What's in my Carry-on?

When it comes to packing, I would consider myself a pro. Averaging 4-5 trips a year, I am able to pack with confidence the morning of a 12 day trip and still manage to not forget anything. I think part of this is luck, but most importantly, planning.

Here are 5 items that, you can guarantee, are in my carry-on each and every time.

1. iPod. My 120 gigabyte gadget has helped me kill countless hours in planes and airports. Having access to all my favourite music is a great but where it really shines is the amount of movies and TV shows it can hold. On my last trip to China I was able to enjoy all three seasons of Arrested Development as well as some of last year’s Oscar winners. An iPod also allows you to block out a lot of the noise pollution found in airports and planes.
   



2. Change of clothes. A change of clothes (and a toiletry kit) is always recommended. One may never know when their bag will pull a disappearing act on them. I try to pack clothes that are compact but also soft on the skin in case I need to use a shirt as a pillow in an airport lounge.
   



3. Local currency. I always like to have a little bit of local currency for when I arrive in a new country. Having local currency accessible allows me to hit the ground running instead of heading straight to the foreign exchange counter in the airport. Local currency also comes in handy for when I get hungry or thirsty before I have reached my local hotel.
   



4. Aspirin, allergy, cold medicine and Pepto pills. These little guys have saved me time and time again. It is no fun being sick. It is even less fun being sick, looking for a drug store in a new city and trying to decipher the medicines’ packaging at the local pharmacy. Just remember when even travelling with any medicine, that it is in pill form or under 100mL.
   



5. Insurance. As travel professionals, we all understand the importance of insurance. But it is also important to ensure you have the correct type of coverage. For me, I always go with the deluxe options. Full medical coverage as well as trip interruption. I always have a copy of my policy number in my suitcase, wallet and local smart phone.
   
   

Having the above five items with me always makes my flight and first 24 hours in a new city much more comfortable. And do remember to make sure your carry on suitcase is small, light and has good wheels. Your back will thank you for it.

Regards,

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Hello Busy Season!

One of my favourite seasons is spring. As an avid gardener, I already see the daffodils pushing through the thawed soil and this means tulips are shortly behind! I get to start planning this years' flower bed and deciding what is going in the Ashby veggie pad in the backyard. I also enjoy spring because it is the start of Chinapac's busy season!

After sowing the seeds of marketing and training during winter's dark months, the fruits of our labour are almost ripe to be picked. Over the next few months we will be sending hundreds of Canadian and American tourists to China and South East Asia. For many of our clients, this will be their first time visiting Asia and I am honoured that their travel agent decided to book with Chinapac.

Maybe the agent picked Chinapac because we have been in business for 27 years! Maybe they picked us because they love our service in Canada and overseas. Maybe they like the fact that we are a Canadian owned company and understand the needs of our fellow citizens. Or perhaps it was one of our Amazing China specials that got their attention.

Whatever the reason, thank you for supporting us. We still have space on a lot of our spring South East Asia tours because we offer more tours to South East Asia than any other Canadian tour operator. So if you are looking to provide something a little different to your client, give us a call!

Best regards,

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Gong Hey Fat Choy!

I hope everyone has been enjoying their Chinese New Year Celebration. Mine so far has not been too bad. On Sunday I met up with the family for some good Chinese food and I even managed to score some licee (lucky money) from generous relatives.

Last night I was invited by Air Canada to the Fairmont Pacific Rim to ring in the new year and celebrate. Sadly I did not win any business class tickets this time.
And this Sunday I will be joining 50,000 other people in Chinatown for the annual Chinese New Year Parade. Forecast, as usual, calls for rain.

And to cheer in the year of the Dragon I am happy to announce two new specials.

