels were good. All in all we thought the trip was fantastic and have already recommended to two other individuals who plan to see China that they use China Spree. We also had our 12 1/2 year old granddaughter with us. She was comfortable, learned so much...and fit in well. The Xian warriors and Guilen experiences were great. Tongli Gardens and Shanghai weere great too.

CS: Based on your experience from this trip what would you like to say to potential travelers to China?

Answer: China is an amazing country, and China Spree offers the opportunity to explore, learn and enjoy the culture, cuisine, and fantastic scenery in a most enjoyable way. This is a great value for the price. We highly recommend the trip.

This was my first trip out of the U.S. and I'm glad I took the tour with China Spree. Meals and travel were all taken care of. Our national guide was incredible, helping us along the way, every step of the way. I saw so many sights and met so many people and have come away with a better appreciation of a country and culture I knew little about.

CS: Based on your experience from this trip what would you like to say to potential travelers to China?

Answer: Be flexible, don't complain about other cultures because that's why you traveled in the first place, do not expect everything to be the same as at home. Bring extra camera batteries.

This was a first trip to China for my parents, 12 year old niece and I and we could not have been happier with China Spree! We were exceptional pleased with the content and value we received for our money. This is also the first time that I personally have been on vacation with a tour group. I was initially wary because I normally love to travel and explore on my own, however, I am so glad I traveled on this tour. China is a magnificent, but confusing county and there is no way I could have maneuvered my way around to even half the places in this amount of time or on this budget. Also, the knowledge, antidotes and insights given by our guides was invaluable.

CS: Things that impressed you most on this trip

Answer: Extremely good national guide Lucy Yu. Trip went very smoothly and Lucy went out of her way to accommodate and assist our group. My 12 year old niece was traveling with us as the only child in our group and Lucy made extra efforts to make sure she was engaged, included and looked after. Also very much enjoyed the hotel selection, especially the Pullman in Shanghai.

CS: Comment on your Tour Manager, using rate 1-10 while 10 is the best

Answer: Lucy is a 10!! We could not have asked for a better guide. Lovely lady with great sense of humor, much knowledge or country and culture. She really helped make our tour group cohesive and a "family". No detail was too small and she went out of her way to help fix even the smallest problems.

Having just returned from our trip, April 2009 we are really excited to recommend China Spree as a great choice for a visit to China. We feel we have visited all the major cities but enjoyed the local culture as well with the Culture Insite Programs. Our expectations during the whole trip from itinerary, accommodations, national guide, local guides and tour size were met. The smaller group size made it more like a family and connected us with one another. All of us on the trip would vote Jim Mao as the # 1 National Guide. His attention to detail, knowledge and caring made him so special to all of us. We have so many memorable moments it is difficult to pick just one. Walking the Great Wall and sailing the Yangtze River were inspiring. Enjoying a lunch with a local family in the Hutong an education in learning that all people are the same no matter where they live in the world... Thank You China Spree!!!!