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Laurus travel REVIEWS -
Customer Testimonials
Comments below represent only a small fraction of
our satisfied customers. We have many more ready to vouch for our
reputation. If you need a reference, please give us a call. We take our
customers' privacy seriously. For that reason, we remove information from
customer testimonials that could lead to them being publicly identified.
From Professor S of Princeton University
Received January 30, 2012
Re: Our Recent China Tour with Laurus
Working with the office was easy, quick, and
confidence-making. From beginning to end, we felt entirely taken care of,
with no detail undone. We appreciated the help with our visas and with
flights, which made those initial plans less anxiety-provoking. The trip
was perfectly planned. We felt we got to see all of the key sights at a
relaxed pace. We were delighted not to be forced to go shopping. The food
was amazing. Our guides were great. I can't imagine a better introduction
to a fascinating country. I think that all Americans/Canadians need to
visit China and I would recommend Laurus to anyone--we have already told
many friends about the remarkable tour and the high quality of our
experience from start to finish. Thanks so much for your excellent
service.
Professor S
Princeton, New Jersey
[The professor's full name is
not disclosed due to our customer privacy policy, but the distinguished
scholar is available as reference.]
-----Original Message-----
From: cbxxxx@chpnet.org
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 9:35 AM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: Southwest China Tour
This was a phenomenal trip which was well organized. The small group of 9
made it possible to move and hear at the same time. I certainly will
recommend Laurus to those considering a tour of China.
Dr. Carl B, MD
Thornwood, New York
-----Original Message-----
From: Marc K---- [mailto:MARC.K----@haw---.com]
Sent: Friday, November 11, 2011 4:38 AM
To: 'info@laurustravel.com'
Subject: 25 days Splendid China Tour
We got back from our China trip last night. Just wanted to let you know
the trip was wonderful. We enjoyed all of our guides and the hotels
exceeded our expectations. Please feel free to use me as a US reference if
necessary.
Marc K
Atlanta, Georgia
-----Original Message-----
From: Susan M
Sent: Tuesday, November 08
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: China Tour
I had a memorable tour to Beijing, Xian and
Shanghai. This is the second time I toured China with " Laurus Travel "
and I highly recommend this company. It provides excellent service and our
guide... [editor: Susan and family rated their recent trip with Laurus
Travel 5 out of 5 meaning the tour exceeded their expectations in very
respect. Feel free to ask for her as a reference]
Susan M.
Vancouver, British Columbia
-----Original Message-----
From: Joanne H [address deleted]
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 2:54 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: 23-day Silk Road & Southwest China
We had a wonderful vacation. Our guides were knowledgeable, experienced,
friendly, accommodating, spoke very good English ... we cannot say enough
about how much we enjoyed their company and how they went above and beyond
to accommodate any requests we had. We also found their suggestions for
other activities very helpful. We had ten in country flights and every
guide was at the airport to meet us when we arrived and also made sure we
were on time for all our departing flights with luggage checked and
boarding passes arranged. The drivers were professional and courteous, and
we felt safe wherever we were traveling.
We traveled to China to enjoy and explore the
culture and learn more about both historical and modern China. The local
guides were very knowledgeable about the sites we toured and very good at
answering our questions. We had lots of questions about life in China
today, which many of the guides were happy to answer, and several of the
guides were willing to share personal experiences about their life. We
left China feeling we had made new friends.
Our tour was extensive covering a large area of
China. Although we could only see a limited amount in the time we had
available, we thoroughly enjoyed all the sites on the itinerary from
ancient ruins and grottos in the desert, to the Forbidden City and Summer
Palace, pagodas and temples, the Great Wall and Terra Cotta Warriors, the
pandas and the Sunday morning animal market in Kashgar, the UNESCO World
Heritage sites in Lijiang, Kunming, Shangri La etc. ... to the ultra
modern Shanghai. China is indeed a country of contrasts and we found it
all very interesting. We loved the diversity of cultures, exploring
historical sites, shopping in local markets and eating in local
restaurants.
Laurus Travel did an excellent job in making our
traveling arrangements, ensuring that we were treated like 'special'
people throughout our trip. Thank-you Laurus Travel for giving us a
vacation experience we will always remember with great pleasure.
Joanne H.
Orillia, Ontario
-----Original Message-----
From: Jan Rig--- [mailto:janrig---@yahoo.com]
Sent: October 7, 2011 6:46 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject:
Recent China Trip with Laurus Travel
Hi Alan & Heidi,
Our children did a lot of research online and
found your company had the best reviews for trips to China so they
purchased the 11 day China trip for my 60th birthday present as a
surprise. We were most impressed right from the beginning with the emails
and information sent through before we even left and our Tour Guides were
wonderful, especially Su in Beijing, Tony in Xi'an and Anne in Shanghai.
...Our accommodation throughout China was wonderful with the hotels being
clean and comfortable with very friendly staff and the breakfasts were
superb - so much choice!
Our Tour Guides in-depth knowledge of the history
of China, together with their sense of humour made our trip so memorable.
They had so much patience and were willing to take the time to explain
things and wait for us to take as much time as we needed to see
everything. Su is a rare jewel and the very nicest person who is very
proud of her country, its history and traditions and does Laurus Travel a
great service, we would recommend her without hesitation to anyone
travelling to Beijing.
The food at the restaurants that we were taken to
was excellent & we enjoyed trying all of the local cuisines, also the two
shows that we saw as part of our trip were very enjoyable and extremely
professional....
