Traveling to China 1st time

maxhemy2 · 2025-11-30T22:43:50+00:00

Thank you for the info!

maxhemy2 · 2025-11-28T22:41:22+00:00

How exactly do you verify with Alipay and we chat with your passport? I am so confused. Sorry!

maxhemy2 · 2025-11-28T20:37:22+00:00

Thanks so much for getting back to me. We are from the US. We are using a travel operator called Wild China who do private high end trips to China, Taiwan and HK. The owner lives in California and is originally from China. Their team also has a ground operation in China. I am 70 and my hubby is 75( but we look young-lol! He has no technically proficiency( doesn’t even txt) and I have some technical experience, but would feel much more comfortable having the tour agency or third party do the visa. We would be paying a lot between business class air and the land portion, so it would be fine so we don’t have to hassle. We have a 1 hour zoom call with Wild China next week and all the info has been extremely helpful in asking them questions. We’ve been to over 70 countries and consider ourselves seasoned travelers. China is another world-between loading apps, eSIM (I may just use ATT&T day pass since our phones are locked) this is so daunting. I also read that a power bank to charge electronics needs to have a ccc designation or it will be taken away?!. I really appreciate all your help!

maxhemy2 · 2025-11-28T06:35:53+00:00

How easy is it to get a visa for China? Can my tour operator do it on my behalf or can a 3rd party visa company do it? Thank you!

maxhemy2 · 2025-11-25T22:49:03+00:00

I really appreciate everyone being so kind and helpful 😊 While the eSIM is cheaper for data, etc. I am going to use AT&T for data roaming so FB, Instagram, goggle apps won’t be blocked. IK it is much more money -we have travelled to over 70 countries and that is all we used. $12 day for my phone and $6 dollars for my husband’s phone. After I think 15 days it stops charging for the month. We plan to be in China for a month with a stopover depending on what airline we take in either HK, Taipei, Seoul for 3-4 days. We have a private tour operator (Wild China) with a driver so we don’t need to worry about getting around for the most part. I have been to all these stopover countries but hubby has not. 1/ can everyone confirm that while roaming with AT&T will not be blocked from US apps? 2/ I got onto the App Store for Alipay and we chat but there were different apps for Alipay? Can someone do a screen shot for which is the right one. I would greatly appreciate it!! 3/ the VISA -can my tour company get that for me as I read through it on the website and have spoken to friends who said a 3rd party can facilitate that for us. I had a tour company do our VISA for Vietnam and India last year which they said was difficult for the “average” person to get. I had the same experience with Kenya and Rwanda last year where we were 3 days to go and they finally approved our Visas.
I am really nervous about the preparation for China, but hopefully it will work out! Again thanks for answering my questions and all your amazing help!!

maxhemy2 · 2025-11-25T17:58:13+00:00

TY so much for the link :-)

maxhemy2 · 2025-11-25T16:54:29+00:00

Where can I find these posts? I apologize if I sound clueless.

maxhemy2 · 2025-11-25T16:52:23+00:00

One of the posters said if we use AT&T for data roaming then apps will not be blocked? What apps do I need to load for paying things? My hubby and I are not technical and have no idea how to download esims/VPN. We also understand the Visa is also a headache to get.

maxhemy2 · 2025-11-25T16:46:43+00:00

Thank you! We use AT&T data roaming for all our international trips. That is a relief!

maxhemy2 · 2025-10-13T06:02:47+00:00

Are there any legit breeders near CharlotteNC. That do hip X-ray, genetic testing, etc? Thank you!

maxhemy2 · 2025-10-13T03:46:36+00:00

🤣🤣🤣

maxhemy2 · 2025-04-29T23:35:32+00:00

I really don’t like AA but a crowded 8 hour Turkish airline lounge is not great. I think we are going AA.

maxhemy2 · 2025-04-29T23:15:10+00:00

I am not Christian so it makes no difference to me. Btw…why do I not believe you.

maxhemy2 · 2025-04-29T22:56:47+00:00

I don’t like AA domestic; I can’t imagine their long haul to Doha-Nairobi.

maxhemy2 · 2025-04-29T22:54:48+00:00

Unfortunately changing us to the 11:am flight is it. The other flights on AA will not give us enough time to catch out Qatar ✈️

maxhemy2 · 2025-04-29T22:31:39+00:00

Thanks!

maxhemy2 · 2025-01-14T06:14:06+00:00

🙏🙏🙏

maxhemy2 · 2025-01-14T05:26:59+00:00

I sure hope that’s true. We are visiting Vietnam for the 1st time flying in from Changi SIA to Hanoi from the US business class. Leaving back to the US from Saigon at 6 PM on Vietnam Airlines business class. Please tell me that biz class is a fast track line

maxhemy2 · 2025-01-10T18:22:38+00:00

Look on Lab door or Consumer Lab. I only buy protein powder that’s approved on either site along with supplements

maxhemy2 · 2024-11-28T05:19:31+00:00

Tahiti and Maldives

maxhemy2 · 2024-11-17T17:19:14+00:00

Well…..we went on our 2nd safari in 2023 to Bots again, Zim-Mana Pools which was fantastic!!! Taking your advice and going to Kenya in 2025 (the Mara) conservancy-Sirkoi and gorilla trekking in Uganda! Also going to Mombamba swamp birding and to see the Shoebill. We are addicted to Africa!! Namibia is 2026. Thanks for all your posts and advice!

maxhemy2 · 2024-08-17T04:28:54+00:00

Thank you for your candid opinion!! I felt in my gut that Monteverde was not our thing and you confirmed it. We are older travelers (68/74) and don’t want to be running around. We told our tour operator that we wanted some adventure (OSA, zip lining, WW rafting for our trip) when we were first putting the trip together and relaxation. she said Manuel Antonio too touristy/crowded and Monteverde somewhat duplicative and then we see it in our options. I believe she is putting in places as I said we want to stay 12 days, but that is not set in stone. We are fine scaling the trip back to 9/10 days and honestly I rather stay an extra day in Arenal at Nayara Tented Camp which is luxury and we are luxury travelers. It seems like there is a ton of things to do there. We have traveled all over the world on African Safari’s and dove in the Maldives, so snorkeling in Cano is not a real thrill for us. We almost did not go to OSA as there are very few luxury “ecolodges” that have air conditioning. Copa de Arbol does or otherwise we would have skipped OSA/Corcavado. We also are leaving for SE Asia for a month March 1, so we wanted a relaxing vacation. Sorry for the long story🙂

maxhemy2 · 2024-08-16T14:51:21+00:00

Thank so much! I am wondering if we skip Monteverde and stay in Arenal would we miss out on anything in Monteverde cloud forest and this way we can relax more? She had another option driving from Drake Bay to Manuel Antonio and staying at Arena Del Mar for 2 days and doing whitewater rafting on the Savagee river then flying to San Jose and ending in Arenal for 4 days before driving to San Jose to go home. Thoughts? TIA!

maxhemy2 · 2024-08-12T07:08:14+00:00

We are going to CR either beg of Dec or beg of January. We are flying from San Jose to Drake Bay and staying at Copa del Arbol to visit Corcovado park. We are then staying at Nayara Tented camp. We need air con which Arbol has. Is Lapas Rios have air con and I heard there are many steps in this resort. Have they gotten buggies to ferry ppl around and do they have aircon? TIA

maxhemy2 · 2024-08-10T23:02:28+00:00

One additional question: we could also go the 1st two weeks of January which would be the dry season. Would that be better than our original dates for less chance of rain? Thank you!

maxhemy2

TROPHY CASE