Spring (February to April) is an excellent time to plan your vacation in Beijing. The weather is dry and windy. But it’s low season so you won’t be bumping into endless crowds and you have the sights for yourself.

Since China is not exactly close to either Europe or North America, the bulk of the travel budget is going to be the flight. So it only makes sense to search for cheap flights to Beijing ahead of time and book your flight when you find the best deal. Of course, flying during the low season is a great choice to save on airfare.

If you fly from London to Beijing in early April, the non-stop RT flight starts at $978 (on Air China). Virgin Atlantic and British Airways also offer direct flights but the prices are much higher.

Should you want to fly from New York to Beijing during the same period, the non-stop RT flight starts at $898 (on Continental). Air China, United and US Airways also offer direct flights but the fares are more expensive.

Now that you have the flight secured, it’s time to look for hotels in China . In large cities, such as Beijing, it’s important to choose a place to stay close to the main sights. Depending on the location and the facilities offered, rates start at as low as $34 per night during the low season. With a bit of planning ahead you can stay in a 4-star hotel with just $64 per night, right in the heart of Beijing.

Tips

Make sure to always carry a map and be sure to know exactly where you want to go. Carry the name of the hotel with you and the name of the place where you want to go. It’s quite hard to find someone who speaks English so you need to be prepared.

Metered taxis and the metro are the two best choices for travelers. Buses are crowded and the names of the stations are only in Chinese so it can be a daunting task to figure out things.

Stay away from buying anything in China. Fake designer products are everywhere and we bet that’s not what you want to bring back as souvenir.

Photo credit

Despite the growing similarities between Hong Kong and the rest of China’s big cities, there are still plenty of reasons to stop there when you’re visiting the country.

Unfortunately, Hong Kong is notoriously expensive – and its budget options notoriously seedy and/or dirty. There are a few standouts among the city’s hostels, but many of them are famous for being a rite of passage among backpackers. They’re cramped, usually fairly dirty, not terribly secure, and housed in giant multi-storey buildings (ironically called “mansions”) with restaurants, businesses, and shopping centers crammed in on other floors. Too many budget travelers end up in these less-than-desirable accommodation settings and end up with a sour feeling toward Hong Kong, which is sad because it’s avoidable.

There are a few basics to know about cheap beds in Hong Kong that are going to be true pretty much all the time, whether you’re staying in one of the hostels mentioned above or have opted for something a little bit nicer. The primary one is that bedrooms in Hong Kong are known for being tiny. This is almost always going to be the case unless you’re willing to splurge on a more modern and luxurious hotel, because many of the cheap hotels in Hong Kong occupy exisiting buildings that don’t allow for larger room sizes.

The good news is that although the more expensive accommodation options in Hong Kong may be out of the range of the backpacker on the strictest travel budget, hotels that are more on the high-end in Hong Kong are typically much cheaper than a similar place would be in other big cities like Paris or London or New York. So if your travel budget is somewhere in the mid-range, be sure to look at a star-level that’s at least one higher than you might usually go for to see how far your money will take you.

photo by skyseeker

Eagle Land Guest House
In the Xian Zu Island area, you’ll find the Eagle Land Guest House. It has a mix of Tibetan and Nepalese decor that is inviting and personal. Next to the Lhasa River, you’ll enjoy the mountain babbling brook atmosphere and the quiet ambiance. You can enjoy this for $9.23 to $15.38/night in private or dorm rooms with WIFI, a library and game room.

Huangshan Old Street Youth Hostel
In Tunxi District of Huangshan is located the Huangshan Old Street Youth Hostel. A great tourist attraction in itself, thsi hostel is located on Old Street itself. A street that boasts of being 500 years old and attracts many visitors for its souvenir shops and local specialties, either in or close to this hostel. It offers private rooms or suites from $6.15 to $15.38/night with internet access, cable TV, game room and pool table.

Sleeping Dragon
In Shanghai, the Sleeping Dragon with both single and private rooms is the perfect stop. It keeps its classical feel, even with the modern updates. It is located in old town Shanghai with open-air markets and plenty of traditional sites, smells and tastes.. There are many sites within 10 to 20 minutes by taxi or metro. The Sleeping Dragon has a reading room with English and foreign texts, a cozy bar, computers with free internet access, rooms with balconies and wonderful views. They offer private or dorm rooms from $9.23 to $30.76/per night.

Rates start at $320.78 (USD) per night
website

St. Regis Hotel – Beijing
This property is located in the embassy district and is considered to be the most exclusive hotel in Beijing. A butler will be provided to you to attend to your every need. From unpacking your suitcase to bringing you a hot cup of ginger tea. A new wing was added in 2001 that houses a wonderful gym and spa if you would like to take the time to unwind after that long international flight.

