Dear Ms. Sunny Xie,
Thank you for your Email, asking for my evaluation of my recent tour with China Highlights. I can best summarize the experience by mentioning three things:
1. As you know, this was a 'personal tour' that you helped me plan. I was not with a group, but all by myself. I give China Highlights very high marks for all the arrangements. I received excellent information before the tour began. Then, on the tour itself, every arrangement was well executed: the guide met me at every change of city, took me exactly to the places outlined in the tour program, made any adjustments I asked for. Your planning and 'delivery' on every part of the tour was outstanding.
2. The guides were well informed on almost all phases of the tour. I have this general suggestion in regard to COMMUNICATION: speech and public speaking happens to be my field. Most of the guides were reasonably proficient in English, but were not always understandable because of their accent or pronunciation. I would suggest that guides adopt a '25% x 3'.rule. It's very simple: 1) Speak 25% LOUDER than you usually do, 2) speak 25% SLOWER than you usually do, 3) OVER- PRONOUNCE your words 25% more than you usually do. If they do that, they will be more easily understood.
3. It would have been a great help if your printed information prior to my tour included specific information and suggestion in regard to TIPPING. The Victoria cruise on the Yangtze gave us printed suggestions in this regard which was very helpful. Some of the information I culled from the Internet said that tipping is not customary in China. When I spent two or three days with a good guide, I wanted to show my appreciation financially, but was clueless in regard to customs in China.
Larry Christenson

• Client's Information: Laurence Donald, United States
• Tour Starting Dates: November 12, 2008
• Tour Itinerary: 12 Days Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, Yangtze, Yichang, Shanghai, Suzhou Tour
• Talk to this client

Save this Page to: