I'm thrilled to be going to China and have the oportunity to visit Beijing for a few days by myself.

What do you think of these hotels? I'd like somewhere comfortable for 2 nights and would prefer not to leave the hotel for dinner.

Penninsula
(sounds fab, but maybe over my budget)
Tianlun $126 0n hotels.com
Marco Polo $80 on hotel website.

I'm a bit worried about using my credit card in China. Would travellors checks be a good idea? How much "walking around" money should i carry? I know, that's a very subjective topic because it depends on how much shopping etc, one does. I'm thinking about the various tourist attractions, lunch, that sort of thing.

My friends are organising a driver to meet me and maybe to drive me to the Wall. How much should I tip him and is it expected to buy them lunch or whatever? (I don't mind doing that at all, just want to know what to expect.)

Does anyone know of a site where you can print out a currency conversion chart?

Is it really bad to use the water, even for teethbrushing?

Help! How do you bargain prices in the markets?

Thanks for your help.

Forgot to ask your advice on a 3 day itinerary. Is is "doable" to fly from Hong Kong to Beijing in the morning, check into the hotel and then go to the Wall? Or, should I try to follow Fodors "Best in 3 Days"?
I will only have from Friday until Sunday afternoon when I leave. Too short, for sure, but better than not at all!

Beijing is a great city for independent travel. If you've read any of my previous posts, you'll know that I favor the Peninsula Palace in Beijing though I think the other two hotels you listed would be fine as well. Using your credit card (MC/VISA) should not be a problem except in perhaps small shops or street vendors. I have not used traveller's checks so I can't comment on that. I usually carry the equivalent of US$50/day for food, transportation, entrance fees, etc...

You can hire a private driver or take a prearranged group tour to the Great Wall. There are a couple of companies that offer day tours - Panda, JinJiang are two that come to mind.

For currency conversion, try www.xe.com.

Use bottled water all the time, even for brushing your teeth. It's cheap and not worth getting sick over to save a few yuan.

As for bargaining, everyone has their own strategy. You can try offering 20%-25% and negotiate to meet in the middle. Or simply offer 50%-60% of the price and begin to walk away if they refuse to come down. Whatever you do, keep it friendly and respectful and both of you will be happy about the deal.

Enjoy your trip!

Hi Lucky Girl

Lia has given you good advise.

The location of the Pennisular is excellent. The hotel is in Wangfujing (sp?), right in Beijing's main shopping area. If you find this hotel to be too expensive try the Novotel located across the street. If you stay in this area you will have plenty of options, within walking distance, for dinner.

I would not recommend flying from Hong Kong, checking in to the hotel and then visiting The Great Wall. The airport is about an hours drive from the city and The Great Wall and Ming Tombs are best visited as a day trip from Beijing. Also, before you book the driver to go The Great Wall, find out which section of the wall you are visiting and check the weather for the day you plan on visiting, try to avoid a rainy day.

We only used a credit card to pay the hotel bill. We had taken US$ travellers cheques and had no problem exchanging them for yuan. The exchange rate is about US$1 to 8 yuan.

Our hotel provided bottled water for brushing our teeth, I recommend you use bottled for brushing teeth and drinking.

Have fun.

I think either the Peninsula or Marco Polo would be fine. I'm not that familiar with the Tianlun.

Not sure I understand why you're worried about using your credit card - is it because of lack of acceptance or are you worried about fraud or something? If it's lack of acceptance, then you won't find that travelers checks are any more widely accepted (probably less readily accepted), but you'll be able to cash them at your hotel. If it's fraud you're concerned with, I've yet to encounter any issues with that in China.

You can pay with credit cards at your hotel and at larger restaurants and stores. For all other spending money (taxis, admissions, small shops and restaurants), you'll need RMB which you can withdraw from an ATM or by exchanging foreign currency/travelers checks. Hard to advise how much money to carry as it's such a personal spending/comfort level issue. I like to carry the equivalent of 100-200 USD, but I do that pretty much everywhere.

I also use bottled water for teeth brushing, but again that's something I have a habit of doing in a lot of other places too. To me it's cheap insurance.

For bargaining, I would agree with the 50-60% and walk away. If you're thinking about the Silk Market, take the starting price and divide by about...8 or 9 and that's the price you should pay.

When I take money from the ATM, I get around 8.24 RMB to the $ and my bank only charges $1.50 service charge. I think almost all credit cards charge 3% for foreign transactions. Unfortunate change for my cards.

Check with your bank about using your card at ATMs, e.g. whether there are any restrictions on which bank you should use in China. I wouldn't bother with travellers' cheques, they're going the way of button-up boots.

Youa asked about tipping the guide - well, he might be used to being tipped by American visitors, but certainly not by his fellow-countrymen. Your call, but for the most part China is mercifully free of this custom, and guides do pretty well out of kickbacks from shops and restaurants. I don't want to make you paranoid, but some people have been seriously ripped off in restaurants they've been taken to by guides. You can book a day tour, say to the Wall and the Ming Tombs, but we didn't find the latter all that interesting, comparatively. If you do take the day tour it should cost no more than Y300 pp including lunch - and that's the foreigner's price (we stayed at a hotel patronised by few foreigners and paid half that).

The Summer Palace is worth a morning or afternoon, but you don't need a tour - just take a cab, which should cost no more than about Y60. But watch out for dodgy unlicenced cabs on the return trip - you'll know them because they'll have someone surreptitiously touting for their business.

As with most things in China hotel prices are negotiable, but of course you have to do it on the spot.

Beijing is a great city to walk around - check previous threads by using the search box above. Enjoy your visit - you'll want to return to China.

If you're planning to go shopping at one of the markets like Silk Alley or Hongqiao, you're going to need cash. We didn't even check to see if any vendors accepted credit cards, but I'm sure there were some. You're also going to need cash if you intend to buy stuff from people off the street. We bought most of our DVD's off the street. Some for as little as 60 cents USD!! As far as bargaining, I always throw out some outrageously low price to see what happens. Most of the vendors at these markets know tht you're there to bargain, so they're going to ask you to give them your price.

As far as the water, I did use it to brush my teeth and I was fine. But we never drank the water anywhere else.

You are lucky indeed.
And you have received some decent advice from the previous posters. To further clarify: Peninsula will guarantee better service and it is in a decent location. But Wangfujing is not the "main shopping" area of Beijing. It is the tourist shopping street in Beijing. Nothing there that you can't get anywhere else for a fraction of the price, but it is a nice pedestrian street to wander.

I agree that going to the wall direct from the flight from HK is not a great idea. Try instead to head to temple of Heaven and wander the park, then head for a foot massage at "taipan" and dinner.

Tipping is illegal and discouraged in China. Even when you appreciate the service, don't do it. Say thank you. (Bell boys would be my only exception) and you are not required to buy lunch for the driver. It is a nice gesture and you can ask, but he will likely decline. If this driver is your friend's personal driver, maybe bring a small gift instead, but check with your friend first.

The Chinese Yuan is pegged to the dollar at 1US$=8.28 RMB If you are coming from HK, just think in HK$. It is roughly the same rate. This rate is likely to change in the coming 6 months, but won't effect you now. The rate is the same everywhere, so don't risk changing money other than at banks or hotels. (Hotels may charge you a fee, though). I don't advise travelers checks. Use the ATM (most have rates of 7.9-8.18) , convert cash at the banks or hotel and use credit cards at the hotel. (though many credit cards impose a 3-5% fee for foreign transactions...read your fine print.)Anyplace outside of your hotel that accepts a credit card is
A; going to charge you a 4% fee in addition to the bank fee
B; catering to tourists and is way over priced to begin with.
China is a cash society.

And as for bargaining, 50% is no longer a rule of thumb. Figure 1/10 of what they are asking, especially if it is a written price on a tag. No matter what they quote, reply with a "you're kidding" in a friendly tone. Tell them you live here (even if you don't), and that you've seen it at Pearl Market, Ya Show or elsewhere for cheaper, even if you haven't. but at the end of the day, if you are happy with the price, and want the item. get it. An extra $3 one day is cheaper than having to come back and get it again. Use the prices in HK's Stanley Market as a guide. It should be 20% cheaper here. BJ has gotten very expensive since it became a mainstream destination a few years back.

I forgot to add, but if you have a credit card from Macy's, they only chare 1% for transactions. I believe Capital One does too.

You've gotten excellent and level-headed advice so far.

I'd only add: don't open your mouth when taking a shower! This means no ice in the drinks either! Don't eat any raw vegetables, like in salads, and, when peeling fruit, make sure you've washed and dried the fruit and that your hands are clean. Eat only food that has been cooked thoroughly, so no steak tartare or raw lobster. Just give extra attention and care to what goes into your mouth and you'll be fine. Montezuma may not have his revenge on you in China!

Right off the plane? I'd head for Tienanmen Square and the Forbidden City!
Here beats the heart of China. It is the middle of the "Middle Kingdom". Why waste time?

Oh yes, one more thing: use an ATM card. It's the safest and cheapest way to get Chinese money.

Have a great trip!

If possible, take 2 ATM cards from different banks. On a recent trip to China I often found I could use 1 card but not the other. No apparent reason.

I’m finally able to get back online after days of internet problems and so very happy to see all these great replies to my initial posts. Thank you all so much for your wonderful advice! I feel much more reassured about doing this trip on my own. To go into more detail, I will be in China for about 3 weeks on business mainly in Hong Kong and Shanghai where I’ll be with people who know the region. The weekend in Beijing will be on my own.

After hearing from you all, and reading some more, I do feel better about using my credit card successfully. My local bank has assured me their card should work and I should be able to use any bank or atm with the Cirrus logo. Unfortunately I don’t have two cards, so let’s pray the one I have does work! Silly me, I thought all of China had one currency!

The advice to use bottled water only is well taken and will be followed. I’m planning to pack a “medicine cabinet”. What have I forgotten or shouldn’t bother taking? I’m sure this stuff is available there, but doesn’t it always seem that you need it in the middle of the night? Or it may be written in Chinese.
Purell hand sanitizer
Tissue packs (for those bathrooms with no tissues)
Kaopectate tablets
Tylenol

I’m still not sure about a hotel. The huge Being Hotel on Wangfujing also looks good. What I didn’t realize is that the rates quoted on these websites include tax and service. I was adding those charges to the rate quoted.

My day of arrival will be spent exploring on foot, then the next day will be devoted to the Great Wall. Day 3 is the day I fly out, so I wouldn’t have much time, maybe half day to do something.

Am I being too careful thinking I shouldn’t venture out at night for dinner or is it safe enough? Part of me would like to do that and part of me thinks the idea of room service and resting my poor feet would be very luxurious!

Any suggestions on small gift ideas for my friends back home? I was thinking of jade earrings or something for my girlfriends. Would that be too expensive/ how to tell whether you’re getting a great deal, or even quality? What do YOU take home for your friends and family?

I won’t have much leisure time in Hong Kong or Shanghai, what would you recommend as “can’t miss sites”?

Oh, one more thing…at least for today. Is there a store that sells English language novels? After the long flight to China I’ll need to re-stock before getting on the plane home. Which naturally leads to this question…How does one survive those long flights? 14 hours?? Help!

Unless you're a jade expert, don't concern yourself with quality. You won't be able to tell the difference between fake jade, or low quality real jade, or high quality real jade, and neither will your girlfriends back home Buy what you like and pay what you think is fair. Don't necessarily believe the claims of the merchant or 'certificates of authenticity'. There was a recent thread where someone purchased expensive jade at a government run store and it appraised for much less back home.

It's safe to venture out at night for dinner, but there's nothing wrong with room service either if you're exhausted from touring all day.

Thanks Patty. Good point

Any suggestions other than jewelry just in case I don't see anything they'd like? We live in a hot climate so cashmere/pashmini (sp?) wouldn't be that welcomed LOL

LuckyGirl
I know you will have a great time in Beijing, just to be sure to allow some time to explore the small shopping streets. These are great fun, more so to me than the big Markets-less pushy venders.
We were in Beijing in Nov for the first time for two days. I followed many of the suggestions from the board. We went to the Great Wall early one morning and to the Summer Palace on the way back to town, had lunch, then went to the Forbidden City late in the afternoon. The next morning early we went to the Temple of Heaven and Park. The wall and the temple were our favorite.

The only problem we had was with our ATM card. The machine won't accept it and the merchant didn't take credit cards!. We always travel with some cash for each country and fortunatly we had this extra with us at the time. You might carry a little RMB($50-100US) with you from Shanghi since you will be there in a business setting.

I found the best and cheapest shopping in the little stores off Liu Lichang Street near T Square(look back at my post). Stanley Market in Hong Kong had much better items than the Pearl Market and at a better price!. I know many people have bought pearls etc at the Pearl Market, but I thought the inexpensive jewelry was way over priced even after bargining for it.

Other neat things to look for- 1. the beautiful LITTLE bottles that are hand painted on the inside; 2. small lacquaer boxes with tops inlaid with old handpainted china(its all probably new made to look old). These were great hits with our friends and family especially our daughters(30 something) and easy to pack. 3. silk table runners, some were made with beautiful silks and lots of detail. I found the nicest ones in Beijing. 5. small very Chinese looking water colors and Calligraphy art work.

A really fun gift I found was little silk purses in a whole bunch of different colours. I think we were on a Houtong tour when a bunch of street sellers approached us and sold them to us for 3 for $1 USD. I bought 15 and gave them as gifts upon return. My friends liked the bags better than the more costly gifts.

Great gift ideas! Thanks. Keep 'em coming! and any other suggestions for pre-trip planning.

Since it's going to be hot, hot, hot in China in July, would it be ok to wear shorts and sneakers when visiting the Wall?

LuckyGirl: I'm very envious. I'm sure you'll love Beijing. I was there in October and when our group went to see the Wall it was very hot even then - although probably not as hot as it will be when you are there! A lot of people in our group wore shorts and tennies, and I didn't see anyone look at them strangely. In my experience this was true throughout our trip.