Rates start at $395.00 (USD) per night
website

The Peninsula – Hong Kong
The Peninsula Hotel offers the best in luxury in all of Hong Kong. The guest rooms are spacious and comfortable, and are equipped with the most advanced technology. The hotel offers a state of the art gym, and a Roman-style pool that opens up onto the sun deck. This gives you the opportunity to view the Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong Island. This view is breathtaking in itself. You will also receive the best service available.

Rates start at $500.00 (USD) per night
website

Hyatt Regency Hotel – Xian
This hotel is located inside the ancient walls of the Xian City Center. This hotel is close to all there is to do in Xian, the business district, shopping, night life, and all of the great entertainment. The Regency Hotel is home to 2 fine restaurants, as well as a host to Club Zen Spa. This is an added comfort after a long flight to help you relax before a long day of sightseeing.

Rates start at $94.78 (USD) per night
website

Shangri-la Hotel – Hangzhou
This hotel is situated on the northern shore of West Lake. The rooms were upgraded two years ago and now offer the best in luxury accommodations. There are vast gardens on the property and it is only a short walk to the shores of the lake. The secluded area of this location may make you feel as if you are truly in Shangri-la. If you would like to relax the hotel offers a health club that is the best in the region, and if you like to cycle you can rent a bike and ride along the shores of the tranquil lake. Whatever it is that you prefer, it is possible at the Shagri-la Hotel.

Rates start at $173.61 (USD) per night
website

The biggest benefit from all of this is that intangible thing called experience. There is a reason why job recruiters have specific requirements regarding experience for most positions. Theoretically, a really smart person could learn as much in a year as an average person could learn in five, but in the end, the five years of certain challenges and tribulations come with them great value.

The other great benefit have been the friends that I have been able to develop very solid relationships with in a very short time; My closest friends include a Yale MBA, Oxford grad from Nigeria, several local Chinese, VP of Anheuser-Busch, etc. etc. – but, these are just the ones to brag about titles, there are several others that are just as interesting and generous – friends from Malta, Korea, China, Nigeria, etc. Dealing with one thing after another has made me rely on others a fair amount and there is a special intimacy that comes with facing challenges together and a certain gratitude that goes with the genuine help and care of others.

For my first three month report card, I give myself a “C.” I have handled these situations reasonably well, but I have also learned a great deal about attitude; as Viktor Frankl suggested, there is a choice we all have regarding how we relate to the world and our experience; we really can choose to focus on the positive/solutions or the negative/problems – and that, my friends, makes all the difference.

I am in my new crib and really like the location. There have been lots of distractions since I arrived, but I have learned a lot, and experience is the best teacher. Now it is back to business. This week, I have a lot in the air, need to find out about a new job that has been presented and also need to get my classes scheduled. I should also find another gym or see if the other one is opened back up.

This last week has been the May Festival here in China. Most people were off of work. Last Friday, I went out with a group of friends here to a club called Baby Face. One of the guys that was with us plays for the Qingdao team and has appeared in two World Cups. The other folks in the club, recognized him and treated us like VIPS.

I was able to catch the De La Hoya-Mayweather Jr. fight as well. They showed it here for free and some friends and I went to a Japanese restaurant and had a great time. It was a pretty good fight; I thought De La Hoya was the more aggressive fighter and did enough to keep his belt, but when you look at the punch stats, it is hard to argue against the decision.

This last month has been a crash course for me, it has been difficult, but I have learned a lot and made some great friends. First of all, anytime I can violate a prejudicial “truism” it makes me happy, and this man did honor his agreement and he didn’t have to. I also learned something about getting things done in China. The process is slower here and patience is necessary. It is always better to solve the problem with the source. There are some pretty effective tools I’ve also discovered; there is a consumer protection number (#12315 on your phone in Qingdao) and they are supposed to be pretty effective, but I think that property complaints are out of their purview. There are other options that involve paying people to get it taken care of, but, that of course creates other potential problems.

Once a decision was made it seemed that the Universe began to conspire with me to get everything worked out. I was able to get several friends to offer advice and help directly with the owner. May holiday begins here today. This means that the hotels are booked and most offices closed over the next 8 days. This meant it was going to be very difficult to get a new place with such little time, and very difficult to get a hotel as well. Well, as luck would have it, early last week I got a call from some guy I didnt even know, he said he heard I was looking for a place (not sure how he knew that, either.) Apparently, his girlfriend was moving in with him and she needed to get her half of the rent taken care of. So, I got a place that is month to month for 1/3rd of what I was paying before. It is much more comfortable and the other roommate isn’t going to be back for another couple weeks, so I have the place all to myself. It is quiet, in a great location, has internet and, most importantly, the shower is piping hot!!!

I am happy to have most of the major things settled – I still need to get hotwater and internet in my apartment, but other than that I am good to go. I am feeling pretty excited that I will be calling this home. Tomorrow the owner comes over to figure out what’s up with the hotwater, and then I will then order internet.

I went and got my own gym membership yesterday, and have worked out the past two days. I am really excited about this summer and look forward to making some positive things happen.

