FAQ (Frequently
Asked Questions)
Q: How will I get to LAX?
A: We have provided a list of different forms of transportation. It is
the individuals responsibility to get to and from LAX on our trip.
Q: How long will the flight to China be?
A: From LAX, the flight is approximately 12 hours long. You will have
two meals served on the plane.
Q: How do I know what seat I will have on the airplane?
A: The seats are not pre-assigned. You will get your seat assignment at
the airport before the flight departs. Try to get there early enough so
that you can be assigned seats with your travel party.
Top
Q: How many people will there be on each tour bus?
A: The tour busses to which we are referring are those on which our
passengers will travel inside of China. There will be 25-30 people per
tour bus. Once you are assigned a tour bus, you will remain with the
same group throughout your trip. If you are traveling with a large group
of people, please provide us with a full list of names and we will do
our best to accommodate your request. We cannot guarantee you will be
seated on the same bus as your friends and family members as seating is
limited. Before we depart, we will issue a nametag to you. Your name,
bus number and passenger number will be on your name badge.
Q: Do I need to get a power adaptor?
A: If you have things you will need to plug in (curling iron, camera
battery, etc), you will need to get a 220 to 110 power adaptor. You can
get them at Radio Shack, Wal-Mart, Circuit City, etc.
Top
Q: Can I drink the tap water in China?
A: You can bathe and brush your teeth with the tap water in China, but
we don’t recommend you drink the tap water there. You can buy bottled
water at many places there, including from your tour guide and your
hotel. Stick with brands you are familiar with like Evian, Dasani, etc.
Q: What kind of food will we eat in China?
A: You will be served an American style breakfast every morning with
eggs, bacon, sausage, cereal, yogurt, etc. We will be on tours all day
long so lunch and dinner will be Chinese-style at sit-down restaurants.
Q: How early will we be leaving the hotel every morning?
A: Everyone will get a wake-up call at 6am every morning. Breakfast will
be served at 7a.m. and we will leave the hotel by 8a.m. unless otherwise
stated by your tour guide.
Top
Q: What kind of clothes should I bring?
A: Bring casual clothes and good walking shoes. It will be chilly in
some areas, so it is recommended that you bring clothes that you can
layer. You won’t need any formal clothes unless you plan on having a
business meeting in China. In that case, you will need formal/business
clothes. Please consider bringing a heavy coat and hat as the weather
can be unpredictable.
Q: What vaccinations are required in order to enter China?
A: There are no vaccinations that are required, but we recommend you see
your personal physician before you leave to make sure you are healthy
and well. If you choose to get some vaccinations, you can see your local
health department and they can assist you.
Top
Q: What is the current exchange rate?
A: As of July 16, 2008, the exchange rate was 6.8 Yen to $1 US. The
value of the dollar may continue to drop or stabilize, so we recommend
you check the Internet for significant fluctuations prior to departure.
Q: Can I use US dollars in China or should I exchange money?
A: Many places in China will accept US dollars, and many places will
accept major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard and American Express).
Discover Cards are not accepted in China. If you plan to use your credit
card in China, we recommend you call your credit card company and tell
them you will be out of the country.
Top
Q: Where can I exchange US dollars to Chinese Yen?
A: You can exchange US dollars for Chinese Yen at hotels in China. Some
banks in the US will also exchange the money, but usually at a higher
exchange rate and therefore less value to you.
Q: When do I sign up for the Optional Tours?
A: If you want to take the $450 optional tour to Xi’an, please notify us
on your original application and include payment by January 1st. All
other optional tours will be paid for in China in cash to your tour
guide if and when you decide to take optional tours offered to you.
Top
Q: Do I need to tip anyone in China?
A: You will be asked to pay a one-time top of $25 to Citslinc. Through a
company-to-company arrangement, Citslinc will take care of all
gratuities on the tours, for meal service and at your hotel. Your tip
will be collected in US cash on the day you travel to the Great Wall.
