The testimonials below are not necessarily organized in chronological order. We did not make an effort to save and publish customer testimonials until late 2003. Before that time, most testimonials were in the forms of letters and postcards, which we no longer have copies of.
From: Robbie Robinson [rrobinso@idirect.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 4:32 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: Our Recent Tour
Julius –
Just a short note to tell you how I feel about the Oct. 6-23, 2004, China Odyssey tour I was on. In one word it was GREAT. The hotels were all first rate, the transportation and bag handling were handled with absolutely no problems, the food was excellent – varied and interesting but always delicious. It was a good thing that I struggled a bit with chopsticks, otherwise I would have eaten far too much.
The tour was very well planned to let us see as much as we possibly could in the time we had. I’m not used to such an active level of sightseeing, but I can’t think of a single thing I would have been willing to miss.
It was certainly a pleasure for us to have such a small group. We were always able to sit at the same table for lunch and dinner, and there was a nice amount of space on the small busses we used. I think it is worth a small premium to travel with such a small group, as I am sure the experience is very different when the group size is over 20 or so.
One of the best features of our tour was in having Linda Tan as our guide. I cannot imagine having anyone better suited for that strenuous job. She has an excellent knowledge of all the places we visited, a good sense of humour, lots of energy, and great dedication to making the tour a complete success. I felt that Linda took special care of me as I was by far the slowest and most out-of-shape of the group – but I guess everyone felt that they got lots of care and attention from Linda. In addition, Linda’s willingness to talk about her personal life, her family and her education gave this tour a dimension far beyond just looking at the sights. [I’ll send Linda a copy of these comments of mine when I thank her for the photos she sent.]
The only suggestion I have is that you might want to increase the level of your marketing activity in the Toronto area. Your ads in the Globe & Mail are very small and easy to miss. What about taking a small booth at one of the travel shows here? I have not seen much China coverage at these shows even though there are a number of agencies in Toronto specializing in that market. I think it was significant that all but one on our tour came from the Toronto area.
Thanks for a great trip!
Robbie Robinson
Toronto, Ontario
Just a note to let you know what a great time I had on the Laurus Silk Road Tour! The whole trip was great — the hotels, the food, and the sights were all terrific. The guides and drivers were helpful, knowledgeable and thoughtful. I’m telling all of my friends to book their China trips through Laurus Travel. Please feel free to use my name as a reference!!
Jan B.
Columbus, Ohio
From: joyce Robertson [e-mail address deleted]
Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2004 9:22 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: Customer Feedback
People think we are getting a commission from you as we have told anyone who ask that they should use you if they want to go to China! Thank you so much for arranging everything for us. We had a great time!
Joyce R.
Malvern, Ohio
From: Tania G. [e-mail address deleted]
Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2004 12:27 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: Tour Feedback
The trip was all that we had hoped for and much, much more. We would like to thank you for all your help and look forward to recommending Laurus Travel to all our friends!
Tania G.
Ottawa, Ontario
Suzhou GardenI can’t describe what a wonderful trip we had in a short note. We had an amazing time. Every day was filled with a new adventure and the time went by so quickly that I can’t believe we were on a fifteen day excursion. It would be very difficult to choose a specific highlight of the trip but the fact that we climbed the Great Wall of China was very much one of the highlights of our lives. We fell in love with Linda Tan. She is an excellent tour guide. She is very dedicated to her job and has so much knowledge of all the sites that we visited as well as a lot of fun to be with. The flexibility built into the trip and just enough free time to be able to get out and visit spots on our own made this a perfect 15 days [Oct. 15-29, 2003]. I’m sure a lot of planning on your part has gone into these trips. I look forward to one day being able to contact you again to arrange another China experience. If anyone is ever looking for a reference I would be more than happy to talk to them.
Michele & Jacques G.
Oakville, Ontario
We really had an exceptionally good time during our tour with Laurus Travel, certainly the most enjoyable travel experience since our honeymoon! We would do the Laurus Travel experience again and not change a thing! We found the tour to be very well proportioned and balanced in terms of content and exposure. For example:
– We alternated between urban and rural exposures to give us renewed contrast while preventing “culture overload”.
– It is not easy to define the climax of the 3 week tour because the highlights were thoughtfully spaced and interspersed with highly diverse historic, cultural, artistic and epicurean adventures.
