Lady Meer Posted March 19, 2010 #3001 Share Posted March 19, 2010 I have been busy reading this thread in preparation for my China trip (Roof of the World) in a few weeks time, but have two questions I would greatly appreciate some advice on: 1) Most people who have posted here are from the US, so taking mostly or all Dollars makes a lot of sense. As I am from the UK and will be exchanging money whatever would you recommend I take mostly Dollars, mostly Yuan, 50/50, etc. ? This is for street and smaller shop purchases and for tips other than the ones on the ship 2) How are meals included in the Viking package handled in the hotels? Do the staff there know you are with Viking and not to charge? Thanks Sean :) Hi Sean - We went 2 years ago. We took lots of small denomination dollars (we weren't very popular in M & S as they had to count them all out:D). We also took Yuan for the street vendors (but many of them wanted dollars) and shop purchases. We used Yuan for tips in the hotels. We took about 50/50 but towards the end of the trip tried to use Yuan as we would use the dollars on future trips but maybe not the Yuan!! All our meals were included - at breakfast (all buffets) we just gave our room number on entering the dining room and at dinner we were seated in reserved seating so we just charged drinks to our room. Hope this helps. Brenda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no fuss travel Posted March 20, 2010 #3002 Share Posted March 20, 2010 The duty free shops at the airport used up the last of our yuan. They were very good and patient with us as we were trying to use up the last of our currency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanf Posted March 20, 2010 #3003 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Hi Sean - We went 2 years ago. We took lots of small denomination dollars (we weren't very popular in M & S as they had to count them all out:D). We also took Yuan for the street vendors (but many of them wanted dollars) and shop purchases. We used Yuan for tips in the hotels. We took about 50/50 but towards the end of the trip tried to use Yuan as we would use the dollars on future trips but maybe not the Yuan!! All our meals were included - at breakfast (all buffets) we just gave our room number on entering the dining room and at dinner we were seated in reserved seating so we just charged drinks to our room. Hope this helps. Brenda Hi Brenda. Very helpful reply thank you so much. Thanks to Romeosc too Sean :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeosc Posted March 21, 2010 #3004 Share Posted March 21, 2010 Hi Brenda. Very helpful reply thank you so much. Thanks to Romeosc too Sean :) Your very welcome... I uploaded some of our pictures here: http://picasaweb.google.com/romeosc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Granny Posted March 21, 2010 #3005 Share Posted March 21, 2010 Wonder what happened to my Reply button? Just wanted to mention that we were able to use dollars everywhere (if you don't mind entering these into the Chinese economy) except taxis....they wanted only Yuans. At the airport, we did not have time to convert money there but we were going straight to the hotel, where there was an ATM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted March 21, 2010 #3006 Share Posted March 21, 2010 Wonder what happened to my Reply button? Cruise Critic is having some software problems this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazel52 Posted March 24, 2010 #3007 Share Posted March 24, 2010 Greetings! We leave soon for the Imperial Jewels tour/cruise. We will want to phone home a time or two to check on family. Has anyone purchased calling cards? Other suggestions other than lugging the laptop? Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeosc Posted March 24, 2010 #3008 Share Posted March 24, 2010 Greetings! We leave soon for the Imperial Jewels tour/cruise. We will want to phone home a time or two to check on family. Has anyone purchased calling cards? Other suggestions other than lugging the laptop? Thank you! I used RbelPhone sim in my jailbroke iphone: http://www.rebelfone.com/china_simcards.aspx?couId=38 RebelFone's Service Major Carriers Local Prepaid Incoming Calls $0.15min $2.29min $0.17min National Calls $0.15min $2.29min $0.12min Calls to USA $0.45min $2.29min $0.67min Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peregrina651 Posted March 24, 2010 #3009 Share Posted March 24, 2010 Visas received today. It took three weeks and 2 days from the day I mailed them. Someone even marked the page with a Post-It flag. Very nice. We used the service recommended by Viking. Before we know it, our docs will be arriving!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whales43 Posted March 25, 2010 #3010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 Hi Are you on the April 3rd tour? We leave soon for the Imperial Jewels tour/cruise. We will want to phone home a time or two to check on family. Has anyone purchased calling cards? Other suggestions other than lugging the laptop? Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whales43 Posted March 25, 2010 #3011 Share Posted March 25, 2010 Hi, Thanks for the advice again. I ordered my rebelfone and just rented one of their phones as well for 1. a day. It's so worth it when you look at what verizon is charging. Thank you! I used RbelPhone sim in my jailbroke iphone: http://www.rebelfone.com/china_simcards.aspx?couId=38 RebelFone's Service Major Carriers Local Prepaid Incoming Calls $0.15min $2.29min $0.17min National Calls $0.15min $2.29min $0.12min Calls to USA $0.45min $2.29min $0.67min Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whales43 Posted March 25, 2010 #3012 Share Posted March 25, 2010 Hi, Are you on the April 3rd tour? Greetings! We leave soon for the Imperial Jewels tour/cruise. We will want to phone home a time or two to check on family. Has anyone purchased calling cards? Other suggestions other than lugging the laptop? Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazel52 Posted March 25, 2010 #3013 Share Posted March 25, 2010 Hi, Are you on the April 3rd tour? Do you mean April 6th? Our trip starts the 6th in Beijing and ends in Shanghai on the 17th. Are you taking this trip? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelfirst Posted March 25, 2010 #3014 Share Posted March 25, 2010 Do you mean April 6th? Our trip starts the 6th in Beijing and ends in Shanghai on the 17th. Are you taking this trip? You are on the same trip as a friend and I. Its nice to see someone else from Cruise Critic on the same trip. What time do you arrive in Bejing? We will arrive at 4:15pm and are staying at the Westin Financial Street Hotel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazel52 Posted March 25, 2010 #3015 Share Posted March 25, 2010 You are on the same trip as a friend and I. Its nice to see someone else from Cruise Critic on the same trip. What time do you arrive in Bejing? We will arrive at 4:15pm and are staying at the Westin Financial Street Hotel. We arrive at 2:40 and are staying at the Ritz Carlson. Interesting... I thought that we were all assigned to a certain group/bus/tour director but assumed we'd be at the same hotel. I wonder if we'll ever meet! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelfirst Posted March 25, 2010 #3016 Share Posted March 25, 2010 We arrive at 2:40 and are staying at the Ritz Carlson. Interesting... I thought that we were all assigned to a certain group/bus/tour director but assumed we'd be at the same hotel. I wonder if we'll ever meet! :) I thought we would all be at the same hotel also. I am travelling with a girlfriend as her husband doesn't want to go to China so if you see two women in the group you will know one of them is me, unless there are other women travelling alone also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no fuss travel Posted March 25, 2010 #3017 Share Posted March 25, 2010 You will probably run into each other on the ship. If you do the Tai Chi exercises you will definitely meet as the group tends to get smaller and smaller as the cruise continues.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kkbay Posted March 26, 2010 #3018 Share Posted March 26, 2010 We leave in less than 6 hours! Beijing, here we come! I don't plan on posting on the trip, but will have LOTS to say upon return. I am a big-time shopper and I will definitely post the great deals I find, and where I found them. We plan on passing up the Peking Duck dinner upon recommendations here, and we will probably shop that evening. Will be traveling with DH and another couple.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelfirst Posted March 27, 2010 #3019 Share Posted March 27, 2010 You will probably run into each other on the ship. If you do the Tai Chi exercises you will definitely meet as the group tends to get smaller and smaller as the cruise continues.:) My friend is going to Tai Chi, I may go, not sure yet. Did you fly with Air Canada when you went on this trip? On the flight to Bejing, Air Canada is operated by Air China. It says only one piece of carryon luggage so I wonder if we are allowed a purse. On the flight back it is Air Canada so I am wondering if besides the one piece of checked baggage we will be allowed one small bag also. I always take a foldup bag in case I buy something to bring home and then I check it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no fuss travel Posted March 27, 2010 #3020 Share Posted March 27, 2010 My friend is going to Tai Chi, I may go, not sure yet. Did you fly with Air Canada when you went on this trip? On the flight to Bejing, Air Canada is operated by Air China. It says only one piece of carryon luggage so I wonder if we are allowed a purse. On the flight back it is Air Canada so I am wondering if besides the one piece of checked baggage we will be allowed one small bag also. I always take a foldup bag in case I buy something to bring home and then I check it. No we flew Cathay Pacific. It would have been nicer to have flown directly to Beijing. We did the add on tour to Bangkok and Siem Reap which is no longer offered which may have been the reason that we flew Cathay Pacific. Air Canada will allow you two bags when you fly home so take the extra bag. Carry on limit does not include your purse. We found that they were less fussy about carry ons than they were with the checked luggage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelfirst Posted March 28, 2010 #3021 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Thanks, I will pack the bag. One more week and I have to be all packed as we leave Sunday morning to stay in Vancouver overnight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no fuss travel Posted March 28, 2010 #3022 Share Posted March 28, 2010 You are welcome. It is a fascinating tour and you will enjoy it very much. Make sure the US dollars you take with you are fairly new as they do not like used bills in China. We would like to go back in a few years time just to see how much more China will change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelfirst Posted March 28, 2010 #3023 Share Posted March 28, 2010 You are welcome. It is a fascinating tour and you will enjoy it very much. Make sure the US dollars you take with you are fairly new as they do not like used bills in China. We would like to go back in a few years time just to see how much more China will change. I got the bank to get me new US bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeosc Posted March 28, 2010 #3024 Share Posted March 28, 2010 I got the bank to get me new US bills. ......or print your own on your printer! LOL ps. the guides will instruct you not to take some money in change from street vendors because bogus money is so prevalent. Enjoy your trip .... some of our pictures can be found here: http://picasaweb.google.com/romeosc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelfirst Posted March 28, 2010 #3025 Share Posted March 28, 2010 ......or print your own on your printer! LOL ps. the guides will instruct you not to take some money in change from street vendors because bogus money is so prevalent. Enjoy your trip .... some of our pictures can be found here: http://picasaweb.google.com/romeosc Thanks. Those are great pictures. What month did you go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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