MOST FAQ
1. Contact persons:
A. Mr and Mrs. Marje and Rick Anderson
Mr and Mrs. Marje and Rick Anderson is in (space) charge of the registration and , in answering all the questions , and in provide registration forms ,Visa application, and so on. Tel & Fax contact at: 717-757-3732
E-mail: irconductormja@yahoo.com
Other Concerning Info: See the Registration Form
B. Visa Operator: CITS LAX < in Los Angeles >
Frank Lee
CITS (USA)
Tel: (626) 568-8993 ; Fax: (626) 568-9207
E-mail: Citslax@aol.com
Mailing address: 975 East Green Street, #101 Pasadena, CA 91106, USA
C. Tickets Operator:
COITS is going to make the tickets reservation and forwarding this to the M and T office and this office could answer to your questions with the transocean flight and as well as the domestic flight ticckets;
2. Who can give me details of the tour?
Steve and Joan Wood
or these travel service operators in China:
Mr. Li Baoyu, Vice General Manager of COITS Co. Ltd.
Tel: 011-86-10-68259365
Fax: 011-86-10-68254711;
E-mail: libao@libao-tour.com.cn
Organizer: BAA
Li yu, President
Tel: 0086-10-88433114 ; E-mail: libao@libao-tour.com.cn and Mr. Li will be forwarded your info to BAA ASAP;
3. Can family & friends join this tour ?
Tour limit is 200 (1) First come, first served; (2) Priority: CBIers, family members,then non-CBIer friends. All may be registered, but we cannot guarantee all can be accepted;
4. Who will meet us at the departure airport? Is there any logo or insignia?
We will select one at each depature cities from amoug the register to assist your group leader with departure. We will provide an I.D. badge for each participant after buying the trip and it will be mailed to you with your visaed passport;
5. What is the Hump Airlift Memorial School in Kunming? Why?.
It was donated by more then 300 Sino-American Veterans in 1999 ¨C2000 and set up in 2002. This is a high school specializing in teaching English. Descendants of Humpsters or other CBIers will be invited to China to teach English. A living monument to commemorate the Hump Airlift, Chinese students are proud to learn in this school¡ªthe only school in the world dedicated to the memory of this military operation of WW-II;
6. How can I get a Visa?
An experienced person will handle all Visa business. We hope to obtain a group Visa; that means, the office must give us a list of names with all necessary personal information. Our Visa person who is outr long turms partner will work through an Organizer, so we can avoid the work of filing the application form by each participant. Your valid passport must be sent to the contact person, to compile the list of names, then all the passports will be sent to the Visa person who will individually mail Visaed passports to passport holders. If Consulate does not accept group application, the application form will be sent to each participant. Each will have his/her passport Visaed¡ªthat means he/she can return to the USA at any time within a period of 2 weeks after the finishing of the schedule;
7. If we hold a group Visa, can I apply for a separate Visa when in China?
Yes, you may. Ask travel service to go with you or you may have someone to the Police Office in Beijing or any capital city. They will examine your passport, group Visa, original Letter of Invitation kept in the travel service, and a letter of application from the travel service. Requires 1-2 working days with payment of $120 - $200 USD to Police Office. In extreme emergency, ask for Visa within hours, but you may have to pay more.
8. May I get my own Visa?
Yes. But you must let us know that your passport is already visaed before group departure;
9. Where and when can I get the airline ticket?
Airline tickets will be handled by the M & T Office and this office will receive the balance of the travel expense , then transfer money to tickets operator at LAX or SFO office. They will send Electrical round trip tickets to the M & T Office and M & T Office will mail the delivery accordingly. (LAX/SFO/JFK--PEK¡ªZhangJiaJieand // Changsha---PEK¡ª
LAX/SFO/JFK).
