China Visa Is Needed

It has just been announced that a visa to China which formally was only for one year for a multiple entry visa, a 10 year visa will now be available.   You will be able to enter China multiple times in a 10 year period without needing to apply each time.  Cost is still the same about $200 per visa through a Visa Service.   Your passport must be valid at least 1 year to obtain a 10 year visa.  If valid less than a year, then a 6 months visa will be issued.   If you would like a visa kit emailed to you, just advise me and I will have it emailed to you.  I just need to know which state you are located in as there are several Consulate Districts.. The new forms are now available reflecting the 10 year visa.  Visas either need to be applied for in person at one of the Chinese Consulates or sent to a visa service which will do it for you.   It is suggested that you  apply at least 4 to 6 weeks in advance of your departure.  If in the  future your passport expires having a 10 year visa in it that has not expired  you may summit your old passport with the new passport to keep the 10 year unexpired time of the visa.   Let me know if you would like a visa application emailed to you.  You can then apply for your visa directly yourself through a visa application service.  IF you have any questions on visas please let me know.  My email address is   interlak@eskimo.com   My name is Dave and better known to my friends as ChinaDave.

One Expense We Forget

One expense most people forget about is laundry.  Most hotels in the cities have laundry service.  Leave it in the morning and it is back by night. On my recent trip I collected laundry lists from several hotels.  I chose a 4 star hotel in Shanghai as the best example.  3 star hotels are a bit less and 5 star hotels a bit more.  Laundry does not always include Pressing in many hotels.  That is extra.   Here is an average cost:   Man's Shirt  $6  pressing $4.    Pair of Men's Jeans.  $7.00 and $4 for pressing.    For women as example, a blouse is $6 and $4 for pressing if needed.  A dress is $9 and $6 for pressing.  Ladies slacks are $6 and $5 for pressing.  This is in the larger cities of course and less costly in the smaller or remote areas.  In the remote mountain areas however it may take more than one day as most hotels do not have dryers and clothes are hung out to dry. As you can see during a two or three week's trip that cost can add up.  My wife and I have polyester/nylon shirts and pants when we travel.  These can be washed by hand in your hotel room.  You flatten them out on a bath towel and then roll it up.  You then squeeze the tube to get some of the water out.  Then leave it for about 2 hours to let the water soak into the towel.  You then hang them on the string across the bathtub in all hotels and they usually dry over night.  Cotton clothing dries very slowly and usually takes a couple of days.  For more tips on travel in China, email us at   interlak@eskimo.com     My Name is Dave and I am always glad to answer your questions without expecting your tour business.  You might enjoy viewing my photo album of China Photos.  www.picasaweb.google.com/ChinaDave1  and web site at  www.interlakechinatours.com

 

Prices in China - Fall of 2014

Many people think that the Orient and China in particular is inexpensive.  As a Tour Operator, my clients receive a questionnaire when they return home asking about their tour.  One of the questions is:  Did you find China   More Expensive   Less Expensive  or   About what you thought.   3/4th of them this past year ticked  More Expensive.   I just returned in late Nov. 2014 from my 55th trip to China.  I have seen all the fantastic growth that must be seen and not read about.  Prices have increased as their economy has flourished.  Some tour operators have cheapened their tours by cutting out some services, using less expensive hotels in not so convenient locations and putting in Buffets rather than sit down and be served meals.  As a custom private tour operator I know how to save money and at the same time offer great tours with my Chinese partners.  We never cut the quality of our tours and still put our clients in well located hotels where it is easy and safe to be able to walk around in the evenings or day time on free days without worry. There are a wide range of prices in China and one needs to work with a tour operator that knows China and has the connections to obtain the best prices making your tour one to always remember.  A bargain tour is not a bargain if you are unhappy and just have to stick it out until you return home.  A well planned tour is long remembered after the cost is forgotten.  Bargain shopping is still available in some areas but one needs to be aware of the quality too.  For more information contact me at  interlak@eskimo.com  View my web sites at  www.interlakechinatours.com and Photo Album at  www.picasaweb.google.com/ChinaDave1

25 Years of Photos I took in China

If you would like to see personal photos of China that I took over a period of 25 years you can go to my Photo Album.  www.picasaweb.google.com/ChinaDave1   There are six albums shown there with the largest being over 800 photos.   Just click on one of the photos to look at the Albums.   As you will see China is so very different from one end of the country to the other and I have never tired of travel in China either in a former business or my tour company.  My tour company has a web site at www.interlakechinatours.com   We have been doing private custom tours to China for over 20 years with customers from all over the world.  Located here in Seattle, Washington, we only work on the internet from a low overhead home office.  We enjoy a A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and have never had a reported complaint.  We have Chinese Associate partners in China with the best reputations for quality and service taking advantage of their low contract prices with hotels and services.   We pride ourselves in doing quality tours to China and Tibet only specializing in custom private tours.  Email us for a list of references of past customers for their insights too.  You can contact me at   interlak@eskimo.com    Enjoy my photo albums and hope to hear from you.

