China 2010

[trianne]

Greetings ! We, too, are also going on the July 18th, 2010 China trip. We are a family of 3 -mom,dad and 13 year old boy. Been on Dis cruises 6 0r 7 times...love those boats! This is our second ABD trip-did Austria/Prague (now discontinued) But have done several Tauck & A&K tours (similar to Dis!) to Australia, Canada, Yellowstone, Italy... LOVE escorted tours!! Had great times and awesome guides on all. The guides and the great people MAKE THE TOURS. We have NOT gotten are visa packets, but got the forms off China.gov site ....indeed very cumbersome. YES, get Hep A shots. Looking forward to meeting all.

 

[2GirlsMama]

My DH just completed our visa paperwork so it will be ready to mail tomorrow! Hooray!

There are so many great activities on this trip it is difficult to choose just one! But I am stuck on the pandas!

We were just looking at pictures from our last trip. We got to stay in the Peninsula in Beijing. It is beautiful. It has a fantastic location.

 

[Q's My Princess]

Finally took care of the visas last Friday...The SF Chinese Consulate was PACKED!

Now we are done and ready to go (relatively speaking)! only 23 more days before we fly out!

 

[Q's My Princess]

The World Expo opened this weekend in Shanghai. Apparently it was hot, humid and very crowded!

 

[monydave]

2GirlsMama,
Tell your hubby that the Guilin portion is amazing. The cruise was probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen and the hotel is amazing as well. And after the first week, you will truly appreciate the slower pace of these couple of days. And if he's feeling very adventurous, have him try the snake wine!

 

[2GirlsMama]

Thanks, monydave! He is curious (and I am, too) what is snake wine? He is very adventurous, so I am sure that is in his future! My oldest DD is an artist, and I think she will really enjoy drawing some of the sites in Guilin.

 

[monydave]

The snake wine was on the cruise ship as we went through the gumdrop mountains. The large jug contained wine with dead vipers in it and as our local guide told us, it makes a man virile if he drinks it. There were 4 of us who were brave enough to try it and we all lived to tell about it. Plus it made for some great pictures!

 

[2GirlsMama]

Man! You weren't kidding when you said "adventurous"! I told him about it and he didn't seem convinced that he would try snake wine! I think the peer pressure will probably get him to give it a chance... I'm thinking the vipers floating in the bottle will make for a REALLY good story once we return home!

 

[2GirlsMama]

Monydave, I forgot to ask you if Brian and Daisy were your ABD China guides. They were our guides and we absolutely loved them.

 

[monydave]

We had Brian and Juan(sp?) as our guides and loved them. And yes, the pictures, video and story behind the snake wine are something to talk about when you get home. And don't even get me started on the ear cleaning at the Face Changing opera in Chengdu. As Brian told us, we were the most adventurous group he had taken on that trip. And tell your husband the snake wine tastes just like doing a shot of tequilla.

 

[Q's My Princess]

I am curious if anyone is getting any immunizations before heading to China. My doctor's travel office recommended Thyphoid and the H1N1.

 

[Jeanbean]

As well as following the CDC guidelines, remember to strictly follow food safety on your trip to China. Never eat anything that hasn't been peeled or cooked. They may look good but don't eat those strawberries on the breakfast buffet!

We traveled back to China in April 2009 with 12 families, taking our tween-aged daughters back to China for them to see the country of their birth. By drinking only bottled water, boiling water in the tea kettle in the room to brush your teeth, and following "peel or cook" rules, we kept all of the girls healthy.

The group went in various directions in China to visit their orphanage cities, but we made sure to end our trip in Hong Kong, staying at Disneyland. We had a blast being in the park and visiting Hong Kong sites. Have a great trip with Disney!

 

[Q's My Princess]

Thanks for the answer!

We are so looking forward to this trip!!

 

[carouselkr]

Yippee!! got my visa so I am ready to go! (well, almost ready)...

The CDC website has up-to-date info for recommendations for immunizations for travel. You can also find a "Travel Clinic" in your area that will help you decide what you need.

Kathy R in FL
ABD first trip - China July 4 2010
gotta figure out that signature thingy LOL
lots of trips to WDW - next one planned: June 2010
planning 3rd trip to DLR and DCA May 2010 (nope, I never stay home)

 

[carouselkr]

Oh, BTW - the company recommended by ABC (see their FAQs) was great for getting my visa - less than 1 week turnaround!

Kathy R in FL

 

[2GirlsMama]

We used that service for our Visas, too. BUT we made a mistake. We checked and triple checked our paperwork. Then DH decided to make copies of everything Then he took it to the post office. We got a call from the visa service saying they didn't get our youngest daughter's passport. We completely freaked out. Then he remembered he had copied everything. There was her passport still in the printer where he made the copy. He went back to Fed EX and now we should be okay.

It was kind of funny because we had to include school calendar to prove the girls would not be missing any school for our trip...in July!

 

[Q's My Princess]

who wanted the school calendar?

 

[2GirlsMama]

The Visa service. We included a copy with the information we sent them.

 

[abnrob]

We are going on the July 4th tour too! We have two kids, a 13 year-old girl and a 10 year-old boy. We are debating about the expo....I am not sure where it is compared to where we will be...and how to get there, etc!

 

[Q's My Princess]

We are debating about the expo....I am not sure where it is compared to where we will be...and how to get there, etc!

In the travel documents we received from ABD they state "Please see your adventure guide for more information regarding a visit to the Expo." I am sure they will help you arrange a taxi to the Expo.

Or I can let you know how we traveled from the hotel to the expo after we return from our trip....just a few more weeks!