Planning China/Vietnam trip in March. After I take Yangtze River cruise, will head to Hanoi. From Wuhan, there are two ways to get there-via Beijing/HKG or Guangzhou. Either way there is an overnight layover. And both flights arrive at their respective stops about 11:00PM. Continuing flight to Hanoi leaves about 9:AM. I need to spend the night someplace other than the airport terminal.

In Hong Kong, the airport hotel is pretty expensive ($250.00 per night and up and for my date-March 22-it is $313.00 and up) and the reviews are pretty bad. I know nothing about Guangazhou.

If I take the HKG flight, can I make it someplace cheaper via train or taxi and not have a problem getting back to the airport in time for my early flight. The HKG airport website states last train is 00:48, so if my flight is late, I may miss the train.

Or can you recommend a hotel in Guangzhou close to the airport, which is not a hassle?

Thanks for all your help.

I'm confused. China Southern has a direct daily flight from Wuhan to Hong Kong which arrives at 10:35 (Dragonair also flies on Thrusday and Sunday, but not on 22/3 which is a Tuesday). Vietnam Airlines then has a daily flight to Hanoi departing HK at 14:55.

Wouldn't that be the easiest way?

The problem with the 22nd by the way is that is the last day of the CSFB big finance conference plus the HK Sevens Rugby period.

I'm sorry. There really was no clarity to my post. Let's try again.

The Yangtze River cruise docks at 12:00. I picked the earliest flight, 4:00PM, to Beijing, and then PEK/HKG, arrive 10:50PM. Overnight in HKG, then 9:00AM Cathay to Hanoi. The flight time direct to Guangzhou is later, with an overnight there. The following morning, direct flight to Hanoi arriving early morning. I only have one day in Hanoi, so would like to make the most of it.

Thanks for the info on the conference. That must be the reason the hotel rate for 1 week was considerably higher.

Now, do you have a hotel recommendation for Guangzhou? That seems to be my best option. I don't want to spend $300.00 for 6 hours in a hotel in HKG. Thanks for your help. Your previous advice has been invaluable in planning this trip.

OK - now I see. I didn't realise you had such a short time in Hanoi.

Unfortunately I have never been to Guangzhou so can't make any recommendation there.

i don't understand why you want to go to beijing. you realize it's in the opposite direction, right?

why not just fly straight to can or szx. there are 5 flights to can leaving after 1p on 3-22 and 3 flights to szx.

if transiting in hk is an objective, you could be downtown by 7p if you took the 3p flight out of wuhan.

but, if i was in your shoes, i would definitely transit in can. you should be able to get in early enough to take in some local culture (like the rat restaurant, for example).

moondog,

Please advise on 3:00 flight out of WUH to HKG. I can find no flight like that. In fact, the only non-stop to HKG leaves about 8:00AM. All others I find have an overnight in CAN, which delays my arrival into Hanoi until early afternoon.

If I take the long way around to Beijing, HKG, and HAN, I arrive much earlier than any other flight I can find. If you can provide me with a flight which gets me to HKG by 7:00PM, I can still connect with the same Cathay (Vietnam airlines) codeshare. And would solve the problem of the very expensive hotel at the HKG airport.

Thanks for all your help. Between you and christep, you have provided invaluable advice. Going to see the pandas in Chengdu, Llasa, and a little bit of Beijing. Then on to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Bangkok. 30 days of straight travel, but it really is a once in a liftime experience.