Our first meeting as a group was thoughtfully conducted and paved the way for the “family” association that quickly evolved and allowed the feelings of sharing and discussion to enhance the overall experience.
All of our guides were first rate, amicable and enthusiastic. They spoke English well and carried an exceptional knowledge of history and culture across the regions that we visited.
By the standard to which we are accustomed, accommodation was at least very good and more than occasionally, resplendent!
Meals? Who would have thought that we could eat Chinese food for 3 weeks and never lose our enthusiasm for it? The variations and creativity were awesome. The presentation sometimes bordered on art. I never thought that we would be eating peas with chop-sticks. We shall never forget that Chinese Scotch, either!
Service was excellent throughout the tour, whether in a restaurant, bar, taxi or hotel. We can think of no instance where we expressed a service need that was not fulfilled promptly and courteously. We enthusiastically recommend Laurus Travel to anyone who wants a diverse, First Class China travel experience.
Ron & Dawn P.
Kingston, Ontario
Group photo at Shanghai Yu Garden (Yu Yuan)Weeks have passed since our trip to China, but there is hardly a day when we do not, in some way, go back and relive those days. That was an incredible trip that will stay with us forever. Thank you for selecting an itinerary and program that gave us as complete a picture of the country as was possible in such a short time, for your superb organizational abilities in making “things click” in a country where that is not always easy, for providing transportation, restaurants, and accommodations that were excellent, and for guides, both Mike Shen the national guide, and the local guides, who were both helpful and informative. And, to top it all off, the cost of the tour was extremely reasonable. Your name and e-mail address now must be in a number of databases both locally and nationally. Jim and I have been giving them out with gusto as we have no hesitation in recommending your services.
Irene & James B.
Seattle, Washington
We loved China and have recommended a China trip and Laurus Travel to friends. We would love to travel again in China and would choose Laurus Travel, confident that the trip would be great.
Lyn & Terry P.
Richmond, British Columbia
We had an absolutely fabulous time, thank you so very much. Everything went very smoothly and the group size was perfect. We were very impressed with the organization and the country was amazing. We would be very interested in going back to the silk road in the future – not next year, but perhaps after that. Keep us in mind for this in the future.
Wilma & Donald H.
Gabriola Island, British Columbia
Tiananmen Square Group PhotoWe had a wonderful time in China. This vacation was a great adventure and we would rate it a 10 out of ten. We will have no trouble in promoting your company and China tours to our friends and others in the community. Please feel free to use our names for personal reference.
Pat & Gail W.
Vernon, British Columbia
I have been to China three times over the past five years and I am glad to say this trip with your company is simply the best. John took very good care of everybody and we were fortunate to have such a pleasant, experienced and fun person as our tour leader. The local guides and drivers were very good too, they did everything possible to accommodate our individual needs. I am looking forward to travelling with your company again.
Steven M.
Toronto, Ontario
I thoroughly enjoyed the recent China tour; your planning is excellent. Everything which you described was provided, and the arrangements exceeded my expectations. Eric is an outstanding representative for Laurus. He’s cheerful and patient, and all arrangements were very smooth. I would not hesitate to recommend Laurus and this tour to others.
Dave M.
El Segundo, California
I was very pleased with all the tour arrangements. I will be sending you a more formal letter which you may use as a reference for future clients. You may also give my name and contact information to any potential clients who might like to contact me directly; they will receive from me high praise for your firm’s services.
The Rev. Janet L.
Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking care of us so well during our recent trip to China. We were completely satisfied and have nothing but great things to say about your company. The guides and drivers couldn’t have been better, they were courteous, friendly, experienced and accommodating. The meeting with Julius before the tour is another highlight of our experience dealing with your company. Having contacted three other companies before visiting your office, we found his knowledge and enthusiasm refreshing…. My mother-in-law will travel with your company this fall, I am sure she’ll have a great time as we did.
Ron L.
Vancouver, British Columbia
China travel group photoThe trip was wonderful. I feel that when you asked Eric to be our Tour Director you were choosing the very best for us. He is both a gentle person and a gentleman. We were pleased with the quality of the hotels, meals and things we were able to do…
Marie W.