We would not hesitate to recommend Laurus Travel
to anyone wanting to travel to China and would certainly use you again if
we get the opportunity to go back - there is still so much to see and do
in China.
Once again thank you so much for such an
enjoyable and professionally run trip.
Jan & Vince R.
Westbourne Park, South Australia
Australia
-----Original Message-----
From: Marshall & Linda [mfr----@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2011 2:24 PM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: China Odyssey Tour with Laurus Travel
Hi Julius,
We had a great time on our Odyssey tour, and we can't say enough about
Steve Shi and how much he enriched our experience.
We especially appreciated his deep knowledge of Chinese history, fluency
in English, diligence, flawless handling of travel details and transfers,
sense of humor, patience, willingness to answer any question with
thoughtfulness and candor, and--not least--his knowledge of the best
restaurants in every city. And much more. As I said, we can't say enough.
Just one example: At museums and other places we visited, Steve would take
pains to direct our attention to what was important and supply historical
context and details we might have otherwise overlooked. We often noticed
that guides of some other tour groups offered only basic information and
left people on their own. Steve made time for individual exploration as
well, but we quickly learned that it was smarter to stay with him and his
expert commentary.
It was a well-planned, expertly run tour by people with a deep knowledge
of this fascinating country and the best places to experience it. From
beginning to end, the tour exceeded all our expectations and gave us many
memories we will always treasure. We will be happy to serve as a reference
any time.
Best wishes,
Marshall F and Linda L
Chicago, Illinois
From: Bob and Linda [mailto:bltgb@---.com]
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 5:15 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: Our compliments
Julius and Alan, we wanted to take this time to
thank you again for another phenomenal trip to China. As you know, this is
the third time we have worked with you on putting together a China
itinerary. We wouldn't use anyone else. Your level of service and concern
for our satisfaction and happiness with the accommodations, tours and
itinerary is phenomenal. As you know, this trip we returned to four of the
locations you arranged for us last year because we were so impressed with
them and wanted to spend more time in each - Shanghai, Tongli, Hanghzou
and Wuxi. The addition of Xi Tang was another winner. We so enjoy those
water (canal) towns.
One of the things we have been very impressed
with is the quality of the guides and drivers that you have arranged. Our
guide in Hangzhou, Vincent, is one of the best we've ever had. Not only is
he knowledgeable but he brings an artist's touch to his work. He plays the
flute and he shared his artistry, as well as sampling of beautiful Chinese
music, to several of our stops. His flute music was a wonderful
distraction as we waited in line for one of our boat trips through the
canals in Xi Tang. Not only were we thrilled with his musical talents but
so were the others around us. He explained several important love stories
of China, with accompanying music snippets on his iPad. That information
was very helpful to us when we watched the water show on the lake in
Hangzhou. By the way, you provided us with the very best two seats in the
house for that show. I don't know how you did it but we felt very much
like VIPs when were we were seated in our own box, the only one with a
roof over it, where we were provided a snack box, bottled water and our
own personal electric fans. It was very impressive.
Our guide in Wuxi, KiKi, was also very good.
We're always impressed that all the guides you use are college graduates,
generally tourism majors, with excellent command of the English language
and knowledge of the local area. Kiki showed us the highlight of the trip
that was the Fan Palace in Wuxi. The interior literally took my breath
away. I must have taken 20 photos of it. That will always stand out as one
of those magic moments in our travels.
The hotels you select are always amazing. They
are all definitely 5 star and we are always impressed. That's saying
something as we travel a lot and have stayed in some of the best hotels
around the world. The quality of everything you touch is always first
class and that includes the vehicles used. We had a fabulous roomy van for
the first part of our trip that not only handled all our luggage but
allowed Bob and me to stretch out and be really comfortable. Our driver
from Shanghai to Hangzhou was excellent, Mr. Ho, had great command of the
roads and was very personable.
What always impresses us is the flexibility and
adaptability that your people show. We made numerous changes, both before
and during our trip, to our itinerary that Alan graciously accommodated.
We also emailed Alan during the trip to specify a certain room request in
Tongli and ask a couple of questions and he responded very quickly and
handled everything effortlessly. It's this level of service that's an
earmark of Laurus.
Once again, thank you for making our trips to
China so very special and affording us the ease of mind to know that
everything, to the very last detail, will be handled extremely well.
Warmest regards,
Linda and Bob L.
Manhattan Beach, California
-----Original Message-----
From: Suzanne Cxxxx-Lxxxx [mailto:artlady3538@-----.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 8:47 AM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: China trip
Dear Julius,
We just wanted to write and tell you how fabulous
the China trip was. The country, is of course, more fascinating and
complex than anyone could ever imagine but the real star was Steven! He is
a true gem; kind and patient, generous of heart and spirit and endlessly
efficient and cheerful ( he probably can leap tall buildings in a single
bound as well!). In talking to friends who have gone to China with other
groups, I am convinced that our experience was far richer and more unique,
largely because of his expertise. Don't lose him!
Thanks again,
Suzanne & Rick L.
Chicago, Illinois
This China trip review was copied verbatim
from tripadvisor.com. Please go to
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294211-i642-k4778052-China_tour_company_traveling_alone_Laurus_Travel_a_Gem-China.html
for original post. The author is an attorney from New York. You may ask
for her as a reference.
