Program: Shanghai – Suzhou – Tongli – Hangzhou – Huangshan – Mount Huang – Hongcun – Xidi
Hello,
Here is finally the report of our trip to China.
The proposed program was very well designed with varied and interesting sites. Due to the weather (bad from day 4), we saw almost nothing of the Huangshan site. According to our guide, it seems that December is systematically bad and avoided by most visitors; considering the costs involved, perhaps you could have drawn our attention to this point? We probably would have made the decision to go there anyway, but it would have lessened our disappointment.
The joint decision to limit the use of guides due to costs (I really appreciated our discussions on the subject) turned out to be optimal, our remarkable guide (who apparently is also your representative in Shanghai), (Chen), from the first day having made us a program including public transport for Suzhou then arranged a driver (at my request and in my opinion essential) with a visit itinerary for Hangzhou (an excellent driver by the way). He also told us how to get from Shanghai station to our hotel (the direct metro). For other clients, I confirm that it is essential to have such a person on the first day. In comparison, our second guide (Charles) seemed less good to us (obviously the weather did not help). None of these guides or drivers tried to take us to shops, as is too often the case in China and their restaurant recommendations turned out to be good.
Nothing to say about the accommodation chosen, which corresponded well to our expectations: the Garden Hotel in Suzhou (comfortable) is not the most pleasant in the city but has the advantage of being remarkably located; we had a very well-located room on the 21st floor of the Friendship; the Xihai is remarkable (again a shame about the weather) and the Pig’s Heaven Inn is full of charm (a shame that, although we were the only guests, we did not have their best room – we did, however, eat remarkably well there).
Lastly, the travel documents are extremely well done and the practical information is very useful. You should simply specify that you should prepare a backpack for one night for Huangshan because it is unpleasant to have to transfer in the lobby of a hotel on site before taking the cable car. Finally, specify that most taxis are dishonest, at least in Shanghai (we were warned by local residents and only took one which obviously ripped us off; the one that took us from the Okura Hotel to the airport was so briefed by the hotel that the final price was slightly below the prices listed on the internet or announced by the hotel). Thanks to Chen for advising us to take the metro!
That’s it for my comments regarding the trip. Overall, we are very satisfied with your services and the value for money.
Sincerely
Christophe