On Site Inspections!

I will be leaving  this month  (Nov. 2014) on my 55th inspection trip to China since 1989.  Having travelled all over China for some years in another business, I started the tour business in 1993.  Since then I have sent over 2,500 people from all over the world to China and Tibet on private custom tours and private custom group tours.  I travel all over China each year checking new places to send people that are newly opened to tourism.  I not only look at new sights with my Associate Chinese partners, I check hotels for cleanliness, service and location to assure that my clients have satisfactory accommodations whether it be a 3, 4 or 5 star hotels.   We obtain low contract prices with hotels through our Chinese partners assuring best value.  I also will be taking my 8th cruise on the Yangtze River with the Century Line which is the top cruise line in China.  www.centuryrivercruises.com  Click on the British Flag for English.   New to the U.S. market we represent Century Cruise Line on the Yangtze and as an introduction are offering  50% off cruises when combined with at least a 10+ day custom private tour.  Bookings must be completed by April 15th and the cruise must be taken before Oct. 31st.   I never tire of the cruises with so many activities, entertainment, and off ship activities including an up close tour of the largest Dam site in the World!  Contact us for more information and prices.  My friends call me  ChinaDave and can be emailed at  interlak@eskimo.com

               Click on the photos for a full screen view

                     Dave at the old Panda Preserve

                5 Story Tall Buddha Carved from one Tree Trunk in Beijin
                    Lobby of the Ball Room in the Beijing Hotel

For More Photos go to  www.picasaweb.google.com/ChinaDave1

2015 Web site Now on Line!

Our 2015 web site, Interlake China Tours, Inc. is now on line at  www.interlakechinatours.com    This year we are featuring the Yangtze River Cruise at 50% OFF.  Bookings are available until April 15th. for sailings completed by Oct. 31st.  See our web site for details or email us at   interlak@eskimo.com    This special price is available only this year to introduce the 5 Star Line,  Century Cruises  to the U.S. public with 6 modern and beautiful boats sailing the Yangtze River.  For details of the itineraries including a tour of the dam with the largest locks in the world check out their web site at   www.centuryrivercruises.com   For English click on the British flag on the top right corner of the front page.  This is our 26th. year of doing custom private and group tours to China and Tibet only.  Our specialty is doing Customized Private Tours for individuals or Groups who come to us with their Special Interests.  Let us plan a special tour just for you to your special interests and budget.  China is a large country with countless sights and over 57 minority peoples living in a country the size of the U.S.  A good planned tour to your special interests, accommodations and budget makes a great tour rather than a general tour which may include sights that you may not be interested in and  shopping stops that take up valuable sightseeing time.

 

 

            Click on the photos to see a full screen picture.

Shortest Flight to China from the U.S.

Hainan International Airlines of China is truly one of the best services to China.  Departing now from Boston, Chicago and Seattle with connecting low cost flights from many U.S. cities.  Non-stop flights from Chicago, Boston and Seattle with free air from California and Oregon to Seattle.  Seattle to Beijing non-stop is only 10 hours leaving and arriving at convenient hours.  From Seattle you arrive just in time for dinner and a good nights sleep.  Some airlines arrive in the late evening with less costly landing fees but inconvenient to you.  Hainan Air flies the new 787 Boeing aircraft that is smooth and has great service.  Business class is similar to other's First Class and has seats that open up flat for a good nights rest.  They even have  pajamas it you like and soft comforters and pillows.

The flight is very scenic flying up the Canadian coast, Alaska, the Aleutian islands and the Bering Sea, down across Siberia and into Beijing.  You depart from Seattle at 1:00 p.m.  and arrive in Beijing the following day at 5:00 p.m. having sunshine the whole way.  Returning home you can watch the sunrise over Alaska as you fly down to Seattle arriving during the late morning.   There are flights from Hong Kong or Shanghai connecting in Beijing to fly non-stop to Seattle, Boston or Chicago too.    Ask for a quote and check my web site for both  Packaged Tours and our specialty is doing Customized Private tours to your interests and needs.  www.interlakechinatours.com 
                   Click on the photos for a full screen view!