“ China tour company - traveling alone; Laurus
Travel...a Gem ”
Aug 31, 2011, 1:56 PM
I'm writing to report in on my experience in
traveling alone to China. Intimidated primarily by the language/
communications issues, I felt I needed a land package to see me through
China (specifically, Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai). I've just returned from
an 11 day package with Laurus Travel (out of Vancouver) - I found them on
the internet - and through reviews here. I am writing because I wanted to
share the particulars of what made my Laurus experience the best "group"
travel I have ever had. First of all, I'm not an "on the bus/off the bus"
kind of girl...so group touring can be off-putting. This was a totally
different experience. There were 7 of us - enough to allow for a shared
experience (something I very much wanted), but never so many that I ever
felt that we were being "herded". And that smallness and the knowledge and
flexibility of their guides made us able to adapt our visits to our
interests. Laurus's model is that with groups over 10 an overall country
guide is assigned...but if less than 10, no country guide...just local
City guides. This left me a little concerned in advance of the trip - but
my concern was replaced by nothing but praise. We were met at the airport
in each city by a local guide and a driver extremely knowledgeable in
their area - they were flexible, interesting and diverse. That changing of
guides was a true positive aspect of the trip. They took us to their
neighborhood favorite restaurants, ordered to our expressed tastes (the
food was freakily good in each city!!!!) and NEVER subjected us to
"tourist shopping trap hell". They went above and beyond in so many small
ways. I know that they are in the hospitality biz...and so this should not
be surprising - but even with that said, they went beyond the call of
duty.
In Shanghai, the rest of my group went elsewhere and I had a Laurus
provided guide and driver to myself...the agenda was changed to meet my
interests - I wanted to see the Synagogue and Jewish section of town in
lieu of the Planning Museum...and we did. VERY COOL - very special. The
hotels were excellent (seriously excellent) and well located. One of the
guides informed me that in China, Laurus is considered a very upscale
touring company - and it showed in terms of the quality of our guides. We
liked the mix of "on your own" time and touring time...we liked the
physicality of the trip. Bottom line, this was a marvelous experience -
exceeding my expectations in every way.
Amie G,
New York, New York
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2011 4:16 PM
Subject: 18-Day China Odyssey, left June 17, 2011
GUIDES
We were very impressed with all the guides; they were the great link
between us and the wonderful country. If we HAD to choose one guide as the
best, however, that would be David in Guilin. The ease at which he talked
with us and his knowledge made our visit to Guilin especially
interesting--and of course, the Li River trip was just great.
ACCOMMODATIONS
All the breakfasts and accommodations at the hotels were just great. The
Yangtze Cruise ship accommodations were just okay, but the food and
entertainment were great.
FOOD
Our guides took us to great restaurants where the locals ate, not to
tourist restaurants. Many times we were able to choose our own food from
the pictures in the menu, and that was certainly fun. As it turned out on
those days when the tour provided both lunch and dinner we generally had
too much food--although I don't know what you can do about it.
ITINERARY
I would change nothing. Everything about the tour was first rate! There
were no hitches, except delayed flights, which is not Laurus' problem. In
fact, our Beijing tour guide, Wen, was extremely helpful at the airport
when we discovered that our plane to Xi'an was delayed with uncertainty
about when it would depart. She arranged to book us on another flight and
took us to another terminal at the airport.
We thought our Laurus tour (18-day Odyssey) was
just fantastic. Everything about the tour (sites, accommodations, food,
guides, etc.) were A++. My wife and I learned so much about Chinese
history and culture. Our local guides were extremely knowledgeable,
friendly and helpful. We spent a lot of time talking with them about life
in China, and we felt they were all forthcoming and had interesting
stories to tell. Our group was small and the intimacy no doubt helped
provide a special experience. There are so many interesting things to see
in China, this tour was a great overview, a great beginning. One of our
guides made suggestions of where we might go on our next trip, and we hope
someday to come back and go there.
Professor Fred G & Lisa G
San Diego, California
-----Original Message-----
From: br----@shaw.ca
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 5:56 PM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: 25 Day Imperial China, Tibet & Yangtze Tour
We have done a lot of international travelling,
including ocean cruising and driving all through Europe and the US. We
were reluctant however to try to see China on our own, so the Laurus Tour
was our choice for this vacation. We are completely satisfied with having
made that decision. The entire Laurus tour was managed on a first-class
level. Guides, drivers, itineraries and accommodations were excellent; the
tour exceeded our expectations and we would have no hesitation in
recommending Laurus.
(as an aside, I know you say you won't divulge
names, but we would have no problem with talking to anyone who might be
interested in one of your tours.)
Brian & Maxine A.
St Albert, Alberta
-----Original Message-----
From: Adrianna D---- [mailto:adrianna.d----@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 10:49 AM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: China Trip
Hi Alan,
I wanted to let you know what a wonderful trip we
had. Jeff and Tony were terrific guides. They were sensitive to the boys'
needs and even taught them a handful of useful Chinese words. Tony even
helped me in various ways to order vegetarian meals, for which I am very
grateful. And Jeff taught the kids to count to 10. The transportation was
well-arranged and we loved our itinerary. The hotels were good overall
(though the Sheraton in Xi'an lacked the pool it advertised on its
website--not Laurus' fault, but the boys were disappointed not to be able
to swim there). All in all, we were so happy we were with Team Laurus. I'd
be happy to write a recommendation for your website, if that would be
helpful.
Thanks again, and please let Jeff and Tony know
our kids say: Ni Hou!
Regards,
Adrianna D and family
Maplewood, New Jersey
-----Original Message-----
From: Naveen B
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 6:06 AM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: Recent China Tour
I just want to say that our trip with Laurus
travel exceeded our expecations. Because of the small-group nature of the
tours, it was really great to be able to change plans on the fly. For
example, our flight to Beijing was delayed, so Steven (our guide) changed
the order of sightseeing so that we would be able to see everything when
it was open, without compromising time.
We also enjoyed our meals - because Laurus does
not take you to the typical "tourist" restaurants, our guides would ask us
what we would like to try, and they ordered items according to our tastes.
At the same time, we were able to sample cuisines that were specific to
the regions. Cantonese further south, home-made noodles in X'ian, and
spicier flavors in areas known for such dishes. It was very nice.
Last, I want to stress to anyone that is
concerned... unlike nearly all the other travel companies, Laurus truly is
a "NO SHOPPING STOPS" tour company! We never stopped at touristy souvenir
shops. Most of our tourist shopping came on our own time, at stalls and
shops set up by local people outside the attractions. A few times we even
asked the guides to take us to places to look for specific items, and they
were happy to do so. They also happy to help negotiate for us as well.
Our trip went very smoothly, and I recommend
Laurus Travek to anyone that wishes to have a hassle-free trip to China.
Naveen B & family
Atlanta, Georgia
-----Original Message-----
From: Deb T.
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2011 4:52 AM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: China Tour
Overall, it was a fascinating and memorable trip.
I loved it and I am still processing my thoughts and memories. Wow!
What I appreciated about Laurus was that you were
able to find such knowledgeable and accommodating guides, the sites you
chose for us to see were simply amazing, the hotels were top notch.
Although we were travelling a lot during the two weeks, we did not get
worn down - I think because we were so well taken care of.
Thank you to you and the entire team at Laurus.
Deb & Rod T
Calgary, Alberta
-----Original Message-----
From: Deanna S.
Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 12:07 PM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: China Tour Feedback
We were referred to Laurus by a colleague who
couldn't speak highly enough of the trip he and his wife had taken the
year before, and we definitely were not disappointed. We've travelled
quite alot to various places around the world, on cruises, on tours and on
our own, and this trip met and exceeded our expectations - even though we
can be especially picky about things like food and accommodations! Both
were first-rate, as were the knowledgeable and patient guides, who had
excellent skills in English and accommodated all of our questions and
special requests. We would absolutely recommend this trip and Laurus to
anyone.
Deanna S, LLB
Calgary, Alberta
-----Original Message-----
From: Nancy Thorn---- [mailto:thorn----@telus.net]
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 11:20 AM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: Re: China Tour
Hello Julius,
Walt & I wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our tour to China with
Laurus. It met and exceeded our expectations. Howard Zhang, our National
guide made our trip run smoothly and really gave 110% to the tour! He was
so helpful and personable. All our local guides were also excellent, and
we enjoyed our conversations with them as well as the wealth of
information they gave us regarding the wonderful sights on our tour.
Thanks and we would definitely recommend your company and travel with
Laurus again.
Sincerely,
Nancy & Walt T
North Vancouver, British Columbia
-----Original Message-----
From: Wayne G------
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 1:34 PM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: China Tour with Laurus Travel in April & May 2011
My wife and I completed the 21 day in depth China
tour from mid April to May. Laurus travel provided an excellent itinerary.
The accommodations were excellent in every respect.. It is very hard to
project to a reader what a great trip it is. This will certainly go down
as one of the absolutely best trips my wife and I have had... We would
certainly recommend Laurus travel. The trip is above and beyond what we
expected.
Wayne & Gail G
Kelowna, British Columbia
-----Original Message-----
From: Joyce E------- [mailto:je------@telusplanet.net]
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2011 8:40 AM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: China trip
Hi Julius,
.... all we can say is that our trip was
definitely "over the top" of our expectations!!!!. ... Your choices of
hotels, restaurants, guides were just exceptional. Absolutely no
complaints anywhere !!!! You can't do better than that..... PLEASE DO NOT
HESITATE TO USE our name for any recommendations ...... We will be more
than happy to share our great trip and "HIGHEST" recommendations.
Thanks for a wonderful holiday,
Joyce E.
Calgary, Alberta
-----Original Message-----
From: Don & Linda L----- [mailto:donlin.l-----@sympatico.ca]
Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2011 8:58 AM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: China Tour
... just to let you know in advance that the trip
was excellent in all respects, including: a. tour guides (Steven, Dana and
Shirley): extremely knowledgeable, personable, helpful and very perceptive
to the wishes of the travellers, b. hotels: excellent quality and service
in all locations, c. dining: excellent choices for quality, service and a
wide range of Chinese cuisine. We very much appreciate the service
provided by Laurus, and would be happy to choose it again, or to recommend
it to others.
Thanks very much for a very memorable experience.
Cheers,
Don & Linda L
Ottawa, Ontario
Excerpt from Kathy C's feedback received May 15,
2011:
The tour itinerary was a good balance between
guided, hosted activities and independent free time. The value of the
guided tours, meals and hotels was excellent. I would definitely recommend
Laurus Tours to others wanting a comprehensive tour of cities in China.
