Travel Consultant & Tour Guides at China Odyssey Tours

Customer Service Manager:

No complaint here, but more than a few compliments. This letter comes to you with reference to a trip my wife and I recently took with your company. It was a private tour and the tour number as H-19740VIP. The exact dates escape me now, but roughly it was the last two weeks of October and the first week of November (and started in Kunming - Dali - Lijiang- Zongdian - Deqin - Kunming). Mr. Anxi (Leo) Huang was the trip advisor and cordinator for this trip. So, let's start with Mr. Huang.

I can not speak highly enough of this young man. I have nothing but the very highest respect and praise for the manner in which he conducted his business with me. I would consider it my good fortunate were he to be one of my employees. He was patient, took the time to find out answers to my questions when he was not able to answer himself; he listened and responded appropriately when I told him that, for instance, I wanted an SUV for the entire driving portion of my trip; he was very accomodating when I told him that I was not interested in any of the hotels he had picked for the trip, and was most helpful in making arrangements at the hotels I did want to stay at. He kept in touch with us during our trip, and he checked up on us both before we left China and again after we had returned home to the USA. In short five very big stars for Mr. Anxi Huang, a most exemplatory young man, and very fine member of your staff whom you should be very thankful to have working in your organization.

A very big thank you to Mr. Hu Bing - Yunnan Overseas International Travel Service - in Kunming for immediately taking care of the guide problem after I returned to Kunming on the way home to Shanghai. Again, I can not speak highly enough of the excellent way Mr, Bing took care of the situation. I am indebted to him for his kindness, his conerncen and his immediate attention to the problem on a Sunday afternoon - 04 November 2007. Five Stars for Mr. Bing. Again, I would consider myself a lucky man if he worked in my organization. The replacement guide he sent was great too, I needed his services for only twenty minutes, but in those twenty minutes I feel as though I made a new friend. Great man, real stand up guy. Mr. Bing knows who this guy is and I give him Five Stars too.

Dali, our guide Li Shz Mei (Rita) One of the most beautiful human beings I have ever met in my life. I will not write anything about her, she was perfect in every single way, and perfection needs no words. The entire heaven of stars for Li Shz Mei. The best guide, the best human being any person could hope for in any county in any situation. I will see her again soon, as a personal friend for life, not a guide.

Lijiang, forgive me, I have forgotten the guide's Chinese name. Young kid named James in English. Nice kid, felt like my little brother taggin along. He tried as hard as he could, and he did everything he was supposed to do. I give him five stars as well, and have no complaints, but I will say, he needs to learn not to become excited if the client changes plans; it is no harm to him, is no loss of money for the company, no reason why he should not just yes. Of course if there is reason why the client's request is no goood or impossible, well, he must hold his ground. But if client wants to change hotels, why should the guide care? I have only good things to say about James and am rather embarrassed I have forgotten his Chinese name.

Shangri-la, guide is Tenzin, working for Diqing Holyland International Travel Service CO LTD. Five stars, fantastic young man, what a pleasure to spend time with him. We have become friends and I look forward to seeing him again soon, as s friend, not a client. Again, a really first rate human being, just pure pleasure to be in his company.

Finally, the driver for our entire trip, Jian Hua operating out of Lijiang I have traveled all over the Himalayas, Nepal, India, Bhutan, and now my first vist from the China side. I have had many drivers in the mountains. Jian Hua is a god among men. The single best driver I have ever seen anywhere in the world. Nice guy, honest, dependable, I felt honored to ride along side of him. Really, I felt it was a honor to be his passenger in his truck, and I was paying for it! A heaven full of stars for Jian Hua. A big thank you to Mr. Anxi (Leo) Huang for finding this man for me. Jinan Hua and I are friends for life, and already we are making plans for our next trip together. I am introducing the services of this man and his company to every adventure sports travel company in the USA, Canda, and Japan and our Mountaineeering Company here in Japan will most certainly use his services exclusively in the future on trips to the Chinese Himalaya. Your company would do well to use this man and his services whenever you can.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. The new year quickly approaches, and it should be my wish then, that 2008 is the best year ever for you and your family and your friends, for all of us. Peace. Be good and be well and be safe,

steven westrum from USA
Dec. 20, 2007