Date of Review: 12/7/2010
This letter is being written as a reference letter for Mr. Michael Hai who we had the pleasure of having as a guide in China–starting October 4 for 23 days with Chinapac. I must apologize for the delay in writing this but on our return found myself to be very busy with work etc. I work in the travel industry myself and was so impressed with the talents mentioned below that I felt I had to write this letter about this young man. Michael has an excellent command of the English language and demonstrated a wonderful ability to work with both younger and older customers. He was very knowledgeable about China, its history, both past and current, the people, and special things about the country that are not always apparent to the tourist clientele. He demonstrated a good relationship with the hotel staff at each hotel to make our journey fun and comfortable. He was always cognizant of where the group was at all times and waited for those experiencing problems with mobility. I also noted a good sense of humor, which is very important for those in the hospitality industry. You chose a wonderful person to make our trip perfect and I thank you for this. I hope that either myself, or staff in our office will be doing business with you in the future. Regards,
Joan M. (Service Guaranteed Travel)
Kingston , ON
Canada
Date of Review: 12/2/2010
Hi Jacquie, I followed up with Vicki and she loved every minute of her trip to China. The hotel, guides, food and people exceeded her expectations. She was delighted with the panda breeding center and knowledgable staff. She asked me to thank you for your assistance in planning this wonderful trip. Until next time…
Linda (Expedia CruiseShipCenters)
Langley , BC
Canada
Date of Review: 11/29/2010
I must say I knew very little about Chinapac prior to booking this package with your company: I was more familiar with several other European companies that I use in my specialty for small ship cruising, mostly in Europe and Egypt. So it was with a little trepidation that we booked onto this tour along with a couple of clients. However our wonderful experience with your company in China certainly makes it very easy for me to recommend Chinapac to other clients - and agent colleagues - interested in Asia. My wife, Debbie, and I, from AlmonTravel wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed Chinapac's version of the wonderful China tour we recently returned from. Our guide -- and fantastic mother hen ;-) - Cecilia, was a wonderful down to earth person to have in charge of our group: she was able to adapt to the kidding around of several members of our group and kept us both under control and well-informed. She coordinated things just about perfectly: when we finished a walking tour, there was a bus or a van right there waiting for us. And she was incredibly accommodating, being available for any of us who had problems, large or small: in the hurry of finalizing business at home, I had forgotten to authorize use of credit cards in Asia- she helped me to get that accomplished so that I would have no problems purchasing things abroad. I know that I speak for everyone when I say that we were very appreciative of her time with us!
Danny Almon (Almon Travel)
Halifax , NS
Canada
Date of Review: 12/7/2010
This letter is being written as a reference letter for Mr. Michael Hai who we had the pleasure of having as a guide in China–starting October 4 for 23 days with Chinapac. I must apologize for the delay in writing this but on our return found myself to be very busy with work etc. I work in the travel industry myself and was so impressed with the talents mentioned below that I felt I had to write this letter about this young man. Michael has an excellent command of the English language and demonstrated a wonderful ability to work with both younger and older customers. He was very knowledgeable about China, its history, both past and current, the people, and special things about the country that are not always apparent to the tourist clientele. He demonstrated a good relationship with the hotel staff at each hotel to make our journey fun and comfortable. He was always cognizant of where the group was at all times and waited for those experiencing problems with mobility. I also noted a good sense of humor, which is very important for those in the hospitality industry. You chose a wonderful person to make our trip perfect and I thank you for this. I hope that either myself, or staff in our office will be doing business with you in the future. Regards,
Joan M. (Service Guaranteed Travel)
Kingston , ON
Canada
Date of Review: 12/2/2010
Hi Jacquie, I followed up with Vicki and she loved every minute of her trip to China. The hotel, guides, food and people exceeded her expectations. She was delighted with the panda breeding center and knowledgable staff. She asked me to thank you for your assistance in planning this wonderful trip. Until next time…
Linda (Expedia CruiseShipCenters)
Langley , BC
Canada
Date of Review: 11/29/2010
I must say I knew very little about Chinapac prior to booking this package with your company: I was more familiar with several other European companies that I use in my specialty for small ship cruising, mostly in Europe and Egypt. So it was with a little trepidation that we booked onto this tour along with a couple of clients. However our wonderful experience with your company in China certainly makes it very easy for me to recommend Chinapac to other clients - and agent colleagues - interested in Asia. My wife, Debbie, and I, from AlmonTravel wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed Chinapac's version of the wonderful China tour we recently returned from. Our guide -- and fantastic mother hen ;-) - Cecilia, was a wonderful down to earth person to have in charge of our group: she was able to adapt to the kidding around of several members of our group and kept us both under control and well-informed. She coordinated things just about perfectly: when we finished a walking tour, there was a bus or a van right there waiting for us. And she was incredibly accommodating, being available for any of us who had problems, large or small: in the hurry of finalizing business at home, I had forgotten to authorize use of credit cards in Asia- she helped me to get that accomplished so that I would have no problems purchasing things abroad. I know that I speak for everyone when I say that we were very appreciative of her time with us!
