Sagarmatha

Aloha,
We are traveling to Kathmandu, Nepal from Honolulu on China Eastern.
HNL - PVG MU 573 arriving at 3:20 AM.
Flight wait time 17 hrs 40 min
PVG-KTM MU 2583 leaves at 9:00AM (has a 1hr stop at Kunming, same flight number goes to Ktm).

I am traveling with my wife, we speak no Chinese. I understand the 24 hr transit visa will be awarded. Will be travelling with extra checked in luggages. Suggest best options on where to stay. Would love to ride the Maglev!
Should I stay at/near airport or in downtown Shanghai? Would love to have a nice dinner with a view and return to airport in time to check in luggage. Hotel cost range $100-$150.

Can I store or leave luggage at Airport? I gather from other posts here that eventhough the airline agent says it will be checked through, I will have to claim at PVG, clear customs and immigration.

Coming to hotel early should not be a problem? Should it?

Or should I just stay near PVG and sleep my tired joints?
Thank you.

JPDM

Are you sure that you get this right? 3h20am to 9h00am is not 17h40min.

Sagarmatha

Sorry, it is 2:20 PM Aug 31, leaving PVG on Sept 1. We have Nepalese Passports.

moondog

I suggest you book a hotel close to jing'an Temple. You can take the bus, subway, or maglev/subway there.

jiejie

Yeah, I'd agree with moondog to book a hotel in the Jing'An temple area or the French Concession area.

You are correct in that you will get a 24-hour Transit Without Visa so use the TWOV queue at Immigration. I believe there is nearly a 100% chance that on your routing, you'll need to pick up your bags at Baggage Claim, walk through Customs exit, and then look for ground transportation once out in the main arrivals area. Grab some RMB cash either from ATM or bank counter window if using currency notes. I'd just taxi to your hotel if you want to keep your luggage. If you want to park the main luggage at the airport, Left Luggage is available for a fee, just take your valuables with you. Then you can use public transport as mentioned by moondog above. You'll need to recheck your luggage when you check in the next morning at the airline counter, but on this flight sequence it should be checked all the way to KTM so you won't have to deal with at KMG. However, you normally would not go through Exit Immigration until KMG so expect to deplane there and do that. This is a common routing to get from China to Nepal, so MU certainly should have a procedure/jetway escort at KMG for getting you to and through Immigration quickly and reboarded....and likely you'll have fellow passengers doing the identical to you on PVG-KMG-KTM.

moondog

Getting a hotel within walking distance of ja Temple would be optimal because the bus station and subway station are super convenient.

The french concession is worth visiting, for sure, but I advise going there after settling into a hotel.

There are lots of hotels in the area at all ends of the price spectrum.

Plan on getting your maglev thrill out of the way from the airport because you should be able to catch it at top speed. On the way back, use the bus (cheaper, faster, less hassle).

Sagarmatha

Thankyou Jiejie and Moondog. You folks are awesome.

If I leave 4 hours to deplane till check in to a hotel in Jing'an area, that would be around 6:30 PM. What would be your suggestion for a visitor to Shanghai at that time with 4 hours to dine and see? The bund? The temple will be closed but would it be ok to visit outside, take photos?
Is it ok travel to with a carry on and a computer bag in the bus? How much would a taxi charge from Jing'an to PVG, and how long would it take. I have the flight at 9 AM and must reach the airport atleast 7AM to reclaim my luggage at left luggage, hope they will be open then?
Thank you.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

It should take you around two hours from landing to being at your hotel. That's allowing for you being a bit slower and needing to find your way around.

The Bund is a 'must see' - night time is particularly good with everything lit up.

I would make a booking for Lost Heaven (Bund Branch), reservations are essential (you can do this on the day). http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restau...-Shanghai.html

Before or after dinner, wander down and have a look at the sights. If you want to relax after dinner (for a drink or even coffee) there are a couple of very nice historic hotel bars close by - either the Long Bar at the Waldorf Astoria (right next to Lost Heaven), or the iconic Peace Hotel (also on the Bund). I prefer the Long Bar with its jazz and more quiet atmosphere. Long Bar: http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restau...-Shanghai.html

The bus to Jing'An can be full. I had to put my carry on in the aisle (but could go underneath in the hold, just I only made the bus as it was pulling away). Taxi Jing'An to PVG could be around 180-200RMB.

If you want to do the maglev do it on arrival. Take it to Longyang Lu terminus and then connect to Line 2 metro to Jing An (avoid a taxi from Longyang station because there's a good chance you'll get ripped off).

Sagarmatha

Thank you LHR/MEL/Europe FF. Will soon get in to looking at hotels...

moondog

I happen to be sitting the lobby of an economy hotel near JA Temple at this very moment because a colleague is in town. It is called the Hi Hotel and there is a slightly nicer hotel in the same building call the Ji Hotel (phone number for both is +21 6190 7566). My colleague is paying Y220 per night, and says that is a little higher than usual. It is on 105 Wanhangdu Lu just north of Beijing Lu. The only other budget place I think think of that's closer to JA Temple is on Yuyuan Lu at Luyuanzhi Lu (can't recall the name off hand).

There are also some very good hotels in Jing'an:
-the Puli and Shangri-La are the best and are not always $300+/night
-the Portman is a distant #3 in my book
-then, there is the Swiss (nice, but doesn't really wow me)
-and, the Hilton with very good discount codes (I've seen it for as low as Y500)

ETA: I just noticed your budget ($100-150); that should be sufficient to snag the Portman or the Swiss if you catch a promotion.

Sagarmatha

Thanks Moondog, Puli does look nice. I will keep looking at Portman.

Some more questions: As my flight leaves at 9 AM PVG Terminal 1, when should I and how should I go back to thr Airport? Should I not be at the airline counter 1.5 to 2 hours before departure.

Booking hotel, I saw considerably lower rates on ctrip? Any catch there?

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

1.5-2 hours is a good time to arrive (call me old-fashioned!). I generally aim to leave Jing An three hours before scheduled departure, and with combination taxi/maglev that gets me there at the latest 2 hours before.

Looking at the Maglev timetable the first train now seems to be at 0645 from Longyang Lu, so if you want to experience the train you could aim for the 645 or 7am departures. A taxi from your hotel to the station is the easiest, although you could take the metro. Ask the hotel porter to give the taxi driver the name of the train station, and make it clear you don't want to go all the way to the airport! Timetable is here: http://www.smtdc.com/en/jszl1_2.html

Ctrip is just fine to book with.

(Just out of interest I noticed the timetable now includes two extra 'late night' services... 2215 and 2240 from Pudong to Longyang Lu. Certainly welcome for later arrivals!)

moondog

I'm fine with 1.5 hours wrt op, but stand resolutely behind the bus. Assuming the first bus leaves at 6a (I'll check on this later), op will be at check-in counter before 7a.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

I keep forgetting about the bus! I never used to take it as I'd have to get a taxi to/from the bus station from my apartment... not worth the hassle.

Sagarmatha

Aloha everyone, finally booked a room at HoJo, total price less than $100. I hope the place is good for a nights rest and sightseeing bund in the evening. I guess the best transport would be taxi to the PVG early in the morning, catching a flight at 9 am to Nepal.