| Date | Rating | Comment
[Guest Comments: 17 positive, 0 negative]
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| 11/01/09 |
Positive
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| We have just returned from a fabulous week in Beijing. Staying with Joy, Michael and Daniel was beyond all of our expectations - wonderful experiences in sightseeing and restaurants - a totally hassle free way to see Beijing with no worries about finding our way around. Joy speaks excellent English and was a knowledgable guide it was wonderful to learn about local culture/food/history and try amazing restaurants we would never have found on our own. For breakfasts, and special dinners, Michael was a superb chef who will teach you how to make dumplings! We leave Beijing feeling that we have made friends that we hope we will see again in the future. We highly recommend staying with Joy and Michael. Diane and Bill (Canadians currently living in Hong Kong) |
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Diane and Bill Menzo , Hong Kong/Ontario Canada |
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| 09/09/09 |
Positive
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| Our stay with Joy, Michael and Daniel was the highlight of our trip to China. Joy was extremely friendly, informative and spoke excellent English. We truly appreciated her knowledge of Beijing and the Chinese culture and history. She is a fantastic driver and has a great sense of humor. Joy made everything from booking our trip to seeing all the sights so easy and enjoyable. Her husband, Michael, is an incredible cook and made us gourmet breakfasts and dinners during our entire stay. Even though he spoke very little English, he was a friendly and gracious host. Their son Daniel was such a sweet boy and could play drums better that some professionals. Our boys really enjoyed playing ping pong with him. We would highly recommend staying with Joy if you plan on traveling to Beijing. We cannot say enough about what a terrific family Joy has. She is a fantastic person and we can't thank her enough for everything that she did for us. |
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The Sheppard Family, Calgary, AB, Canada
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| 08/18/09 |
Positive
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| Our family of 6 stayed with Joy and her family for 10 days in August. The first time we saw Joy's listing, we were very interested and wanted to experience staying with a family - and we were not disappointed. Joy is a very knowledgeable guide and her family welcomed us warmly into their home. Our 2 boys (aged 10 and 12) thoroughly enjoyed the home theatre, ping pong table and playing the wii with Joy's son, Daniel. Joy helped us fine tune our itinerary and each night we went over our plan for the next day. We didn't stick to our itnerary (of course!) but we did everything we wanted to do and Joy was very flexible with our changes. The daily breakfasts Michael cooked for us were simply delicious and we looked forward to it each day. We experienced the bus and subway one day and, while we enjoyed it it, it make us much more appreciative of having Joy drive us around - and she is an excellent driver! Joy helped us book our flights to/from Xi'an and we paid a lower price than if we'd purchased it ourselves. We cannot say enough about our experience with Joy's family. It was one of the hi-lights of our trip and we would do it again in a heart beat! Thank you Joy, Michael & Daniel! |
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Diane Westerfield, Houston, TX |
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| 08/09/09 |
Positive
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If you are thinking of going to Beijing for the first time please take our advice and contact Joy. We have just returned from a holiday in China, the highlight of which was undoubtably our stay with Joy and her family. As well as having Joy to pick us up at the airport, drop us off at the railway station at the end and transport us around worry free during our stay, simply the experience of seeing Beijing through the eyes of a Chinese family and returning every night to a 'real' beijing suburb was something which made our holiday special. Nothing was any trouble for Joy and she give you as much or as little help as you needed. She even bought our train tickets for our onward journeys to Qingdao and Shanghai in cash before we had arrived in China and saw that we were safely on the train after our stay. Our highlight was the Wall at Simatai, worth the extra travel time to get a feel for both the ruined wall and a short restored section. It is also very peaceful and quiet unlike some other sections of the wall. Also go to the Temple of Heaven in the morning for people watching - the locals congrgate here for all manner of excercise and activities and it's fascinating to watch; we liked it so much we went twice.
On our evening return, we either had some home cooked food prepared by Michael or ate in some fantastic local restaurants recommended by Joy. The meal prepared by Michael on our first night was quite simply the best chinese meal we have ever had. His breakfasts were unbeleivable and set you up for a a whole day of exploration without needing anything to eat until evening.
Joy was extremely knowledgeable on Chinese life and history, and her excellent english meant that she could tell you things about the locality as you drove along.
Also, insist on asking Daniel to play the drums !! This lad is destined for rock and roll !
