atlanta99

Brazilgirl

Can I ask who did you hire for your day to Hore Abbey, Cashel and Cahir?

Thanks

If you are needing to choose between Forbidden City and Summer Palace, I strongly suggest Forbidden City. In answer to your other posts, I would agree with the responses from the others who have replied. It is nice, and well worth the visit if you have plenty of time (we had two full days). But, it is further out and is a huge place, so you spend a half day walking around the grounds. If you are tight on time, I would recommend concentrating on Tiananmen, Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven--and getting to the Wall at the Mutianyu access.

I heartily second the recommendation for Catherine Lu Tours. Although not on a cruise for this trip, we had a fantastic two day experience with them in Beijing earlier this year. One day touring Forbidden City, Tiananmen and Temple of Heaven and one day doing the Great Wall and Summer Palace. Our guide Sonia was excellent, She spoke excellent English, was a wealth of historical and cultural information and was fun to be around. The driver did a great job maneuvering all over the place and was always where he was supposed to be right on time. Sonia also took us to two great out of the way restaurants for excellent local food (and lots of it) and helped us navigate through the menu to get what we wanted and to avoid what wouldn't appeal to us. Can't recommend them enough !