Wednesday, September 14, 2011
What's Next?
We will receive our airline tickets, passports and Chinese visas, final itinerary, "Know Before You Go" booklet, luggage tags, credential holders and other travel essentials about three weeks prior to departure. That would be around the 12th of October. As soon as I receive everything, I will let you know.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
1st Important Email: Names Needed ASAP to book flights!
Booking our airfare for the China trip is a little different than most other trips. Air China only has a baggage agreement with United Airlines. That means, if we were to fly any other airlines, we wouldn't be able to check our luggage all the way through to Beijing when we check-in in SLC. Instead, we would have to pick our luggage up off the carousel in SFO and re-check it in at the Air China counter in SFO...which is a hassle we want to avoid. I don't know all of the ins & outs of their agreement, but even though we have seats held for our group on Air China, we can't hold seats on United Airlines. So, we have to book seats on United (our SLC-SFO flight) as soon as possible, in order to ensure we actually have seats.
I need the following information for each person traveling, so our travel agent can book our SLC-SFO flights on United ASAP:
1. Your name as it appears on your passport
2. Your birthday
3. Your Passport Number
4. Your passport expiration date
* If you went with us to Mexico in 2011 or Peru in 2009 and you emailed me a copy of your passport, I still have it and can use that info - just let me know that is what you want me to do (I don't want to assume that passport is still valid - you may have lost it, or it may have been destroyed in the washing machine on accident & you have a new passport since then...it's happened before.)
* If you don't have a valid passport yet, please still email me your name & birthday. Hopefully United will go ahead & let us book the ticket without the other info. However, please send in your passport application or renewal form ASAP. Once you have your current passport, please email me your passport number and expiration date.
Passport info:
1. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond our travel dates: May 2012
2. You must have at least one blank Visa page available in your passport.
3. The website for more info about obtaining/renewing your passport: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
Payment Deadlines:
1. If you're paying for the entire trip, the amount due, not including the $170/pp for the visa is: $4980
* $500 due immediately
* $2240 due July 22nd
* $2240 due August 15th
However, feel free to pay in full at your earliest convenience.
2. If earned the trip through BPG, the upgrade for 2 people is: $900
* $200 is due immediately
* $350 due July 22nd
* $350 due August 15th
However, feel free to pay in full at your earliest convenience.
We can take credit card payments, however, we will have to add the approximately 3% fee we are charged to process a credit card payment.
Send checks to:
The Business Performance Group
356 East 900 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Here's the visa info:
1. I actually need your physical passport. The Chinese Embassy will paste the Visa into your actual passport.
2. The visa application is attached. (each person needs to fill one out)
3. Each person needs a 2x2 passport picture to send in with the application
4. The visa fee is $140 plus the $30 processing fee = $170 Per Person ($340 per couple).
5. Make your check out to Business Performance Group & we'll just send in one check for everyone.
6. NON US CITIZENS: If you are U.S. resident holding a green card, a legal work permit or a valid visa, you must provide a clear copy of your valid visa or both sides of your green card along with your China visa application. If you don't have a valid U.S. visa, our travel agency will not handle your Chinese visa.
* Since Chinese Visa's are only valid for 3 months, I won't be sending in our passports to get Visa's until mid-August. I'll give you an exact date as I find out the status of everyone's passports.
* However, the sooner you get me your passports, visa pictures and $170/person, the better.
* If you will need your passport the last 1/2 of August or first part of September, let me know. I don't want to leave you stranded without a passport. We'll work around when you need your passport.
If you wish to purchase travel insurance, please let me know & I'll forward you additional information. Our travel agent offers a plan for $139 per person. If it is paid for by Friday (July 1st) it can cover pre-existing conditions. If you decide to purchase it at a later date, it won't cover pre-existing conditions. The deadline to purchase travel insurance is September 1st.
It may be a bit soon to think about packing, but our travel agent warned us that the domestic china air regulations for checked baggage are 1 bag that weighs 44 lbs. However, he said if the flights aren't full & depending on how strict they feel like being, they might not charge you if your bag weights more (but you may or may not want to take that chance). He also said that although the carry-on restriction is 11 lbs, they usually don't weigh carry-ons as long as they will easily fit in the overhead compartment or under your seat.
One good thing is that on the way home from Shanghai, we can have 2 bags. I guess that means we need to do most of our shopping in Shanghai.
If you know anyone else that wants to travel to China with us, let me know. As of right now, we still have space. If they will be traveling from a different city, we can take the price of the SLC-SFO flight off and they can purchase their own airfare to SFO (I can help if necessary).