Danny Almon (Almon Travel)
Halifax , NS
Canada
Date of Review: 11/27/2010
It's been two weeks since our return from China and we are still talking about that wonderful trip. The most enjoyable part was meeting with Tony, our guide. Talk about a worry free vacation. He took care of us as if we were his family. We never had to worry about anything: room keys to hotels, luggage, boarding pass for plane trips, it was ready for us before we got there. The bus was always there waiting for us, no waiting in line to get tickets for museums or tourist sites, everything was taken care of by our guide. Tony is the most organized guide we have ever met and it shows that he loves his job and the people in his care. We had to readjust to being on our own after he left us at the airport in Beijing for our return to Canada! People get spoiled easily.... What we also appreciated was his love for his country, his knowledge about every site we visited, his mastering of the English language, responding to all our questions, all our resquests, never impatient, always there for us. Being in a country like China for the first time is a bit unsettling for a visitor and out of our comfort zone. He made it easy and his presence was so reassuring. We felt safe with him. You have one of the greatest guide in China working with you and thank you for letting him accompany us, he made that trip even more memorable!
Gaston & Anne
Laval , QC
Canada
Date of Review: 11/26/2010
Hi Jenny, we have been home for two weeks and wanted to let you know what a fantastic trip this was. My husband and I travel a lot and have never been on a trip that was so well organized and so perfect in every way. We were delighted with the hotels, the tours, our exposure to the Chinese culture, and especially our tour guide Tony. He is the best we have ever had anywhere. He was caring, attentive, patient, and shared his love of China with us. He taught us Chinese phrases, gave us insights into the daily life and beliefs of the Chinese people and gave us some experiences that were more than the regular tourist things. For example, in Beijing we did exercises in the park along with the Chinese people and also we participated in singing with a group of Chinese people. We all became quite emotional and it is an experience we will never forget. We want to thank all of you for a superb experience. Thanks,
Francine & Edward
Montreal , QC
Canada
Date of Review: 11/26/2010
Dear Jenny, I am writing to tell you how absolutely wonderful our tour with ChinaPac (Oct 27-Nov11) was. The tour was extremely well organized with excellent service from Otis of ChinaPac. The hotels were beautiful and top quality and the food was good - only at the Garden Hotel in Suzhou (which was lovely) did we find the food, even for breakfast, to be not to our taste. The beds in some of the hotels: The Garden Hotel and on the Century Diamond in particular, were much too hard for North American tourists, but they tried with limited success to improve them by adding some padding. The Century Diamond was a lovely boat. The local guides, Michael in Beijing in particular, were very well informed and helpful. Our tour was made most memorable and special by our superb guide, Tony Ho. He was knowledgeable, well-informed, energetic, entertaining, flexible and always available. Tony was very well organized and was always ahead of the game by anticipating all our needs. He took excellent care of us, pointing out the best bathrooms, making sure that we knew where to go (and how and where to rejoin the group) if we left the group for