Do not go to Beijing and stay in a heartless chain hotel...you will miss without doubt the highlight of your Chinese holiday. Joys house comes with our enthusiastic recommendation and many thanks to her and her lovely family. |
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The Taylor Family, North Yorkshire, England. |
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| 07/14/09 |
Positive
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| Our Family had the honor of staying with Joy, Michael, & Daniel for a week in June '09. It was GREAT! When we decided we were going to Beijing, I immediately went to VRBO to see what was available. Right on the top of the Beijing page was Joy's listing "Stay with English Speaking Family (Meals, Driver & Guide Included)". I knew that was what we needed, but not until we got to Joy's did I realize what a fantastic opportunity we had made for ourselves. Even before we departed for our trip, Joy was available by phone & email to help with questions & finalizing parts of our trip. It was so nice to have someone at the airport to greet us after such a long flight. Joy took us directly to her home where we were greeted by Michael, who had tea freshly prepared for us. We were able to unpack, relax, & get to know them and their son, Daniel, over a delicious dinner. As you can see from the photos, their home is very nice, modern, & spacious. My husband and I along with our two sons, ages 16 & 20, were very comfortable, we felt like we were at home. We had two private, spacious bedrooms & a bathroom to ourselves on the second floor, & computer/internet access. The basement, with its ping-pong table & home movie theater was great fun. Joy, with her vast knowledge of all points of interest in Beijing and China's history, had prepared an initial itinerary for us. But, she was always ready to adjust it to our wishes if we had an idea or wanted to change something. We weren’t a family on one of those group tours. We were on "Our Tour". One that we planned to fit our needs & desires. If we saw something and wanted to stop, no problem, Joy was always happy to accommodate our requests. And, don't even think about renting a car. Unless you have been to China, you can’t imagine what the traffic is like. Joy, a native of Beijing, knows the roads & how to maneuver through the traffic. Michael is an excellent, professional chief and prepared both traditional Chinese & western dishes. It was so nice to come back at the end of the day to a pot tea & a home cooked meal made with fresh meats, vegetables, & fruits. With Joy as our gracious hostess, experienced driver, and professional translator with over 15 years of experience, I know we were able to experience Beijing in a way which would not have been possible if we had stayed anywhere else. Staying with Joy, Michael, & Daniel allowed us to see China up close: to venture into communities, not just tourist sites, to eat in local restaurants, shop with the locals, live with a family & learn about the current culture and ways of life in today's China. To sum it up, staying with Joy & Michael was a great choice. Joy's knowledge of China's history, their beautiful & comfortable home, Michael's delicious meals, & the ease of getting around makes it a package deal you won't want to pass up. We felt we made new friends. And, we hope that when they get a chance to come to the United States they will come and visit us in our home. |
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Anonymous, Palm City, FL
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| 06/25/09 |
Positive
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From the Wong family (NJ, US)
We stayed with Joy in early May for a week. Six of us including three little monsters (9/3/1 yrs old) had a wonderful time while we were in Beijing. From the time we landed, Joy and Michael had treated us with warm receiption. On top of the amazing dishes from chef Michael and the well planned itinerary, we had learned a great deal about our own culture, as well as, local people life and history. For the entire week Joy had taken care of every details of this trip. I highly recommended to take advantage of Joy's service if you really want to experience the deeper side of Beijing. In addition, you would not regret to stay with this family if you have toddlers traveling along (Joy had so much patience to our kids while they suffered from jet lag). Lastly, my kids really missed the fun time with Daniel. |
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Tony Wong, New Jersey, US |
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| 06/14/09 |
Positive
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Bill, Lisa, Isaac (5 yrs old), and Jackie, USA
Our 7 night stay with Joy, Michael, and Daniel in Beijing was perfect. From the time we were picked up at the airport to the time we were dropped off, we were treated like friends in their house. After sending Joy a list of things we wanted to do, she was prepared with a daily proposed itinerary for us that, with very little modification, was executed flawlessly. She drove us around Beijing daily, eliminating one of the big hassles of vacationing ... parking. Michael's cooking was superb, and breakfasts were provided daily. Joy's selection of retaurants for lunches and dinners was also superb, including Beijing delicacies like noodles, hot pot, roast duck, dim sum, the Imperial dinner, and ethnic minority (Yunnan) meals. Joy's ability to speak english and provide translation services while in the city were invaluable, especially in the silk, pearl, and jade markets, and when negotiating prices for other market goods. The Chinese Arobat and Kung Fu shows were great, and the foot massage parlor received high praise from us. Joy and Michael maintain a house exceeding all Western standards. There was air conditioning in each bedroom, a full western bathroom, and internet access. The ping pong table and movie room were also put to good use. Our five year old was able to play like it was his own house. I would highly recommend staying at Joy's house for anyone wanting a relaxing vacation in Beijing.
