Q. How are rooms allocated?
A: Each hotel checks their bookings and room inventory in the morning and pre-assigned the rooms. Sonatours have no control over room allocations.
Q. Can you guarantee rooms together?
A: Room allocation is done by the hotels. Rooms together only be requested but not guaranteed.
Q. What facilities are there in the room?
A: Facilities vary from Hotel to Hotel and include en-suite bathrooms, generally TV, safe box, telephone, mini bar, room service (use of some of the services are chargeable and to be settled by yourself at the time of checkout). Hotels may require your credit card to cover your extras or cash deposits.
Q. Will the room have walk in shower?
A: Not all hotel rooms have walking showers.
Q. Does my room have Tea & Coffee making facilities?
A: Please note that not all hotels provide tea/coffee in the room. If hot water is required, kindly request the hotel reception for assistance.
Q. Is smoking allowed in the hotels/rooms?
A: Hotels do not allow smoking in the rooms. Please be aware that some rooms might be smoking, although non-smoking rooms are requested. However, designated smoking areas are provided. Please check with the hotel reception.
Q. Is WIFI freely available?
A: Most hotels will have WIFI available in the public areas. Please check with hotel reception for WIFI information in the rooms.
Kindly note WhatsApp and other social media DO NOT work in China. The Tour Manger/Local guide will advise you the link for internet communications.
Q. Do all rooms have air-condition?
A: Most hotels rooms in China offer air-conditioners or fans.
Q. Will all hotels have lifts?
A: Most of the hotels worldwide will have lifts. However, at some places Heritage Hotels or Resorts are used In such cases lifts cannot be guaranteed.
Q. What type of accommodation/facilities will be there on the River Cruise?
A: During the river cruise there will be cabins on the boat. Please be advised that the cabins can only sleep two people. There are no triple cabins available.
A: There is no WIFI while on the river. WIFI will be available when on land.
Q. What time do I need to be at the airport?
A: All flight tours originating in the UK require that you be at the airport for your flight at least 3 hours prior to your flight time. Your final itinerary confirmation will confirm the time you need to be at the airport. Should you miss your flight Sonatours will not be liable for any costs incurred for you to join the tour. The office will make every effort to assist you in such circumstances.
If you have booked the tour without flights, please meet the group at the hotel. Details will be sent to you at a later date. Please do check with the office as you might need to book a hotel before the tour starts and after it finishes.
Please be on time as we cannot be held responsible or liable for any loss or expense suffered if you miss the flight or coach.
Q. Are flights upgrades available?
A: On long haul flight tours upgrade to your flights is possible. Please advise the office at the time of booking to get the best possible price.
Q. Can I select my seats on the airplane?
A: International and Internal flight booking are booked as a group and the airlines will allocate the seats. Should you have a specific request it will be forwarded to the airline but cannot be guaranteed.
Q. What are the luggage requirements on the airplane?
A: International & Internal Flights: Different airlines will have different requirements on the weight allowance. It can range 20-30kgs for your main luggage and 5kg for hand luggage.
Internal Flights: Different airlines will have different requirements on the weight allowance. It can range 15-20kgs for your main luggage and 5kg for hand luggage.
We do advise you to travel light. This information will be on your e-ticket once the tickets have been issued.
Q. What other transport is there in this tour?
A: In this tour we have the following:
Internal Flights: Shanghai to Yichang; Chengdu to Xian.
Train Journeys: Chongqing to Chengdu& Xian to Beijing.
River Cruise: Yichang to Chongqing.
Q. What type of coach will I be travelling in?
A: We use the finest fleet of fuel-efficient coaches. Most coaches will have armrests & are fully air-conditioned or air-cooled – all with reclining seats.
Coaches in China do not have emergency WC facilities. Frequent comfort stops are being made for your convenience. The high vantage point from your coach's windows means you can take in all the glorious scenery, whether it's a vast-rural landscape or an urban city center. On a touring holiday there are some long journeys which are unavoidable especially what travelling from city to city.
Q. Can I select my seats on the coach?
A: We have a strict seat rotation policy when travelling by coaches on all our international tours.
Q. What is the smoking and alcohol policy while travelling by coach?
A: There is a strict policy of “no smoking, no alcohol and no smelly food” on all our coaches. We do, however, make plenty of comfort stops.