Q: Is an adoptee of any age free for the main tour?
A: Up to three Chinese adopted children per two parent families (both parents must travel) and up to two Chinese adopted children per single parent families will be able to enjoy a free in-China heritage main tour (11 days). Chinese adopted children must come along with their own parent(s) to qualify for the grant made available by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs. If one parent of a two parent family travels to China they may bring 1 child at no cost for the main tour.
Q: Does it mean that my/our daughter/son could have her/his own room?
A: Two parents traveling with one adopted child will share one hotel room. A Rollaway bed might be available from the hotel.
Two parents traveling with two or three adopted children will share two hotel rooms (connecting room may not always be available)
One parent traveling with one to two adopted children will share one room.
Q: Will CCCWA/BLAS help us with all of the hotel, flight, orphanage visit and local tour guide arrangement if we want to visit our child’s birth city after the main tour?
A: Yes, CCCWA/BLAS can arrange an orphanage or orphanage city visit. You can visit the orphanage or orphanage city by skipping the Guilin portion of the tour or going AFTER the main tour. Your orphanage visit amount will be calculated specifically for your family.
Q: I/we have certain food allergies. Will the CCCWA/BLAS tour guides help us with special meal arrangements?
A: Yes, please mention any food allergies or concerns on your registration form.
Q: What kind of medical support do you have available during the trip in case I/we need medical help?
A: Normally the hotel where you will be staying will have a clinic. CCCWA/BLAS guides can also take you to the nearest hospital if needed. If you take prescribed or a particular medication please make sure that you take enough supplies for the entire trip.
Q: If I/we want to arrive in Beijing earlier than the group or stay a few more days in China after the tour in Guilin/Guangzhou (other than orphanage visit), can CCCWA/BLAS make hotel or flight reservations for me/us?
A: Yes, CCCWA/BLAS can make all the arrangements for your stay in China either before or after the main tour, like hotel, airport transfers, driver/guide service, sightseeing, etc.
Q: What are the estimated costs for hugging a toddler panda?
A: About $200 per person. It goes to the good cause of the Panda Preservation Fund!
Q: Can our family choose to opt out of a tour one day if we prefer to do something differently?
A: Yes, but you will not receive a refund or credit back. Please tell your group guide in advance.
Q: If my/our child’s orphanage is in one of the cities that we will visit on the Heritage Tour, can we separate from the group for one day to visit the orphanage in that particular city?
A: Yes, you can take a day trip to visit your child’s orphanage in Xi’an, Chengdu, or Guilin while the group is traveling in each particular city. The additional cost (which includes the orphanage visitation fee) would be $200-$400 per family per orphanage visit.
Q: Do I/we need to pay any Orphanage Visit fees?
A: Yes, different orphanages charge a different amount for an Orphanage visit fee, usually ranging from $150 to $300 per family. This fee is already included in your orphanage tour cost estimate.
Q: What does the typical tour schedule consist of during the 3-4 day visit to my/our child’s orphanage?
A: Day 1: Fly to the Capital city of the province your child was from;
Day 2: Drive to the city/town where the orphanage is, visit the orphanage, possibly visit foster parents, stay overnight in orphanage town or travel back to provincial capital;
Day 3: Do some sightseeing in the province then fly to the exit city to fly back to the U.S.
Q: What if I/we want to stay in the orphanage town rather than traveling back to the provincial capital. Is this possible?
A: This may or may not be possible depending on the hotel availability in the orphanage town and the proximity to the provincial capital. This can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Q: Can I/we have more time in my/our child’s orphanage city in addition to the 3-4 day tour?
A: Yes, this can be arranged for an additional fee.
Q: We have two or more children going on the tour. Can we have one parent go with one child on an orphanage visit and the other parent goes with the other child on the orphanage visit?
A: Yes, this can be arranged through CCCWA/BLAS.
Q: Are we going to be put into a large travel group?
A: CCCWA/BLAS will divide the traveling families into some small groups, normally around 10-12 families (depending on the # of travelers) in one group and share one bus (40 seat capacity). A full-time tour guide and a coordinator will be assigned to each group. CCCWA/BLAS will separate the bus departure time and set up different schedules for sightseeing and also choose different restaurants for meals.
Q: I/We personally know other families that are going on this heritage tour. Can you arrange for us to be in the same travel group for the Heritage Tour?
A: Yes, of course! Please make sure to note this on Registration Form!
Q: Can I/we join the tour if I/we did not adopt through CCAI?
A: Of course, everyone is welcome so please spread the word!
Q: Can we join the tour if we’re still in the adoption process and waiting for our child match?
A: Yes, you’re welcome to join us and experience China and CCCWA personally before the adoption.
Q: Can my/our extended family members or friends travel with me/us?
A: Yes, of course, but please make sure to register together!
Q: What is the recommended amount of money to bring for tips per day per person?
A: $5 or RMB35 per day per tourist. It is fine to tip in either USD or RMB currency.
Q: Does the main tour cost also include the flight back up to Beijing if my/our family does not plan do an orphanage visit.
A: No, the main tour starts in Beijing and ends in Guangzhou. CCCWA/BLAS can arrange your family to fly back to Beijing and charge you the difference in airfare.
Q: What travel documents are needed in order to go on the Heritage tour?
A: Each traveler will need a valid passport and Chinese visa. Each traveler will need to obtain the Chinese visa from a Chinese Embassy/Consulate prior to travel.
Q: Will CCAI arrange an international group travel itinerary to and from China?
A: No, each family will have the opportunity to book tickets through a travel agent of their choice, directly with the airline or on the internet.