Fiona

Fiona

Irish

Reviewed on May 30, 2024

Hi Rita,

Apologies for my delay in responding. We only came home last week and have been busy with work getting back up to date.

We had a fantastic tour. David was an excellent guide. He was very knowledgeable about the area and responsive to our needs. He helped us with recommendations for food and shopping and we really enjoyed his company for the 8 days. He knew when to give us information about the area and also when to give us some space and quiet to enjoy the views.

The itinerary suited everything we were looking for. David also adapted it to the weather for the best views and experiences and arranged extra stops, at our request. We couldn't have asked for a better tour or guide. The driver and car was also excellent, very clean and comfortable. The hotels met our expectations and were really well located. Overall the tour exceeded our expectations and I would be happy to share my experiences anywhere you would like me to. I'll send on some photos separately this weekend that you can use as you wish.

In terms of any suggestions, it is just to give some extra information before your guests travel, as many things are quite different in China than in Europe or the USA. I suggest giving the following advices to clients when they book the tour:

• Bring a small backpack to carry snacks and water each day.

• There are limited food options within the national park, so you may wish to bring some favourite snacks from home. You can purchase snacks in the local town, however they may not suit your taste so it is good to have some familiar snacks to hand. Some fruit, chocolate, crisps and nuts are available locally.

• You will walk quite a bit during the trip (including steps), so make sure you have good walking shoes with you.

• Hotel rooms typically do not have travel safes in them, so be prepared to carry your cash/ valuables with you each day.

• Coffee is not popular in this region of China. There may be days that coffee is not available. We suggest bringing some coffee sachets with you if this poses a difficulty for you.

• We suggest to download the 'WeChat' app before travelling to China to communicate with your guide.

• We recommend having some local currency with you for purchases in rural villages, as not all accept card payments or your card may not work as it does at home.

The final recommendation I would give is to include the fox fairy show and Huanglong cave in itineraries. Both were amazing and unlike anything we had seen before. Also on the coffee piece, Europeans drink a lot of coffee. In Furong there was nowhere in the old or new town to get coffee in the morning. It might be an idea for the guide to have some coffee that they could give to the tourists to make their own.

I hope that has been helpful and thank you again for making this trip one that we will never forget. I'll send the photos in a few days.

Regards,

Fiona

Destination(s): Zhangjiajie, Fenghuang, Furong Ancient Town, Hunan
Date of Experience: May 16, 2024
Trip Type: Traveled as Other
Tour Customized by: Rita

See more reviews on Tripadvisor See all reviews from our guests

Most Valuable Reviews Our Customers listed on TripAdvisor

More City Reviews from Our Customers

Amazing Travel Stories

Besides the origin feedback telling their satisfaction about their travel, some customers also nicely shared their travel stories in details. You can read their stories and seek for more inspiration.

  • Couple’s 69 Days Private China Journey
    “Only You” - Couple’s Resounding 69 Days Private China Journey

    Elie & Marie has successfully enjoyed their wonderful and romantic 10 week couple's private vacation and experienced a lot of interesting things in 32 destinations around vast China!

    • Elie (Belgium)
    • (69 Days) 2019.09.04~2019.11.11
    • Beijing - Hohhot - Datong - Pingyao - Luoyang - Xian - Jiayuguan ... Chengdu - Yangtze - Zhangjiajie - Yunnan - Guilin... Hangzhou - Shanghai
  • North American English Teachers’ China Trip to Visit Their Students off Internet
    North American English Teachers’ China Trips to Visit Their Students off Internet

    We customized three big group China trips for tens of VIPKid English teachers and their family members to visit Xian, Shanghai, etc. from Beijing and meet their students off Internet in China in 2019!

    • VIPKid Teachers (USA/Canada)
    • (9-21 Days) 2019
    • Beijing - Xian - Shanghai - Suzhou –Shanghai - Hangzhou - Huangshan... Yangtze Cruise...Chengdu - Beijing
  • Winston's Couple Tour to 9 Cities all around China plus Yangtze Cruise
    Winston's Couple Tour to 9 Cities around China plus Yangtze Cruise

    Winston and his wife have traveled to many world places during the past 21 years and experienced the best vacation this time to explore China's west and east, north and south parts!

    • Winston (USA)
    • (22 Days) 2019.05.17~2019.6.07
    • Beijing - Xian - Lhasa - Chengdu - Guilin - Longsheng - Yangshuo - Chongqing - Yangtze River Cruise - Yichang - Shanghai - Suzhou - Beijing
  • 5 Days Tibet Lhasa Tour
    Warm People, Warm the World - Annual Tibet Trip for Love Sharing

    Jack and their partners would get back to Tibet from the distant USA every year, and until now, they’ve visited Tibet for 6 times. Every time, they had wonderful time enjoying the highlights of Tibet, and helped the blind, brought them hope of life and encouraged them.

    • Jack (USA)
    • (6 Times) 2013~2019
    • Tibet
  • Rachel Grant’s Panda Volunteer Experience in Dujiangyan
    Rachel Grant’s Panda Volunteer Experience in Dujiangyan

    The distinctive black and white animal is a national treasure in China and one of the rarest, most endangered bears in the world. A one-on-one encounter with a giant panda is a bucket list highlight and a must-do when you are in China. The time I spent witnessing such human dedication is truly eye-opening...

    • Panda Volunteer Star: Ms. Rachel Grant (British)
    • Chengdu - Dujiangyan
  • Returning Hometown to Regain Adopted Daughter's Confidence
    Returning Hometown to Regain Adopted Daughter's Confidence

    Lawson's Family had an amazing family China tour with their two adopted daughters from China and touchingly helped their adopted ethnic little girl regain confidence.

    • Lawson (UK)
    • (19 Days) 2018.10.17~2018.11.04
    • Shenzhen - Xiamen - Yongding - Guangzhou - ... - Yangshuo - Guilin - Chengdu - Hangzhou - Shanghai - Suzhou - Shanghai
Beijing Xian Tours

Recommended Tours

CD-BXS-08 8 Days Best of China Tour
8 Days Best of China Tour (Flight/Bullet Train Covered)

Beijing / Xian / Shanghai

Jack and Emily from UK visited Greeting Pine, Yellow Mountain in October, 2019
9 Days East China & Mt. Huang Tour by High Speed Train

Shanghai / Suzhou / Hangzhou / Huangshan

Potala Palace
15 Days China Tour with Tibet Discovery & Panda Visit

Shanghai / Guilin / Yangshuo / Guilin / Chengdu / Lhasa / Xian / Beijing