a bit, and catering to our allergies and dietary restrictions. He always walked around at meal times to make sure that we knew what each dish was, and to tell us whether it was safe to eat, depending on our particular dietary needs. Tony always made sure that there was an ample selection of dishes for our particular tastes and dietary requirements: I did not eat meat or shellfish and there were always extra vegetarian dishes and at least 1or 2 fish dishes. We arrived to Shanghai a day or so earlier than the rest of the group and upon check-in at the Radisson New World Hotel, there was a message from Tony welcoming us to Shanghai with his cell phone number should we need him, and a follow-up call from him that evening with suggestions of how to spend our extra day in Shanghai, and with explicit directions where and when to meet the group. Tony loves his country and his hometown of Shanghai and this comes across in everything that he does and says. He has an excellent command of the English language and was therefore able to answer our many questions and give us a thorough understanding of the history, geography, architecture and special nuances of a very complex and wonderful country and culture. We are so fortunate to have had Tony as our guide and to have been on your excellent tour of China. I would also like to add that Alex, the leader of the other group, was very helpful and knowledgeable as well. We would be delighted to recommend ChinaPac and Tony Ho to any traveller. Thank you,
Judy & David
London, ON
Canada
Date of Review: 11/26/2010
My partner, Judy, and I have recently returned from a wonderful trip to China. Our guide was Tony Ho (i.e., Hou Wei). Tony was tireless in taking care of all the travelers in our Sea Courses group. We could not have asked for a more enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. Tony's love of life and love for his homeland was infectious. As a result, Judy and my travel experience was amazing and we both have a fond place in our hearts for Tony and "his China". PS: There is no doubt in our minds that Tony is the #1 tour guide in all of China and possibly the whole world!!! Sincerely
Robert
Dallas , TX
USA
Date of Review: 11/26/2010
Dear Jacquie: Firstly, let me thank you for helping me change my return flight home. I had a death in the family and needed to get home for my kids. The tour was a wonderful success and all the arrangements were great. The guides with in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos were all great, particularly "Khai" in Vietnam. All the clients enjoyed the trip and the accommodations were also very good. Thank you for all your help with this tour, I really appreciate your service, and if I am doing any China bookings I will certainly contact you. Next year I am doing a tour to Turkey, and the following year to Africa so I won't be doing any groups with you, but will be happy doing individual bookings, particularly China and SouthEast Asia with you. Again, thanks for all your help and patience. Sincerely,
Judi
Victoria , BC
Canada
Date of Review: 11/25/2010
Gina, Just to let you know – we just got back from China. We all had a great time. There were no issues with our hotels or our flights and our Beijing guide “Snow” as well as our Guilin guide – Mr. Lee were fantastic. Weather was great – it was cold however in Beijing and the air quality in Xian was not the greatest. At the end of the Tang Dynasty Singing and Dancing Show in Xian – they lowered a banner welcoming the ChinaPac Canada Tour group. Thanks for all your help for a great vacation.
Darrell
Bedford , NS
Canada
Date of Review: 11/23/2010
Dear John, I just would like to let you know my experiences on this trip. I left with concerns regarding my food restrictions, and my ignorance of the chinese language. However I had no need to worry this trip far surpassed all my expectations. From arrival in Shanghai to departure from Beijing we(my sister and I) were looked after perfectly and by day 2 I stopped worrying about food just knowing Tony would look after everything. Tony Ho is a superb guide, looking after every little problem very calmly, always there ahead of a question. His knowledge of the country and his ability to articulate that knowledge in English is first class. Also his positive energy and sense of humour made the adventure a delight. I almost began to believe the perfect weather had been arranged by him! So as you can see I have only words of approval for China, the arrangements(hotels, buses, ship, plane trips etc) and our guide Tony Ho all deserve superlatives, a 10 + Thank you so very much. You are welcome to use any comments in your promotional materials. I have been singing your praises to all my colleagues and friends
Alisa
Toronto, ON
Canada
Date of Review: 11/23/2010
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to China hosted by ChinaPac. The trip was part of a SeaCourses tour from October 27 – November 11, 2010. We travelled through several cities in China and took a riverboat cruise through the Three Gorges Damn. The trip was packed full of both educational and touring experiences. Our tour guide throughout the trip was Tony Ho with the assistance of Alex. Before going to China, we were somewhat intimidated by the culture, the language and the food. We did our homework and tried our best to read about your country so that we would be prepared for what we might experience. We arrived in PudongAirport feeling exhausted after a 12 hour flight, a bit nervous, yet very excited. Then we met Tony and Alex and from that point on we were treated to a first class experience that surpassed all of our expectations. Tony is a true professional. He guided us through 15 days of the most incredible journey - and he did it seamlessly. He worked tirelessly to ensure that all of our needs were met at all times. He taught us about the Chinese culture in a way that was both educational and entertaining. He has a superior knowledge of Chinese history and customs and can relate to the traditions and culture of the Western world. He was, at all times, friendly yet professional. He treated everyone on the tour equally, was organized and efficient, and made us feel safe at all times. He has a sense of humor and we looked forward to getting up every morning to find out what he had in store for us on our tour. We have travelled extensively through Europe, the USA and the Caribbean, but have never encountered a tour guide that can match the standard set by Tony. While he was our primary guide, his colleague, Alex was equally proficient, professional, knowledgeable and engaging. Together they are a formidable team and I don’t think you could find a better pair of professional tour guides anywhere. Tony and Alex are true assets to your company, and they are deserving of both praise and recognition for their superior work ethic and abilities. Sincerely,
Janice and David
NL
Canada
Date of Review: 11/21/2010
Dear Mr Jiang, We have just returned to Canada following our amazing travels in China, and wanted to extend our appreciation to your company for providing us with the trip of a lifetime. We learned so much about China and had such fun doing it. It truly was a remarkable experience. We had the pleasure of being part of "Group #1, Red Bus" and stayed with our guide Tony Ho (like "sticky rice") throughout. He made us all fall in love with China, and made every day fascinating and hassle-free from start-to-end. We were impressed by how every detail was planned out in advance, and how smoothly the travel within China went (given our many modes of transportation- air, bus and cruise) Our hotel accommodation was first class, and the hotel food exceptional. Of course, some of the "local flavour dinners" took some adjusting to, and was all part of the fun. (On the other hand, we were not sad to leave behind the "Happy Rooms" of China.) Over the years, we have travelled to many parts of the world, but we were first-timers coming to China. We will now certainly recommend China to our friends and family as a great travel destination. As we share our photos and stories with them, we remark on Tony's great knowledge of his country and his friendly, funny and energetic personality. We can only hope that they would have as wonderful a guide as we did. Thank-you and congratulations to your outstanding company, and especially to Tony, for a job so well done. With Kind Regards,
Bob & Janet
Edmonton , AB
Canada
Date of Review: 11/21/2010
I would like to take this time to send in an evaluation of the highest magnitude for Tony. I am not usually given to hyperbole but in this instance I feel compelled to reward Tony with an outstanding evaluation. He combined all the aspects of a good guide into one person and specifically he was very knowledgeable, he was extremely well organized, he knew how to do with people very well and that includes not only the tourists (ourselves) but with all of the local Chinese people to whom we would come into contact. Above all Tony made sure we all had a good time and he himself knew how to have a good sense of humour and to keep everyone else upbeat. There were briefings frequently – and this was not overdone but it kept everyone in line. I was particularly happy that no aspect of the trip was commandeered by one or more of the tourists who either couldn’t get organized and made everyone else wait or from a tourist who would be shouting out suggestions of what to do and how to do it. Believe you me there were many tourists in our group who would ordinarily do this but Tony was so far ahead of them in his plans that they knew that it was best just to listen and pay attention. It was particularly appreciated to have all of the bags and airline tickets all taken care of before we even reached our destinations. Tony and Alex made a particularly cooperative tandem and were able to coordinate both groups in our tour very well. I have been on a very large number of tours and Tony was the best guide that I have had. I would recommend that anyone going on a China pac tour should seek to have him as their guide.
Ernest
Edmonton , AB
Canada
Date of Review: 11/20/2010
Hello Jenny, My wife and I, along with four friends, have just returned from a trip to China arranged by Seacourses and run by Chinapac. This was probably the best travel experience we have ever had, due in no small part to our tour guide, Tony. We have cruised the Mediterranean, toured Europe by bus, visited the Greek islands and travelled extensively on our own. Tony set a standard for guides that we have never experienced before and will be the yardstick we use to judge in the future. China has so much to offer but can be intimidating to a westerner because of its size, complexity and of course the language barrier. As soon as we arrived at the Pudong airport Tony and his colleague Alex seamlessly guided us onto the Maglev train to begin our adventure. At every step of the journey our needs were looked after and it rapidly became apparent we would be free to absorb the wonders of China with none of the anxiety that can be associated with travelling in an unknown land. Tony's knowledge was extensive and his enthusiasm infectious. His organizational skills were on display on a daily basis and we were completely relaxed under his guidance. He allowed us to enjoy the different kind of amazing that this tour offered us every day in differing settings. While not our primary guide, Tony's colleague Alex was also a pleasure to meet and travel with. He often guided our "partners" when our schedules split us up and they again experienced a very high level of knowledge, enthusiasm and professionalism. My friends and I expect that it will take time to fully absorb and appreciate this experience. China's history, geography and people are truly fascinating. We have all said that this was the most amazing trip of our lives, one we will talk about for years to come. Tony helped us experience a wonderful place and for that we are truly thankful. XIE XIE !
Danny & Moya
NL
Canada
Date of Review: 11/18/2010
Dear Jenny, I would like to share with you and Cindy what a wonderful trip we had in china oct.9 to oct. 24. Everything was well planned, the food was good, the hotels most comfortable. But what made my trip spectacular was our guide Tony Ho. He was most amazing throughout the whole journey, intelligent, witty, and the most caring person one could wish for. Please pass that on to his superiors. And please mention that he went well beyond the call of duty to ensure that everyone was happy and contented at all times. What a loving and kind person. Again thanks for such a well planned trip. I really enjoyed China and learned a lot about the culture and the country. I hope to travel again in the future. Thanks to Cindy for all the organizing she did for me
Yvette
Vancouver , BC
Canada
Date of Review: 11/13/2010
Hi Cindy We just got back today and had a wonderful trip! This was mainly due to the fantastic job that Cecilia (Yang Chen) did. What a great tour guide and very knowledgeable! She was there and answered all the questions the people had in the group and went beyond the call of duty helping people with the little things and also with bartering for things for the people that did not feel comfortable doing so. She was punctual and we never had to wait. Once we hit Shanghai you could tell that she loved her city and the enthusiasm for the touring was excellent. As far as the local guides go Rene was wonderful in Beijing especially being the first place we were at,. We were met at the airport with a smiling face and a cheery disposition! Our tour in Beijing was fun and exciting and very informative. Rene was enthusiastic about showing us everything there was in Beijing. Between Rene and Cecilia the communication was excellent! they complimented each other. Anne was another one that did a great job! All the tour guides were very knowledgeable. Thanks again
Linda
Edmonton , AB
Canada
Date of Review: 11/13/2010
Hi Jacqueline: We just returned from our holiday in China and just wanted to let you know that we enjoyed the trip so much. I was very impressed with how organized it was and our tour guides Renee and Cecilia were just top notch. The hotels and restaurants were excellent! I'll definitely be recommending the Chinapac trips to my clients. Tks again.
Annette
Abbotsford , BC
Canada
Date of Review: 11/8/2010
My wife and I were part of the above noted tour arranged by your firm with the assistance of Cindy Liam. I wanted to comment that we were very pleased with the China tour. The itinerary was excellent. The professional tour guide services by Mr. Tony Ho in China were exemplary. He was informative, always enthusiastic, had a good sense of humour, and was proud of the history and the accomplishments of his country. Above all he was sensitive to the individual needs of each member in our group and ensured that everyone was looked after and provided with the attention necessary. He constantly checked to ensure that everyone was engaged, that we knew what to expect, what to do, and that the pace was suitable for everyone. We recognized that to be with a group for two weeks and to keep everyone happy requires a very demanding skill set, which Tony Ho has. He is a credit to your company. We will continue to recommend Chinapac to friends and acquaintances for the excellent quality of your services.
