When bringing parents and children to Sichuan, many people will first make a long list of attractions and then try to fit them into three or four days. When we are actually on the road, the elderly are tired from walking, the children want to sleep, the strollers are difficult to put away, and meals are missed. The originally anticipated family trip can easily turn into a rush schedule.
A more appropriate order is to first look at the family's true status: how long they can walk every day, whether they can tolerate mountain roads and higher altitudes, whether they need a rest in the afternoon, and how much luggage and children's supplies they need to bring. It is usually more comfortable to explain these clearly and then choose the route and car type than arranging the itinerary based on the "number of internet celebrity attractions".
Private chartering doesn’t end with taking the family to the scenic spot. The driver will pick you up from the hotel and connect the scenic spots with the same car. Lunch, rest and temporary adjustments can be arranged along the way. After the tour, you will be sent to the hotel, restaurant, airport, station or other agreed location.
The route depends first on whether the elderly and children can complete it easily, and then on where the adults want to go. In addition to the number of people in the car, the car type also needs to leave space for child seats, strollers and luggage. Private charters can transfer from your hotel or designated location. The driver arrives in advance, and the departure time and daily destination can be adjusted around the family's schedule.
Before choosing a route, here are four things to look at as a family
The larger the age span of a family, the more suitable it is to judge based on the four aspects of physical strength, altitude, work and rest, and luggage. Taking the slowest fellow travelers into account, the route is usually easier for everyone.
In the same scenic spot, some people can walk the entire route, while others are more suitable to visit key areas. The areas around Chengdu and the Western Sichuan Plateau are not of the same level of difficulty. When it comes to higher altitudes, you need to leave room for adaptation and temporary adjustments.
How long can you usually walk? Is it convenient to go up and down the stairs? The route is arranged according to the slowest traveler.
Whether it is your first time to go to the plateau and whether you have any underlying diseases will determine the route intensity and number of days.
Children's naps, elderly people's meals and daily wake-up time can all be scheduled.
Large boxes, strollers, car seats and belongings all take up physical space in the vehicle.
How to choose a route? You can start with "ease level"
Families with a large age range who are coming to Chengdu for the first time can start in Chengdu and its suburbs. Panda Base, Sanxingdui, Chengdu Museum, People's Park and food experience can be split into one or two days based on walking and reservation.
For routes around Chengdu such as Dujiangyan, Qingcheng Mountain, and Leshan Giant Buddha, you can choose a main attraction according to your physical strength. The Jiuzhaigou Valley, Siguniang Mountain and Western Sichuan Ring Routes involve longer driving distances and altitude changes, and are suitable for independent multi-day arrangements.
Panda Base, Sanxingdui and Chengdu Urban Culture can be divided into one or two days, which is suitable for families visiting Chengdu for the first time.
Choose a main attraction among Dujiangyan, Qingcheng Mountain, and Leshan Giant Buddha according to your physical strength, and don’t be reluctant to finish them all.
There should not be too many attractions every day, and hotels, tickets, weather and physical condition should all be considered.
When traveling with young children or the elderly, the loop route can be shortened, hotel changes can be reduced, or a day can be added.
The car model not only depends on the number of people, but also depends on how to sit and what to bring.
When choosing a car for a family trip, safety seats, strollers, children's products and large luggage must be factored into the actual space. The number of seats is just enough, but it doesn’t mean that the trunk and rear seats must also be comfortable.
If you need a child safety seat or booster cushion, you can mention it in advance when booking a car. First confirm the age and height of the child, the car model interface and available equipment; when preparing to bring your own, also inform the fleet of the size and installation requirements.
| family situation | Car models to consider | Why | Confirm again |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-3 adults with 1 child | Five-seater sedan, SUV or MPV | A five-seater car is more flexible when you have a day in the suburbs and have a small amount of luggage; if you want more space, choose a MPV. | Is the rear seat still comfortable with child seats, strollers and luggage put down? |
| A family of three generations, about 4-6 people | GL8, Odyssey and other MPVs | Getting in and out, legroom and long rides are generally more relaxed than in a full five-seater. | When the seat is nearly full, multiple suitcases may not be able to be easily put down |
| Two groups of families or small groups of multiple people | Coaster or minibus | Seat and luggage space are better unified, and it is also convenient for continuous movement in the same car | Steps for the elderly to get on and off the bus, hotel parking and scenic area access conditions |
| Larger family group | Match minibus or bus based on actual number of people | Unify gathering and use of vehicles to reduce the need for multiple people to confirm their location after dividing the vehicle | Reserve empty seats, luggage compartments, children's supplies and accompanying spaces |
When chartering a car with a family, it’s the little details that really save you the trouble.
The driver arrives at the hotel, B&B or designated location in advance as scheduled. There is no need to take the elderly, children and luggage to a fixed meeting point first. The departure time can be arranged based on tickets, meals for the elderly and sleeping for the children.
If you need to eat, use the restroom or take a temporary rest during the tour, you can adjust it according to the route; when changing hotels on a multi-day itinerary, ordinary luggage will travel with the same car and finally be sent to the hotel, restaurant, airport, station or other agreed location.
The driver arrives in advance as scheduled, and the elderly and children can get on the bus directly when they are ready.
If you want to see the pandas earlier, you can leave earlier. If your child needs enough sleep, you can also adjust it according to the reservation.
Allow extra time when getting in and out of the car, and assist with opening and closing doors, loading and unloading luggage, folding strollers and other common items.
Choose a safe and convenient location within the limits allowed by road and scenic area management.