On the practical tip; Last Friday I went to the police station to register. In Qingdao (and the rest of China for that matter) you must register with the police any time you change residences. This is generally done by the hotel you are staying at, but make sure that you remember to do this if you are going to be living here. It is not a big deal, and there is usually someone there that speaks English, but if you dont do it, you can get a fine up to 1000RMB ($125) and you also have to then go through a bunch of red-tape on top of that.

I had a funny side story during all of this, as well. I went with a friend and while there, I noticed the police lady seemed to have a softspot for me. I didn’t know my number, so I just had her call herself with my phone, so it would show up on caller ID. About 30 minutes later, I got a call from the lady with the school that I was going to work for, and I told her I would call her back when I got where I was going. 2O Minutes later, I gave her a ring and a women answered who spoke English, but it was noisy, so I hung up. A couple minutes later I got a text “Sorry, in a meeting” – this number I didnt recognize, so I texted back “who is this?” response: “I is Policeman.” – Uh Oh! Apparently, I got the two mixed up. I was in a dilemma at that point, and didn’t know what to do – I didn’t want this (unattractive) police women taking advantage of me with her nightstick. So, I called her back, tried to explain the mix-up which only confused matters more…..so far, no latenight knock on my door (I was there to register my address, remember.)

I was feeling pretty down yesterday morning, because I still had not found an apartment. The ones I had seen (many) were not “right” for one reason or another. I hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before and I felt even worse because of it. I voiced some frustration to my agent, Jessica, who has been very sweet and helpful, and she was able to help me get closer – I really expect to have a contract signed by the end of the week.

The great news, that made the difference in my day, is that I got a job here yesterday. I will be teaching Business English to Chinese employees of Maersk. Maersk is one of the world’s largest shipping companies. I am sure that you have seen their containers at any port around the world. I have my first class tomorrow and it is to be a bit of test run, I gather. So, I hope to do a good job and make a good impression. I am very happy about this for two reasons; one, it will allow me to make a couple extra dollars and, two, it will allow me to make some new connections for friends and otherwise. I will be working three hours a week and it will pay about half my rent. Cool.

I have befriended a couple guys here in China that both have experience teaching English to Chinese – Vernon from NY (by way of Belize) and Paul from Malta. Both are great guys, and have offered me some great teaching resources.

PS – For all those asking me to post pictures – I am still learning on this system – I am waiting to hear back from my friend and will post some good ones, soon. Thanks

“No problem – it’s my pleasure.

OK – regarding the train to Lhasa, I am going to email my friend who recently took the trip and he will be able to give me definitive answers to the questions regarding oxygen and food quality (I suggest bringing some food with you.) I can say a good train resource is seat61.com - and the local website to find the fares is: http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains

The non-commission price for a softsleeper is $134. This is the one with four-berths. People feel differently about whether they prefer high or low bed; with the lowbed you can put stuff under the seat and you dont have to climb up, unless you are really, really short – and, depending on the train (no idea about the Lhasa train) there is a compartment underneath that you can put your stuff in. I prefer the top myself because I’m less bothered up there, but either one is fine.

My suggestion would be that, depending on her comfort level regarding hostels, she should stay at 365Inn or LeoHostel, both are located on DaZhaLan St. about a 1/2 mile from Tiananmen and the main center of Beijing – the reason I suggest one of these two places is they have tours up to the Badaling section of the Great Wall – this is the orginal wall and is not very commercial, at all. It will cost about 150-180RMB (about $25) and includes a really nice lunch….it does involve some hiking, but if your Mom and brother are in good shape they should have no problems.

She can also get her train tickets booked through either hostel for a commission of about 30 RMB ($4.50.) For more info; www.leohostel.com – I am friendly with the owner, although he is not there much – but you can use my name – “Adam who is friends with Mr. Kim”

What I normally do when I go to Beijing, is stay at 365Inn because it is quiet, comfortable and cheap (I usually get a room (often to myself for 50 RMB/$6.50)) – she and Caleb should be able to get a room with two double beds, AC/Heat, and a TV for about 100 RMB total,) and then I go over to LeoHostel to hangout and schedule tours and train tickets. LeoHostel is very popular and sometimes it is a bit noisy – the two places are about a 5 second walk across the street from one another. The price I quoted is the bare-bottom price and those rooms dont have a bathroom in them – I have gone there between October and March and have been able to negotiate because there were several rooms open. She or Caleb should look up the number and call them first and make reservation – both places everyone speaks English. 365Inn also has a washer and dryer – very rare, indeed.

One more thing, the train to Lhasa leaves out of Beijing West which is about a 15 minute cab ($5) ride from those hostels/Tiananmin Sq. She can tell the cabbie – BeijingXi (shi) or just point to the ticket (upper left hand corner.)

Lots of info, but it is hard-earned and very good.

Adam”