Guilin's landscape is known to virtually everyone in the country - it is depicted on the back of the 20-yuan banknote. Photos Provided to China Daily

Newcomers in China might be at a loss over which place is ideal to visit first.

The vast country with thousands of years of history is dotted with numerous scenic spots and places of interest. There are many sites that are really worth visiting.

Too many choices can be overwhelming - so you end up staying home for the weekend because you don't know where to start.

Boring holidays could be gone forever with the "private travel butler service" at Planet Travel.

The tourism company boasts rich experience in catering to the needs of expats living in China or foreigners planning to tour the country.

A travel butler can be considered a consultant, though he can do much more.

On learning client requirements, travel butlers start to draw up travel plans including itineraries and budgets.

Finding the best combination for the most cost-effective air tickets and places in their prime time to visit is travel butlers' responsibility.

The detailed plan includes a budget breakdown, multiple routes, flight numbers and hotel information.

Clients' basic information and habits will be kept on file once they have traveled with Planet Travel for future services.

A travel butler takes note of the language they can speak and their preferences for accommodations.

Once the clients decide to travel again, travel butlers will be able to provide targeted plan based on the information.

From a dinner reservation to a sophisticated travel plan including several countries, every detail can be taken care of.

The most important service comes in the event of an unexpected change of plans or emergency. On call to help, the travel butler can change hotels, flights or even the itinerary.

But private travel butlers at Planet Travel don't demand extra charges for their services.

Their profits come from discounts offered by airlines and hotels, yet prices they offer to clients are always reasonable, which can be discounted further.

Based on its experience, Planet Travel has designed multiple classic travel routes for expats who intend to explore the country.

It also provides tailor-made plans for visitors who prefer the road less traveled by.

"So far, there has been no itinerary that has been exactly the same for the groups I have received," said Kuang Jiangnan, a private travel butler at Planet Travel.

"Each group has different requirements due to time limits, budget or even energy," she said.

"So we factored in every detail to make the best plan for them."

For clients with ample time, Southeast Asian countries are often included in their itinerary because it is very convenient to travel to from China, she said.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/19/2013 page16)