The Great Wall of China
by Barb Hacke-Resch, Summit Wealth Managament
This past October, my family and I were part of the China tour that was sponsored by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. It was a spectacular trip and we had a wonderful time. There were approximately 30 in our group and two other groups of about 20 each also made the trip from the Willamette Valley.
The 10 day tour package was all inclusive with the lodging, food, travel and entrance fees. The hotels were all 4 or 5 star accommodations with American amenities. Three meals a day were provided, including a breakfast buffet at the hotel every morning, and a family style-lunch and dinner. Travel on a non-stop flight from Seattle to Beijing, a round-trip shuttle from Salem to Seattle, tour buses, intercontinental flights (from Beijing to Shanghai) and a non-stop return flight from Shanghai to Seattle. Everyday highlighted new top-destination tourist experiences, some factories, and of course many of the historical sights of Eastern China, and all of the entrance fees were also included.
We started every morning with the breakfast buffet at the hotel. We would then load the bus and head out. They were full days, and we saw so much. It truly is a fantastic value. The tours were led by knowledgeable guides that went out of their way to make sure you were taken care of. We toured four cities – Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhuo, and Shanghai. We also visited many places in each of these destinations, including Tiananmen Square, The Great Wall, Lingyin Temple, and Yi Garden.
I still cannot believe that we were able to do everything for about $2,299 per person. Members of our group priced the itinerary out and came up with a range of $8,000 – $9,000 per person that you would have had to pay if you would have booked this trip on your own. It was a fantastic value, and gave me and my family the ability to see world sights I never thought we would see.
If you are interested in traveling to China in October 2016, please attend an informational meeting on January 11 from 5:30-7pm at the Chamber office.