advice: tour groups

i hate tour groups and thought i would never do one. i'm pretty good about getting around and learning my way on my own, and i've done a lot of solo travelling. so when inquiring about extending this trip to include shanghai and beijing, i was advised that a group would be easier since travelling in asia includes that language problem -- i wouldn't even be able to read the street signs -- and the group tour would be able to negotiate better rates that i could on my own.
i'd also be with the rest of the MBA students, etc .... so i decide to do it.

i learned i really don't need a tour guide and they are often more trouble than they are worth. true, the flights, the confirmations, the hotels, the transportation, hotel bookings, check-ins and check-outs made things nice and smooth, but we were stuck on an itinerary with no escape route, and little free time. there's also the tipping hassle, which always turned into drama.

Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing have sophisticated subway, rail and bus systems that make getting around easy. cabs are plentiful and cheap. all of these modes of transport are better than sitting on a bus, stuck in traffic.

so now that i've been to asia, i can honestly say you can definitely get around without being on a tour. learn about the area you are going beforehand and know where you want to go. hotels (4 stars and above) are great about helping you with arrangements, and since it's the tourism industry there will be someone on staff who speaks english. street signs are mostly in chinese and english in the big cities, so you can get a sense of where you're going ... and nothing beats an efficient rail system and walking.

so if you're willing to do a little pre-work and don't need to be coddled, i say it's def. OK to do it solo. asia isn't intimidating, but it helps to learn a few key words, such as please, thank you, hello, ice water, etc.

advice: meals

cecilia, who arranges all study abroad programs for students at long beach state, learned something big here. when advising students prior to departure, she always tells them to experience the local culture and food and not to just hang out a pizza huts and mcdonalds.

but after three weeks on this trip she would have killed for pizza hut. in fact, we tried to hit one one night, but it had just closed. there was almost a mass suicide at the front gate! i can't remember being so let down .... santa claus, tooth fairy .... nothing compared to pizza hut closing early.

my advice would be to mix it up, but make sure you get what you want. i was adventurous with the food (snails, stinky tofu, unidentified mollusks, etc.), but i also didn't feel guilty about sneaking a mcdonalds ice cream cone on the side (plus they're only like 20 cents). going on a tour with meals included can be a blessing (what convenience!) and a curse (we're stuck with this again). so maybe try a package that includes just one meal a day, like lunch .... that means you're free to explore the city for a funky dinner. breakfast is easy enough to do on your own.

also, if you're sick of the food, dont' feel stuck. this is the land of cheap goods and cheap eats. you'll find something appealing ... don't be afraid to venture out on your own. most places have handy picture menus -- good for pointing!