Hi All,

Am getting pretty upset. None of the organized tours that I am in contact with have dates, itineraries that suit me.

Question please. I have heard that it is very difficult for a non-Chinese speaking foreigner to travel alone there. What would you think of this plan:
Going solo to Hong Kong, visiting as 1-3 day long trips the Great Wall and the Terra Cotta soldiers and perhaps Beijing.

Are these doable, in April, on my own? Are there good local organizatons to arrange short trips with, if that would be better? Usually that is what I do - pick a city to stay in and then take 1 and 2 day trips with local orgs.

Does this sound reasonable for a mature, Israeli woman travelling solo?

Would very much appreciate any and all input on this.

Thanks!

HK is very easy and you can do it on your own easily...
mainland china is more difficult but you could still do it easily espcially in the main areas you wish to travel...your hotel can arrange easily for the tours you want each day and some can be just a taxi ride...english is no problem in the hotels, especially in the larger ones...choose one carefully...get a good guide book and then you do not even need a guide to assist you...its quite easy...

Thanks rhkkmk. 5* hotels are out of my budget. Actually someone recommended the Dragon Hostel in HK. From what I have seen/heard, it is a definite possibility. I almost always stay in private rooms in hostels or in budget hotels.

What about Beijing? Any hotels that you can recommend for under US$80 a day, or do I have to figure on US100 a day, for a clean, convenient place safe for a solo mature woman?

Your advice is very much appreciated!

Hi
I just posted at

Hints for buying a 1-way tkt Hong Kong - BKK?

Try the website and email them with what you are looking for. Who knows.
If they can't help, maybe redirect you.

Beijing is no problem for a solo travellers of either sex - it's an easy and safe city to navigate by foot or taxi, and a guide book will tell you most of what you need to know. Also, buy the common tourist map with names written in both Chinese characters and Pinyin (Roman alphabet). And I suggest you also search on previous threads in this forum.

Make sure that you always have your destination written down in Chinese for cabbies, who won't speak English but who we found cheap, efficient and friendly - the map will come in handy here.

As in most places there are scammmers, but these are easily avoided. Always take licenced cabs - the other variety are usually to be found hanging around popular tourist haunts like the Summer Palace - and ignore anyone offering to take charge of your bags at the airport. Typical cab fares: airport-city centre RMB80 (US$10), city centre-Summer Palace RMB60 (US$7), both lengthy rides. Within central Beijing a fare of more than RMB25 (US$3) is unusual.

For a solo budget traveller a hostel is definitely a good idea - it's much easier to meet other travellers than in an antiseptic and usually overpriced "western-style" hotel, and they usually have good deals for excursions etc. You can also rent a bicycle if you're so inclined - Beijing is flat and the main roads have
dedicated cycleways.

I'm aware of a hostel that my kids have used more than once, have even seen it (we dropped in there to book tickets to the acrobats) but now don't have the name and address. However, I should be able to find out in a couple of days and will re-post if I do. Failing that, check Hostelling International, www.hihostel.com - you may have to book quickly though.

The Haoyuan Hotel, operated by the All-China Women's Federation, might be a good alternative, but I can't speak from personal experience. We stumbled across it while looking for the abovementioned hostel - it's in the same street, a few hundred metres to the west. (www.haoyuanhotel.com, reviews at www.sinohotel.com/hotel/hotel.html?hid=167, price quoted at US$61 and up). You certainly don't have to pay as much as US$100 for good accommodation in Beijing. You'll usually get the best rate by just turning up and negotiating - the so-called discount hotel sites are usually top rate.

My daughters once stayed at the modestly-priced Lishi and reported it clean and comfortable (http://www.beijinghotelchina.com/lis...jing/hotel.htm). I also heard a good report of the LuSongYuan (www.cbw.com/hotel/lusongyuan/). Whatever, make sure you get somewhere in a reasonably central location. Failing these, search on beijing +hotels and you'll find plenty of options.