Brian and Waltraud
Toronto, ON
Canada
Date of Review: 11/7/2010
Dear Jenny, I have to share with you just how wonderful my trip to China was. (Oct. 9 to Oct. 24). What made it so spectacular was our guide, Tony. He is utterly amazing. He loves his country and particularly his home city Shanghai and loves to share this with his clients. He dearly wants each and everyone of us to have a great time, not only get to know China but love China! Tony went well beyond the call of duty making sure that each person's needs and expectations were met. His English is excellent. He has a great sense of humour and is very knowledgeable about the history,culture, people, food, geography, infrastructure and all other aspects of his country. I am a vegetarian and Tony made sure that there was adequate special foods served to me at all meals. His kindness and consideration for each of us was always utmost in his actions. I can't say enough about this special young man. I thought last year's trip was good with China Pac but this one surpasses it just because of this guide. Thank you very much for arranging that Tony be our leader. Most sincerely,
Mary Ann
White Rock, BC
Canada
Date of Review: 11/2/2010
Scott from World Wide Central in Waterloo, Ontario recommended the above tour & we are most pleased with all aspects. I also wish to make a special commendation to ALEX our tour guide in China.He was the best we have ever experienced . Alex was most knowledgeable, personable and spoke English clearly. He managed to keep the group on time in a positive fashion with a good sense of humour.There was also a second bus that toured with us under the Guiding of Tony. He was also very good from our brief involvement with him. Alex & Tony worked well together as a team. Please pass on our compliments to Alex.
Lynda & Grant
Canada
Date of Review: 11/2/2010
This letter is to compliment the following members of your staff and associates, not necessarily in the order of importance: Jacqueline Jing; John Jian - Shanghai office; Tony - the tour guide in China; Katie Li - your associate in Chongqing, Inbound Dept. of Chongqing Huifenf International; Danny - Katie Li's husband; I apologize if there are others who I neglected to mentioned, but were involved ub assisting my wife Donna and me through a very difficult time in China during which my wife Donna fell during the Yangtze River portion of our excursion, fractured her hip and required assistance to accomplish the following: The accident happened near Fengdu who took X-rays, diagnosed the hip fracture which they could not remedy so we were transported by ambulance to Chongqing for a hip replacement operation. After recouperation, air flights were arranged to bring us home to Vancouver, then transported by ambulance to the Eagle Ridge Hospital on Oct. 28/10 (YVR time). I know it may sound simple in my brief one paragraph description of events, but I know that an awfully lot of time and effore were expended, especially by John Jiang in Shanghai and Jacqueline in Vancouver. I know that the arranging of the ambulance transfer from YVR to the EagleRidgeHospital required a great deal of time, effort and perseverance by Jacqueline. John Jiang helped me immencely both by taking care of so many things and helped me emotionally by giving me assurance that he would help us get home. Words are inadequate to describe our gratitude. Yours truly,
Clayton and Donna
Port Moody, BC
Canada
Date of Review: 11/1/2010
Thank-you for making our trip to China such a wonderful experience. Your knowledge is astounding! What shone through was your love for the work you do and the pride you take in your country and home city of Shanghai. When one tour member broke her hip, you managed the incident with great professionalism. You made sure that the rest of the group was looked after and in the capable hands of Alex, when you went to the hospital with the injured lady. You also kept us informed as to her progress, which was greatly appreciated. I wish you all the best, as does Vern. Please also pass along our thanks to Alex. Vern has labeled you and Alex The Dream Team.
Wendy
Canada
Date of Review: 11/1/2010
Hi Jenny, My husband and I enjoyed our tour of China very much. It was very comprehensive and informative. Tony was an excellent guide and made sure we were all well taken care of. Chinapac is lucky to have such a conscientious and competent employee. Sincerely,
Nancy
Vancouver , BC
Canada