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Lisa Webster, Colorado
+82-2-796-4148 |
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| 06/12/09 |
Positive
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| We stayed with Joy's family in May of 2009. Traveling for the summer with our toddler, we were hoping for a soft landing place in Beijing for the first week of our travels. This homestay was perfect for us! Our favorite things about staying here was the excellent food (Michael is an AMAZING cook!) and having the luxury of a car and guide. We had a challenging time with jet lag, and it was a comfort to be surrounded by such gracious hosts in a comfortable home. We saw a few of the major sites we most hoped to see: the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Great Wall, the Drum & Bell Tower in the old city. We loved the Hu Tong tour and especially enjoyed 798 Arts district as a great place to hang out and see some contemporary Chinese art. We definitely recommend staying with Joy & Michael- you can get a real taste for how a Beijing family lives and feel completely supported while enjoying the city. Thanks and blessings! |
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Todd & Baraka Elihu, Athens, Georgia, USA |
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| 06/05/09 |
Positive
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From May, Kevin & Andrew, Toronto, Canada: As first-time Home Stay vacationers, we were not sure what to expect when we decided to book with Joy and her family. But we are very glad we did. It was the most interesting and unique vacation we have ever taken.
The accommodations are first-rate, better than many hotels, the food is five-star quality and Chef Michael produces exceptional meals -- starting with 5 and 6-course breakfasts!
Our son was on an academic exchange in Hong Kong and he joined us for part of our stay in Beijing.
Having Joy as our guide and driver was the perfect way to see the sights -- and get to where we wanted to go easily and quickly (despite the occasional traffic jam). Joy is happy to suggest outings and places to visit, often taking us to areas off the beaten track -- places we never would have venture to otherwise. Joy is also extremely well-versed in China's history and can explain the significance and meaning behind the country's rich heritage.
As well, she knows some of the best (and best-value) places to eat for those occasions when you want to dine out. An added bonus: she can sometimes score you upgraded or VIP level seats for cultural shows, like the acrobats or the kung fu show.
Their son Daniel, who turns 9 soon, is a wonderful young man, studious and outgoing, a whiz on the two-wheeled skateboard, but even more impressive, probably one of the most talented young drummers you'll ever hear... he is amazing. Hear him now -- he'll be famous some day!
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Anonymous, Toronto, Canada
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| 05/22/09 |
Positive
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| Our family of 4 from Australia feel we made the best choice possible to stay at Joy's home in Beijing. They are wonderful hosts and we felt relaxed the minute Joy meet us at airport. Their beautiful home is centrally located in China’s capital city perfect and we had close access to markets, banks and everything we needed. We had a few ideas of what we wanted to do and Joy helped us to see everything and more. One of our goals was to do a 10 kilometer hike on the Great Wall and we set out early together for the long drive to Jingshaling and Joy even walked the dramatic and spectacular section to Simatai while Michael took to car to meet us 4 hours later. Congratulations Joy – you made it too! On the other days she very professionally guided though all the great tourist attractions, shopping places, and shuttled us to some great value restaurants in between. We had nothing to worry about, touring like this is a pleasure. Our children had the best time just relaxing with the family at home, while we liked just having a chat over tea or a beer. The games and movie rooms are fantastic, our rooms and bathroom impeccable, and even the beds were softer than any in China. Nothing was too much trouble for breakfast, the dumplings and banquet from head-chef (Michael) was delicious. We even joked that Joy organized the perfect weather we enjoyed every spring day. Thank you so much Joy, Michael and Daniel (the PSP legend). Our family had a truly wonderful time as your guests and we were very honestly sad to leave for home. |
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Leigh, Linda, Britt and Jon, Canberra, ACT
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| 01/11/09 |
Positive
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My husband and I stayed with Joy and her family (husband Michael and son Daniel) the last week in December 2008. Joy, Michael and Daniel made us feel welcome and at ease immediately. We were very comfortable in the 2nd floor rooms which were for our use exclusively. The set up afforded as much privacy as we needed but also allowed us to feel one of the family. Everything was immaculate and well appointed. The absolute best part was the wonderful cooking by Michael. He never failed to amaze us with his skill in preparing authentic chinese dishes. He prepared several dishes at every breakfast meal and at dinner. We learned so much about ingredients and preparation techniques. We chooose to experience chinese cooking but Michael was always willing to make anything we would have wanted so if chinese cuisine is not your thing it is no problem.
Joy is an exellent guide and every evening we planned for our next days trip. She was an endless fount of knowledge and utilized her knowledge to assist us in getting the most out of every day. We had done alot of pre-planning via e-mail prior to our trip and Joy was always quick to respond and help develop our plans.
