China - Shanghai Private Tour Guides

We are booked at the Peninsula:confused: in Shanghai and I just received the Private Tour lists and prices from the Concierge. What should we be paying for a half-day city tour? Has anyone gone through a Hotel for Private tours? Suggestions? Thanks Again

I would recommend the "forums" section of the Shanghai page on www.tripadvisor.com I have used several guides in Asia I have found on tripadvisor with good results.

Grey Line is one of the major players. www.dtitours.com

Price from Hotel was same as offered from website--there is probably a "commission" involved.

Shopping Tours (http://www.shoppingtoursshanghai.com/) was the priciest but it gets rave reviews. (RMB1200 per person) I was too cheap to try them.

We are booked at the Peninsula:confused: in Shanghai and I just received the Private Tour lists and prices from the Concierge. What should we be paying for a half-day city tour? Has anyone gone through a Hotel for Private tours? Suggestions? Thanks Again

I have a Chinese friend who would probably be willing to tote you around town for a fraction of the cost that the Penn concierge requests (I have no idea how much money this is, but I once inquired about a CITS guide for some elderly guests that were touring Guangzhou and they asked for y2,000 per day, which blew my mind). He isn't an official tour guide, by any means (in fact, I doubt that he's ever worked in that capacity), but his English is perfect (i.e. native level fluency), he is far smarter than the typical guide, and the chances of him forcing you to hang out in a gift shop are zero.

I have a Chinese friend who would probably be willing to tote you around town for a fraction of the cost that the Penn concierge requests (I have no idea how much money this is, but I once inquired about a CITS guide for some elderly guests that were touring Guangzhou and they asked for y2,000 per day, which blew my mind). He isn't an official tour guide, by any means (in fact, I doubt that he's ever worked in that capacity), but his English is perfect (i.e. native level fluency), he is far smarter than the typical guide, and the chances of him forcing you to hang out in a gift shop are zero.

^^^;)

Great no gift shop detention.

Friends have used this company:

http://www.luxuryconciergechina.com/homepage.html

It is very expensive though... you are paying for the private guide and obviously if you have a group it works out at a cheaper rate per person. But you get a tour that only covers what you want, and for how long you want at each place.

Try ellyse, if she's not on a trip, she might be able to do it.

^^^;)

Great no gift shop detention.

A friend is setting up Indian casino tours for chinese tourists.
First on the list is shopping at a gold mine..then native american crafts, of course
all items made in China. By the time they get to the casinos they
will need to get a wire transfer for more money. Funded by federal loans.