Golden Route Tour
Escorted
12-day Tour - Departs June 30th, 2005
Beijing • Xi'an • Guilin • Shanghai • Suzhou
If you
are interested in joining the tour, please contact
edexchange@gmail.com
for more details.
The Allure of China
China holds a special place in the imagination. Children across North America grow up believing that if they dig a deep enough hole in their backyards, they eventually will wind up in China. Small wonder, then, that everyone dreams of visiting this exotic, mysterious, and magical place. What would you find when you travel to China? You would discover a vast, diverse country that holds many of the world's most famous and spectacular sights. You would marvel at the modern world's longest continuous civilization (over 5,000 years) today quickly reemerging into contemporary life. You would see a billion smiling faces from all generations, and hear "hello" in a dozen different languages and dialects--including English. You might stay in some of the world's most luxurious hotels. And you would feast in the manner of the emperors. Now is the time to visit China and enjoy your stay there.
- Message from China National Tourist Office in New York
Golden Route Tour Direction
BEIJING: 3 Nights Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven |
• Tian An Men Square • Sacred Way • Summer Palace • Cruise on Lake Kunming • Chang Ling Exhibition Hall • Great Wall • Forbidden City's Imperial Palace & Museum • Ming Tombs |
XI'AN: 2 Nights Xi'an Garden Hotel |
• Terra-Cotta Legion • Bronze Chariot • Circle Vision Movie • Shaanxi Provincial Historical Museum |
GUILIN: 2 Nights Bravo Hotel |
• Day Cruise on Li River • Reed Flute Cave • Fu Bo Hill |
SHANGHAI: 3 Nights Grand You You Hotel |
• Nanjing or Huai Hai Road's Shops • Shanghai Museum • Jade Buddha Temple • The Bund • Entertainment at the Children's Palace |
SUZHOU: Day Tour |
• Embroidery Research Institute • Pan Men City Gate • Garden of the Master of Fishing Net • North Temple Pagoda |
ITINERARY
(Click on the names of the hotels to view them)
June 30, 2005: U.S. to BEIJING |
Fly transpacific aboard United Airlines wide cabin 747 jetliner. |
July 1, 2005: ARRIVE BEIJING |
Welcome to China's capital, Beijing. You are greeted and escorted to check in to the Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven. |
July 2, 2005: BEIJING |
Today's tour introduces Tian An Men Square and the Forbidden City's Imperial Palace, with admission to the living quarters, museum and jewelry sections. After lunch, sightseeing at the Summer Palace with a cruise on placid Lake Kunming. MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch |
July 3, 2005: BEIJING |
A highlight of your visit to China today: the awesome Great Wall. After lunch, walk along the Sacred Way to the Ming Tombs and Chang Ling Exhibition Hall. MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch |
July 4, 2005: BEIJING to XI'AN |
Morning free; you may wish to shop at Lido Market. Then fly to historic Xi'an, ancient capital of China, and check in to the
Xi'an Garden Hotel. MEALS: American Breakfast |
July 5, 2005: XI'AN |
View the extraordinary life-sized terra-cotta army, no two alike, buried for over 2200 years; Circle Vision Movie; Bronze Chariot and the collections at Shaanxi Provincial Historical Museum. MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch |
July 6, 2005: XI'AN to GUILIN |
Today's flight takes you to Guilin, set amidst a valley of dramatic peaks that have inspired artists through the centuries. Check in to the
Bravo Hotel. Afternoon touring shows Reed Flute Cave and Fu Bo Hill's dramatic rock formations. MEALS: American Breakfast |
July 7, 2005: GUILIN |
Today brings a delightful cruise on a deluxe air-conditioned boat along the tranquil Li River. Cruise past a breathtaking landscape of dramatic peaks to the market town of Yangshuo, where you've time to browse. MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch |
July 8, 2005: GUILIN to SHANGHAI |
A change of pace as you fly to Shanghai. Tour emporium-lined Nanjing or Huai Hai Road and sightsee the colonial-era Bund, then check in to the
Grand You You Hotel. MEALS: American Breakfast |
July 9, 2005: SHANGHAI |
Today a sightseeing tour shows the glories of ancient China at the Shanghai Museum and Jade Buddha Temple. Then see a charming performance at the Children's Palace. MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch |
July 10, 2005: SHANGHAI to SUZHOU/SHANGHAI |
This morning, travel by motorcoach* to Suzhou, noted for its legendary ancient gardens. Tour the Embroidery Research Institute, North Temple Pagoda, Pan Men City Gate and the Garden of the Master of Fishing Net. MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch *Travel to Suzhou by train if group is less than 6 tour members |
July 11, 2005: SHANGHAI to the U.S. |
Fly homeward today aboard United Airlines' wide-cabin 747 jetliner or choose to extend your tour with our 5 day extension to scenic Huangshan, click here for details. MEALS: American Breakfast |
ALL INCLUSIVE FEATURES |
• Round-trip transpacific air transportation • United Mileage Plus® members: earn frequent flyer credit with the purchase of each air/land tour package ticketed on United Airlines • All intra-China air/land transportation • Escorted by a professional Tour Manager if the group consists of 10 or more people. • 10 nights in superior first class hotels • 10 breakfasts, 6 lunches • Round-trip transfers between airport and hotel, baggage handling, hotel taxes and service charges • Sightseeing tours, cultural entertainment and other performances as specified • $100,000 Automatic Flight Insurance for transpacific air • USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program |
EXCLUSIONS |
• Fees for delivery of tour documentation to international destinations. • Airline and airport taxes, security charges and user fees, both domestic and international, which vary depending on itinerary, are not included in the tour fare. • Transportation of heavy baggage in excess of applicable allowance; cost of passport and visas; and all items of a personal nature. • The customary end-of-tour gratuity to tour managers and tips to local guides and drivers are not included. Tips to restaurant and hotel waiters, chambermaids and porters are not included. • Land fare does not include transpacific air USA/ first point of entry abroad on tour, last point of exit on tour/USA. Transfers between airport and hotel upon arrival and departure not included. Air sectors not included: SFO/PEK, SFO/SHA, SFO/HKG, SFO/BKK, SFO/SIN, HKG/SFO, SFO/NRT, SFO/OSA, NRT/PEK and vice versa. |
PRICES |