I need the following information for each person traveling, so our travel agent can book our SLC-SFO flights on United ASAP:
1. Your name as it appears on your passport
2. Your birthday
3. Your Passport Number
4. Your passport expiration date
* If you went with us to Mexico in 2011 or Peru in 2009 and you emailed me a copy of your passport, I still have it and can use that info - just let me know that is what you want me to do (I don't want to assume that passport is still valid - you may have lost it, or it may have been destroyed in the washing machine on accident & you have a new passport since then...it's happened before.)
* If you don't have a valid passport yet, please still email me your name & birthday. Hopefully United will go ahead & let us book the ticket without the other info. However, please send in your passport application or renewal form ASAP. Once you have your current passport, please email me your passport number and expiration date.
Passport info:
1. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond our travel dates: May 2012
2. You must have at least one blank Visa page available in your passport.
3. The website for more info about obtaining/renewing your passport: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
Payment Deadlines:
1. If you're paying for the entire trip, the amount due, not including the $170/pp for the visa is: $4980
* $500 due immediately
* $2240 due July 22nd
* $2240 due August 15th
However, feel free to pay in full at your earliest convenience.
2. If earned the trip through BPG, the upgrade for 2 people is: $900
* $200 is due immediately
* $350 due July 22nd
* $350 due August 15th
However, feel free to pay in full at your earliest convenience.
We can take credit card payments, however, we will have to add the approximately 3% fee we are charged to process a credit card payment.
Send checks to:
The Business Performance Group
356 East 900 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Here's the visa info:
1. I actually need your physical passport. The Chinese Embassy will paste the Visa into your actual passport.
2. The visa application is attached. (each person needs to fill one out)
3. Each person needs a 2x2 passport picture to send in with the application
4. The visa fee is $140 plus the $30 processing fee = $170 Per Person ($340 per couple).
5. Make your check out to Business Performance Group & we'll just send in one check for everyone.
6. NON US CITIZENS: If you are U.S. resident holding a green card, a legal work permit or a valid visa, you must provide a clear copy of your valid visa or both sides of your green card along with your China visa application. If you don't have a valid U.S. visa, our travel agency will not handle your Chinese visa.
* Since Chinese Visa's are only valid for 3 months, I won't be sending in our passports to get Visa's until mid-August. I'll give you an exact date as I find out the status of everyone's passports.
* However, the sooner you get me your passports, visa pictures and $170/person, the better.
* If you will need your passport the last 1/2 of August or first part of September, let me know. I don't want to leave you stranded without a passport. We'll work around when you need your passport.
If you wish to purchase travel insurance, please let me know & I'll forward you additional information. Our travel agent offers a plan for $139 per person. If it is paid for by Friday (July 1st) it can cover pre-existing conditions. If you decide to purchase it at a later date, it won't cover pre-existing conditions. The deadline to purchase travel insurance is September 1st.
It may be a bit soon to think about packing, but our travel agent warned us that the domestic china air regulations for checked baggage are 1 bag that weighs 44 lbs. However, he said if the flights aren't full & depending on how strict they feel like being, they might not charge you if your bag weights more (but you may or may not want to take that chance). He also said that although the carry-on restriction is 11 lbs, they usually don't weigh carry-ons as long as they will easily fit in the overhead compartment or under your seat.
One good thing is that on the way home from Shanghai, we can have 2 bags. I guess that means we need to do most of our shopping in Shanghai.
If you know anyone else that wants to travel to China with us, let me know. As of right now, we still have space. If they will be traveling from a different city, we can take the price of the SLC-SFO flight off and they can purchase their own airfare to SFO (I can help if necessary).
How to Complete China Visa Application Form
Section 1. Personal Information
1.1 Your name as on your passport
1.2 Sex
1.3 Chinese name if you have one
1.4 Previous name (e.g. maiden name or other aliases)
1.5 Name in ethnic script: input N/A
1.6 Current nationality
1.7 Former nationality if applicable
1.8 Other nationalities if you have dual citizenship
1.9 Date of birth
1.10 Place of birth
1.11 Local ID card number: input N/A if you are not currently a Chinese citizen
1.12 Marital status
1.13 Your current occupation: It’s a tricky question. Only choose one from the listed options, except “Government official”,
“Staff of media”, “Religious worker”, “Active duty military personnel”. If you choose one of those, it may complicate your visa application.
1.14 Passport type
1.15 Passport number
1.16 Date of issue
1.17 Place of issue: is actually the “Authority” such as National Passport Center, etc.
1.18 Expiration Date
1.19 Visa service: leave it blank
Section 2. Travel Information
2.1 Major purpose of your visit to China: check “Tourism”
2.2 Intended Number of entries: since China Consulate charge a flat fee for single/double entry visa, please simply check
“multiple entry valid for 12 months” even if you only need a single entry visa.
