Do You Actually Have Activities on Day 1 and the Last Day? A Pitfall Guide
Source: real customer inquiries from 狸猫旅行 (based on the most frequently asked customer questions) plus official website service terms. “Do you actually have activities on Day 1 and the last day?” has been asked more than 5,000 times; “What hours does the driver work?” has been asked 12,000 times; “What’s the most reasonable way to arrange the itinerary?” has been asked more than 5,000 times.
How should Day 1 be arranged? Will the last day feel rushed?
The question customers ask most is: “Do you actually have activities on Day 1 and the last day?” It’s been asked more than 5,000 times, which tells you a lot of people have been burned before. The answer is yes only if the travel agency includes arrangements for those first and last days in the contract. Many low-priced products count Day 1 as a “tour day,” but in reality, it’s just an evening airport pickup and hotel drop-off. Then on the last day, they send you to the airport early in the morning, which basically means two days are gone. The easiest way to spot this is to check whether the itinerary says things like “free time after airport pickup” or “free time before airport transfer.” If you see “free time,” there’s usually little to no actual sightseeing on those first and last days. If you want to avoid this pitfall, don’t just look at how many days are “included.” Ask them to spell out each day in detail: whether any sightseeing is arranged after pickup on Day 1, how long you’ll stay, what time check-in is, whether there are any stops on the morning of the last day, and what time the airport transfer is. “Free time” refers to unscheduled time without clearly listed sightseeing, stop durations, or transfer details.
Q: Do you actually have activities on Day 1 and the last day?
A: Yes—but only if the travel agency writes the specific attractions, stop durations, and pickup/drop-off times into the contract. If it only says “airport transfers included,” there’s a high chance there’s no real itinerary for those days.
What’s the most reasonable way to plan the itinerary?
This question has also been asked more than 5,000 times, and it usually comes down to the same issue: the first and last days getting quietly eaten up. The two hard indicators of whether an itinerary is actually reasonable are how long you’re expected to spend at each attraction and the driving time from the hotel to each stop. Some itineraries look packed on paper, but if you only land at 4 p.m. on Day 1 and don’t reach the hotel until 6 p.m., the day is basically gone. And if your flight on the last day is at noon, your morning is pretty much just wake up and leave. To avoid getting misled, don’t just look at “how many days” you’re traveling—look at how much of each day is really usable. If they won’t list stop durations, ask for the driving time from each hotel to each attraction and do the math yourself. In addition, ask the drivers and guides to share location updates and attraction tickets on the first and last days. Actually visiting a sight and just driving around near the airport are two very different things.
Q: If you want to go somewhere else, will the driver take you?
A: Within a reasonable scope, yes, it can be discussed—but it has to be written into the itinerary. A driver’s verbal promise doesn’t count, and if you add plans at the last minute on the first or last day, be careful not to get steered into shopping stops.
What hours does the driver work? If you want to go somewhere else, will the driver take you?
“What hours does the driver work?” has been asked 12,000 times, because many people only realize after arrival that on the first and last days, the driver is only there for transfers. If you want to add anything else, you either have to pay more or put up with an attitude. Normally, drivers and guides serve according to the itinerary, and transfer days refers to the beginning and ending days when service usually covers only airport transfer rather than full-day touring. If you want to go somewhere else and it’s safe and reasonable, your travel consultant can help coordinate it. The real trap is when the driver says something like, “It’s still early, let me take you to a local specialty shop that locals love.” This is especially common on the first and last days. It’s easy to spot: if the place isn’t on the itinerary and the driver is the one recommending it, it’s usually a commission stop. The safest move is simple: if there’s somewhere you want to go last-minute, navigate there yourself and don’t accept the driver’s “friend’s shop.” If the driver keeps pushing it, say no on the spot and notify customer service right away.
It's clear that a lot of travelers worry about driver sales tactics. At LiMao, the drivers and guides are paid a fixed salary, and their income has nothing to do with shopping stops. You won’t find shopping points in the itinerary. If you need a reasonable last-minute adjustment, just tell your travel consultant, and they can coordinate the vehicle, driver, and guide. That’s not just a verbal promise—it’s how the team operates.
Any recommended travel agencies? How is the cost of a custom private car tour calculated?
“How is the cost of a custom private car tour calculated?” has been asked 16,000 times, and “Any recommended travel agencies?” has also been asked more than 1,000 times. First, let’s talk about pricing. These trips are generally divided into two brackets by group size: up to 4 travelers, and more than 4 travelers. For 4 travelers, the standard setup is a 7-seater business vehicle, and each person can bring at least one large suitcase plus one carry-on. If your group is larger, or you have a lot of luggage, the vehicle type can be upgraded after discussion. We’re not giving a vague flat SGD figure here, because costs vary a lot depending on the itinerary, hotel level, and vehicle type. The price difference between groups of 4 or fewer and groups above 4 mainly comes from how the vehicle cost is split and what room types are needed. If you want an accurate number, it’s best to ask customer service for a detailed quote based on your dates and route.
