Great whirlof China
the wall, strolled along taking photos of the magnificent views and gawping at the feat of engineering winding over the hills into the distance, before tobogganing down. Yes, you read that right – we slid back down the side of the wall in a metal tube on a plastic sled!
The operators dropped us back off at the airport, shattered, at 1pm in time for our 4pm flight. It was well worth the £65pp (cable car and toboggan extra).
We packed plenty into our brief stays in Beijing and I highly recommend anyone adventurous to give it a go – as long as you’re prepared to plan it carefully, with a Plan B and a Plan C in case of flight delays. The Beijing Layover Tour company offers refunds as long as you let them know asap.
Also check your transit eligibility – British citizens with a British passport are permitted, but restrictions can apply to others.
It’s also difficult to predict the traffic. It took us 30 minutes to get back to our hotel one night in a cab after taking well over an hour to do the same journey into town.
Ensure you travel with the addresses of every location you plan to visit written in Chinese, pack a pen to save time filling out your boarding cards. Also download the DiDi app for cabs.
Finally, don’t expect luxury accommodation, but it’s a bed for the night, a private toilet and decent shower – and it’s free.
Join DJs Sara Cox and Trevor Nelson for the three-night Electric Sunsets 80s cruise from Newcastle on Sept 1. Marella Explorer will call at Amsterdam and Bruges then Southampton. iglucruise.com, 0203 733 5557
Head to Germany’s cool capital and save up to £220pp staying two nights room-only at the five-star Hotel Bristol Berlin with flights from Manchester on August 19. loveholidays.com, 020 3870 6844 The wonders of the Middle East both ancient and modern await on a Fred Olsen sailing next month.
Boudicca’s 14-night itinerary will offer 30 excursions, including a visit to Jordan’s incredible lost city of Petra, a seaplane flight over the shimmering skyscrapers of Abu Dhabi, and a visit to the UAE capital’s high-octane Yas Marina F1 circuit. Or slow down the pace with a sensational sunset in the heart of the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan and a dhow cruise to the Omani Fjords, described as the ‘Norway of Arabia’.
A spokesman said: ‘’Any one of these fantastic tours will add that extra special touch to what is already set to be an extraordinary trip.’’
The ship will sail from Aqaba, Jordan, on September 20, ending in Abu Dhabi. Prices start at £1,199pp. Flights from Stansted or Manchester and transfers are included.