02 Jan 2020
I was in Shanghai for a week of work, and it was my first time in Asia. I navigated Shanghai with ease for my business needs, but I was a little skeptical of what it would be like to travel outside of the city for some day trips without the ability to speak Chinese. I particularly wanted to see historical Suzhou, and I felt that I needed a personal guide to get me safely there and back. I'm so glad I followed my instinct. The trip would have not been nearly as successful otherwise.
I took a chance on Melody Tours. They weren't the most expensive, and they didn't have the most Trip Advisor reviews. I'm happy to report that my expectations were exceeded in every way possible. They offered a white glove, end-to-end experience that ended up being one of my favorite days of international travel that I have ever had.
Kelly picked me up at my downtown hotel and took me to the train station. Along the way - we talked about my general interests (history, design, and the life of diverse peoples in the world today). By the end of the ride, she had a personalized Suzhou itinerary for me. She even took the trouble to get me into my first class high-speed rail seat which came with the price of my tour.
In Suzhou, the fantastic Jessica picked me up at the train stations. We had a private driver who took us from there to every site. I was so happy to have a private driver. He was ready for us at every stop making it much better than waiting on taxis.
Jessica has lived in Suzhou for many years and has a degree in travel planning. All of this showed throughout the tour. She seemed to know everything! My favorite stop in Suzhou was the Master of Nets Garden, but that was only one of 4 sensational stops on my tour. At every stop, Jessica was very patient with my hundreds of questions. She even helped negotiate great prices for souvenirs that I bought for my family!
When I arrived back in Shanghai, I had a driver at the station ready to take me back to my hotel. So easy!
Kelly and Jessica provided a fantastic experience. I will definitely look to them for day trip options next time I'm in Shanghai for work.
Highly recommended!!!