Petrolia, Ontario
Having been on many organised tours, I would like to congratulate you for having done such a marvellous job. My sister and I totally enjoyed the trip and have been enthusiastically promoting your company among friends and neighbours. We are in love with China and look forward to going back in the near future.
Teresa M.
Sydney, Australia
Thanks for a wonderful trip. Cathy and I had a great time. The local guides were knowledgeable and went out of their way to make our visit enjoyable. The hotels were better than expected and the East Queen was a first rate ship. The group size was perfect and we really enjoyed getting to know our fellow travelers. Dollar for dollar it was a great deal. Thanks again.
Dueane D.
Washington, DC
Let me thank you so much for such a wonderful trip (15-day China Experience in June, 2002). We really had a great time, the sightseeing was wonderful, the hotels were superb and the company was excellent. It was a pretty nice group we had there and most of all, the guides were really experienced and knew the history of China very well, so that the explanations were very clear and interesting. Richard, our guide throughout the tour was very responsible and took care of us as if we were his own children, we all liked him very much. He was really helpful in all matters. The food was great, although a western meal here and there would be nice too. Anyway, overall I would rate the trip a 10 out of 10. It offered much more than we had expected. We are really grateful to you.
I have recommended you and this trip to many friends, and you will be receiving some mails from people in Monterrey, Mexico pretty soon. I tell them it is really worth the money. I wish you would have other Asian destinations in your portfolio, like Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, etc so that we might travel with your agency again soon. We would like to repeat this wonderful experience.
Beatriz R.
Monterrey, Mexico
I am writing regarding the trip in Asia that I just completed. I have nothing but praise for Laurus Travel. The trip that you established for us was nothing short of first class. A group consisting of 10 college students is a tough task alone, but our tour guide Eric was the most organized, knowledgeable tour guide I have ever met. He was very accommodating with us and made our experience a great one. Laurus Travel is a great company and I will forever be grateful for your efforts in making our trip in Asia enjoyable.
Brandon R. G.
Hudson, Ohio
We still couldn’t believe what an incredible deal we just got ourselves! Before we heard about your company through a friend, we had done some research on the Internet and had a pretty good idea about what we wanted to do and how much we’d expect to pay. Without the friend’s endorsement, we’d be hesitant to book with you because the tour you offered seems too good to be true. How wrong could we have been! I mean every aspect of the tour is fantastic, the hotels, the meals, the guides, etc, exactly as you promised. We couldn’t have asked for more. Everybody on the tour agreed it was a steal at that price and the arrangements far exceeded our expectations. Thank you so very much!!! Please feel free to let us know, anytime, if you need us to be your reference.
Tim & Amanda L.
Los Angeles, California
We were quite impressed and frankly a bit surprised by the quality of the tour. I am sure that it will only improve over the next few years as the equipment and quality of the local guides progress. Many of us found Laurus on the internet and while your program seemed to meet our needs, we were not sure of what to expect. We do now and it was wonderful.
Dr. Donald C.
Salem, South Carolina
We have just returned from our ’15 day China Experience’ tour. Words can not express the experience. It was the most fantastic trip we have taken, and we have travelled a great deal. It exceeded our expectations. The accommodations were superb–yes the hotel at Qufu was a little worn, but you did advise us that it was the best available. The courteous and friendly staff certainly outweighed any inconvenience of the room.
The food–what can I say!! My husband gained about 10 lbs!! We enjoyed trying all the new dishes–and there were plenty of them. In fact we felt guilty that we couldn’t finish all of them. The travel modes were wonderful and always punctual–from the great drivers of the buses, to the train, to the air flights.
The itinerary was well planned and very diversified. We were always very busy, but never felt rushed. The information from the guides was very good and very interesting.
Oh yes, the guides. Their enthusiasm with their country and their heritage made us feel privileged that we could share a small part with them. Always friendly, always helpful in any way, going out of their way to make sure we thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the tour. And they succeeded. I would like to make a special mention to our national guide, Linda Tam. What a wonderful person she is. This was not a job for her. This was her great joy to be able to share as much information with us as she could, to make this a fun tour, and also to learn from us as much as she could. Her knowledge was extensive. She never missed any details of the tour, always on schedule, never allowing anything to upset her because she always had everything well in hand. Her smile was the first and last thing we saw everyday. She was not our tour guide, she was our new friend. I hope that you become aware of her, because she is a great ambassador for her country, and she would be thrilled if she could visit Canada . I know you consider someone every year to visit Canada, and I certainly hope you keep her in mind.
