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Travel Info
Premiere Series Deluxe Series
Travel Documents Travel Insurance, Health & Medical Matter Luggage Restrictions
Clothing Time Differentials Electrical Requirement
Money Matters National Holidays and Festivals Shopping
Food & Drinks Tipping Miscellaneous Reminders
Climate Language Chinese Customs Procedures
Emergency Contact
Travel Tips
  Travel Documents 
The following items will be included in your documents
1 US domestic and international Airline Tickets
2 Your Flight Schedule
3 Day-by-day Itinerary with Hotel Information and Emergency Contact Phone Numbers
4 Vouchers (if applicable)
5 Ritz Tours Badge
6 Luggage Tag
7 A Copy of “China Trips--Things to Know Before You Go”
8 Travel Insurance Policy (if applicable)
9 Questionnaire / Feedback Form
*** Upon arrival in China, please go through Customs and Immigration on your own. After exiting the Customs area, please look for a Ritz Tours representative who will be holding a Ritz Tours flag or a sign. Please make sure that you wear your purple Ritz Tours badge for easy identification.
  *** Please visit www.victoriacruises.com for all pertinent information regarding your cruise of the Yangtze River if applicable. 
list Travel Documents / Tickets:
In general, all travel documents will be sent to you 21 days prior to departure via overnight delivery. If we obtained the entry visa for you, the passport will be sent with the travel documents.
list Passport:
All customers’ passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the return date of your trip. Please consult with your travel agent or Consulate if you have a non-US passport.
  list   Visa:
* No entry visa required for US passport holders going to:
   Thailand - up to 30 days.
   Japan - up to 90 days.
   Hong Kong – up to 180 days.
   Singapore – length determined at the discretion of immigration officer (normally 30 days).

* Entry visa required for US passport holders going to China, Cambodia, Vietnam and India.

* China:
   Single entry visa is included in Premiere Series packages. Duration is 30 days after entry, 6 months validity.
   Mail original passport along with one passport size 2” X 2” color photo and completed China visa application form to Ritz Tours at least 45 days prior to departure.

* Vietnam:
   $100 check for single entry Vietnam visa with validity of 90 days from the issuance date and good for a stay of up to 30 days.
   Make check payable to “Ritz Tours” and mail passport copy along with one passport size 2” X 2” color photo and completed visa application form to Ritz Tours at least 45 days prior to departure.

* Cambodia:
   $20 cash paid to Cambodia Customs upon arrival; valid USA passport, one recent passport size 2” X 2” color photo, and completed visa application form (available upon arrival).

