Kristina

A few days ago I found a RT ticket from LAX to Hong Kong for under $600 on United, all in. The fares go through the end of April and were also showing on Air Canada and Delta. I think they are still available if anyone is interested. Too good to pass up, right?

My mother and I reserved two tickets for mid April and have to decide by Friday what to do. Right now we are flying into HKG and out of Shanghai 8 days later. I wanted to see Shanghai because I visited Hong Kong and Beijing in 1999 (though I've not been back since) and wanted to see somewhere new. She has never been to China.

So, I'm trying to figure out how best to maximize our time. Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai? Or just Hong Kong and Shanghai? I know the first option would be rushed, but might be worth it? On the other hand, mom is concerned about pollution in Beijing (though I've read Shanghai isn't much better) and willing to forgo it.

Oh, one advantage to Shanghai is that the flight home to LAX is non-stop, only 11.5 hours and on a nice new 787. From Beijing it's much longer and through SFO on UA's ancient 747s.

Looking for input on the best way to use our time.

Thanks!

Kathie

If it was me - and it isn't - I'd choose just Hong Kong (with a side trip to Macao) for my eight days.

Kristina

Kathie Yep, we're different on this one. We don't want to spend 8 days in one place, and frankly my one trip to Macao in 1999 was enough to last me, oh, forever.

For those of you who <i>would</i> go elsewhere, where would that be and why? And how would you break up the days?

rkkwan

I think either plan is fine. Do you have 7 nights or 8? If you have 7, I'd do 4 and 3 and plan on a day trip out of Shanghai; or 2-3-2. If 8 nights, 4-4 or 3-4-2. If you're not doing Beijing, then a day trip out of Shanghai would be good.

Kristina

Thanks Ray!
We have 8 nights, though we arrive late on the first night which is a Saturday. So we'll have a Sunday-Sunday on the ground. We will be leaving around 6pm on Sunday if we leave from Shanghai.

Option 1 (4-2-2):
Arrive Sat Night in HK and have Sunday, Monday, Tues there.
Wed and Thursday in Beijing
Friday and Sat and leave Sunday from Shanghai

Option 2 (3-3-2):
Arrive Sat Night in HK and have Sunday and Monday there.
Tues, Wed and Thursday in Beijing
Friday and Sat and leave Sunday from Shanghai

Option 3 (4-4):
Arrive Sat Night in HK and have Sunday, Monday, Tues there.
Wed, Thursday, Friday and Sat and leave Sunday from Shanghai

What would be a good day trip from Shanghai?

rkkwan

Of course I didn't mean 3-4-2 as that adds up to 9. I think if you decide to do Beijing, then I suggest 3-3-2. Beijing really has so much more to see than Hong Kong.

Lots of places you can visit from Shanghai. High speed rail to Suzhou or Hangzhou, or visit one or more of the water towns near SH.

Kristina

Well, the tickets are purchased now, so we're definitely going into Hong Kong and out of Shanghai. What's in between is still to be determined but we have to decide before we get our visas!

kja

I vote for option 3. Wait to visit Beijing until you can give it at least enough to see the highlights. JMO.

Kristina

Any advice on neighborhoods for hotels in Shanghai? We'd like to stay in an SPG (Starwood) hotel to use points but there are so many choices. I know the Bund is popular, but what about Pudong?

Kristina

Also looking for hotel recs in Hong Kong. Not sure I want to spend the high points it would take for an SPG hotel, but wow, are hotels pricey in general in HK or what??
Looking for something in the $200/night and under range. View of harbor is a bonus.

Shanghainese

If you are not going back to China again soon, and for your mother's sake, do 3-3-2. Think of saving time by taking the night train from Beijing to Shanghai.

Do not stay in Pudong, most of the sights are in Puxi so you don't want to cross the river daily and have nothing to do in the evening. The Bund is popular, the People's Square is even better because of the Metro lines, eateries and sights. The Jing An Temple area near the former French concession is another convenient location. Don't miss a watertown, there are nearby ones like Zhujiajiao or Jibao if you start early in the morning, you get can back to downtown in 1/2 day.

Kristina

We've decided not to do Beijing this trip. My mother is concerned about the horrific air quality there because she has asthma. It's unfortunate, but she doesn't want to risk it.

We're going to do 4 nights each HK and Shanghai. For now, we've booked the Salisbury YMCA with a Harbor view room in HK and the Le Meridian in Shanghai (near people's square) using SPG points.

temppeternh

I hate to mention this but Shanghai's air only looks good in comparison to Beijing's but is otherwise problematic for the sensitive, and Hong Kong's had some poor days with murk drifting in from Guangdong Province, although outside Central (where the air quality is frequently very poor) it generally does better.

You'll want to keep an eye on:

http://www.stateair.net/web/post/1/4.html
https://twitter.com/CGShanghaiAir
http://www.aqhi.gov.hk/en.html

and should bring some N95 or N99 masks for your mother, alongside all necessary medication, just in case.

Kristina

Ugh. Well, yes. But we're stuck with it now. I'll make sure she has what she needs including masks, thanks.