What if your trip start dates don't coincide with our vacation dates?
Is it safe to eat the food in China?
What is the difference between a "hard sleeper" and a "soft sleeper" on the trains?
Is it possible to use another currency (Dollars, Euros) in China?
Will we need to get visas before we arrive in China?
I don't speak a word of Chinese. Will I have a difficult time communicating?
What exactly is an "English Corner"?
Will my cell phone work in China?
Will we have a guide or tour leader with us all the time?
Why is airfare not included in the price of the tour?
Why are the entrance fees not included in the trip price?
Why are all our meals not included in the trip price?
How will we know how many people are in our group?
Do we really need travel insurance?
Everything looks good, but we really want to stay in five-star hotels or at a minimum four-star ones. Is this possible?
How can we change our itinerary?
What is a "tourist class" hotel?
In China, all hotels must obtain a special license to accept foreigners. These hotels (or guesthouses as they are sometimes designated) will carry a one- to five-star designation similar to hotels around the world. Our hotels almost always carry a three-star rating. They do not have swimming pools, exercise centers, business centers, telephones in the bathroom, or other services that differentiate three-, four-, and five-star hotels. They are selected based upon cleanliness, location, quality of the staff, and character. For example, in Beijing we selected a traditional Chinese courtyard house that has been converted into a guesthouse. We believe this offers our clients more of a "Chinese experience" without sacrificing any essential amenities.
What if your trip start dates don't coincide with our vacation dates?
This isn't an insurmountable problem. If you cannot change your vacation dates, let us know. If the planning starts far enough out, we can change the date on our website to alert other prospective travelers of a new start date. Barring changing the dates of an existing trip, we will endeavor to set up a custom trip just for you. If you find yourself in this situation, the best thing to do is communicate with us as soon as possible. Simply drop us an email at design@redmonkeytravel.com.
Is it safe to eat the food in China?
We get this question in many guises. We provide a detailed section on health issues in our PreDeparture Packet but in brief, the situation is this. As long as the food is fresh, cooked, and promptly served, the vast majority of travelers have no problems other than those minor discomforts associated with a change in diet. Many westerners (ourselves included) have been fooled by the Western-style buffets served at high-end hotels and airport lounges. You are more at risk eating food that has been sitting out in one of these buffets than in eating the noodles from a street vendor. Any bacteria in the noodles have been killed by the cooking. Many of the restaurants that cater to foreign travelers wash the vegetables with a mild disinfectant that kills bacteria. Fruit should be peeled before eating just as a precaution.
What is the difference between a "hard sleeper" and a "soft sleeper" on the trains?
A soft sleeper is a fully enclosed compartment similar to a European-style berth. It has four beds, two on each side of the compartment, bunk bed style. The beds are a little wider, there is a door that can be locked, and the beds contain a tiny bit more padding than hard sleepers. Hard sleeper is a somewhat poor choice of words to describe the other style of sleeper. It features six beds (three on each side) in an open compartment. Opposite the compartment (on the other side of a small aisle) are two fold-down chairs with a small table between them. Anyone can sit there, they are not assigned. Sheets, pillows, and a blanket are provided in either style of sleeper. We use soft-sleepers whenever possible. However, some trains do not have soft sleeper cars or the soft sleepers have to be booked at the train's point of origin. That said, many travelers prefer the Chinese hard sleeper as they perceive it to be a more "authentic" experience and gives them a chance to interact with the locals.
What exactly is an "English Corner"?
Learning English is a national pastime in modern day China. Housewives, students, business professionals, taxi drivers, and government officials are examples. Sometimes, it seems everyone is in a frenzy to learn what is fast becoming the first "international" language. Almost every university, however big or small, will designate a certain time and place for practitioners to gather and speak their new language. These are called English corners, from the days when a few folks would literally gather on a corner and speak to each other in English. They have grown in both size and sophistication over the years. At Peking University in Beijing hundreds of people, from all walks of life, gather once a week, rain, sleet, or snow, to speak to each other. And when a foreigner shows up, it's an event. It's a great way for someone in the country for a short period of time to meet and talk with "real" people.
Is it possible to use another currency (Dollars, Euros) in China?