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Air/Land from San Francisco/New York City: $1,999 Land
Only: $1,369 Optional travel protection policy: $129 |
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ADD-ONS |
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If you are not departing from San Francisco or New York City, please click here to see if there is any add-on charge. | ||||||||||||||||||||
CANCELLATION POLICY |
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Sometimes the unexpected can happen and force you to cancel the trip
of a lifetime. To protect your travel investment, or yourself and your
property while traveling, we strongly recommend the purchase of the
Travel Protection Insurance for $129. TRIP CANCELLATION/INTERRUPTION-UP TO TOTAL TRIP COST Covered reasons for cancellation/interruption include illness, injury or death to you, a traveling companion or a covered family member. Other covered reasons for cancellation or interruption of your trip include you or your traveling companion being required to serve jury duty or subpoenaed, having a home damaged by a natural disaster, or being directly involved in a traffic accident en route to departure. More than just cancellation protection, the plan also provides coverage for:
Please contact us for a more detailed description of coverage and frequently asked questions. |
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TERMS
& CONDITIONS
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BOOKING PROCEDURES (1 through 6, see below) | ||||||||||||||||||||
1. RESERVATION REQUEST: Upon receipt of your deposit, written confirmation/invoice and Passenger Information Form will be sent. | ||||||||||||||||||||
2.
DEPOSIT: All Deposits and Travel Protection Insurance Fees may be paid by credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American
Express), with signed credit card authorization form, or by check.
a.) Receipt of deposit confirms your reservation and is applied toward final payment. Deposit ............................................................US $300.00 per person b.) Travel Protection Insurance payment (non-refundable/non-transferable) is due at time of deposit and is in addition to deposit amount. Rates subject to change without notice. Travel Protection Insurance is recommended. Pre-existing conditions exclusion is waived when insurance is purchased at time of deposit. |
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3.
CHINA VISAS: U.S. Passports with a six month validity AFTER the date
of return should be sent to our office 45 days prior to departure
date with a completed and signed Visa Application Form with an official
passport-size color photo, including payment by credit card or check
and is non-refundable once the visa is issued. Visa………………………………………US $80.00 per person If you are applying for your own visa: Photocopies of valid passport must be sent with deposit in order to process the booking. Passenger names must be as listed on the respective passports; any corrections required are subject to a $10.00 change fee. |
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4.
FINAL PAYMENT: |
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5.
REVISION FEES:
A per-person fee for each revision will be assessed for any changes
in air and/or land arrangements after the booking number has been
issued and is under deposit. From initial reservation through issue
date of documents/tickets: US $15.00 per person (plus supplier's penalties) Once documents/tickets are issued, changes are not permitted and air tickets are non-refundable. A change in departure date, or from one tour to another, is considered a cancelled trip and cancellation penalties will apply. |
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6.
CANCELLATION FEES:
All tours: 75 days or more before departure…………………...……US $300.00* per person 74 to 45 days before departure…………………………....US $350.00* per person 44 to 16 days before departure………………………..…..US $400.00* per person 15 to 1 day before departure…………………………..…..US $500.00* per person *Plus any charges assessed by land suppliers, cruise companies and airlines, in addition to any revision fees. On or after departure date………....100% forfeiture of the tour price per person |
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AIR INFORMATION: | ||||||||||||||||||||
The tour
operator will provide
air transportation in conjunction with all land tours, based on
the applicable air fares on United Airlines and participating carriers,
subject to the rules and regulations of the class, fare and service
of the individual airline. Tours that are published inclusive of
air utilize contracted net fares in effect at time of printing (October
1, 2004) and are subject to change by the airline. Due to special
contracted net agreements, supplements or credits for air deviations
may not be equal to published air fare differentials. |
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LAND INFORMATION: | ||||||||||||||||||||
REFUND
ON UNUSED OR CHANGED TOUR ARRANGEMENTS: Portions of land arrangements,
hotel accommodations or any other service or feature of the tour which
are not used are neither refundable nor exchangeable. Travel Protection
Insurance and Visa handling fee is nonrefundable. Refund claims must
be made in writing within 20 days of the termination of the tour.
A written statement from the Tour Manager certifying the exact services
not rendered must be attached to this claim. International and domestic air schedules are subject to change at any time. If you make your own flight arrangements, the tour operator will not be responsible for any loss resulting from cancellations, delays, or changes in flight schedules. Note: All tour fares shown are based on the present value of foreign currencies in relation to the US dollar in effect on October 1, 2004 and in current tariffs on the same date and are subject to change. The right is reserved to cancel the tour prior to departure for any reason. In such case, a full refund of all payments will constitute full settlement with the passenger. The airlines concerned are not held responsible for any act, or event during the time the passengers are not on board their planes or conveyances. The passenger's contract in use by the airlines concerned, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and the purchaser of these tours and/or passenger. Any and/or all transportation companies herein mentioned shall have or incur no responsibility for liability to any traveler aside from their liability as common carriers. The carrier's international tariff is available for inspection by the passenger and will govern all aspects of the air transportation. |