13 Day Super Yangtze
• 2 for 1 from $3999 air & land
http://www.chinapac.ca/PackageInformation.aspx?SGID=1049
Featuring a 5 day cruise on the biggest and newest 5-star ship on the Yangtze, the MS Yangtze 2 with outside cabins

12 Day Super China
• 2 for 1 from $2999 air & land
http://www.chinapac.ca/PackageInformation.aspx?SGID=1046
The perfect introduction for travelers looking for a taste of China.

In our 27 years of business, never before has such an SUPER value tour been available!

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Gong Hey Fat Choy!

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Gong Hey Fat Choy!

Chinapac International has MICE!

Not the squeak squeak ones but the other kind of MICE that is meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions!

This year we are responsible for coordinating over 30 MICE events in South East Asia.
For more than 25 years that we've been facilitating business in China and most of South East Asia, we've witnessed international trade shows and events develop. This segment of travel has continued to increase proving success and effectiveness to many businesses and their respective trades.

As most of you know, Chinapac is a Canadian company and South East Asia industry leader with 27 years of experience who appreciates Western corporate culture. In addition to our traditional leisure travel products, we have been offering the following corporate services for clients visiting South East Asia:

• Organize meetings and trade delegations with local governments and/or businesses


• Visa processing & invitation letters


• Airplane & cruise charters


• Personal interpreters for sightseeing, business meetings and trade shows


• Private car service for business appointments or just sightseeing


• Theme parties & gala dinners at exclusive locations

We have successfully managed delegations in the past, arranging trips from small groups of 4 to contingents made up of 120 persons. Our strong international ties guarantee the best rates and quality for the suitable five- or four-star accommodations, personal interpreters and other additional services necessary. Despite the swift nature of corporate trips, we provide business travelers the same attention and intendance as leisure clients. Through the mature network of relationships Chinapac has across South East Asia, we can ensure clients will get the most out of their visit.

Further, easily transform business trips into a productive vacation by attaching one of the pre or post tour packages we offer.

For more information about Chinapac MICE events, please e-mail mice@chinpac.com, or visit http://www.chinapac.com/newsrelease/ta/mice/mice.jpg to see some of the shows we are coordinating.

Get ready for the year of the Dragon. It is going to be a fun one!

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Happy New Year!

Like many of you, 2011 was a fun, sometimes challenging but exciting year for us.

The Fun
In 2011 we hosted many FAMS to our preferred agents. This year we invited our agents to Thailand, Bali, China & the Yangtze River and Japan. Our participants and staff had a great time and have requested new destinations. For 2012 we will be offering FAM tours to most of the above destinations plus we have just added a 16 Day Vietnam and Cambodia FAM tour in November! This tour will be escorted by our president Jenny Soares so this trip should be a blast. Full details will be released next week.

The Challenging
Some of our favourite destinations had faced issues over the past year. Egypt had become politically unstable. Japan was rocked by an earthquake. Thailand had experienced severe flooding in Bangkok and surrounding areas. Both Thailand and Japan seem to be en route to making a fast recovery and Egypt is in the midst of their elections so I hope things will settle down soon.

As with many companies in the travel industry, hiring experienced staff has been challenge. If you know of someone looking for a new opportunity tell them to contact me or visit or career page for more information.
http://www.chinapac.ca/AboutUs/Careers/TQID1358/LG-EN/Content.aspx

The Exciting
This year we have sent travellers to more countries outside Asia than in past years. In addition to our existing South East Asia products, we have sent special interest groups to France, Spain, Hawaii, Las Vegas and Mexican Cruise.

Within Asia we made travel arrangements for a popular culinary TV show, organized a unique Pyramid expedition in Xian, escorted a group of doctors on a Traditional Chinese Medicine tour in China. We also had the opportunity to show 41 travel college students the beauty of China. With the success of the above programs we have now expanded our MICE products and will be offering arrangements for over 30 travel shows in Asia for 2012.

Last but not least our new website www.chinapac.ca! I am quite pleased with this new website and the content that is offered. Chinapac now has more Asia tours online than any other Canadian tour operator.

Wishing everyone a fun and prosperous 2012!

