Posts

How to Choose the Right Private China Tours Company, Lessons from My Research Journey

Image
After deciding that private China tours were the way to go for my trip, I faced a new challenge: choosing which company to book with. I spent weeks researching, comparing, and questioning what truly matters when selecting a private tour operator. The process was overwhelming—there are dozens of companies offering private China tours, all promising authentic experiences, expert guides, and competitive prices. Here's what I learned from my deep dive into finding the perfect private China tour company, and the mistakes I almost made along the way. The Red Flags I Learned to Spot My first instinct when researching private China tours was to sort by price and go with the cheapest option. Thank goodness I didn't. Within my first hour of research, I discovered that when it comes to private China tours, rock-bottom prices usually mean rock-bottom quality. One company offered private China tours at prices 40% lower than competitors. It seemed like an amazing deal until I read the fi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chinese Family Travel Magic: Our Lijiang and Kunming Family Trip Chronicles

Image
If someone had told me that the secret to a successful family trip with elderly grandparents and young children was letting everyone move at their own pace, I wouldn't have believed them. But after our unforgettable days in Lijiang and Kunming, I'm a complete convert to the "slow travel" philosophy of Chinese family travel. Lijiang: Ancient Streets and Timeless Connections Lijiang Old Town felt like stepping into a living painting. As our family trip continued into this UNESCO World Heritage Site, I watched my grandmother's entire face light up. The cobblestone streets, the wooden houses with their carved windows, the canals running alongside the pathways—everything seemed to awaken something deep within her. On our first morning, we woke early to explore before the crowds arrived. My nephew Tommy held his great-grandmother's hand as they walked slowly along the water channels. She told him about the ancient Naxi people who built this town centuries ago, an...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lessons from Our Chinese Family Travel Adventure: What Our Multi-Generational Family Trip Taught Us

Image
Now that we're home and the suitcases are unpacked, I find myself constantly reflecting on our Chinese family travel journey. People keep asking, "How did you manage traveling with elderly grandparents and young children? Wasn't it stressful?" The truth is, our family trip through China wasn't without challenges, but it was also the most meaningful experience of my life. Here's what traveling across Guilin, Shanghai, Lijiang, Kunming, Nanjing, Xi'an, and Chengdu with three generations taught us about family, love, and what really matters. Slow Down to Speed Up The biggest lesson from our Chinese family travel adventure ? Slow travel is the best travel, especially for a multi-generational family trip. In the beginning, I had an itinerary packed with activities. We were going to see everything, do everything, photograph everything. By day three, my grandmother's knees were protesting, Tommy was having meltdowns, and my daughter declared she was "o...
Post a Comment
Read more

Your China, Your Way: The Ultimate Guide to Private Tour Customization

Image
Three months ago, I received the most unusual tour request in my twenty-year career. The Harrison family from Boston had one very specific requirement for their private China tours: their twelve-year-old son Marcus, who has autism, needed to visit every major attraction at exactly 8:30 in the morning because that's when he felt most comfortable exploring new places. Most tour operators would have politely declined or offered generic modifications, but that's exactly why I fell in love with designing private China tours—every family has their own rhythm, their own needs, and their own definition of the perfect vacation. Six weeks later, I watched Marcus confidently leading his family through the Forbidden City in the golden morning light, completely at ease because his world had been honored rather than forced to adapt. What I've discovered after crafting hundreds of customized experiences is that private China tours aren't just about luxury—they're about authentic...
Post a Comment
Read more

Family-First: How to Experience China's Culture Without the Crowds

Image
Three years ago, I was guiding the Patterson family through what should have been a magical morning at the Summer Palace, when their six-year-old daughter started crying.  Not because she was hurt or tired, but because she couldn't see anything through the wall of selfie sticks and tour groups surrounding the marble boat. "There are too many people, Daddy," she sobbed. That moment broke my heart and changed how I approach China family tours forever. I realized that the most meaningful cultural experiences happen not in the chaos of peak tourist hours, but in the quiet moments when families can actually connect with the soul of this incredible country. Here's what twenty years of guiding families has taught me: the real China isn't found in the crush of Golden Week crowds or the choreographed chaos of major attractions during peak hours. It's discovered in the gentle morning light filtering through a temple courtyard at dawn, when elderly locals practice tai c...
Post a Comment
Read more

Beyond First Class: Why Private Tours Are the Future of China Travel

Image
Five years ago, when the Anderson family told me they wanted to "travel like their grandparents did—with real connection and authentic experiences," I thought they were being nostalgic. Last month, when three more families used almost identical language, I realized something fundamental had shifted in how people think about travel. The pandemic didn't just pause tourism; it gave families time to reconsider what they actually wanted from their precious vacation days.  What I'm witnessing now is a revolution in travel values, where families are choosing depth over distance, relationships over rush, and meaning over mere sightseeing. Private China tours aren't just a luxury option anymore—they're becoming the preferred way for thoughtful families to engage with our complex, beautiful world. The transformation in traveler expectations became clear to me during a conversation with the Peterson family last spring. Dad, a successful tech executive, explained that af...
Post a Comment
Location: New York, NY, USA
Read more

Are You Wondering If China Is A Luxury Destination? 7 Myths Debunked for the Sophisticated Traveler

Image
Hey all, Alex here again! In my two decades as a travel advisor to people all around the globe, I've discovered that our perceptions of places often lag far behind their reality; China being no exception. When I suggest creating a high-end, customized journey through China, some may express apprehension. You can almost hear the questions arising in their minds: "Is China really a luxury destination?" and "Can I travel in comfort and exclusivity like I'm used to?" China today is an incredible powerhouse of sophisticated travel, yet some old myths still linger. So today I want to remove some of the veil and disprove some of these misconceptions: here are seven misconceptions I hear most often from discerning visitors to China. Myth 1: Hotels are only functional, not luxurious. This myth has long been disproven; China boasts an unparalleled luxury hotel scene that rivals Europe and North America in terms of excellence. At the height of luxury hospitality are Am...
Post a Comment
Read more