Kathy C
Bakersfield, California
-----Original Message-----
From: Anne C------ [mailto:c------@sympatico.ca]
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 11:17 AM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: Re: China Tour
We are safely back from our trip to China and can
assure you we had an amazing time. You were right about running a "tight
ship"--everything went as planned, and the only minor glitch of a delayed
flight to Xi'an was dealt with by you and your team in a responsible and
professional way, as we were put up at an airport hotel for a few hours to
have a rest and some food while we awaited news of a revised departure
time. We really got the "Royal Treatment" everywhere by your people!
All in all, we can say that China definitely
exceeded our expectations as a tour destination and we honestly wish we
could have stayed longer than three weeks and seen more things than we
did. ... Congratulations on your well planned itineraries... Thanks again
for all your help! Best of luck planning future tours for subsequent
groups of travelers smart enough to choose Laurus!
Anne and Charlie C
Oakville, Ontario
-----Original Message-----
From: Janet I.
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 2:29 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: China tour review
Hi Julius,
Our China tour was fantastic and certainly
exceeded my expectations. All three tour guides were wonderful -
enthusiastic, humorous, and knowledgeable. My favourite sights were the
Great Wall (of course) and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, as well as the
Terracotta warriors in Xian. The Shanghai acrobatic show was breathtaking.
We were glad to be switched to the brand new Sheraton in Shanghai which
was gorgeous.
It was an excellent tour full of great memories.
Thanks again for helping us organize this, and I will definitely recommend
the Laurus tour to my friends and contacts.
Sincerely,
Janet I., MD
Vancouver, British Columbia
-----Original Message-----
From: Fxxxxxxxxx, Doug
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2011 6:35 PM
To: 'info@laurustravel.com'
Subject: RE: China Trip
Our trip was wonderful. I have recommended Laurus
to many people since our return. Everything was first class. The tour
guides, particularly Howard, were all terrific. They were very
informative, very helpful and good fun. I commend you for having small
tour groups. I think that may set you apart from some of the other tours.
You should keep that up. We happened to "luck out" with a particularly
good group - all interesting and fun people. We became friends quickly.
But it is much easier to enjoy the sites when travelling in a small group.
And the sites were all that we expected and more. China is a fascinating
country. Its history, its culture and its politics are a wonderful study.
We were absolutely thrilled to be on The Wall, to tour the Forbidden City,
to see the Terracota Warriors......and on and on.
We also enjoyed our encounters with so many people as we toured. While our
ability to converse with those whom we met was limited, we found ourselves
posing in group pictures with many people who apparently had not met too
many Westerners. It was delightful.
The hotels that we stayed in were also first class and helped to enhance
the enjoyment of the trip.
Congratulations on the work your company does. My wife Pat and I will
continue to recommend your company to all those that I speak to about out
great trip.
All the best
Doug F, LLB
Winnipeg, Manitoba
-----Original Message-----
From: Andy L
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 12:21 PM
To: Laurus Travel Vancouver
Subject: China Tour
We really enjoyed the trip. We had Steven Shi as
our tour leader and he was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable. He not
only knew all the details of the sites that we were visiting but he also
pointed our other interesting facts pertaining to Chinese culture and
history. Steven also made adjustments to our schedule to avoid crowds and
to accommodate our requests for unscheduled stops (like the Olympic
venues.) We really appreciated the fact that he introduced us to his
martial arts teacher in the hutongs who invited us into his home.
The hotels chosen by Laurus are very good and
would be familiar to anyone who is used to the Sheratons and Hiltons in
North America. The size of the tour group and the transportation
arrangements were excellent. I can't help but feel sorry for the other
tour groups that we saw that were so large that the guide had to use a
megaphone and herd them like cattle to keep them moving.
Laurus was also very accommodating to customize
the tours as needed... There are still other places in China I would like
to see and I am looking forward to using Laurus again.
Andy L
Calgary, Alberta
-----Original Message-----
From: John and Dolores D
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 10:34 AM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: China Tour
We have done much international traveling in the
past but mostly independent of a tour. Our experience with Laurus has
convinced us that a small tour group is an excellent option. We do believe
that having traveled in a group of only 10 people was a great advantage
and we would avoid companies that put together large groups (25 or more).
While we are aware that Laurus strives to book tours of 20 and regret for
your sake that the number in our group was half that, we feel the smaller
size enhanced our experience of China. No doubt the visits to local
restaurants would have been rather more difficult and prolonged with a
larger group. Also, the very personal attention from the tour leader and
local guide would have likely seemed less so with a larger number. We do
want to impress upon Laurus that we feel that our tour leader, Steven Shi,
is a great asset to your company and in large part responsible for our
having such an enjoyable trip. As a result, we would not hesitate to book
a tour with Laurus in the future should we decide to return to China or if
Laurus were to offer another destination of interest to us. We also would
highly recommend Laurus to friends and relatives.
Dolores & John D.
Tucson, Arizona
-----Original Message-----
From: Lawrence S [mailto:lorsxxxxxx@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, October 24, 2010 4:07 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: Recent China Visit
Laurus Travel, Vancouver BC
Dear Julius and Heidi:
For over 40 years my wife and I have travelled
independently in Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, usually renting
a car and making all the plans ourselves. We appreciate the spontaneity
associated with independent travel since, especially the flexibility to
stay in one place longer if one finds it to be more interesting. With that
background, we approached the prospect of a travel tour with the usual
hesitations: Would we see what we wanted to see? Would we be forced to see
what we didn't want to see ... for example, shopping expeditions? How
articulate, informed and committed would the guide be? Would our fellow
travelers be punctual and compatible? Would the low per-day cost after
allowing for airfare be reflective of substandard accommodation and/or
meals? Would we be nickled and dimed at every turn for tips or expenses
not covered by the tour?