Again I would like to thank you for providing us with such a wonderful trip. We were skeptical like many other people, because it seemed too good to be true at such a low price. You definitely proved us wrong. I hope you continue to increase your tours because we will certainly consider your travel agency again, and will certainly recommend you to our friends.
Chantal and Lorne Z.
Milton, Ontario
Two things that we forgot to mention, i.e., the two most memorable events – 1) to spend the night at the very quaint old fashioned inn at the Great Wall and woke up to see the Wall and climbed it with no other tourists but fresh air and light dust of snow. 2) the bicycle ride in Yangshuo to see the country side and the beautiful scenery. We had a great group and am sure that they share most of the views that I have expressed. The itinerary arranged by your company truly provided us with an impressive panoramic view of China. I definitely recommend your company to all my relatives and friends.
Thanks and wishing you continued success!
Mary & Bob F.
Thornhill, Ontario
Let us express our appreciation to you for the outstanding China Panorama Tour October 8, 2003. The tour exceeded our expectations in every aspect and left us with a great and lasting appreciation for the country, its history, sights and people.
… and we hope that we have an opportunity to travel with Laurus again. We would be pleased to serve as a reference for your future potential customers, and you can certainly give them our e-mail address if you wish to do so. Your have our highest recommendation, and sincere thanks for a memorable visit to China.
Jan & Catherine K.
Woodbury, Minnesota
Betty wrote: Every aspect of the trip surpassed my expectations. I was especially delighted with the personal attention given to each of us in our small group; I believe everyone felt valued and even pampered. Any individual interests or needs were seen to immediately so that all were delighted to follow the program and enjoy the experiences and each others’ company . This was not my first experience of a conducted tour but it was by far the best.
Sue, Betty’s daughter, wrote: This was my first organized tour and I fear it has spoiled me for all others. I quickly felt as if I was traveling with a knowledgeable friend. The activities encourage group cohesion and the skills of both the tour leader and the local guides contributed to a memorable experience. I have not been able to stop talking about our adventures, none of which would have been possible without the care and attention of Julius Yan and the local guides.
Betty & Sue M.
Toronto, Ontario
Yes, the tour was fabulous. We did everything on the itinerary and more! If anything we were too busy, but that is not really a complaint. Our guide, Michael, worked very hard on our behalf and went out of his way to add little extras and help out. For instance our luggage was damaged and he interceded to secure a settlement with the hotel involved. He worked extra hard with respect to our luggage and transfers at airports and hotels…much appreciated. He is quite the character and his knowledge, honesty, and sense of humour were appreciated.
China remains a fascinating place and is rapidly changing. We were there in 1995 and the changes were well under way and this continues today. The Chinese are now touring about the country and they are facing some major traffic congestion problems. Somehow though, I think the Chinese will solve these problems.
Thanks for everything and we think we really got our money’s worth. We certainly think you run a top notch operation. You gave excellent advice and we feel you earned our trust. We will pass your name on to others and we will certainly use your services if required. Best wishes for the future.
Yours truly,
Heather and Bob M.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Laurus Travel China tour group photoIn general, the trip was well beyond our expectations, well planned, pampering, pleasing, and above all – very informative. We have recommended it to our friends, and some of them have shown their interest in taking the same trip themselves.
We hope to join in the future one more of your trips. Thanks again.
Gil and Neomi W.
Jerusalem, Israel
Of all the international trips we have taken our trip to China [22-day China Panorama, October 10 – 31, 2004] was the most interesting and has left us with marvelous images of a beautiful country in the throes of tremendous transition. We have never enjoyed a voyage more.
Thanks for a wonderful experience.
Barney and Iris G.
Bellevue, Washington
Erika and I returned from our trip Saturday night full of happy memories. Everything was excellent, the hotels, the food, the sightseeing program and all the arrangements, but especially our tour leader, Linda Tan, who was on the job 24 hours a day, every day, always concerned about our comfort and well being. Never before were we taken care of so well!
Thank you very much,
Alfred S.
Toronto, Ontario
—–Original Message—–
From: R24spring@——-com
Sent: Friday, May 19, 2006 11:15 AM
To: Laurus Travel Inc.
