Local Home Stay Accommodation
The furniture and other facilities in local homes may be less complete than that in star-rated hotels, such as no 24 hours service, no big beds, no different kinds of western-style food, no luxurious decoration, no safe deposit box, no WIFI service, etc. However, we ensure that all our local homes are clean, comfortable, air-conditioned, outfitted with western toilets and in safe, convenient locations. The hosts/hostesses are hospitable, easy going, kind and some of them can speak some English. Please simply remember that our Home Stay Tours emphasize on special and authentic Chinese cultural experience, especially the experience with local ordinary people in the local communities.
How to Pack up
We suggest that each person packs up one rollable suitcase with the weight under 20 kg/44lb. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water, cameras and other electronics like iPods and mobile phones.
Checklist
It's only for reference, you may not need all of them. Choose from below according to the tour you pick up:
Passport (with photocopies)
Travel insurance (with photocopies)
Airline tickets/e-tickets
USD cash and travelers checks
Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
CET vouchers and trip dossier
Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
Day pack for daily personal items
Wet wipes / Moist towelettes
Alarm clock (on your cellphone)
Flashlight (on your cellphone)
Sun hat, Sun block, Sunglasses (especially for summer season)
Insect repellent / Bug spray
Water bottle and plastic mug for train journeys
Ear plugs for train journeys or light sleepers
Small towel and swim wear
Toiletries (biodegradable)
Sturdy walking shoes/Sport sandals (for warm seasons)
Money belt
Shorts for summer months (June – September)
Long pants
Shirts/T-shirts
Warm clothes for Nov-Mar. Fleece, Jacket, hat and gloves
Umbrella or waterproof jacket.
Cover for backpack or plastic bags to keep clothes dry.
Camera with capable enough memory card
Reading/writing material
Binoculars
First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, extra prescription drugs you may be taking).
Local Dress
Generally speaking, the dress standard is more conservative in China than it is in western countries. Things also changes quickly, nowadays the young Chinese share the same hobbies with their western counterparts. When packing try to pick loose, lightweight, long clothing that will keep you cool in the usually hot and humid climate of summer. In predominately Buddhist and Muslim regions we ask that you dress respectfully and avoid very short shorts/skirts and singlets/tanktops when visiting temples or mosques or other holy or sacred sites.
Spending Money
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Payment during Your Trip
First of all, we recommend the use of cash in USD currency. There are many ATM machines that accept both Visa and MasterCard and other credit cards in most Chinese cities. Major credit cards are accepted in shopping malls and big shops but mostly they may charge a 2-4% transaction fee. For small shops and street venders, traditionally they take cash (either Chinese Yuan or US dollar) only. But nowadays, for almost all merchants/sellers, including shopping malls, big shops, small grocery stores and street venders, they all accept WeChat Pay or Ali Pay. Learn more about how to use Mobile Payment in China.
Meals
Eating is a big part of your traveling in China. Travelling with CET you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally breakfasts and lunches are included except dinners to give you the flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. Your group leader or local guide will be able to suggest favorite restaurants during your trip.
Emergency Fund
Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD200 (or equivalent) as an "emergency“ fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control, necessitate a change to our planned route. But please note this is a rare occurrence!
Tipping
It is customary to tip service providers in travel industry in Asia, at approximately 10%, depending on the service. Tipping is expected - though not compulsory - and shows an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. Recommendations for tipping local guides would range from $6-$10 USD per person per day depending on the quality and length of the service, for driver, it could be half. If necessary, ask your tour leader or your China Expedition Tours tour consultant for specific recommendations based on the circumstances. If you have a tour leader for the whole tour, at the end of the trip if you felt he/she did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline $6-10 USD per person, per day is suggested.
Internal Flights
All internal flights are included in the quote of your tour unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets.Internal flight tickets are all e-tickets. They are issued locally and you will be given the information of them prior to the flight departure.
Laundry
Generally laundry facilities are offered by our hotels for a charge. You also can go to a laundry service center near your hotel to have your clothing washed at a lower cost. There will be opportunities when you may want to or have to do your own laundry, so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Safety and Security
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, cash and other valuable items. Many of the hotels we cooperate with have safety deposit boxes which are the most secure way of storing your valuables. Lockable luggage is recommended.
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. When travelling on a trip, please note that your group leader or local guides has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your leader or local guides will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your group leader or local guides will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time.
Health
You are suggested to consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that sometimes we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders or local guides are prohibited from administering any type of medicine including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. In China pharmacies tend to stock the same western medicines as you get at home but they are usually produced locally so please bring the full medicine name with you when trying to purchase a prescription medicine. When selecting a tour please carefully read the itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the Physical and Culture Shock ratings in the itinerary. For travelers over 70 years a completed Medical Form is required. CET reserves the right to exclude any traveler from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our group leader or local guides they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group.
Medical Form
It is very important you are aware that, as a minimum, an "average level of fitness and mobility“ is required to undertake our easiest programs. Travelers must be able to walk without the aid of another person, climb 3-4 flights of stairs, step on and off small boats, and carry their own bags at a minimum. Travelers over the age of 70, or travelers with a pre-existing medical condition, are required to complete a short medical questionnaire, which must be signed by their doctor. This is to ensure that senior travelers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their chosen trip. While our leaders or local guides work hard to ensure that all our travelers are catered for equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day's activities unaided.
Travel Insurance
Our tour package includes Travel Insurance we buy from our insurance company/agent in China. Although, we still highly suggest that you purchase your own Travel Insurance from your insurance company/agent in your country before your trip.
Passport & Visas
Well before travelling, please ensure that you have a current passport, with an accurate photo, that is valid for at least six months after your scheduled return home. Also check that your air tickets are in exactly the same name as your passport.
Please note that visas for China and Hong Kong are the responsibility of the individual traveler. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. Americans, British, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders do currently require a visa for China. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your government. For the most up to date information please check your governments' foreign ministry website. It is important that you check for yourself. For most travelers there will probably have an embassy and consulate in the country that you live in. Please note if you are travelling from China, into Hong Kong then back into China, you will need a double entry Chinese visa. Note that on some occasions people transiting through China on way to Hong Kong have been made to go through immigration and had their single entry visa stamped making this invalid. Do not allow your visa to be stamped if you are only going through transit.
Keeping in Touch
Internet access is everywhere now in China, even in a small village. So, with your smartphone, iPad or laptop, you can get connected with your family and friends easily. So far, some social media such as Facebook, Instagram, X, WhatsApp, etc. are not available in mainland China. However, there’s something called VPN. We highly recommend you to get a VPN on your smartphone before your China trip, so that you will get the full accessibility of those social medias during your China trip. Learn more about the VPN usage here.
WhatsApp and WeChat are both very convenient for live contact. We strongly recommend you to add our Customer Care’s WhatsApp and WeChat (86 139 7836 9041 or 86 189 7869 1566), so that you and us are able to contact each other anytime necessary.
Feedback
After your trip with us, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important and valuable to us and we'll record it and give you CET travel points so you can use the points to get discount for your next CET trip or your friends' CET tours. Therefore, we appreciate your understanding of our “China Expedition Tours Evaluation Questionnaire” at every destination, and our email to you for overall feedback after your trip.