* India :
   Please apply for yourself directly with the appropriate embassy.
   More information can be found at http://www.indianembassy.org
list We will keep your passport (with the entry visa) to be sent along with your travel documents. If you require your passport sooner, please enclose additional $15 check so that we can send it back immediately upon its return from the embassy.
list If you are applying for your own visa, a copy of your passport and entry visa should be sent to Ritz Tours. All document and tickets will be issued under your passport name.
list The visa fee is non-refundable for any reason and is subject to change at any time.
list Ritz Tours is not responsible when you are denied entrance for any reason at any foreign country, even if you have a valid passport and visa.
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  Clothing 
list We suggest you bring comfortable, casual clothing and good walking shoes for the trip.
  list   Check newspaper for weather conditions before you go, and pack accordingly.
  list   It is not necessary to bring formal clothing. However, modest attire is strongly recommended in Islamic western China and when visiting temples in Thailand.
  list   Do not over pack; you can buy everything you need cheaply in China.
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  Money Matters 
list Chinese currency is called Ren Min Bi (RMB) and is issued by the state bank, the People’s Bank of China. We suggest you bring a combination of cash (some $1’s, $5’s and $20’s) and travelers checks for your trip. It is not a good idea to bring only travelers checks, because only 50% of exchanged value can be converted back to U.S. dollars. US dollars in cash form are accepted at many places while travelers’ checks must be converted into RMB first.
  list   There is no limit on the amount of foreign currencies you may bring into China.
  list   Credit cards are not widely accepted in China but are becoming more popular in major cities. International hotels, department stores and shops frequented by foreign tourists generally accept them. Cash advance by credit card is not common and is only possible at a few assigned banks.
  list   As of March 2008, the following exchange rates apply:
US$1 = RMB 7.00
 * (Subject to currency exchange rate fluctuations)
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  Food & Drinks 
list Fine meals are included in China as specified in the itinerary. For Hong Kong portion and free days of your trip, only breakfast is included.
  list   For your enjoyment and comfort, we provide a variety of Chinese meals and also Western style food. Most meals are served as a set menu with 10 people per table. One glass of local beer or soft drinks or mineral water is included with lunch and dinner. Unlimited amount of tea is included with all meals. Additional drinks are available for purchase. Please verify cost before ordering. Tap water is not portable in China. Hotel stores generally carry a variety of soft drinks and bottled water.
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  Climate 
list China’s climate can be compared to that of the United States in that there are four seasons, a primarily temperate climate, and conditions that vary widely from region to region.
  list   North-Central China (Beijing, Xian) is similar in climate to Nebraska and Kansas, with less snow and rain during the winter. Late winter and early spring bring regular dust storms and haze.
  list   South-Central China (Shanghai, Guangzhou) is comparable to the Gulf Coast states, though winter storms do not occur as often. Summer is hot and humid with frequent rain. Winter is shorter, cooler, and often overcast with drizzle.
  list   Northeast China (Shenyang, Harbin) is similar to Minnesota. Summer is hot and dry, and winter is long and very cold.
  list   Xinjiang (Urumqi, Turpan) experiences severe climatic conditions with dramatic daily temperature swings. Summer can get very hot during the day, but generally cools off at night. Similarly, winter temperatures warm up during the day but plummet at night.
  list   Tibet (Lhasa, Shigatse) also sees marked changes. When the sun shines, temperatures reach the mid-80s in the summer and the mid-60s in the winter. At night or when it rains or snows, temperatures drop significantly. Precipitation is minimal in the winter; summer showers are more common but occur mainly at night.
     AVERAGE TEMPERATURES IN MAJOR CITIES (F)
CITY JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Beijing 28 32 40 56 75 78 80 76 68 55 40 36
Chongqing 45 50 58 67 73 83 85 90 80 70 60 51
Dali 46 49 55 60 65 67 67 68 66 62 54 48
Dalian 24 26 37 49 60 67 73 75 68 57 43 30
Emei 42 45 53 62 70 74 77 77 70 62 53 45
Guangzhou 58 60 64 71 78 81 83 83 81 75 67 57
Guilin 47 48 56 65 74 79 83 82 78 69 59 50
Hangzhou 39 41 48 60 69 75 83 83 75 64 54 43
Hong Kong 60 61 65 72 79 82 84 83 82 77 71 64
Huangshan 37 40 48 59 69 76 83 83 74 63 52 41
Jiuzhaigou 42 45 53 62 70 74 77 77 70 62 53 45
Lhasa 29 34 41 46 54 60 61 60 57 48 39 32
Lijiang 49 54 61 66 70 70 73 72 67 62 55 49
Kunming 50 52 56 62 67 67 68 67 64 59 53 50
Nanjing 35 38 47 59 68 76 83 82 73 62 51 39
Shanghai 40 42 47 57 66 74 82 82 75 64 55 42
Shenyang 12 18 33 50 63 71 76 74 63 49 33 18
Suzhou 38 40 48 58 67 74 83 83 74 64 54 43
Urumqi 5 10 32 50 66 74 78 74 64 47 28 10
Wuhan 37 41 50 61 70 78 84 83 74 64 52 42
Xian 32 38 50 56 72 80 78 76 60 52 40 30
Xiamen 55 55 59 67 74 79 83 83 81 74 67 59
Zhangjiajie 33 34 42 53 61 67 74 72 64 57 48 38
list Hong Kong’s summers can reach up to 95 F with humidity reaching close to 100%. The coldest time of year is between December and February where temperatures may fall to a mild 55 F. Typhoons with strong winds may occasionally occur from May through October so pack a light waterproof jacket.
list Thailand has a tropical climate and is hot and humid.
list Bangkok enjoys three seasons: Hot & dry (March to mid-June; 80-95 F), Rainy (June to Oct; 75-90 F), and Cool (Nov to Feb; 65-90 F).
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  Emergency Contact 
list If you are flying to China with the group, please arrive at the designated meeting point on time. If you are flying on your own and have purchased transfers, please look for a Ritz Tours representative at the arrival airport. You must wear the RITZ TOURS NAME BADGE at departure and arrival airports for easy identification. For missed, delayed or canceled flights or other emergency, please contact one of our offices.
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  Time Differentials 
list Beijing is 12 hours ahead of New York, and 15 hours ahead of San Francisco and Los Angeles (DST). A