On all counts, our expectations were exceeded.
Most importantly, we found your colleague and our tour guide Steven Shi
exceptionally well educated--and passionate--about Chinese culture,
politics, and history. His speaking style is engaging and quietly
humorous, devoid of the embarrassing little claims and stories with which
day tour guides have stretched our credulity over the years. In addition
to his profound knowledge, he exhibited conspicuous enthusiasm, sincere
personal warmth and disarming social skills in his interactions with tour
group members. Our reaction to Steven was shared by all members of the
group, who we found to be people we could identify with: interested and
interesting people motivated to learn more about China and appreciative of
the opportunity. Based on our research about the three cities we visited,
the sites Laurus Travel had chosen for us to visit reflected our personal
priorities. Moreover, the accommodations and meals surpassed our
expectations by a large measure so that what Laurus Travel promised it
delivered in every respect. We appreciated your pre-trip information and
the opportunity to pay tips once up front through Steven so that, except
for hotel incidentals, shopping we initiated and tipping Steven, we hardly
touched money. Finally, we appreciated your efforts in the Vancouver
office to secure last minute airline reservations that met our needs at
low cost. It also impressed us that you were able to provide connections
for three members of our group who wanted to end their visit to China by
visiting the village they had left many years ago.
Thank you for your service.
Sincerely,
Professor Lawrence S
Davis, California
-----Original Message-----
From: Ruth Sxxxxxson [mailto:ruthxxx@shaw.ca]
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 3:57 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: Thank you Julius and Heidi !
Sveinn and I were just thrilled with our holiday
and loved China. My dream of walking on the Great Wall now realised, its
now time to start dreaming about the next adventure !! I had high
expectations before we left and those expectations were MORE than realised.....Laurus
Travel deserves all the accolades it receives; I cannot say enough
positive things about you and your organisation. Thank you Julius. All our
senses were stimulated..sights, sounds, and smells etc. We were also
physically, mentally ,emotionally and spiritually challenged. ( does that
make sense ?) ! This all with the help and guidance of your tour guides
'par excellence'. I was aware that we were a good decade older than most
of the group and hopefully we did not hold you back at all; I don't think
so.
Thank you for all those ' extras ' done so quietly and sensitively, but
did not pass un noticed. Our extra days in Shanghai and Hong Kong passed
happily with no problems and we did help their economy !! I really hope
and pray that we may join you again in the not too distant future..age and
health permitting !! You gave us the holiday and experience of a lifetime
for which I shall be eternally grateful. Wow ! is all I can say...
With our warmest wishes to you, Heidi and your
family.
Ruth and Sveinn
Calgary, Alberta
-----Original Message-----
From: Ann Cxxxxx [mailto:axxxxxx@shaw.ca]
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 12:52 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: 17-day Classic China Tour with Yangtze Cruise
We recently returned from our trip to China which
we found to be an incredible experience! The tour leader, Howard was
outstanding. Local guides were knowledgeable and helpful. The hotels were
all 5 star, however the river boat, MV Queen, was disappointing and not
nearly 5 star accommodation. The variety and quality of the meals allowed
us to experience regional cuisine which we enjoyed very much. Thank you
for providing an adventure of discovery! We were excited before we went
and Laurus and China exceeded our expectations. We would recommend Laurus
to anyone.
Thank you,
Ann C & Eva M
Victoria, British Columbia
-----Original Message-----
From: Sharon S.
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 5:07 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: RE: China Tour
I just wanted to let you know that we enjoyed our
tour very much, and Bill and I were very impressed with Laurus. I have
recommended you to others. If you need a reference, or want to have others
contact me regarding Laurus, just ask.
Sharon S, LLB
Toronto, Ontario
-----Original Message-----
From: Lore Ruschixxxxx [mailto:lore_ruxxxx@accesscomm.ca]
Sent: Saturday, September 04, 2010 3:53 AM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: Thanks for the great tour!
Hello Julius,
We wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our
private China Discovery Tour (July 19-August 1). Thanks so much for making
this possible for just the two of us. It was everything and much more than
we had expected. From Shanghai to Beijing and every stop in between, the
guides and drivers that met us at each airport were very knowledgeable and
helpful and everything went without a snag. The guides explained all the
things about this very different culture very well and were always willing
to answer our many questions. Any requests we had were always fulfilled.
The food they ordered was fabulous and very plentiful! Their introduction
to China made it possible for us to comfortably travel on our own the rest
of our time in China. From Elaine in Shanghai who got our Expo tickets for
later in the trip along with good instructions on having a successful Expo
day, to Huang in beautiful Guilin who bought us a CD of Chinese music, to
Steve in Beijing who gave us thorough information and translations for the
next leg of our trip and everyone in between they were professional and
personable in every way. We found the pacing of the tour excellent with
enough activity and rest time to make it an interesting and relaxing
holiday. I have already, and will continue to recommend Laurus Travel to
anyone travelling to China.
