>Travel

Travel:  All teachers must travel as a group on the same departure date from San Francisco/Los Angeles (depending on which airline) to Shanghai, China.  Teachers who wish to extend their stay in China at the end of the program are responsible for additional costs after the group reservation is made. Flight reservations for the international roundtrip from the departure city in US to Shanghai will be made through a designated travel agency in California.  Teachers will need to pre-pay their international roundtrip airfares and WILL BE REIMBURSED IN FULL AMOUNT OF THE GROUP INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE UPON THEIR ARRIVAL IN CHINA. Note: all selected teachers will receive a contract from the Chinese school and sign the contract and release waiver prior to confirmation of flight reservation.

FREE Tours:
2008 Summer China Travel Program will offer tours to the following cities:

• Hangzhou -“Paradise on Earth”.
• Suzhou –“Oriental Venice”.
• Shanghai - China’s Largest Metropolitan City.
• Guilin - One of China's most picturesque cities and famous for its mountains and rivers.
• Nanjing (if assigned to school in Nanjing) - Ancient capital of China for six dynasties and known as one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals in the history of China.
• Wuzhen (Tongxiang) (if assigned to school in Tongxiang) – 1,000 – Year Old Ancient Water Village.

Note: Hotels, meals, transportation (bus and flights), and admissions are all paid for on the tours.

Hotels:  During the duration of the program, teachers will be staying at three – star hotels in most cities and four-star hotels in some cities.  These hotels provide toothpaste, toothbrushes, bath towels, soap, shampoo, combs, shower caps, and disposable slippers on a daily basis. Laundry service is available at hotels. Cooking facilities are not available in the hotel rooms.  International phone calls can be made through the hotel phone services. Calling cards are available for sale at local stores and can be used in hotel rooms.  In some hotels, each room is equipped with a laptop and internet hook-up.  Daily Internet connection fee ranges from $5 to $7.  Free internet connection is provided if you use your own laptop. 

Food:  All hotels serve a buffet-style breakfast, which serves both Western and Chinese foods.  School cafeterias offer two meals - lunch and dinner, which are mainly Chinese food.  To show Chinese hospitality, school cafeterias would make special dishes and bakery for North American teachers.  Snacks, fruits, and soft drinks are provided daily in the teachers’ workroom. American fast food is available at restaurants, such as, Pizza Hut, KFC, McDonald, etc.  Food is inexpensive in China.

Teachers’ Personal $$ Responsibilities:

• Domestic travel to the departure city in US.
• Visa Application and/or passport application if you don't have one. 
• Meals outside school on teaching days and during free time on tours.
• Gifts for school officials, room teachers, and students.
• Gratuity for tour guides, bus drivers, bellmen, etc.
  Note: An $80 gratuity fee for tour guides and bus drivers will be collected from each participating teacher when submitting the contract. 
• Transportation ( bus, taxi, or subway) for personal needs.
• Additional costs for any flight changes or hotels for extended stay  in China at the end of the program.
• Penalty for canceling the international flight after it is confirmed due to any emergency.
• International Medical Insurance (Basic coverage costs around $120.00) if you are not covered by your health plan.