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Happy Holidays to you and your family!

On my first visit to Beijing 12 Octobers ago, I had a free day to explore the city on my own. Being my first time in Asia, I ventured off to the shopping mall that was directly across from my hotel. The adventurous type I am not. This mall was big by Canadian standards. 6/7 floors, bright shiny floors, all the major brands stocked with smiling sales associates. There were two peculiar things however. 1) The mall was empty. 2) Christmas music.

These days I know the mall is busy with the emerging Chinese middle class but I do wonder if they still play Jingle Bells in the fall.

Please note our holiday hours:

Dec 23 8:30am - 12:30pm (PST)
Dec 24 Closed
Dec 25 Closed
Dec 26 Closed
Dec 27 8:30am - 5pm
Dec 28 8:30am - 5pm
Dec 29 8:30am - 5pm
Dec 30 8:30am - 5pm
Dec 31 Closed
Jan 1 Closed
Jan 2 Closed
Jan 3 8:30am - 5pm

Happy holidays!

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

We are live! Chinapac's New Booking Engine

So after months of planning, designing and testing, our new website is online!

Designed with a simple yet sophisticated interface, the new booking tool will help both clients and agents on planning and booking their Asia travels with more ease and convenience. Its user friendly navigation system allows for an uncomplicated browsing experience through more than 700 recommended tours and activities in China and South East Asia.

For questions or for more information, please visit http://www.chinapac.ca or call 1-800-661-8182.

Regards,

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

King for a Week

So after wrapping up my meetings and inspections in Bangkok, it was time to escape city life! With my wife in tow, it was off for a one hour flight to our next destination - Koh Samui. Famous for its spas and laid back attitude this was naturally my first choice. It was really hard to pick the place to stay as there are so many luxury resorts, after many hours of searching I found the perfect place - Sala Samui. I cannot even describe how nice this place is but I will try...

Everywhere you look, it is like you have stepped into a Restoration Hardware catalogue, but with more colour. Blue skies, swaying palm trees coupled with a calming décor of teak furniture, cotton linens, smooth hardwood floors, cool marble bathrooms accented with rainbow coloured orchids. And every villa has its own private swimming pool. It's like having your own beach villa. We barely left our room, let alone the resort!

On the days we did leave the resort, one day was spent visiting the protected marine park. If you must do one touristy thing, this is highly recommended. The day was spent power boating, snorkeling, hiking, swimming, kayaking and of course, eating. The water looked so velvety and color was like a soft jade green. Just beautiful.

Another night was spent on the town taking in an authentic action packed Muay Thai fight card headlined by Rob from Canada. The stadium was loud, hot and smoky. The card had 7 fights, 5 which ended by brutal knocks out so time was well spent on a Tuesday night.

My one guilty indulgence - I spent 4 hours at a 5-star spa, for a fraction of what it would cost at home. Scrub, wrap, massage, facial were all words of the day. I did, however, draw the line when they suggested I sit in a pool where fish would nibble the dead skin off your body...yuck.

I can't believe I have only 3 more hours here before I spend the next 20 hours getting home. There have been very times in my life when I felt a trip was too short and Thailand was definitely one of them. If you are looking to plan a trip for your clients that they will never forget, I highly recommend booking them on 2 week trip to Thailand.

Best Regards,

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

We have the best guides and staff

Yes I said it. I know every tour operator makes this bold claim but based on the feedback from our clients I truly believe this statement as we receive praise weekly.

Here are excerpts from some of our past clients over the past few weeks:

"We have returned from our tours of Beijing and Shanghai, and our cruise, and had a wonderful, very special time. I want to thank you and your company for arranging such fantastic guides for us. I want you to know and pass on our A++ rating and the highest compliments and appreciation for Jane in Beijing."

"Just wanted to drop you a note to say how much I enjoyed my recent 16 day tour to China with ChinaPac. I took my nine year old son for Spring Break and was joined by my brother, his ten year old daughter and older son and we all had an amazing time. My concerns of taking my son on such a trip were soon put to rest after we landed and were greeted by our tour guide..."