There is no need to tip anymore that this, but additional tips are
acceptable.
Q: I’ve heard the air quality is poor in some cities in China. Is this
true?
A: Yes, this is true. If you have asthma problems, make sure you have
your inhalers and medication. You may also want to bring a mask if you
are exceptionally sensitive.
Top
Q: How can I get Internet access in China?
A: If you are a business traveler or tourist, you will be pleasantly
surprised that almost all hotels, down to 3 star hotels, even in more
remote cities offer broadband internet access in their hotel rooms. Most
rooms will have an Ethernet port for you to hook up to the hotel’s
broadband. Access is mostly automatically DHCP with dynamic IPs but in
certain hotels, you may need to call the reception to allow access from
your room.”
Top
Q: What if my family needs to reach me in an emergency?
A: Please refer to your final itinerary. When you receive it you will
notice the telephone number of each hotel is located at the top of each
paragraph that references that hotel. You will also find emergency phone
numbers for Citslinc representatives in the China packet we will send to
you.
Q: How can I make a phone call from China to the US?
A: Please reference the following website for explicit instructions on
how to make a call from China to the US:
http://www.ehow.com/how_13398_call-china-united.html which is the
source of the following information.
Step 1: Determine what time it is in China before you call. It will be
13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the US.
Step 2: Dial the international access code, 011.
Step 3: Dial the country code for China, 86.
Step 4: Dial the city code for the city you wish to call. Codes for some
major cities in China include 1 for Beijing and 21 for Shanghai.
Step 5: Dial the rest of the telephone number.
Top
Q: Are there modern restrooms in China?
A: Most of the popular tourist sites you visit will have modern
western-style restrooms. However, tissue can be hard to come by so we
recommend you take some tissue with you in a convenient and discrete
sanitary package.
Q: What is the weight limit for my luggage?
A: Most airlines will only allow either 1 bag at 50lbs or 2 bags
totaling 70lbs. This is per person.
Things You Will Need:
Foreign Language Phrase Books
Travel Guides
Telephones
Clocks
Telephone Calling Cards
Top
Documents:
Online Travel Registration & Application:
http://www.ChamberEast.com/ChamberEast/TravelApplication.htm
China Trip 2009 Flyer in
PDF format:
http://www.ChamberEast.com/ChamberEast/PDF/China2009-2.pdf
Top
Optional trips in PDF format:
www.ChamberEast.com/ChamberEast/PDF/OptionalToursChina.pdf
Shopping trip options in PDF format:
Link: for more info
www.Citslinc.com
Chamber East
Chamber of Commerce is planning a 9 day trip to China in March of 2009
(March 17-25, 2009).
We picked spring because it’s the prettiest time of year in China and
usually a more expensive time to travel to China. However, this trip
will cost less then $2,000.00 including round trip air fare – 5 star
hotels, food and everything inclusive. www.ChamberEast.com/ChamberEast/ChinaTrip2009.htm
We invite anyone from our communities to join us for this amazing
trip – you do not need to be a member of Chamber East to enjoy this
fabulous exotic trip. Remember to include family and friends when
you plan on joining us in China next March. Please come to the
orientation prepared with any questions you may have and remember to
invite your family and friends. We’ve scheduled the meeting for 2
hours so that all questions can be answered thoroughly.
Top
Wednesday, August
20, 2008
China Trip 2009 Orientation Meeting
Time: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Location: The Wellington Salt Lake -
www.TheWellingtonSaltLake.com
Address: 4522 South 1300 East Salt Lake City, UT 84117 (801) 281-3477
Parking: extra parking is available at the America First Credit Union
across the street and East of the Wellington on 1300 East and 4500
South.
Please RSVP:
Marie@ChamberEast.com or (801) 561-3880 The Wellington will serve
light refreshments and they need a head count.
We will answer all of your questions and take deposits for the trip.
For more info and a color flyer use this link.
www.ChamberEast.com/ChamberEast/ChinaTrip2009.htm
www.ChamberEast.com
Top