Subject: Re: China Tour Feedbacktai chi lesson at temple of heaven park, beijing
Heidi, the Laurus guided trip to China was an incredible experience and certainly the trip of my lifetime so far! To visit a country as extensive and complex and culturally rich and diverse as China is might have felt overwhelming or to the contrary not “in-depth” enough. I must congratulate Laurus on the way the trip was organized, from arrival in Shanghai to a quieter time on the Yangtze River cruise, then back to changing hotels and boarding planes every 2 or 3 days. I feel that I got a very comprehensive exposure to China and its people which amazingly little wear and tear, thanks to the skillful way the trip was laid out.
I especially appreciated the dependability of the national and local guides and drivers to show up on time to meet us at the airport. They were all highly professional and indeed experts on their particular city/area/attractions. David Li in Guilin stands out in particular for his engaging personality, enthusiasm in sharing ethnic culture, in-depth historical and cultural knowledge, and high level of English fluency. Thanks to David, we attended two spectacular shows that greatly enriched our experience and understanding of China: “Impressions of Guilin” in Yangshuo (which he personally escorted us to) and the “Peacock Lady” and ethnic dancing and drumming show in Kunming (which David told us not to miss).
The Yangtze River cruise and the day boat trip on the Lijang River were the trip highlights for me. Our river guide on the Victoria Star was really excellent. One suggestion I made to the crew manager on that ship was to have more information available (perhaps in their library) about the local flora and fauna. There were many flowering plants and trees along the river that no one was able to identify for me. I think ecotourism, and I mean of the upscale kind, will be an up and coming thing in China. At least as a Californian, I believe that many people in the US will be attracted to China to experience the incredible biological diversity there. Along those lines, I would like to suggest that in future tours you include the newly opened (August 2005) Three Gorges Museum in Chongqing. I happened upon it only by chance. It is truly spectacular and, after having just cruised the Yangtze, I found that it added greatly to my understanding of that unique area.
Also, I would like to congratulate you on your choice of hotels which in general were first class. The New Otani in Beijing was certainly the most elegant and luxurious. I visited their immaculate spa and olympic pool daily. Also the location of the hotel was quite strategic, near the center but conveying a sense of space, peace and quiet.
I came away from the tour more than satisfied and am recommending to all my friends that if they are considering visiting China (I tell them they should and soon!), they must check out Laurus Travel’s guided tour options. As for me, I am definitely planning to China in the next five years!
Many thanks,
Robin Spring
Watsonville, CA 95076
From: Monica B@xxxxxxxxxxxx.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 8:12 PM
To: Laurus Travel
Subject: China Tour Comments
John [tour leader] was very conscientious and gracious. He was patient with all of us and knowledgeable and was very happy and eager to share the Chinese experience with us. His logistical skills, as far as keeping us together, facilitating our plane trips, hotel check ins, working with the local guides were superb!
It was fun to get to know John and to see him relax and become more comfortable and personal with us as the days of the tour progressed. He is top notch and must be one of your best guides! John really made the whole experience exceptional!
I really enjoyed the cruise down the Yangtze River, and especially enjoyed the day cruise down the Li River. The karst were magnificant and like nothing I’d ever seen before. I think those will be the photographs that I will treasure the most from this trip!
Thank you!
Monica B.,
Denver, Colorado
From: Norman & Catherine Fxxx [nfloe@xxxxxxxxxxx.com]
Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 1:50 PM
To: info@laurustravel.com
Subject: China Tour with Laurus
Dear Julius,
There’s no need to worry about “pursuit of excellence”, as you have already achieved it.
The trip couldn’t have been any better. The itinerary was perfectly planned, and gave us a general overview of the areas visited, while allowing us to focus on many aspects of Chinese history and geography, architecture and art, and customs and culture.
Linda was a wonderful tour leader, giving us a warm welcome to her Country, and displaying endless energy and enthusiasm throughout the trip. She was a very knowledgeable and informative tour guide, and a great logistician who ensured our comfort and care at all times.
From a monetary viewpoint, the trip was a real bargain. We had two weeks of wonderful experiences, and memories for a lifetime.
A big “Thank You” to all at Laurus!
Catherine F.
Galiano Island, British Columbia