"Ni Hao. My husband and I just returned from the most wonderful trip to China with Chinapac. We met our Tour Manager/Guide Frank in Shanghai who was with us for the entire trip plus Kudos to all our city guides at each stop also. All five star hotels were amazing (especially Beijing with the hot toilet)..."

"As you are aware, others have said in their testimonials that Tony is superb, amongst other things. Truly, that is just one perfect adjective to describe him. The level of service provided by Tony throughout our tour can also be described as exceptional. In our opinions, there's simply no area in which Tony could have improved upon his performance."

"... I want to thank you for the way you and your associates managed the trip to China. You thought af every little detail and there were no slipups. Everything went 100%! You should be very proud of the way you and your coworkers were arranging every little detail..."

I am really proud of our guides overseas and our local staff in our Vancouver office. The customer experience begins with the agent in Vancouver seamlessly transitions to our guides when they receive your clients overseas. It is because of our team what we are able to offer some of the best quality Asia tours in the Canadian market.

If you would read more praises and accolades please visit http://www.chinapac.com/04AboutUs/allreviews.asp

And better yet, experience the quality yourself and take one of our world famous FAM!

Go ‘Nucks!

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Message from Japan National Tourism Organization: Japan is Open for Safe Travel

The first month after the most major earthquake in the northeastern Japan has been an important recovery time for Japan, despite that international media release floods of extensive coverage on post-catastrophe situation. Thanks to international relief supports and Japan’s resilience and hard-working effort enables the country to recover the infrastructure as well as commercial activities at a surprisingly fast pace.

Following the British and Canadian governments’ ease on travel restrictions to Japan, on April 14, the US Department of State has reduced the travel alert to Japan only within the 50 miles radius of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which excludes major cities such as Tokyo and Yokohama, and Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda airports.

You can view Today's Japan through live cameras and YouTube videos.

As international organizations release clearer figures and assessment, the current situation has reached a reasonable safety level for international travelers, with detailed data as of April 15.

Can We Visit Japan Today? – YES!
The majority of regions in Japan including popular leisure travel destinations, are outside the areas affected by tsunami, earthquake and radiation, and received no disruption to infrastructure. Everything in these areas continues to operate as usual. The greater Tokyo area has already retrieved the usual condition, and there are no more periodical blackouts. The other regions are unharmed, and safe and normal as before.

How is the Radiation Level? – NOT DANGEROUS!
Except for the proximate areas near the nuclear power plants, there is no dangerous level of radiation detected in Japan. Tokyo is not within radiation contamination concern area, located over 200km (124 miles) away from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant facilities. The radiation level in Tokyo is similar to that of New York City. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other international organizations confirm that the radiation level in the atmosphere is within a reasonable safety level to human health.

The accident in Fukushima is now categorized as level 7 with the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES). However, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) estimates the amount of radiation released to the atmosphere is as a mere 10% of the Chernobyl accident. Since the INES category doesn’t have anything higher than level 7, both incidents fall into the same category in spite of the huge difference in the radiation levels and the size and structure of the accidents. See more details here.

In addition, please see the daily updates on radiation level in major cities in Japan here.

Are Food and Water Safe? – YES!
There is no shortage of food or water, and products distributed to the public are all safe.

Is Public Transportation Working? – YES!
Japan's sophisticated public transportation systems have been recovered to the regular service levels everywhere, except for the tsunami-affected regions.

Daily Updates
Since the 3.11 earthquake, Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) continues to release updates on its website, including radiation conditions, transportation, events and other travel-related information.

Daily updates are also available online at JNTO’s North American website.

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Chinapac cruise products on TravelHotNew.com

TravelHotNews.com has recently featured Chinapac's cruise products as one of the unique cruise options popular to Canadian travellers.

