I love credit cards so much!

[AmyAnne]

ETA: we did see the pandas at Beijing zoo, both red & giant.

I had briefly thought that we could do a quick trip to one of the research centers (Chengdu I think) but that was before I realized exactly how huge a country China is, and that getting there would involve either flights or all-day train rides.

ETA: If I were going now, I might actually investigate the flights more than I did at the time. My son flies almost everywhere he travels, even one-hour flights between cities within Taiwan. It probably would have been much more convenient than I imagined.

 

[WaywardMemphian]

I had briefly thought that we could do a quick trip to one of the research centers (Chengdu I think) but that was before I realized exactly how huge a country China is, and that getting there would involve either flights or all-day train rides.

ETA: If I were going now, I might actually investigate the flights more than I did at the time. My son flies almost everywhere he travels, even one-hour flights between cities within Taiwan. It probably would have been much more convenient than I imagined.

There should be High Speed Rail between Xi'an Chengdu soon

We are planning a trip a couple of years out from now but It is basically Beijing-Xi'an-Chengdu-Chongqing(Yangtze River Cruise)Yichang -Shanghai - Hong Kong

ETA: we did see the pandas at Beijing zoo, both red & giant.

I can see both of those 10 minutes for Mom's house in Memphis. You priced the cost to hold a Panda in Chengdu. LOL.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

There should be High Speed Rail between Xi'an Chengdu soon

We are planning a trip a couple of years out from now but It is basically Beijing-Xi'an-Chengdu-Chongqing(Yangtze River Cruise)Yichang -Shanghai - Hong Kong



I can see both of those 10 minutes for Mom's house in Memphis. You priced the cost to hold a Panda in Chengdu. LOL.

Our plans are on hold now but a China itinerary for us would be Beijing-Xian-Chengdu-Hubei-Shanghai(incl Disney)

The Chengdu panda reserve was the one damaged by an earthquake a few years back. Sadly the Yangtze River is not the same since the Three Gorges Dam was built.

 

[calypso726]

One of my kids lives in Taiwan so I have been to China a few times. I found traveling in China very exhausting, so that's one country where I'm sure Adventures by Disney provides a great advantage over doing it on your own. And I still have yet to see the pandas.

Oh for sure. I'm stressing over planning the flights. I can't imagine planning that itinerary, which @Lain shared below, on my own. We are planning to add an extra day in Shanghai Disney and then fly to Tokyo to visit the Tokyo Disney parks. I figured if we were already all the way over there we might as well go for an Asian Disney park trifecta.

I saw United MileagePlus had an auction for an Adventures by Disney 12-day tour of China and Hong Kong that just closed with a winning bid of 1,150,000 miles. Too rich for my blood, but I have to think that there's a better use of 1,150,000 miles...?

ETA: Here's the what's included:

• Roundtrip premium class airfare for two throughout experience
  • Roundtrip United Polaris® Business Class on US to China
    • Arrive HKG (Hong Kong)
    • Return PVG (Shanghai)
  • Economy Class on 5 internal flights included
• Twelve day/eleven night Adventures by Disney® vacation package to China including:
  • Eleven nights hotel accommodations (one standard room) at the following locations:
    • The Peninsula Hong Kong
    • Rosewood Beijing
    • Ritz-Carlton Chengdu
    • Shangri-LA Hotel Guilin
    • Peninsula Shanghai
• All meals and gratuities included (excluding alcoholic beverages)
  • 11 breakfasts
  • 9 lunches
  • 7 dinners
• On-tour luggage handling
• Transportation including travel between hotels, and to/from group excursions
• Daily itinerary of entertainment and group activities including the service of two Adventure Guides
  • China highlights include:
    • Meet China’s pandas
    • Terracotta warriors and horses in Xi’an
    • Explore Hong Kong
    • The history of Beijing
    • Cultural entertainment (including a performance of Suchian Opera)
    • Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Shanghai Disney
• Gratuities for two Adventure Guides, bellmen, housekeepers, drivers, activity providers and dining room staff

• Travel taxes imposed on transportation, lodging and services.

OMG!!! That is a whole lotta miles. Was that for a party of one or two? If you value UA miles at 1.5 then that is over $17,000.

 

[Lain]

OMG!!! That is a whole lotta miles. Was that for a party of one or two? If you value UA miles at 1.5 then that is over $17,000.

I'm hoping two since the package includes airfare for two.

I've never booked an ABD package before: https://www.adventuresbydisney.com/asia-africa-australia/china-vacations/daily-itinerary/ Were the miles worth it?

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I'm hoping two since the package includes airfare for two.

I've never booked an ABD package before: https://www.adventuresbydisney.com/asia-africa-australia/china-vacations/daily-itinerary/ Were the miles worth it?

If it's 2 people, seems in line. The China trip is 8-10k pp on ABD website.
Either cash or points, it's too rich for me.

 

[Albort]

My family and I did a 10 day? tour of China, i think it cost us like $5k each. It was Beijing, Xi'an, Gui'lin and Shanghai. Its a expensive tour but we paid for the best. There was only 5 ppl total with 2 personal tour guides. Best Hotels too.

All Meals included.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Oh for sure. I'm stressing over planning the flights. I can't imagine planning that itinerary, which @Lain shared below, on my own. We are planning to add an extra day in Shanghai Disney and then fly to Tokyo to visit the Tokyo Disney parks. I figured if we were already all the way over there we might as well go for an Asian Disney park trifecta.

Are you following the current TR for the Asia parks? I'm loving it. Living vicariously.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

My family and I did a 10 day? tour of China, i think it cost us like $5k each. It was Beijing, Xi'an, Gui'lin and Shanghai. Its a expensive tour but we paid for the best. There was only 5 ppl total with 2 personal tour guides. Best Hotels too.

All Meals included.

We did Beijing-Wuhan-Guangzhou-Hong Kong for about $25k. All the best, including best souvenir ever--our son.

 

[Ngwira]

One of my wife's favorite restaurants ever, Le Cirque, is in the Bellagio. We'd stay there for that alone! The Bellagio is such a great location. It's right across the street from the Paris, so if dining is your thing you could make a reservation at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant, request a window table overlooking Bellagio's fountains, and treat yourself to dinner and a show.

Thanks for the suggestions, Lain.

 

[Albort]

We did Beijing-Wuhan-Guangzhou-Hong Kong for about $25k. All the best, including best souvenir ever--our son.

what tour group?
Gonna be in Taiwan in 5 days, kinda want to check out Hong Kong this time around. I have 4 day Japan trip too.
learned a few things on this trip... like looking at awardhacker.com. <--*bookmark it! :]*

 

[AmyAnne]

We did Beijing-Wuhan-Guangzhou-Hong Kong for about $25k. All the best, including best souvenir ever--our son.

Guangzhou was probably my favorite city in China - a lot of green spaces compared to Beijing and Shanghai. Seeing the panda center would be nice but the one China trip that's pretty near the top of my bucket list is the Harbin ice festival. It's too bad that Harbin is hard as heck to get to.

 

[codylamb18]

Anyone heard of the third quarter catagory for chase freedom? Says online summer fun and start activating mid June. Hope it's announced before then.

 

[Albort]

Anyone heard of the third quarter catagory for chase freedom? Says online summer fun and start activating mid June. Hope it's announced before then.

99% sure its gonna be restaurants.

 

[calypso726]

I'm hoping two since the package includes airfare for two.

I've never booked an ABD package before: https://www.adventuresbydisney.com/asia-africa-australia/china-vacations/daily-itinerary/ Were the miles worth it?

Oops! I missed the part about the airfare for 2. Well for the value of the miles that seems like a good deal. We are doing the May adults only trip and it is $7899 per person with the early booking discount. The discounts are limited and we got it despite the phone lines being crazy busy at ABD this morning with everyone calling in to book the new itineraries. $15,798 for a party of 2 and that doesn't include airfare. The auction included R/T business class flights. I'd say it was totally worth the miles.

what tour group?
Gonna be in Taiwan in 5 days, kinda want to check out Hong Kong this time around. I have 4 day Japan trip too.
learned a few things on this trip... like looking at awardhacker.com. <--*bookmark it! :]*

Oooh thanks for sharing that.

Are you following the current TR for the Asia parks? I'm loving it. Living vicariously.

No I haven't seen that. Where is the thread posted? I'd like to check it out.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

what tour group?
Gonna be in Taiwan in 5 days, kinda want to check out Hong Kong this time around. I have 4 day Japan trip too.
learned a few things on this trip... like looking at awardhacker.com. <--*bookmark it! :]*

Not a tour group per se. Our adoption agency facilitated most of it.
We stayed at the Novotel Citygate in HK which was lovely & super close to the airport but 30 minutes from the city.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

No I haven't seen that. Where is the thread posted? I'd like to check it out.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/c...-all-asia-disney-resorts-update-may2.3596227/

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Guangzhou was probably my favorite city in China - a lot of green spaces compared to Beijing and Shanghai. Seeing the panda center would be nice but the one China trip that's pretty near the top of my bucket list is the Harbin ice festival. It's too bad that Harbin is hard as heck to get to.

And no motorbikes in GZ. Nearly run over multiple times in Wuhan where it's crazy busy.

 

[codylamb18]

99% sure its gonna be restaurants.

Booooo was hoping warehouse clubs but I guess they caught onto the gift card deal.

 

[Albort]

Oooh thanks for sharing that.

The only problem with that site is that Virgin Atlantic isnt on there. I heard there is some good redemption on that airline... couldnt hurt but --> http://www.awardace.com/

Booooo was hoping warehouse clubs but I guess they caught onto the gift card deal.

pray for Q4... Q4 is always up in the air... last year, Q4 was drug stores, but they moved drug stores to Q2. Amazon again? Warehouse? i think Q3 for Discover is removing Warehouse.