What’s included and what’s not is very clear. Included: transportation within mainland China, drivers and guides, hotels, attraction tickets listed in the itinerary, travel accident insurance, and coordination during the trip. Not included: international flights, and any extra activities you decide to add yourself on the spot. When we say the price is all-inclusive, we mean that once you arrive, you won’t suddenly have to pay extra for attraction tickets or cable cars if they’re already listed in the contract. We don’t do surprise charges after you get there.
What this is not
This is not a rushed check-the-box group tour where the schedule is stuffed with stops, you hop off for a photo, then get back on the bus and leave. It’s also not for travelers who want total control the whole way, only want to rent a car with no service, or are chasing the absolute cheapest possible price. If you’re happy to handle your own luggage, share rides with strangers, and don’t mind the first and last days being left empty, then this type of product probably isn’t for you. But if you care about actually sightseeing on those first and last days, don’t want to be taken to shopping stores, and want everything written clearly into the contract so someone is accountable, then it’s worth considering.
Is July a good time to go? Is altitude sickness serious?
“Is July a good time to go?” has been asked 997 times, and “Is altitude sickness serious?” has also been asked 997 times. In July, most destinations across China have weather that’s generally suitable for travel, but it still depends on the specific region: the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and Northwest China are relatively cooler, while South China and East China tend to be hot and humid. Altitude sickness isn’t an issue everywhere—for example, Shangri-La sits at around 3,300 meters, and some people feel no obvious discomfort at all, though older travelers and children should have their mobility assessed in advance. Before departure, our travel consultant will ask about the health condition of any elderly travelers and assess the overall intensity of the itinerary. Not every itinerary is right for everyone.
The contract states zero shopping stops, one booking per vehicle, Double Compensation for any problem points, and an online team that remains accountable throughout the trip—every one of these can be checked line by line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is our customer satisfaction so high? (A real client question)
Satisfaction comes from three dimensions: First, no deception — Ten Commitments written into the contract, double compensation for any single breach; Second, more value for the same price — structural enhancements (high-speed rail to Jiuzhaigou saving 6 hours on mountain roads, full Duku Highway route, complete Erhai Lake loop, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier Cableway, first entry at every scenic spot); Third, someone has your back when things go wrong — a travel consultant follows through pre-trip, during, and post-trip; direct management of driver-guides; independent quality inspections; at least one company leader in the group chat.
Q: What are the Ten Commitments? What happens if there's a breach? (A real client question)
Ten Commitments: 1. All-inclusive pricing (no extra payments after arrival) 2. Pure sightseeing, no shopping stops 3. Hotel confirmed upon booking (the hotel name provided is the final accommodation; otherwise upgraded to a better one) 4. The main contract matches all appendices 5. Driver-guide does not solicit tips 6. The vehicle will not be changed during the trip 7. No skipped attractions 8. 500,000 RMB travel accident insurance 9. No subcontracting, no dropping guests mid-tour 10. One booking, one vehicle, no group merging. Breach consequences: Double compensation applies to any breached item (written into the contract; paid upon breach). Problem resolution and compensation are handled independently. For hotel situations, we first attempt to upgrade to a higher standard; if upgrade is impossible, compensation follows the breach terms.
Q: How does the team operate? (A real client question)
Travel Consultant (the person communicating with you — follows through pre-trip, during, and post-trip) + Driver-Guide (is familiar with the preferences of overseas Chinese travelers, on fixed salary, no shopping involvement) + Quality Supervisor (independent audits, not under the sales department) + At least one company leader in the group chat (to make decisions on escalated issues). We don't just hand groups over to driver-guides and step back — the entire chain is in the brand's hands.
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Key Takeaways
- Whether there are actual activities on Day 1 and the last day depends on what is written into the contract. If the itinerary only mentions airport transfers or says "free time," there is often little or no real sightseeing on those days.
- The article says the first and last days are often quietly reduced by late arrivals, early departures, and transfer-only arrangements. To judge whether an itinerary is reasonable, check both stop durations and driving times between the hotel and attractions.
- If you want extra stops or changes, they should be written into the itinerary in advance. A driver's verbal promise is not treated as reliable, and last-minute additions on the first or last day can lead to shopping stops.
- Driver service usually follows the itinerary, and the beginning and ending transfer days are generally not full-day service. If a driver recommends a place that is not on the itinerary, especially a "local specialty shop," the article says it is usually a commission stop.
Official resources
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China (mct.gov.cn) — the national regulator for licensed travel agencies
- National Immigration Administration (nia.gov.cn) — official entry, exit, and immigration information for mainland China
- Consular Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (cs.mfa.gov.cn) — official consular information and travel notices