Frequently Asked Questions

A: The price includes everything listed in the itinerary and under Terms & Conditions except tips, visa costs, compulsory travel insurance and some meals. You are responsible for payment of your International Airfares to and from China.

A: Yes. We use Google Checkout as our credit card processing service and find them to be extremely safe and secure to use. By using Google Checkout, NONE of your credit card details are passed to us and are all securely maintained by Google.

A: Yes. Please go to More Info for instructions. We have a Chinese Visa Express agent to assist you.

A: China does not require any inoculation certificate to enter and no shots are required. We recommend that you check with your physician before leaving for the tour.

A: Western Style Breakfast at your Hotel is included each day, however we do not provide lunch or dinner on most days. We offer the flexibility for you to choose your own lunch and dinner. We do organize a chinese banquet each night that we all can enjoy together. Most meals cost around $6-10 USD per person (including drinks) and the food is delicious. In fact, many visitors to China find the authentic Chinese food to be one of the highlights of their visit!

A: Most breakfasts combine Chinese and Western dishes served in hotels throughout the trip. Tea, coffee, milk, fresh fruit and a variety of juices are also available. Lunch and dinner will be local cuisine served in restaurants outside the hotels, and is usually decided by the tour leader and the group on the day. Vegetarians and clients allergic to certain food items such as nuts, MSG or sesame oil should disclose their allergy at the time of reservation and then remind the tour leader once they start their tour. Every effort will be made to satisfy the client's needs, but for legal reason Smooth China Travel does not guarantee the dishes served contain absolutely no such ingredients. Clients with special dietary needs due to medical conditions must disclose their needs at the time of reservation and be prepared to pay a little extra.

A: No. You can withdraw chinese currency at local ATMs. Credit cards are not generally accepted in restaurants and stores and you will need to pay with local currency in cash. Most people find that the local currency is quite easy to use very quickly.

A: Twenty kilograms or 44 pounds.

A: Our plan for our 2010 Smooth Discover China Tour is to travel to Beijing together on the same flight out of Western USA/Canada. If you prefer to take your own flight, you will be met at the airport by a driver and taken to join the group at the hotel. Please ensure you arrive into Beijing before 5pm on the Sunday of the journey. We actually recommend coming a day or 2 earlier if you have the time, so you can acclimatise. We will be more than happy to help you arrange an extra night or 2 at the hotel.

A: China spans several time zones but the whole country operates to a single standard time (GMT+8) all year round. Beijing Standard Time is 13 hours ahead of North America's Eastern Standard Time and 16 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. The difference becomes one hour less during our Daylight Saving Time in North America.

A: Yes, but be prepared to pay a small fee for the service.

A: No, if you use a phone card, which can be purchased locally. For added convenience you may want to sign up for the mobile phone rental service provided by Smooth China Travel. Please contact us for details.

A: We use mostly 5 and 4-star hotels for our tours and choose them for their quality, comfort, location and service. However, it is important to keep in mind that in some remote areas accommodations may be basic. We assume all clients need non-smoking rooms and put in our requests with the hotels accordingly. When a hotel is unable to accommodate our request we make sure they do their best to minimize the odor of cigarette smoke.

A: Hotels provide speedy laundry service. The cost is reasonable by North American standard. Your Tour Leader will be able to assist with Laundry requirements.

A: No. The hotels all have them.

A: Although we offer an additional single supplement option, which will guarantee you your own hotel room for the entire journey. If you choose to not pay the extra fee and you will be grouped with another single traveler to share hotel rooms for the tour. We only assign single travelers of the same sex to share together. Of course, if you want to guarantee your own room and not share, you can choose to pay the single supplement before departure.

A: Private hospitals staffed by doctors trained in the West can be found in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Be sure you have adequate medical and evacuation insurance coverage, which is compulsory for all tours.

A: Three weeks before departure you will receive by email the updated itinerary with hotel details. If you don't use email we'll mail you a hard copy. Your tickets for local flights will be issued in China and delivered to you through your tour leader before each departure.

A: Tipping is purely optional but we do encourage you to do this if you feel you have received good service. For local guides and drivers, you are welcome to tip a few dollars per day. Our suggested minimum amount for the tour leader is $5 USD per client per day. Please wait till the end of the tour to tip the tour leader. It is entirely up to you whether you should tip extra. We understand the sensitive nature of this matter and strive to make our policy on tipping as clear as possible. Our aim is to provide you with the very best Tour Leaders in all of China and we hope they go the extra mile and you reward them as appropriate.

A: China is a vast country where climate is extremely diverse ranging from tropical in the south to sub-arctic in the north. Generally speaking, the best months to visit China are April, May, September and October, with July and August being the hottest time to visit.