CHINAPAC

With agencies booking large river cruise groups with the tour operator this year, Chinapac expects 2011 to be an even stronger cruising year than 2010.

“The numbers coming in already are looking promising,” said Otis Ashby, sales and operations, Chinapac.

Specializing in river cruises along the Yangtze in China, the Mekong in Vietnam and the Ganges in India, Ashby noted that many of the tour operators' Canadian clients have been looking to take an Asia trip for some time and are now scratching it off their bucket list.

For those scratching Asia off that list while experiencing a Chinapac tour for the first time, the company recommends the Yangtze tours. For repeat clients, Ashby said the operator recommends the Mekong River tours.

Victoria Cruises, COTC, Century Cruises, Pandaw Cruises, Star Cruises, Yachts of Seabourn and President Cruises are all available through Chinapac however, Ashby noted that, “If there is a cruise line in South East Asia that your clients want to sail, we will more than likely be able to book it for you.”

New for Chinapac in 2011 is the MS Yangtze 2, the largest five-star ship sailing the Yangtze. The inaugural sailing is set for September and, although the sites and points of interest are similar to that of the other Yangtze River tours, the MS Yangtze 2 is the first of those ships to have a movie theatre, indoor pool and three restaurants to dine at, said Ashby.

For more information, visit chinapac.com or order Chinapac's Asia brochure here.

Happy New Year! Again!

This time we are celebrating in Thailand! The festival is known as the Songkran festival which will last for three consecutive days April 13-15. This festival is observed nationwide and the most famous Songkran celebrations are in the northern city of Chiang Mai, where it continues for six days and even longer.

The most common celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water. People will roam the streets with containers of water or water guns and drench each other and passersby. April is the hottest month in Thailand so the cool water is refreshing.

Besides the throwing of water, people celebrating Songkran may also go to a Buddhist monastery known as a wat to pray and give food to monks. In cities such as Chiang Mai, the Buddha images from the city's important monasteries are paraded through the streets so that people can toss water at them, ritually 'bathing' the images, as they pass by on ornately decorated floats.

If your clients interested in visiting Thailand over the next year, I highly recommend our 12 Day Beaches, Bangkok and Beijing starting from CAD 2169 featuring 4 and 5 star hotels. I will also be returning to Thailand this June so expect more exciting news and specials from Chinapac.

Have a wet and happy Songkran!

Regards,

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Earthquake hits Myanmar near China and Thai borders

Yesterday, an earthquake took place in Myanmar (Burma). The epicenter was in Kengtung which is in the north east part of Myanmar. An aftershock was also felt in Inle Lake too.

Reports from our local partners have confirmed that all travelers are fine and that there has been no severe damage or injuries. A destructive tsunami is not expected. Considering the magnitude was 7.0 — this is good news.

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

What every travel agent should know about Japan

While the tragedy that struck Japan in the last week still dominate our headlines, the Japanese have demonstrated warming efforts of coping and recovery as a nation. Chinapac was quite fortunate to not have any clients in any of the affection areas.

Here is a brief overview of the current situation in Japan to help address any questions your clients might have.

Highly affected regions:
Rescue and recovery operations still continue in the Tohoku region, the area severely hit by the tragic event. This area includes the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant which is 240km north of Tokyo.

Recovering regions:
Tokyo is slowly rising from a strong shock with both of its major airports, Narita and Haneda, reopening on Wednesday, March 16 and public transportations resuming partial operations.

Unaffected regions:
The western Japan as well as other popular destinations such as Kyoto, Osaka, Sapporo, Kanazawa and Hiroshima remain undamaged from the tsunami and nuclear plant accident.

The Japan travel organization has advised visitors to contact the Tokyo Headquarters of Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) for around-the-clock information service at the Tourism Information Center (TIC) Phone: +81-(0)3-3201-3331. Service is in English, Chinese and Korean. The 24-hour service is available for the duration of current crisis.

Wishing Japan a safe and steady recovery.

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations