Maps & Driving Directions
Apr 17th, 2007, 08:33 PM
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Maps & Driving Directions
Where on line can I find driving directions and maps so I am well equipped to get from airport to hotels in China and Hong Kong. I am particularly concerned about Shanghai where we will be staying at the Crowne Plaza Fudan near Fudan University. From what I have been reading, it is a good idea to be able to provide driving directions or a map if we don't speak the language.
Apr 17th, 2007, 08:55 PM
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Apr 17th, 2007, 09:10 PM
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Not sure how you are planning to get to your hotels from the airport. For Hong Kong, if you are taking a taxi either from the airport or from one of the airport express stations, it is not necessary to have driving directions, taxi drivers speak English. Just give them the name of your hotel and the street address if for some reason they don’t know the address by heart based on the name you give them. If you have the address written in English on a confirmation slip, you can show them that, sometimes the way you pronounce “Sheraton” for example, may be different from what they are used to hearing, but in general you should have no issue being understood by taxi drivers.
Many hotels in Hong Kong participate in a shuttle bus service which will take you directly to the hotel, go to – for info. Many hotels are also walk able from either the airport express (i.e. the Mandarin, Four Seasons, Ritz are easily walk able), or from a subway stop. For a street map of the most central areas of Hong Kong, go to http://www.hot-maps.de/asia/china/hongkong/homeen.html.
For Shanghai, it may be useful to have the name of your hotel written in CHINESE characters, you may be able to copy this off the hotel’s website or ask your hotel to e-mail it to you. (Once you at the hotel, most hotels have small business cards with the name and address of the hotel written in Chinese for the specific purpose of your use in taxis.) If not, and if you are taking a taxi from the airport in Shanghai, ask the taxi dispatcher to write it down for you. IMO, it is not necessary to have driving directions to the hotel. Many guidebooks have maps of Shanghai showing hotel locations, as does a site like asiahotels.com, that may help you and the driver to pin point the hotels location if he does not already know it. If you are taking a taxi from the Loyang station (i.e. the end station for the Maglev train from the airport), then you should have your hotel name written down already.
Many hotels in Hong Kong participate in a shuttle bus service which will take you directly to the hotel, go to – for info. Many hotels are also walk able from either the airport express (i.e. the Mandarin, Four Seasons, Ritz are easily walk able), or from a subway stop. For a street map of the most central areas of Hong Kong, go to http://www.hot-maps.de/asia/china/hongkong/homeen.html.
For Shanghai, it may be useful to have the name of your hotel written in CHINESE characters, you may be able to copy this off the hotel’s website or ask your hotel to e-mail it to you. (Once you at the hotel, most hotels have small business cards with the name and address of the hotel written in Chinese for the specific purpose of your use in taxis.) If not, and if you are taking a taxi from the airport in Shanghai, ask the taxi dispatcher to write it down for you. IMO, it is not necessary to have driving directions to the hotel. Many guidebooks have maps of Shanghai showing hotel locations, as does a site like asiahotels.com, that may help you and the driver to pin point the hotels location if he does not already know it. If you are taking a taxi from the Loyang station (i.e. the end station for the Maglev train from the airport), then you should have your hotel name written down already.
Apr 18th, 2007, 09:12 AM
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While taxi drivers in Hong Kong understand basic English, I highly suggest you print out the webpage of your hotel with the address. There are many hotels with similar names, or one hotel chain with several properties.
For example, Harbour Plaza and Harbour Plaza Metropolis in Hunghom; Cosmo and Cosmopolitan in Wanchai; Mandarin Oriental and MO Landmark in Central; Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel, MP Gateway and MP Prince in Tsimshatsui; Intercontinental and IC Grand Stanford, also in Tsimshatsui; YMCA Salisbury and YMCA International; not to mention all the Regals and Metroparks.
It's hard enough for many locals to distinguish the names in Chinese, let alone in English. Including taxi drivers.
But of course, if you're staying at the Peninsula, you'll be okay.
For example, Harbour Plaza and Harbour Plaza Metropolis in Hunghom; Cosmo and Cosmopolitan in Wanchai; Mandarin Oriental and MO Landmark in Central; Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel, MP Gateway and MP Prince in Tsimshatsui; Intercontinental and IC Grand Stanford, also in Tsimshatsui; YMCA Salisbury and YMCA International; not to mention all the Regals and Metroparks.
It's hard enough for many locals to distinguish the names in Chinese, let alone in English. Including taxi drivers.
But of course, if you're staying at the Peninsula, you'll be okay.
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