2.3 Date of your first entry into China: November 3, 2012
2.4 Your longest intended stay in China: 12
2.5 Residence and phone during your stay in China in a time sequence: We have completed it for your convenience. You may
wipe out the cities which is not included in your actual itinerary. But keep the hotel name the way it is, even though you may stay at a different hotel ; that may complicate your visa application.
2.6 Who will pay for your cost of traveling and living in China : yourself (or for a child, put Parent/Guardian)
2.7 Do you have medical insurance covering your visit in China?: IF you buy the travel insurance from our travel agency your insurance administrator is Berkely Care, and the policy number is HTP09272
2.8 Name, address and phone of your inviter or contact unit in China: We have completed it for your convenience.
2.9 Name, address and phone of your relative or contact in China: NA
Section 3. Information about your family, work or study
3.1-3.4 Complete as it is.
3.5 Current employer or school:input N/A if you are retired,or unemployed
3.6 Major family members:You and your spouse, children where applicable. Just put those immediate family members you live with. If you live alone, put the name of at least one living relative (preferably immediate family - child, parent, sibling).
In the Occupation section,please don’t input the sensitive occupations as we refer to in 1.13.
3.7 Contact person in case of emergency: We have completed it for you.
3.8 Contact person’s phone number: We have completed it for you.
Section 4. Other information
4.1 If you have never been to mainland China, put N/A. (Hong Kong is not part of mainland China, so put N/A if you've only been to Hong Kong.)
Section 5 Relevant declaration Complete as it is.
Section 6. Signature
***You must sign and date it to validate your application.
1.1 Your name as on your passport
1.2 Sex
1.3 Chinese name if you have one
1.4 Previous name (e.g. maiden name or other aliases)
1.5 Name in ethnic script: input N/A
1.6 Current nationality
1.7 Former nationality if applicable
1.8 Other nationalities if you have dual citizenship
1.9 Date of birth
1.10 Place of birth
1.11 Local ID card number: input N/A if you are not currently a Chinese citizen
1.12 Marital status
1.13 Your current occupation: It’s a tricky question. Only choose one from the listed options, except “Government official”,
“Staff of media”, “Religious worker”, “Active duty military personnel”. If you choose one of those, it may complicate your visa application.
1.14 Passport type
1.15 Passport number
1.16 Date of issue
1.17 Place of issue: is actually the “Authority” such as National Passport Center, etc.
1.18 Expiration Date
1.19 Visa service: leave it blank
Section 2. Travel Information
2.1 Major purpose of your visit to China: check “Tourism”
2.2 Intended Number of entries: since China Consulate charge a flat fee for single/double entry visa, please simply check
“multiple entry valid for 12 months” even if you only need a single entry visa.
2.3 Date of your first entry into China: November 3, 2012
2.4 Your longest intended stay in China: 12
2.5 Residence and phone during your stay in China in a time sequence: We have completed it for your convenience. You may
wipe out the cities which is not included in your actual itinerary. But keep the hotel name the way it is, even though you may stay at a different hotel ; that may complicate your visa application.
2.6 Who will pay for your cost of traveling and living in China : yourself (or for a child, put Parent/Guardian)
2.7 Do you have medical insurance covering your visit in China?: IF you buy the travel insurance from our travel agency your insurance administrator is Berkely Care, and the policy number is HTP09272
2.8 Name, address and phone of your inviter or contact unit in China: We have completed it for your convenience.
2.9 Name, address and phone of your relative or contact in China: NA
Section 3. Information about your family, work or study
3.1-3.4 Complete as it is.
3.5 Current employer or school:input N/A if you are retired,or unemployed
3.6 Major family members:You and your spouse, children where applicable. Just put those immediate family members you live with. If you live alone, put the name of at least one living relative (preferably immediate family - child, parent, sibling).
In the Occupation section,please don’t input the sensitive occupations as we refer to in 1.13.
3.7 Contact person in case of emergency: We have completed it for you.
3.8 Contact person’s phone number: We have completed it for you.
Section 4. Other information
4.1 If you have never been to mainland China, put N/A. (Hong Kong is not part of mainland China, so put N/A if you've only been to Hong Kong.)
Section 5 Relevant declaration Complete as it is.
Section 6. Signature
***You must sign and date it to validate your application.
Trip Overview pdf
Click HERE: China 2011 Trip Info _ Itinerary to make the pdf larger.
To PRINT, click the orange "menu" tab on the side of the document. The option to print is the 5th option down. You can also choose to download the PDF to your computer & then print it.
To PRINT, click the orange "menu" tab on the side of the document. The option to print is the 5th option down. You can also choose to download the PDF to your computer & then print it.
Monday, June 27, 2011
The Very Best of China
12 days, leaving SLC on Wednesday November 2, 2011 and returning on Sunday November 13, 2011.