Lore Ruschixxxxx and Dennis Wxxxx
Regina, Saskatchewan
-----Original Message-----
From: Gail R. [mailto:grxxxxxx@live.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 10:34 PM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: China Tour
[below is an excerpt from Gail's e-mail. As
with all the other customers who wrote us, Gail would be glad to act a
reference for us]
I was impressed with the service you gave to us,
and I certainly have been recommending your services to people in
discussing their potential travels to China. I would travel with your firm
on my next trip to China. Again, thank you for your assistance in making a
memorable trip for us.
Gail R.
White Rock, British Columbia
-----Original Message-----
From: taroxxxxx@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 11:57 PM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: China Tour with Laurus Travel
... the guides all did a great job, and in our
opinion their judgment calls were on target. We were very impressed with
the staff and crew of the M/V Star on the Yangtze River Cruise. Our city
guides in Beijing, Guilin and Tibet were knowledgeable, professional,
interesting and extremely hard working.
In our opinion excellent value all the way around.
Taro R.
Anchorage, Alaska
-----Original Message-----
From: Sara Hxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2010 10:15 PM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: China Tour Feedback
Overall the trip was fabulous. All the guides
were flexible, allowing us to adapt the schedule to see more or less and
suggesting other sites we might want to experience. I also appreciated the
consistent schedule without being left in "shopping" situations, which
several friends experienced with other companies. I learned so much about
your history, culture, life-style, beliefs and what you are facing in the
future. It was an over-whelmingly wonderful experience. My daughter & I
are looking forward to sharing with our students in school. Many thanks to
Julian [sic] for working things out under the tight time-constraints we
were under and for the excellent suggestions. Great hotels, great food,
great guides. I will miss Steven & Jeff. Thank you for sharing your
country & your lives with us.
Sara Hxxxxx
Riverside, California
-----Original Message-----
From: LINDA Jxxxxxx [mailto:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@rogers.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 10:21 AM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: great China trip
Hello,
I don't have a lot of time to write at the moment
but just wanted to say we really thought our tour was outstanding. All of
the guides were so very knowledgeable, answered any questions we had about
China or their life there so we got so much by being on tour with them.
Steven Shi was absolutely AMAZING as a guide-he deserves the very highest
praise, but as I said the other guides were very superior as well.
Linda J
Toronto, Ontario
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Bxxxxx [mailto:rxxxxxxx@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2010 8:28 AM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: RE: China Tours with Laurus Travel
Mr. Yan,
Just a few words to tell you that we were
absolutely pleased with the arrangements that you provided and organised
for the Mowry Group Tours of March 2010. We congratulate you and your Team
for your professionalism in organising our airport transportation and
Tours. We also greatly appreciated the professionalism of the guides that
were assigned to our Group. They were terrific for us. We would not
hesitate to highly recommend your services and as a matter of fact, should
we go back to China, we would deal with no other. There were no surprises.
You and your people contributed to the success of our China Tours.
A special commandation to our Guide THANH who did
a fantastic job on the HongKong, Shanghai et Beijing Tours. He really was
extremely attentive to our needs, plus his in depth knowledge of the
Chinese Heritage and Culture.
Salutations
Hélène & Robert Bxxxxx
Québec, Canada
From: Jennifer Txxxxxxx. [mailto:jennytxxxxxxxxxx@earthlink.net]
Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2010 6:27 AM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: China Tour
We arrived home yesterday and I couldn't wait to tell you how satisfied we
all were with this trip. The private tour you put together for our family
of 12 exceeded our expectations in every respect. We enjoyed every minute
of it and found your choice of guides and hotels particularly impressive.
We wanted a luxury tour with no shopping stops. You delivered exactly that
and then some. Throughout the trip we felt we were well looked after every
step of the way.
We were concerned before the rip that we might
have trouble eating Chinese food every day. After 3 weeks in China not
only did we fall in love with but also became sort of connoisseurs of
Chinese cuisine. We never imagined that the Chinese cuisine consisted of
so many regional styles. The buffet breakfasts we had at the various
hotels were among the best we've ever had anywhere in the world.
... I could go on and on. All in all, this was a
remarkable trip and far exceeded our expectations. We recommend Laurus
Travel without any reservations, just like my colleague who recommended
your company to me. When we visit China again, you can sure that we will
not go with anyone but Laurus Travel.
Thank you again!
Jenny T.
New York, NY
-----Original Message-----
From: Dxxxxxxxx, Terence [mailto:tdxxxxxxxxx@dxxxx.ca]
Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 10:24 AM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: Recent China Trip with Laurus Travel
We were quite satisfied with the trip [China
Golden Route in May], and have so told a number of friends. One of them is
thinking of organizing a trip to China for about 8 persons next year, and
I've passed your contact data on to him, together with my recommendation.
Terry Dxxxxxxxx
Calgary, Alberta
-----Original Message-----
From: Bev S [bevxxxxxxx@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2010 8:40 PM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: China Tour
our 21 day trip was wonderful....we researched
many trips to china and could find no other that could offer such a
diverse itinerary....from the gobi desert to the tibetan autonomous
region...from hundreds of feet below sea level in turpan on the silk route
to an elevation of 11,000 feet in zhongdian (shangri-la).. . the local
guides gave us a good introduction to not only the chinese way of life but
also the many minorities that live in the country including the naxi,
uighur, and tibetan. with seven internal flights we were impressed by the
efficiency of the local airlines.,the mindfulness of the drivers on the
longer day trips,the quality of the hotels....but most of all we were so
pleased by the planning and pacing of the trip...thank you all....