No, not as a practical matter. Although largely considered a developing country, the Chinese Yuan is accepted everywhere and foreign currencies are not. You may change foreign currencies at any Bank of China and at most large hotels and those hotels that cater to foreign travelers.
Will we need to get visas before we arrive in China?
Absolutely! Although there has been much talk recently of changing the procedures for entry, all nationalities must present a valid visa for entry onto the mainland. Hong Kong visas are obtainable at the airport of other border crossing. The PreDeparture Packet will go into more detail as to what to type, term of stay, and other issues.
I don't speak a word of Chinese. Will I have a difficult time communicating?
We would like to give you a different answer, but the fact of the matter is most first-time travelers find it very difficult to communicate. Then again, most first-time travelers do not invest much time studying the language. We think it is important to be able to master some common expressions during your visit. That is why we start you off on your first day with a native speaker-to get you on your way. Most of the hotels, restaurants, and travel services will have someone who can manage basic English expressions.
Will my cell phone work in China?
The quick answer is no. If it is on the American system, it will not work. If it is of European design you can buy a new SIM card and it will work. Some of the newer PDA's will automatically convert to a Chinese provider once you hit the mainland. Check with your service provider if this is an important issue. However, calling overseas is very easy now with the advent of IP (Internet Phone) cards. Directions, both on the card and from the automated "operator" are in both Mandarin and English.
Will we have a guide or tour leader with us all the time?
Yes. This is one of the features that differentiates Red Monkey Travel from Chinese tour operators. Many, if not most, Chinese operators will provide a guide at each location and you travel from destination to destination on your own. In many cases, you will have more than one guide, your escort from RMT and a local guide. For many of the optional day trips offered on the various tours, we will handle the details with the local guides for you, with transaction details being completely transparent.
Why is airfare not included in the price of the tour?
We are not a travel agency or a consolidator, we are a tour operator. We are based in Beijing. With the international airfare system the way it is, it is highly doubtful we could save you any substantial amount of money in purchasing airline tickets outside of China. However, we do have a very good idea of what is available during different times of the year and where to look, especially on flights originating from North America and Europe. However, this is not to say we are not happy to help and we frequently are asked to.
Why are the entrance fees not included in the trip price?
Some are and some aren't. The basic issue is not to "force" you into visiting somewhere you may or may not have a desire to see. We then get into an issue of "we paid for it, but we didn't see it and can we have a refund"? Make no mistake, the client pays for entrance fees one way or another. Our approach gives you the flexibility and control of your trip in a way a "package" tour doesn't. In some cases, for example the Great Wall outside of Beijing, we include the trip cost as this is something everyone wants to see. But when we get into a town like Yangshuo, which is on two of our itineraries, there are just so many things to do that to include this day trip and exclude that trip just isn't realistic. In all tours, we clearly state which fees are included and an estimated cost of all optional fees.
Why are all our meals not included in the trip price?
Some of our trips include almost all meals. A good example is our "Magic of Beijing" tour. One of the highlights of visiting China is sampling the delicious food. So, on many occasions, we plan the meals as a group as you would find it difficult to duplicate these experiences on your own without knowing the location and speaking the language. Or we are visiting an area of China where we think it is important to try a special dish. However, in other locations, the restaurants are easy to navigate and don't require any special assistance. Once again, this approach gives you the flexibility You just haven't "prepaid" for set menus every day. In all cases, please remember you have a full-time tour leader with you to assist.
How will we know how many people are in our group?
We will let you know prior to the trip start date, usually 30 days.
Do we really need travel insurance?
You will need insurance to participate in any Red Monkey Travel tour. In some cases, your home country insurance will cover you while in a foreign country. Your first step you should be to check with your provider. In you are not covered, you will need minimum coverage travel insurance. For more information, please see out General Trip Information section.
Everything looks good, but we really want to stay in five-star hotels or at a minimum four-star ones. Is this possible?
Yes, it is possible and we have handled this request before. We have set up a five-star upgrade option on all of our trips for 2006. In some locations however, five-star hotels just do not exist. We will then utilize "best available" accommodation. Just drop us an email and let us know what you have in mind.
How can we change our itinerary?
Once the trip is underway, it is quite difficult if not impossible. However, if you wish to make a change before the trip has commenced, drop us a line and we will see what we can do. This can best be accomplished by starting your planning well in advance of your intended trip date.