Originally Posted by
jiejie
The Terra Cotta Warriors do not take an entire day to see. Transport out there, 2 hours on site, transport back is 4 hours, a half-day. If you have the cash, what I would do for convenience and expediency is to hire a private car/driver for a full-day rate, and have him take you to 1 or 2 other sites in Xi'an on the TCW day. Which other two are up to you, but I'd tend to put things that are furthest away from the central Drum/Bell Tower area, such as Hanyangling, possibly the Big or Little Wild Goose Pagodas. Other things possible, depends on your interest. Then on the free day, focusing on things that you can get around by yourself on foot and with the subway system makes sense: City Walls, Drum/Bell Towers and Muslim Quarter.
I would definitely stay somewhere central even if it meant foregoing using points.
I think I like this idea. Hopefully someone has a suggestion for a private driver. I've been to Beijing and have a tour guide I've met and she does a great job and real inexpensive, I hope to find someone here. Money is not that big a deal, not saying crazy pricing but something reasonable.
I have a reservation at Citadines Central. it seems to be in a great location. Most reviews are OK. Probably not a corner suite but I'm on my own this trip so don't care.
BTW I'm there 2/26 to 2/29. There was a crazy airfare for $583 from Chicago and I had a couple expiring AA SWU to use.