Private Shanghai Travel With a Personal, Flexible Approach
I’m Tom, founder of Shanghai Driver Tom’s Tour. I work with international travelers who want private transportation, English-speaking assistance and a more flexible way to explore Shanghai and China.
Meet Tom Through Real Travel Moments
Tom works directly with international travelers, combining private transportation, practical local assistance and flexible itinerary planning.
Tom with a private vehicle in Shanghai.
A relaxed local experience with guests.
Private travel for families and international visitors.
Why I Work This Way
Many international travelers do not need a large group tour. They want someone local who can help them move around comfortably, communicate clearly, adjust the plan when necessary and make the day easier.
That is the kind of service I have focused on building in Shanghai: private transportation combined with practical local help, English communication and flexible itinerary planning.
Some travelers book a classic city tour. Others want shopping, food, airport transfers, business transportation, family travel or several different needs combined in one day.
Understand what the traveler actually needs first, then build the transportation and itinerary around that.
Experience Built Through Different Types of Travelers
Shanghai Sightseeing
Private city tours, Zhujiajiao Water Town, airport transfers, local transportation and customized day itineraries for international visitors.
Families & Elderly Travelers
Experience serving multigenerational families, including travelers with children and elderly parents who need a slower pace, less walking or more rest time.
Business Travelers
Private transportation for meetings, exhibitions, hotels, restaurants, airports and business schedules in Shanghai.
Middle Eastern Travelers
Beginning in March 2025, I served approximately 50–100 Middle Eastern clients and families during 2025, mainly from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with additional guests from Qatar and Kuwait.
Shopping & Dining
Many guests combine sightseeing with shopping, local-brand markets, outlets, restaurants, food preferences and practical stops during the day.
Repeat & Referral Clients
A meaningful part of the business has grown through repeat travelers, personal referrals, social-media recommendations and Tripadvisor feedback.
How I Work With Travelers
Start with the traveler, not a fixed package
I usually ask about the travel date, group size, hotel, interests, walking ability, arrival details and any special needs before suggesting a plan.
Balance sightseeing with practical timing
A good itinerary has to consider traffic, travel time, opening hours, meals, rest breaks and the pace of the group — not just a list of attractions.
Change the day when the situation changes
When there are no prepaid or non-refundable reservations blocking the change, the itinerary can usually be adjusted during the day.
Driver-guide for smaller groups, separate guide for larger groups
For smaller private groups, the main service is an English-speaking driver-guide using a 7-seat vehicle. For groups of more than 7 travelers, a separate English-speaking guide plus vehicle and driver are arranged.
Local Experience That Goes Beyond Standard Sightseeing
Food, Shopping & Daily Practical Help
Travel is often about more than attractions. Guests may need help finding restaurants, shopping areas, local products, transportation options or a more practical way to organize the day.
I am familiar with many common international traveler needs in Shanghai and can help integrate them into the itinerary rather than treating them as separate tasks.
Middle Eastern Traveler Experience
After serving many Saudi and UAE families in 2025, I became particularly familiar with how shopping, dining, airport transfers, family timing and sightseeing are often combined for Gulf travelers.
I also know several halal dining options and Shanghai mosques and can help coordinate those needs when requested.
From Shanghai to Multi-City China Travel
Over the last several years, my work has expanded beyond Shanghai. I have organized and escorted private travel across many parts of China, including one long-term client who traveled extensively around the country and several additional multi-city private trips.
I can help design routes, choose hotels, arrange domestic flights and high-speed trains, coordinate private vehicles, organize attraction tickets, recommend restaurants and connect travelers with local professional guides.
I can act as the trip planner, organizer and full-tour escort. For detailed local history and attraction interpretation in many destinations, I coordinate professional local guides rather than pretending to be a specialist in every city.
Destinations I Know Well Through Organizing & Escorting
Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Chongqing, Luoyang, Shaolin Temple, Shanxi, Pingyao, Xinjiang, Tibet, Changsha, Fenghuang Ancient Town, Enshi, Western Sichuan, Jiuzhaigou, Silk Road, Hexi Corridor and other routes.
East China
Suzhou, Hangzhou and nearby water towns are regular areas of work. I can normally provide the sightseeing explanation directly in Suzhou and Hangzhou without needing a separate local guide for standard private tours.
Other Destinations
Destinations such as Huangshan, Nanjing and Wuxi can also be arranged, with local professional guides added where detailed destination-specific interpretation is needed.
Trust Built Over Time
Shanghai Driver Tom’s Tour has received hundreds of traveler reviews on Tripadvisor over many years. Travelers frequently mention reliability, punctuality, English communication, flexibility, local knowledge, patience and personal attention.
For me, those reviews matter because they describe what actually happened during real trips, not just what a website claims.
Tell Me About Your Trip
If you are planning Shanghai sightseeing, airport transportation, a family trip, business travel or a customized multi-city journey in China, send me the basic details and I can suggest a practical way to organize it.