questions re: trip to china
Jan 19th, 2006, 01:10 PM
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questions re: trip to china
My boyfriend and I will be traveling to China from the end of april to may for two weeks. We will like to travel to Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong. We will use Shanghai as our major hub and would like to fly to other areas of china, should we book tickets here in the U.S. or ask a friend from China to reserve flights for us. Which is the cheaper way around? In addition, what are other destinations that anybody out there can give us that we can not miss?
Jan 19th, 2006, 01:22 PM
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A few points:
- May 1 is a major holiday. Most people get a whole week off and transportation is very tight during that week.
- You'll need a 2-entry visa if you want to use Shanghai as base and visit Hong Kong and then come back.
- For internal flights, it's a lot cheaper to buy them in China.
- Shanghai-to-Hong Kong airfare is much higher than rest of China. One may want to fly to Shenzhen and cross the border by ferry/coach, if you want to do it the cheaper way.
- There are lots of places you can see in two weeks. Around Shanghai, you can go to Suzhou, Hangzhou, and many watertowns in between. Futher away, Guilin for natural beauty or Xi'an for its historical sites. Those are usually the first places people visit from abroad.
- May 1 is a major holiday. Most people get a whole week off and transportation is very tight during that week.
- You'll need a 2-entry visa if you want to use Shanghai as base and visit Hong Kong and then come back.
- For internal flights, it's a lot cheaper to buy them in China.
- Shanghai-to-Hong Kong airfare is much higher than rest of China. One may want to fly to Shenzhen and cross the border by ferry/coach, if you want to do it the cheaper way.
- There are lots of places you can see in two weeks. Around Shanghai, you can go to Suzhou, Hangzhou, and many watertowns in between. Futher away, Guilin for natural beauty or Xi'an for its historical sites. Those are usually the first places people visit from abroad.
Jan 19th, 2006, 04:05 PM
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rkkwan, thank you for your suggestions. Since we did not confirmed our tickets, and heard your suggestion regarding May 1st, we have pushed up our plans for the month of April. Do we book the internal flights once we get there, or is it cheaper to do it in advance through friends we have in china. Will definitely look into the places you have suggested, are most of them day trips or will it required overnight stays. Traveling to these cities you suggested near Shanghai, what is best transportation?
Jan 19th, 2006, 04:14 PM
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Fares are lowest from the departing city. For example, it's cheaper to buy Shanghai->Beijing flights in Shanghai than in Beijing, Guangzhou or wherever. If your friend lives in Shanghai, then ask him/her to get tickets for you from any local agent. Save yourself the time and trouble.
And consider having him/her buying everything. The cost difference isn't that large. And all much cheaper than you getting the tickets here.
There are watertowns near Shanghai that can be done as daytrips, but for place like Suzhou and Hangzhou, at least overnight. You can take a train from Shanghai to either; and a coach between the two.
Going to the watertowns is a little more complicated, but you can inquire about a car from Suzhou to Tongli (one of the more popular watertowns), for example.
And consider having him/her buying everything. The cost difference isn't that large. And all much cheaper than you getting the tickets here.
There are watertowns near Shanghai that can be done as daytrips, but for place like Suzhou and Hangzhou, at least overnight. You can take a train from Shanghai to either; and a coach between the two.
Going to the watertowns is a little more complicated, but you can inquire about a car from Suzhou to Tongli (one of the more popular watertowns), for example.
Jan 19th, 2006, 05:51 PM
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hallo
I think - but please check with your friend - that the internal flight prices tend to drop nearer to the departure date. Sort of like special bargains. Of course you don't want to risk that the flights are booked out but there are quite a few airlines plying the routes these days.
Just a thought
I think - but please check with your friend - that the internal flight prices tend to drop nearer to the departure date. Sort of like special bargains. Of course you don't want to risk that the flights are booked out but there are quite a few airlines plying the routes these days.
Just a thought