Bev & Hal S.
San Rafael, California
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike and Laurie M
Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2010 4:12 PM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: Feedback on Recent China Tour
The 24-day Tibet and Silk Road tour was
outstanding. It was very well planned, organized and offered an excellent
opportunity to see so much of China in a short period of time. The guide
we had at each stop was knowledgeable, accomodating and spoke English
well. We would highly recomment this trip for those who want to see China
for the first time and are physically able and willing to cover a lot of
ground walking. This is a great trip for physically and mentally active
people.
Mike and Laurie M.
Calgary, Alberta
-----Original Message-----
From: [e-mail address deleted for privacy}
Sent: Monday, June 7, 2010 5:15 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: China Tour with Laurus
Hello Heidi,
The China Odyssey tour we just completed was
awesome! The well planned itinerary was executed to perfection. In our
opinion, Laurus Travel delivered far more than it promised. As seasoned
travellers we know a lot of things could go wrong on a trip of this length
regardless of the preparation work. And yet we never experienced any
problem during the entire tour except one delayed flight. We could tell
and certainly appreciate the amount of work done behind the scene to make
the trip so wonderful. Our guides were all very good with the ones in
Beijing, Shanghai and Guilin being truly outstanding. Please feel free to
let us know if you ever need us as a reference. One other thing we wanted
to share with you was that we spoke to many people travelling with other
companies during the Yangtze cruise and they were all impressed that
Laurus Travel has a no shopping stop policy. Some of the passengers told
us they were marched through tourist stores almost every day. Thank you
again Laurus Travel for a job well done!
Monica & Terry W.
Toronto, Ontario
-----Original Message-----
From: GCxxxxxxx@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 7:04 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: Great Wall Hiking Trip
We recently returned from our Great Wall Hiking
trip. It was absolutely wonderful. The guides, the itinerary and the
accommodations could not have been better. Buddy was perfect and Elaine on
the Shanghai portion was almost as good. Nice job.
Jerry & Kathy C.
West Warwick, Rhode Island
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 4:20 AM
To: Laurus Travel
From: Ken & Pam Gxxxxxx
Subject: China Golden Route Tour April 22, 2010
Steven Shi is a credit to your organisation, his
personal interest in history, his enthusiasm and his extensive knowledge
made travelling with him a pleasure. First rate tour, many many thanks
from us. I would be delighted to write a testimonial letter, if you should
wish. Great job, Great trip, Great fun. I would have no hesitation in
recommending Laurus Travel to anybody. 5 Star. Thanks to Julius & all his
staff.
Ken & Pam G.
Sydney, Australia
-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan B.
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 1:50 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: China Tour
Excerpt from Jonathan's feedback
Steven was a wonderful tour leader. He was able
to answer every question about China we asked, and he knew the history and
interesting facts of every location we visited. He told stories and gave
history lessons every day. He took care of checking us in and out of the
hotels and flights, and did a wonderful job of ordering different foods
for us to try. He was the best tour guide we have ever had -- I wish he
could be our tour guide for every trip we take! We were very very sad to
say goodbye, he really became a friend by the end of the trip. He was
worth way more than the suggested tip, so we went ahead and gave him way
more than suggested. He was really worth it.
I am going to recommend Laurus travel to everyone
I know who would ever want to visit China. I wish you all took care of
tours in other countries as well -- our experience was that good.
Jonathan B, DMD
Chandler, Arizona
-----Original Message-----
From: JIBxxxxx@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 9:18 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: China Tour
I am not sure if my first email made it to you so I will let you know
again how much we enjoyed all the tours we took with Elwin & Judie. The
guides were great but we must tell you that Steven in Shanghai and Beijing
was excellent. He was so knowledgeable and took care of every detail. Hope
you know what a great young man he is and how good he is at his job.
Sincerely,
Janice & Ira B.
Memphis, Tennessee
-----Original Message-----
From: Virginia [mailto:---@shaw.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 8:16 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: Re: China Trip
Hi Julius,
We had a really great time. Thanks very much. I
felt the trip was such a great bargain for what we got... When Ron and I
go back to China, we will be sure to go through Laurus travel. Thanks
again.
Virginia G.
Surrey, British Columbia
-----Original Message-----
From: Virginia [mailto:---@shaw.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 8:16 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: Re: China Trip
-----Original Message-----
From: Nick J [mailto: stnickjxxxxxxx@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 7:54 PM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: Private China Trip
Hi Julius and Heidi,
Our group of 18 satisfied travelers arrived home
yesterday. Everyone agreed that we had a fantastic time in China and the
price we paid, considering what we got, was a real bargain. The trip
exceeded our expectations in every way.
We could tell that Laurus Travel operates to a
standard far higher than its peers. You did not march us through any
tourist traps (stores, factory showrooms etc) and the meals were genuine
local fare in some of the best restaurants. Daily activities were expertly
planned for the best use of our time. We found our local guides to be very
knowledgeable, friendly and with good English skills. However, we reserve
our highest compliments for our super competent and amicable tour leader
Jesse Chang, who is such a wonderful person to be with. We were impressed
with his English and more importantly his dedication to his work. His vast
knowledge and intellectual capacity really blew us away. Don't lose him!
Thank you for giving us such a memorable trip. We
will definitely use your company again if we go back to China.
Charlene and Nick J.
Honolulu, Hawaii
China Trip Report by the Jones family
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