We did a thing…a big thing. One major adventure has been checked off the bucket list. We went to China!
The trip was absolutely incredible and we have so much to share with you. We learned a lot of dos and don’ts. Let’s talk about it.
Of course you need your passport. You also need a visa. Let’s start with the visa process. It’s not difficult to obtain a visa, but if you don’t live near select embassies and consulates it can get pricey. Typically, getting a visa through an embassy or consulate runs just under $150 per person. However, if you live too far away for that option, like us, you have to go through a visa agency. That is where the costs add up.
We used China Visa Department and had a fantastic experience. (This is not an endorsement. We have no affiliation with the company. We just had a great experience and want to share.) Most companies quote a six week turn around time. We were told through China Visa Department that we would have ours within ten days…and we did!
We did a tour. Let me clarify. We found a deal on a tour which is why we decided to check China off our bucket list.
Tours are something we do if we aren’t familiar with an area. We typically do this for our first trip and then we usually feel comfortable going back on our own for return trips.
Tours give you the highlights and let you see the big stuff. They allow you to check things off your bucket list.
The flight was an adventure itself. We flew from Boston to Hong Kong. Over fifteen hours in the air is no joke, but it was totally worth it.
From Hong Kong, we flew another 2 1/2 hours to Beijing where we met our amazing tour manager, Johnny. He took our group to our hotel and we had the rest of the evening to get settled.
Our bargain tour included the hotels. Typically, we stay at budget hotels or a place we have managed to get at a huge discount. The hotels on our tour were…nice, really nice. Things that would typically be out of the Broke Teachers Travel budget.
We stayed at Mercure Beijing Downtown. We have stayed at a Mercure hotel before in Florence. Let’s just say, neither disappointed.
Want to see a quick overview of our trip before we dive in? Check out our video HERE.
If you want to know more about us? Check out our bio About Us.
Be sure to follow along as we share more of our adventures in China!
And remember, break the monotony, not the bank!
— Marnie and Jeff
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