China Trip Highlites Oct.10-28/08
Nov 8th, 2008 | 11:46 AM
#1
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 497
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China Trip Highlites Oct.10-28/08
After researching for 9 months on Fodors, Lonely Planet & Trip Advisor forums,I was well prepared for the fabulous trip thanks to the input of you fellow travellers who share my passion for exploring the world.Rather than giving a daily report, I will divide it into headings.
1)Flights:
a) International:Flew Continental from Montreal to Newark & Newark to Beijing & return (paid $1040 pp Canadian incl tax).A Fodorite suggested that I reserve one set of seats 44 in the back of the plane because they are the only 2's without a strange 3rd party next to you.At my age, I need the toilet near me, so having proximity to the rear of the plane was great & I didn't have to have a snoring body leaning on me other than my hubbie's.Smooth,uneventful flights. I swallowed my Imovane, put on the eye mask, cuddled with the blankie (cold so kept my jacket on) & slept for 4+hrs each way.
b)Internal flights: All booked for me by China Connection Tours (Eric)based in Xian. I decided to have them do the booking because we were 6 of us who were travelling together & didn't want to take chances by waiting until last minute (as was suggested by many).Chinese planes are very comfortable, pleasant service,and extremely punctual.They leave on the second the schedule dictates.The only negative we encountered was the poor quality & high cost of western food in the airports. I, therefore, highly recommend to eat breakfast prior to your internal flight at your hotel or bring a boxed meal.
2) Hotels:
a) Booked Park Plaza Wangfujing in Beijing independently back in Feb. through their 1-800# at $109 U.S.+tax (AAA & senior rate).Fabulous hotel.Location 5 min. from Wangfujing shopping & night food mkt.Explored old hutong behind hotel.
b) China Connection Tours booked Royal Garden Hotel in Xian for us. Price is advertised at approx $70 U.S. a room.Hotel is in heart of old town shopping, 10 min. walk to the wall,Bell Tower & Muslim Mkt.Hotel's lobby is inviting & large but rooms are simple & in need of renovation.Good western & Chinese buffet breakfast included in price.
c) Booked Li River Retreat in Yangshuo independently at $60 Canadian a night.Loved this hotel- indeed a retreat, far enough from the West St. madding crowd!!Huge, clean room & bathroom with balcony overlooking the terrace & Li River.Enjoyed the sunrise & moonscape over the karst mountains, the delightful young staff & the yummy food.Free internet.Sorry to leave the Li River & its ambience.
d)CCT booked the New Era Hotel in Kunming for us. Advertised at approx $70 a night & what value! In heart of downtown, new highrise hotel with great amenities & comfy beds.Unfortunately, English is rare in Kunming so we had a difficult time communicating.Spent only a night in this hotel because we were enroute the next morning to Lijiang.
e)Booked the Minimal Lounge Boutique Hotel in Lijiang ($60 Canadian)independently through Hostelbookers. Well located small Naxi style hotel in the old town away from the mob scene.Loved the Naxi decor & great breakfast incl. Yunnan coffee & warm comfort-food rice cereal, eggs, etc. Free internet in its cozy lounge area.The hotel provided accompaniment at night to escort us back to the hotel because of the maze of streets where one can get lost easily.
f)Booked the Songtsam Hotel in Shangrila independently at $90 U.S.a night.Brand new complex situated up on the hill overlooking the Monastery & the town.This was the most luxurious accomodation of the trip.Rooms are located in a separate building from the dining room as well as the main lobby so we needed to dress warmly when venturing outdoors.Free internet access in the main lobby.Loved the warm fireplaces in the rooms & the Tibetan decor.Yummy beds with toast warm duvets.Only negative was the lack of soundproof walls as we were able to hear our neighbours' conversations with ease.
g)CCT booked the Shanghai Jingan Hotel(old section) for us.Advertised rate is approx.$70 a night.Loved the location- across from a quiet park, next to the Hilton,5 min. walk to the subway, close to good shopping & restaurants & at the beginning of the leafy French Concession.Large room with well crafted antique designed wooden furniture with modern bathroom,excellent buffet breakfasts with huge choice.Make sure to ask for a room with a balcony overlooking the park.Negative re this hotel is the single elevator & lack of lounge space in lobby.
To be continued....