Note: Participants who departs from JFK (JFK short for New York) will pay an additional $250;
10. How many pieces of luggage and what size/weight allowed?
Business and Tourist Class passengers are allowed two pieces. The sum of length/width/height of each must not exceed 62 in (158 cm) and the two pieces must not exceed 107 in (273 cm); weight of each not to exceed (70.2 lbs) 32 kg.
Excess baggage charges should be paid for additional pieces;
11. Special instructions for traveling in China.
Don¡¯t put passport in checked baggage. You should bring passport every time you travel. Always have your guide to help you make arrangements to ship a purchase back to USA. Get invoice from the shop to prevent any problems with customs, etc. We can help you deal with shop thru travel service;
12. What kind of passenger plane will we take to China?
Air China uses Boeing-747 for international flights. From Beijing to ZhangJiaJie. Air China uses Boeing-737. Most Chinese airlines adopted Boeing, Air Bus or MD for trunk air routes. China domestic flight company Airlines uses Boeing-737-400 for ChangSha - Beijing and the flights for other cities are the same ;
13. May I select a new travel route not included in flyer?
Yes. You may write down cities you want to include and other requirements.
Mail to COITS through M & T Office. COITS will make a special optional tour for you, including tour arrangements & package price. It should be verified in writing and completed before registering. If you cannot decide upon your new travel route before you leave your home country for China, you may do it when you arrive in China. We can discuss it during your first week time, but the package price will be higher than if it were negotiated a few months before.
14. Could we extend our tour days in China while in China, and where can we apply for changing the expiration date of visa?
Yes. You may ask the travel service to help you to apply for an extension in the police office of a capital city or a large city like Beijing and Kunming They will examine your passport, letter of invitation (original copy will be kept in COITS office), and your application of extension. The police office will charge you a service fee of about $ 100 - $150 USD;
15. May I come to China before the tour , and/or return to the USA within a period of time after the ¡°tour ¡± and still enjoy the special airline ticket for this tour?
Air China promised the group of airline ticket and it is valid for inbound and return together to the USA.
But if you would like to come by yourself or with a few of your friends, we may Apply it for you;
16. How much will it cost to change the date on my airline ticket?
If you want to change the date on your airline ticket, you pay the usual fee; about $75, but in special circumstances, perhaps $100 or even more;
17. If I lose my airline ticket, can I still go on the flight?
Yes, you may, but you must pay a service fee for a new airline ticket if there are available seats on the flight;
18. May I upgrade my airline ticket from domestic to business class?
Yes. As for the additional surcharge for business class and for first class for round trip from SFO/LAX to Beijing and return to SFO/LAX you may have to make the requriry and get the info from the office and added cost from other departure cities can be obtained;
19. Do I need to show my passport when I board an airplane in China?
Yes, in China you should show your airline ticket, with your passport at the security check in the air terminal building;
20. Fees in addition to package price?
Add tips for bus drivers & tour guides (cf. brochure), airport tax from China to USA flight & optional side-trips (cf. brochure). Extension days due to waiting for flight back to USA: each day Beijing $ 90 USD/person/night for hotels, meals, tours & guides;
21. Is there a refund if we do not take a scheduled tour?
Very difficult, unless you inform us before leaving for China;
22.What kind of bus will be used for ground transportation?
Air-conditioned buses. Each bus has 33-35 seats or 40-50 seats, and are similar to US tourist buses. There is no bathroom on the bus, however most sightseeing attractions can be reached within one hour. Longest is from Beijing to the Great Wall of China <2 hours> and ZhangJiaJie ¨CHuiHua (ZhiJiang is closed to HuaiHua) - ChangSha ( 4 hrs), and there will be a few stop mid-way;
23. What is the status of highways in China?
The super highways or freeways are not worse than that of USA. All the roads for tourism are in good condition. From Beijing to the Great Wall or ZhangJiaJie to HuaiHua ¨C ChangSha and Etc there is a new freeway;
