Is China In Our -- or Your -- Future?

     We think our  Chinese visas have been approved. (At least we've been charged for them, and notified they're on the way.) We won't know for sure until we get back to Colorado mid-month. But I think it's ok.

One of my regular blogger contacts, My Frugal Miser, reported on his recent trip to China -- the package only cost $299! That included flights, hotels (which he said were fine), tours, a guide, and breakfast daily. Other than a bout of food poisoning, he and his partner had a great time.

Now Travelzoo's Top 20 is offering the same thing. Oooh, I'm tempted...

All Chinese photos from UTOVacation

It doesn't include your visa. (Good luck with that.) Nor are $180 in tips. But here's what you get for that price, from UTO Vacations:

• Roundtrip flights to Beijing, return from Shanghai (selected departure cities)
• Domestic flight from Beijing to Shanghai 
• 8 nights at 4-star hotels throughout with daily breakfast (3 in Beijing, 1 in Suzhou, 1 in Wuxi, 1 in Hangzhou, 2 in Shanghai)
• Sightseeing tours of the Great Wall, Lanli Garden, Garden of Master of the Nets and West Lake
• Shopping trips to a silk-spinning factory, pearl center and tea shop
• English-speaking guide throughout
• Airport transfers

     The Brick pointed out, sensibly enough, that our three days in China, thanks to the cruise, might be enough. I, on the other hand, would travel anywhere anyhow anyway...and $300 for a trip to the land of Beautiful Grandness? Huáxià (華夏/华夏)  Our visas, if approved, are good for ten years.

My suitcase is packed. Sign me up -- now.

From styledsnapshots.com, via Pinterest

My Frugal Miser spent more on his Chinese jaunt, of course. The trip is designed to get you to various tourist spots, so you'll purchase things. (Ironic, considering one of the conditions of my visa was that I wouldn't buy anything for my business.) Then there's the airfare...the price only covers flights from New York, San Francisco, Seattle, L.A. or... San Jose?? (Weird.)

Even with those provisos, this is a steal of a trip. If you want to broaden your horizons, and have some extra change jingling in your pocket, you can book your own world cruise for 2021 from our buddies at Cruise & Maritime Voyages -- for even less than we paid for the 2020 cruise!

We've found some of our best travel buys via Travelzoo's weekly Top 20 list. Even if you can't go now, it lets you dream. And plan.

China, here we come.