Our one and only pre-trip meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 1, 2000 at Joe Laufer's home, 9 Smith Court, Vincentown. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. Ron Fenska, our Collette Tours representative, will conduct the meeting. Since most of you have been to my home, I think you know how to get there. Anyone needing directions, just give me a call.

Ron will distribute a number of items relative to the tour and will explain just about everything you have to know about the tour. In addition he will bring information about a combination Medical/Baggage Insurance program, at a cost of $47.00 per person. I highly recommend this insurance. Please be prepared to write a check for this coverage at the meeting.

CHINESE CURRENCY

As is my custom, I will make a trip to Philadelphia for Chinese currency prior to the trip. If you are interested, bring a check or cash to the November 1 meeting. I will take amounts in increments of $100.00. I will have the Chinese currency for you on the day of our departure for the airport.

AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION

As one of their customer services, Collette Tours provides transportation to and from the airport for groups of ten or more. Ron Fenska will provide details about pickup at the meeting on November 1. Depending on whether a bus or a van or limo picks us up, we will either meet at Laufers, where you can park and leave your cars for the duration of the trip, or at the Vincentown Fire House on Race Street, where we have been picked up before. In any case, cars may be parked at Laufers.

AIRLINE INFORMATION

All 12 of us will be flying to China together. Four will be returning on November 21, and eight on November 23. Here is the flight information:

Departure, Thursday, November 9

Philadelphia International: United Airlines - Flight 31 - Leave 7:00 a.m. Arrive San Francisco at 9:48 a.m.
San Francisco International: United Airlines - Flight 803 - Leave 11:20 a.m. Arrive Beijing at 3:35 p.m.

Return trip: Group 1 - Tuesday, November 21: The Stehly's and Mazzilli's:

Pu Dong -Shanghai Airport: United Airlines - Flight 890 - Leave 11:10 a.m. Arrive Los Angeles at 8:25 a.m.
Los Angeles: United Airlines - Flight 26 - Leave 1:35 p.m. Arrive Philadelphia at 9:32 p.m.

Return trip: Group 2 - Thursday, November 23: Laufer, Stein, Essex, Keeley, Lee, Lord, Amico, Ghaul:

Hong Kong: United Airlines - Flight 896 - Leave at 9:10 a.m. Arrive Chicatgo O'Hare at 8:55 a.m.
Chicago: United Airlines - Flight 1860 - Leave at 11:00 a.m. Arrive Philadelphia at 1:52 p.m.

Anyone wishing special accommodations should contact United Airlines directly. Because of bulk booking, neither Collette Tours nor I will be able to make adjustments on your behalf.

CHINA VISAS

At this point, I am assuming that all of you have received your China Visa. If you have not, please contact me immediately to let me know what the problem might be.

WEB SITE

This Newsletter was created on my website, www.laufer-world.com, and downloaded for distribution via mail. If you are an Internet user, I encourage you to check my website for any updates of this information between now and our departure. Click on to "International Tours", and then to "China". You will note that I have links to special China web sites. Also, I have added a currency converter to the site.

OTHER TRIPS PLANNED

Many of you are aware of two trips planned for 2001: The Paris City Stay (March 22-27) and the Brussels/Luxembourg/Amsterdam trip (August 6-15). I have recently added a third tour for 2001: "Canadian Rockies Panorama" - 8 days: May 26-June 2, 2001 (The Memorial Day Weekend). We fly to and from Calgary for the tour. Cost (twin) is $1,669. I'm doing this one through Collette Tours, also. I'll have flyers at the meeting -- or if you want them earlier, let me know.