1)Flights:
a) International:Flew Continental from Montreal to Newark & Newark to Beijing & return (paid $1040 pp Canadian incl tax).A Fodorite suggested that I reserve one set of seats 44 in the back of the plane because they are the only 2's without a strange 3rd party next to you.At my age, I need the toilet near me, so having proximity to the rear of the plane was great & I didn't have to have a snoring body leaning on me other than my hubbie's.Smooth,uneventful flights. I swallowed my Imovane, put on the eye mask, cuddled with the blankie (cold so kept my jacket on) & slept for 4+hrs each way.
b)Internal flights: All booked for me by China Connection Tours (Eric)based in Xian. I decided to have them do the booking because we were 6 of us who were travelling together & didn't want to take chances by waiting until last minute (as was suggested by many).Chinese planes are very comfortable, pleasant service,and extremely punctual.They leave on the second the schedule dictates.The only negative we encountered was the poor quality & high cost of western food in the airports. I, therefore, highly recommend to eat breakfast prior to your internal flight at your hotel or bring a boxed meal.
2) Hotels:
a) Booked Park Plaza Wangfujing in Beijing independently back in Feb. through their 1-800# at $109 U.S.+tax (AAA & senior rate).Fabulous hotel.Location 5 min. from Wangfujing shopping & night food mkt.Explored old hutong behind hotel.
b) China Connection Tours booked Royal Garden Hotel in Xian for us. Price is advertised at approx $70 U.S. a room.Hotel is in heart of old town shopping, 10 min. walk to the wall,Bell Tower & Muslim Mkt.Hotel's lobby is inviting & large but rooms are simple & in need of renovation.Good western & Chinese buffet breakfast included in price.
c) Booked Li River Retreat in Yangshuo independently at $60 Canadian a night.Loved this hotel- indeed a retreat, far enough from the West St. madding crowd!!Huge, clean room & bathroom with balcony overlooking the terrace & Li River.Enjoyed the sunrise & moonscape over the karst mountains, the delightful young staff & the yummy food.Free internet.Sorry to leave the Li River & its ambience.
d)CCT booked the New Era Hotel in Kunming for us. Advertised at approx $70 a night & what value! In heart of downtown, new highrise hotel with great amenities & comfy beds.Unfortunately, English is rare in Kunming so we had a difficult time communicating.Spent only a night in this hotel because we were enroute the next morning to Lijiang.
e)Booked the Minimal Lounge Boutique Hotel in Lijiang ($60 Canadian)independently through Hostelbookers. Well located small Naxi style hotel in the old town away from the mob scene.Loved the Naxi decor & great breakfast incl. Yunnan coffee & warm comfort-food rice cereal, eggs, etc. Free internet in its cozy lounge area.The hotel provided accompaniment at night to escort us back to the hotel because of the maze of streets where one can get lost easily.
f)Booked the Songtsam Hotel in Shangrila independently at $90 U.S.a night.Brand new complex situated up on the hill overlooking the Monastery & the town.This was the most luxurious accomodation of the trip.Rooms are located in a separate building from the dining room as well as the main lobby so we needed to dress warmly when venturing outdoors.Free internet access in the main lobby.Loved the warm fireplaces in the rooms & the Tibetan decor.Yummy beds with toast warm duvets.Only negative was the lack of soundproof walls as we were able to hear our neighbours' conversations with ease.
g)CCT booked the Shanghai Jingan Hotel(old section) for us.Advertised rate is approx.$70 a night.Loved the location- across from a quiet park, next to the Hilton,5 min. walk to the subway, close to good shopping & restaurants & at the beginning of the leafy French Concession.Large room with well crafted antique designed wooden furniture with modern bathroom,excellent buffet breakfasts with huge choice.Make sure to ask for a room with a balcony overlooking the park.Negative re this hotel is the single elevator & lack of lounge space in lobby.
To be continued....
Nov 18th, 2008 | 08:54 PM
#5
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,854
Likes: 0
Syl -- I'm finally back on Fodors, glad to see your research paid off by having a fabulous trip and I like your the way of your division of info into headings.
We spent 2 nights at the Kunming New Era Hotel booked thru Ctrip, liked it a lot. Also stayed at the Minimal Lounge in Lijiang booked by my DS who lives in Shanghai, loved it and bonded with the owners, ate dinner with them all 3 nights in the lounge.
My DM's home is 2 blocks from the Shanghai Jingan Hotel, we had some large cushion covers made by the young tailor in the fabric shop across the street next to the Marco Polo bakery. 5 doors down I bought a stylish princess dress style parka that came just below the knees.
We spent 2 nights at the Kunming New Era Hotel booked thru Ctrip, liked it a lot. Also stayed at the Minimal Lounge in Lijiang booked by my DS who lives in Shanghai, loved it and bonded with the owners, ate dinner with them all 3 nights in the lounge.
My DM's home is 2 blocks from the Shanghai Jingan Hotel, we had some large cushion covers made by the young tailor in the fabric shop across the street next to the Marco Polo bakery. 5 doors down I bought a stylish princess dress style parka that came just below the knees.
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