Here are the highlights of this trip:
1. This trip is what most travel authorities consider to be the best itinerary covering China’s travel treasures: Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Suzhou and Shanghai.
2. You will experience two of the seven modern wonders of the world – The Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors.
3. In Beijing you will experience Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, The Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall, the Hutongs district of old Beijing, ride in a rickshaw and lunch with a local Chinese family.
4. In Xian you will experience the grandeur of one of China’s oldest cities completely surrounded by a thirty-foot wall. You will see the Bell and Drum towers built in 1384. You will visit the Terracotta Warriors, the most significant archeological discover of modern day. You will visit a rural village and a primary school in central China.
5. In Guilin, the most picturesque area of all China, you will cruise by boat down the Li River and view, as the old Chinese saying describes, “the best scenery under heaven.”
6. In Shanghai you will experience China’s largest and most dynamic city with a population of 18 million people. A walk along the Bund, with the landmark buildings of Shanghai on one side and the Huangpu River on the other will be an experience and memory you will never forget.
7. Suzhou is often referred to as the “Venice of the East” with its many canals. You will visit breathtakingly beautiful gardens and take a ride in a gondola. You will visit a silk spinning mill and learn how silk is created.
8. For the return home, you will ride on the famed Maglev train, a magnetically levitated train traveling 287 mph covering the twenty miles between Shanghai and the Pudong Airport in less than 8 minutes.
We have negotiated all meals, including a Beijing Duck dinner and 5 star hotels as part of this package.
This trip will be absolutely amazing. Even if you have traveled to China before, you will see and experience things you never imagined. As with many of the trips that The Business Performance Group has offered in the past, this trip will also include an additional fee for our clients. We have added two of the greatest tourist cities in China to this trip, i.e. Xian and Guilin. We have included all meals and upgraded to 5 star hotels. The upgrade charge for our clients is $900 per couple.
The full price for this incredible trip for those that want to buy in, or invite family or friends is $4,980 per couple.
This trip includes:
1. * Round trip airfare from SLC to Beijing.
2. * Internal airfare from Beijing to Xian, Guilin, Shanghai, Beijing
3. * All bus transportation, tours, entrance fees, etc.
Other Cost you will incur on your own:
1. * Passport
2. * China Visa ($170 per person). Once we have your passport, BPG can facilitate the Visa process for everyone in the group
Here are the highlights of this trip:
1. This trip is what most travel authorities consider to be the best itinerary covering China’s travel treasures: Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Suzhou and Shanghai.
2. You will experience two of the seven modern wonders of the world – The Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors.
3. In Beijing you will experience Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, The Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall, the Hutongs district of old Beijing, ride in a rickshaw and lunch with a local Chinese family.
4. In Xian you will experience the grandeur of one of China’s oldest cities completely surrounded by a thirty-foot wall. You will see the Bell and Drum towers built in 1384. You will visit the Terracotta Warriors, the most significant archeological discover of modern day. You will visit a rural village and a primary school in central China.
5. In Guilin, the most picturesque area of all China, you will cruise by boat down the Li River and view, as the old Chinese saying describes, “the best scenery under heaven.”
6. In Shanghai you will experience China’s largest and most dynamic city with a population of 18 million people. A walk along the Bund, with the landmark buildings of Shanghai on one side and the Huangpu River on the other will be an experience and memory you will never forget.
7. Suzhou is often referred to as the “Venice of the East” with its many canals. You will visit breathtakingly beautiful gardens and take a ride in a gondola. You will visit a silk spinning mill and learn how silk is created.
8. For the return home, you will ride on the famed Maglev train, a magnetically levitated train traveling 287 mph covering the twenty miles between Shanghai and the Pudong Airport in less than 8 minutes.
We have negotiated all meals, including a Beijing Duck dinner and 5 star hotels as part of this package.
This trip will be absolutely amazing. Even if you have traveled to China before, you will see and experience things you never imagined. As with many of the trips that The Business Performance Group has offered in the past, this trip will also include an additional fee for our clients. We have added two of the greatest tourist cities in China to this trip, i.e. Xian and Guilin. We have included all meals and upgraded to 5 star hotels. The upgrade charge for our clients is $900 per couple.
The full price for this incredible trip for those that want to buy in, or invite family or friends is $4,980 per couple.
This trip includes:
1. * Round trip airfare from SLC to Beijing.
2. * Internal airfare from Beijing to Xian, Guilin, Shanghai, Beijing
3. * All bus transportation, tours, entrance fees, etc.
Other Cost you will incur on your own:
1. * Passport
2. * China Visa ($170 per person). Once we have your passport, BPG can facilitate the Visa process for everyone in the group
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