16 Apr 2019
Our party of 14 people took the 2-day tour of Beijing with Catherine Lu Tours. Steve was our private guide, and Mr. Zhang our driver. All in all, we were quite pleased with the services both provided.
Steve promptly greeted us at the Tianjin Port Cruise Terminal. He was knowledgeable about the history of the Great Wall, Summer Palace, Forbidden City, and Temple of Heaven. He was also able to speak about different aspects of China’s rich history and culture. He answered all of our questions thoughtfully. What stood out was his keen observation and consideration, as he sensed one person in our group was tiring and was able to procure a wheelchair for them to use during the Forbidden City tour. He also bought local beers at lunchtime for us to taste. Additionally, Steve hung around in the Pearl Market for 1.5 hours while we lunched and shopped after the tour had ended (and after we had paid and tipped him) to make sure we all boarded the van to get back to the port.
Mr. Zhang drove us in a fairly new and air-conditioned van of 18 seats. It was quite comfortable as we could stretch our legs and had room for our overnight baggage. The ride was smooth on both days. He was accommodating and professional. He made stops for the rest room and got us back to the port in time. We felt safe with him.
Catherine Lu Tours exceeded our expectations. The tour package was delivered as described on their website. Not only did their guide and driver treat us like VIP customers, their sales staff, especially Jenna, showed courtesy and eagerness to work with us. They even waived half the cost of the Paypal transaction fees. Catherine Lu Tours went above and beyond in providing us with a quality tour and memorable time in Beijing. We would choose Catherine Lu Tours again next time we return to Beijing.