24. How do I exchange money?
It is best to exchange your money at the airport, hotel or bank, to avoid receiving counterfeit bank notes. Official exchange rate has been quite stable for the last few years. Average $1 USD to 6.75 RMB at the time of the end of 2008. Black market is 2% higher¡ªbut you risk being blackmailed. Your tour guide can help you with money exchange;
25. May I use credit cards in China?
Almost all common credit cards used in USA are accepted in the large cities in China. You may use your credit card in the ATM at the bank to get RMB, or in department stores for purchases. Travelers checks can be cashed at a bank in a large city, but it takes time. The tour must be paid in USD. We cannot accept a credit card for entire tour because we must pay for airline ticket before we leave the USA for China;
26. Do we pay export tax on precious commodities?
In general, no tax if not a large amount. For antiques, show invoice from shop who sold the antiques. Other commodities such as medicines, nourishments, clothes, carpets, garments or fashions, & toys are tax free. Consumer tax included in sale price. In some stores it is best to bargain and you will have a good buy!
27. What is insurance coverage mentioned in flyer?
We cover both accident & baggage insurance & sickness insurance within China. Total amount of insurance indemnity is 1.000.000 RMB. You pay for insurance outside of China.;
28. May I travel in Beijing and the first week cities without a guide?
Yes. No restrictions for tourist in open cities in China. We provide guides for groups; each group of 20 has a guide. As for optional extension tours, we provide a guide for groups of 10 or more. In some cases, such as travel thru NW-China, we provide guide for groups of 6 or more.
If any M & T participant wants to travel without a guide, please inform group guide, otherwise guide will waste time trying to find you and delay bus.;
29. Average temperature in August?
Beijing and Kunming 23¡ª30 deg C. Other cities are almost the same ;
30. Should I talk to my doctor about my travel plans?
Yes. Ask doctor if he/she thinks you should have an injection of gamma globulin to boost immune system. There is air pollution in large cities. At the slightest hint of cold/flu like symptoms ask your doctor if you should take an appropriate antibiotic to prevent upper respiratory problems. Have the prescription filled before leaving the USA. Make sure you have all medications you need. Always carry these on board the airplane;
31. Are any inoculations or immunizations required?
None for Canadian and US & Europeans tourists;
32. Can I drink tap water in China?
Generally NO, but in the airport terminal building it is okay to drink tap water. Each day the hotel will provide Cold water, ice cubes, and a thermos bottle prepared from boiled water in your room;
33. Food in China?
American Breakfast (buffet) in the hotel every morning and two Chinese meals (lunch and dinner). The standard tourist meal is 4-6 cold dishes and 6-8 hot dishes with rice or steamed bread and a soft drink;
34. How are hotels in China rated?
International standard for star class hotels in China is the same as in the USA & Europeans;
35. Hotel services?
Bell service & morning calls. Dial 0 or 9 for operator. Staff speaks English, so no problem with communication. One 110 V socket for electric razor. For battery charger, computer, etc., ask hotel maid to lend you an adaptor. 4-star hotels usually have hair dryer. All star-class hotels have private bathroom. Our hotels have beauty salon, massages, swimming pool & laundry service (24 hours, or if urgent 2 hours). Some 4-star hotels such as the Beijing & Kunming Hotel have facilities for disabled. Do not discard clothing in your room, or hotel will try to locate you to return the ¡®lost¡¯ article. There are hair salons in large cities such as Beijing/ ZhangJiaJie/ HuaiHua/ ChangSha, also in mid-sized cities such as the Hotel we¡¯ve mention in side-trip. Price about 30% of US;
36. What clothing should I pack?
Clothes to layer for average temperatures in #30 above. Bring raincoat, comfortable walking shoes, casual (thin blouses or shirts) & banquetwear (men wear coat/tie & may wear medals; ladies, no formal wear, just dressy). Depending on where you are going you may wish to bring hat and scarf;
37. Does organization will have doctors to go along with the group?
Yes. We do during in the cities .
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