If you need to eat in advance or take a temporary rest on the way, you can make adjustments based on the familiar route.
When changing hotels, the same car will connect you continuously, reducing the need to carry luggage and call a car every day.
When the elderly are tired, the children are uncomfortable, or the weather changes, they can reduce the number of attractions or return to the hotel early.
You can take it back to your hotel or deliver it to a restaurant, airport, high-speed rail station or other agreed location.
The details that the elderly and children need to pay attention to are not exactly the same.
When traveling with the elderly, you can avoid arranging continuous steps, long-distance hikes and late return trips, and incorporate lunch, medication and rest time into the formal itinerary. The vehicle's tread, door height and whether the hotel has an elevator will also affect the actual daily experience.
When traveling with children, think ahead about safety seats, strollers, changes of clothes, naps, motion sickness and temporary bathroom breaks. For large scenic spots, choose the area you want to see the most first, instead of chasing every popular spot.
The route reduces continuous steps and late return journeys, and takes into account getting on and off, dining, taking medicine, resting and hotel elevators.
Consider safety seats, strollers, naps, motion sickness, restroom and scenic spot reservation certificates in advance.
Different families can refer to three arrangements:
These are not fixed packages. Some in the family love to read history, some just want to see pandas, and some care more about eating and resting. First identify two or three places that everyone wants to go to, and then adjust around the slowest fellow travelers.
Multi-day routes such as Jiuzhaigou Valley, Siguniang Mountain and the Western Sichuan Ring Route are more suitable for independent planning. Don’t include attractions in different directions such as Leshan and Mount Emei in the same short trip.
| family situation | Route ideas | Why is this arranged? |
|---|---|---|
| First time in Chengdu, three generations of a family | One day at leisure in the city + one day at Panda Base and Sanxingdui + one day at Dujiangyan or Qingcheng Mountain | Culture, pandas and mountains and rivers are all there. I will stay in Chengdu most of the night and reduce the need to change hotels. |
| The elderly have average legs and feet, and the children are young | One main attraction every day, return to the hotel early in the afternoon; choose one of Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Mountain | Reduce continuous walking and incorporate naps, meals and rest into formal itineraries |
| Want to go to Jiuzhaigou or Western Sichuan? | Arrange around a multi-day route alone and no longer add long-distance attractions in different directions at the same time | Avoid long distance crossings and leave allowance for acclimatization, weather and return journeys |
We can discuss the cost and itinerary together.
Family private car charter usually combines the car model, date, route, number of days of car use, daily car use time, transfer location, parking fees, tolls, and driver's food and accommodation for multi-day routes. Scenic spot tickets, sightseeing cars, ropeways, meals and guest accommodation are usually not included in vehicle expenses.
No need to prepare a long list of information. First talk about the number of people, the elderly and children, and the movement situation, then which days, where you want to go most, as well as the boxes, strollers, safety seats and final delivery location, the team can first determine the route and vehicle type.
The number of people, the approximate ages of the elderly and children, whether it is easy to walk and the places that need to be taken care of.
On which days to set off and where you most want to go, first mention the must-visit attractions and then make a decision.
Number and approximate dimensions of boxes, strollers and car seats.
Where to pick up and finally deliver to hotel, restaurant, airport, station or other location.
Having a good time as a family is more important than completing a list of attractions
The elderly can walk slowly, the children have time to rest, and the adults don't have to find a car, carry luggage, and confirm the meeting point all the way. This kind of family trip is usually easier to leave good memories. It is not necessarily a pity that there is one less scenic spot on the route; everyone has the energy to eat, chat and see the scenery together every day, but it is closer to what we expected when we set off.
After the date is roughly determined, tell Baifen Fleet the number of people, the situation of the elderly and children, luggage and the place you most want to go. The driver picks you up at the hotel in advance as scheduled. From the first day out to the last delivery to the hotel, restaurant, airport or station, the route, vehicle type and daily rhythm can be arranged around the real needs of the family.
Some frequently asked questions
Is a five-seater car enough to take the elderly and children?＋
It depends on the actual number of people and the number of safety seats, strollers and luggage. When the seats are just enough, the trunk and rear space may be tight; for long-distance or multi-day trips, it is usually easier to leave space for activities and luggage in MPVs.
Can the itinerary be arranged according to the child's nap time?＋
It can be adjusted based on scenic spot reservations, roads and tour content of the day. There is no unified meeting time for private charters. You can also arrange a drive or return to the hotel in the afternoon during the children's rest period.
How to arrange child safety seats?＋
When booking a car, state your child's age, height, and equipment needs in advance, and confirm the car model's interfaces and available seats. When preparing to bring your own, also state the equipment size and installation method clearly in advance.
The elderly have inconvenient legs and feet. What kind of help can the driver provide?＋
Drivers can arrive in advance, assist in opening and closing doors, and loading and unloading ordinary luggage, and try to choose convenient and safe transfer locations within the scope of regulations. Personal support and medical care still need to be completed by family members or professional escorts.
Is it suitable to take the elderly and children to the Western Sichuan Plateau?＋
Judgment cannot be based solely on age, but must be combined with usual physical condition, underlying diseases, altitude adaptation and trip intensity. You can choose a route with smaller altitude changes, or increase the number of days and reduce scenic spots; if you have underlying diseases, consult a professional doctor before setting off.
How to quote a price for a family car charter?＋
It is usually confirmed based on the car model, date, route, number of days, driving time, transfer location, parking fees, tolls and off-site meals and accommodation for the driver. First talk about the number of people, luggage, elderly and children, and must-visit attractions. The car type and cost will be better judged.