Most pleasant was the after dinner (over delicious tea)chats we had about China and its people, history, and how Joy and her family percieve life and the world around them. My husband and I learned so much from Joy and her family.
Our daily tourist excursions were stress free as Joy took care of tickets, parking and good places for lunch. She stayed with us at several places but also let us explore on our own. To us trip highlights included the long corridor at the summer palace, the Ming tombs and Tiananmen Square. We took a day and flew to Xian to see the Terra Cotta soldiers and sites in that area. This trip was well worth it and Joy helped us book the flight and she arranged for an excellent guide and driver to meet us for that day.
I was initially uncomfortable with the idea of staying in a private home when my husband and I first began to plan this trip. I am so glad we did make the decision to do this as I can not imagine all that we would have missed. Also, every day we had the personal transportation and a personal guide so we were not part of the crowd following a guide carrying a flag with variable english skills. We would be more than glad to correspond with anyone that has more questions regarding our stay. |
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Jim and Deborah Jewell, Averill Park, New York
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| 12/17/08 |
Positive
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My sister and I stayed with Joy and her family for 10 days in November. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and could not have done it any other way. Joy is an excellent host as are her family and especially Micheal(husband) amazing Cooking!!
Highly recommend to anybody!!! |
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justina duniec, West Yorkshire, England
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| 12/10/08 |
Positive
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Joy is a very knowledgeable host and was a gteat companion to have during our stay in Beijing.
Her organisiational skills meant that we were able to see all of the tourist attractions on our list, and we were taken to them at the best time of day too - she knows all the secrets!
The house is large and comfortable, allowing for lots of personal space.
The family are very friendly and welcoming and it was a pleasure spending a week with them.
The whole package made our visit a sucess from start to finish - it really is the only way to do Beijing!! |
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Stefana Duniec, Huddersfield, UK |
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| 11/04/08 |
Positive
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| My family stayed in this beautiful home for a week in this September, we enjoyed our first visit to Beijing so much because of this friendly family. We occupied the entire 2nd floor, and the rooms are very clean & comfortable just as it shows on vrbo. Joy(wife)speaks excellent English,drove us to all the famous sightseeing spots and shopping malls and markets, she also gave us a lecture about all the emperors' dynasties during the interesting tea ceremony. Michael(husband)cooked so much delicious food for us, and we even learned how to make chinese dumplings. This homestay is so unique that make a great difference from staying in a hotel or an apartment. We got our own discovery about china through Joy's family. |
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Mary Kremer, Singapore |
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| 09/08/08 |
Positive
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Our family stayed with Joy and her wonderful family
during the Olympics in Beijing. From the time Joy
met us at the airport and greeted us with her
gracious and kind professional manner, we knew
we were in good hands. Her wealth of knowledge
and information, was instrumental in things going
smoothly for us, especially during such a busy time
as the Olympics, We were so appreciative of a
lovely place to come home to, as well as the superb
hospitality and the ease and dependability of
getting around Beijing with Joy's efficient help. If
anyone is thinking of coming to Beijing I would
highly recommend this location. |
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Patricia, Pacific Palisades CA
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| 09/07/08 |
Positive
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| We stayed at this home in August 2008 during the first week of the Olympics and could not have had a better place to stay or a better experience. It was our first visit to China and we learned so much from Joy and Michael and Daniel about the country and the city of Beijing. Their home is beautiful and comfortable and the family is fun and easy to stay with. Joy is an excellent driver and guide. Michael made us a couple of delicious meals which were fun as well as very tasty. On our last day Joy had a chinese tea ceremony for us. I can't begin to tell you all the extra things they did for us that made the visit so special. We saw all the major sites of Beijing, and learned to use the subways by ourselves, so later after the stay we were able to be very independent as we travelled the city on our own. Joy is full of good information and suggestions. We quickly felt like friends and part of the family. If you choose this family to stay with you will not be sorry I promise. And after travelling more in China and staying in hotels I felt even more appreciative of the amenities and comfort that the home has to offer that hotels do not. Very reasonable price for all we received. Any questions, please feel free to email me...or email Joy, she's the best! |
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Linda Coyle, Miranda, California
707-943-3560 |
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| 01/30/08 |
Positive
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| This is a fantastic setup for a couple or family visiting Beijing. The host family is extremely friendly and is committed to their guests' satisfaction. Wife/driver speaks perfect English and is a knowledgeable tour guide. This is a perfect combination of comfort, convenience, transportation, translator, guide, cultural exchange, etc. My wife and 2 kids had an extremely enjoyable stay and would definitely make the same choice again. |
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Anonymous, Atlanta, GA USA |
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