SNA Educational Group

We just returned from a 15 day tour of China with SNA Tours. It was FANTASTIC!
We went to Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin area, and Shanghai. We are two families, 10 people ranging from age 6 to 75. We were joined some of the time by a group of 3 women and a group of 4 women.
Pricing: when you add up all the components: airfare, transportation within China, hotels, meals, sightseeing tickets, shows, tour guides, private bus, tips, etc. this tour was a good deal. Most prices do not include airport taxes or Chinese visa.
We spent about $ 250 per person more, including extra optional activities and purchased goods. We enjoyed a few shows, including the light show on the river in Yongshuo, went on a bike ride in the countryside, and took a night river cruise in Shanghai. Each extra event cost roughly $ 30 – 35 per person. All were well worth it. Also we tipped the guides and bus drivers extra and we left a little cash for the maids in hotels. We did not tip in restaurants.
Our tour guide Lili met us at the airport in Beijing, and took great care of us throughout the entire trip, up to our departure flight from Shanghai. Lili is sweet, calm, patient, organized, attentive to detail, knowledgeable, and experienced. Her English is excellent and we all enjoyed her stories and learned a lot from her. She helped us with any issues. When one of the kids was overtired, she arranged for an SNA guide to accompany him in a taxi to the hotel so that the rest of us could continue on. In Xi’an, Guilin, and Shanghai we were joined by tour guides with local expertise. All were great, especially Simon in Shanghai.
The hotels were excellent. Doubletree in Beijing, Radisson Blu in Shanghai were the best. Bravo in Guilin also great. The Elite hotel in Yangshuo was just good, but probably among the best in that small city. The hotel on the mountain at Longji was more rustic but pretty and clean.
The only part of the trip that most of us didn’t like was the night train ride from Beijing to Xi’an. There were smokers in the evening and my twins have asthma. Smoking is allowed between the cars but the doors were open and the smoke was in the air conditioning system. The toilets were clogged or filthy, the «soft beds» were just a platform with a foam rubber mat, and no ladder to the top bunk. The train rattled terribly for an hour, later gently rocking. We were advised not to drink any water on the train, but we had brought bottled water. Anyway it would be worth paying more for a flight and another hotel night.
The meals were very good. I admit we got tired of Chinese food even though we had a variety with noodles, dumplings, Peking duck, etc.
The private air-​conditioned bus was very comfortable; it was always waiting for us and we could leave non-​valuable stuff like hats, umbrellas, etc while touring.
The tour includes stops at government run factories showing how they make silk, pearls, cloisonné, terra cotta, jade, tea, etc. Each short factory tour ends in a store with attentive (hovering) sales clerks. However, you really do not have to buy anything, and anyway the products are good, reasonably priced, all guaranteed real, and at each place someone in our group found something they liked. You can find cheaper fakes and knock-​offs at the markets for souvenirs.
Tips:
— HOT, HOT, HOT and muggy all over in late June. Rains sporadically. Pack plenty of light clothes. Also bring or buy an umbrella for rain and for shade, not a sweaty raincoat. Women in China DO wear shorts, sleeveless tops, sandals, etc. I thought I could wash clothes in the sink but they never dried — we had to iron them.
— Beijing is smoggy due to lots of cars. Shanghai is cleaner as their public transportation system is better.
— For women: many places out of the hotels have only squat toilets and no toilet paper. Also bring hand wipes or disinfectant; there are bathroom sinks but the water is not potable and there may not be soap.
— Bring US dollars and change money in the hotels. The exchange rates are the same everywhere. They don’t like dollar bills with writing, torn corners, etc. Also ask for small bills if you want to shop in markets. Some 50 and 100 yuan notes ($ 8 and $ 16) are counterfeit.
— Bring non-​aerosol bug repellant. Mosquitoes abound in Guilin area and Shanghai. Malaria is not prevalent in these areas as much as along the Yangtse but the mosquitoes are big.
— Do read the SNA traveler guide on their website — lots of things you do need to know.

Ok so I bought a GROUPON for a 7 day China tour. Before I even purchased the GROUPON I asked a question on the Q&A.(see:
) and was told it would be a certain price for the airport tax and fee. Looked over all the fine print I could and nothing states it would change. But when I went to book my trip they were trying to charge me $ 20 more per person and that it went effective that day (how convenient) and to call LAX to check. I called and was at a dead end. I asked for proof from the company but none was given. In fact there was no response.
Bottom line is I just don’t like being told one thing and they try to change it on you. Really close to filing a complaint with the BBB. Still very tempting…
However, Jason from SNA tour worked with me and adjusted the price to which I was quoted for originally. My only gripe is that this took about a month to resolve. I just hope this doesn’t leave me stranded in China…
A really bad first impression.
Here goes everything! :/