Tips for china!

I will try to keep adding to this when I think of different things.

- in Beijing if you stay at the Crowne Plaza a descent restaurant is across the street and to your left....maybe 3 stores. It has red lanterns hanging outside. If a guy comes and speaks English to you saying he has a gifts, don't follow him. He is just trying to get you to buy something!

- you don't tip at restaurants.....we found this out 1/2 through the trip :-)

- bring $20 in singles. You tip the bellboys when you arrive and leave hotels. We were told $1 per bag

- bring travel Kleenex for toilet paper and napkins. In most restaurants you have to pay for napkins

- our travel clinic told us to take 2 Pepto tablets 4x day so that you don't get sick and we only have 24hrs left and so far so good

- if you want to buy from street vendors 1) know it is most likely fake and 2) have the exact amount because many give you change back with fake cash

- make sure if you buy jade or silk your guide is with you or you buy it at the jade factory or silk factory. Most on the streets in GZ if fake. The real stuff that I have seen is much more costly in GZ then the jade factory in Beijing. Hint with jade. If you hold it up to the light you should see mineral deposits....although even if you do it is not always real. The clear see through when held up to the light is glass not real jade

- ask for a stroller to be brought to your room at check-in. Then just keep it for your stay

- to give you an idea. Chopsticks in GZ were about 20 yuan for 5 set and 70 yuan for a nice 6 set with little bars to rest the chopsticks on...hope that makes sense

- we got a carryon suitcase for 200 yuan at michael's in GZ on Shamian Island

- I think Jordon's has the best selection of relaxation/stress balls

- we brought less clothes and just washed them in the sink. I brought 3 single use tide travel packs and used all of them.

- Kung Pao chicken is a very good choice if you are not an adventurous eater like me.

The Thai restaurant on Shamian Island is very good.

- we did not buy bottled water. We just refilled the bottles with water we boiled

- even if you don't need space bring ziplock bags. We used them for other things like dirty diapers and you may need to compress things to fit all the fun souvenirs heading home

- we separated the money into....eating, visa/medical, souvenir, etc and then put them in their each little snack size ziplock. Then also put in there a sticky saying what it is for. It was very easy to keep track of how much we were spending and on what

- when you leave the hotel take a piece of paper with e name on it so if you get lost you can get back by showing someone it.

- on the plane going to china you will be given a piece of paper to fill out for customs. On it, it will ask the location with address and I believe ph. Number of the first hotel you will be staying at. Have it on you and ready.

- remember no liquids on in China flights. They need to go in your check in. Also put anything valuable in carry on

- before leaving see if your fav. Perfume has samples you can take. I love coach and they actually give out little spray samples. I took 2 of them and it was a perfect amt.

- we brought single use starbucks coffee. It was a lifesaver since GZ was the first hotel that had one by it and the hotel coffee did not taste good to us.

- we brought wrinkle free spray which wasn't really needed. I rolled my clothes and Ben folded his and both were fine. It was nice though to just give them a fresher smell

- we loved having crystal light packs. Plain water gets old after awhile

Ok all for now! We will keep thinking