Here is the flight I booked. I can change until Jan 18 with no penalty, if I can find a flight direct to HKG. Gina

Wuhan, China to Hanoi, Viet Nam: 2429 miles 19 hrs 0 min

China Southern Airlines Flight CZ3139 on a Boeing 737 (jet) in coach class
Departs Wuhan, China (WUH) Tue, Feb 22 4:00p 2 hrs 0 min
Arrives Beijing, China (PEK) 6:00p
Layover in Beijing 1 hr 50 min
Air China Flight CA107 on a Boeing 737 (jet) in coach class
(snack)
Departs Beijing, China (PEK) Tue, Feb 22 7:50p 3 hrs 30 min
Arrives Hong Kong, Hong Kong (HKG) 11:20p
Layover in Hong Kong 9 hrs 40 min
Vietnam Airlines Corporation Flight VN793 on an Airbus A320 (jet) in coach class
(breakfast)
Departs Hong Kong, Hong Kong (HKG) Wed, Feb 23 9:00a 2 hrs 0 min
Arrives Hanoi, Viet Nam (HAN) 10:00a
Note: There is an overnight stop in Hong Kong (HKG).

i don't think there are any flights from wuhan to hkg on the 22nd, which is why i suggested you go to shenzhen and bus it or -alternatively- simply go to han via can. i'm not an expert on china vietnam flights, but many of my friends like it down there and have always taken cz via can so i'm pretty sure you could do the same.

if you have to go to hk, i would definitely do the szx option instead of your pek routing.

regarding hk hotels, there's no reason to stay near the airport; there are lots of decent places close to the airport express stations in kowloon and hk for around $50 per night. but, again, i suggest you do a little more research on the can option.

CZ's CAN-HAN flights leaves 1:05pm, while VN's HKG-HAN leaves 9:00am. So, if you really want to get to Hanoi earliest, you should fly Wuhan-Shenzhen, and then fly out of HKG the next morning.

Many direct bus services from SZX to Hong Kong proper. And the next morning, you can get to HKG easily from the city by Airport Express or Cityflyer Bus or taxi by 7am or so. Definitely no need to stay at the Regal Airport.

it's worth pointing out that the szx option is much cheaper than your pek-hkg plan. when i ran a query for mar 22 earlier today, there were flights available for less than $60.

I suspect that with a scheduled docking at noon you'd be struggling to make a 1:05pm flight. But if you can find a way to get to Shenzhen then the onward travel to HKG airport is easy. See here for the options:
http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/cbt/index.html

If you get to stay overnight in Shenzhen somewhere near the ferry pier then the ferry option might be the best since you can then go directly from china to airside at HK airport without having to go through HK immigration twice. You also are exempt from the HKG airport departure tax.

There is a ferry from Shenzhen Shekou at 07:45 which arrives at HKG airport at 08:15, which I believe is fine for a 09:00 flight - you actually check-in in Shenzhen before you depart.

tmk, there is no 1p flight on 3-22. flights leave at 3:10, 4:35, and 8:05.

中国南方航空(集团)公司
CZ3355 天河机场
宝安国际机场 15:10
16:40 737 可售 50 980 780
退改签规定
中国东方航空公司
MU2483 天河机场
宝安国际机场 16:35
17:55 738 50 980 780
退改签规定
深圳航空公司
ZH9898 天河机场
宝安国际机场 20:05
21:35 738 50 980 490
退改签规定

I want to thank everyone for their help. I have the 4:35 flight to Shenzhen on hold. I must find a hotel close to the pier or confirmed transportation to the pier, so I don't miss the ferry.

I still have until Jan. 18 to firm up these flights, whether the flight is to Shenzhen or Hong Kong. By the way, I may have found a place for an overnight nap in HKG, which is much cheaper than the Regal. http://www.plaza-ppl.com/hk_en/overnight.php#03 Anyone know anything about this?

Thanks again for everyone's help. FT is the greatest!!!

Gina

i suggest you hold off on ticketing as long as possible because the 3p and 4:35p flights are on different airlines and i really think you'll be able to make the earlier flight. if the flights aren't heavily booked, you should have no problem buying a ticket at the airport or from a ta in wuhan. btw, in order to get discounts greater than 20%, it's usually necessary to buy your tickets from your departing city (either airline office or TA). however, last i checked, both flights were closed out of the cheaper inventories (that will probably change closer to your day of travel, but there is no guarantee).

why waste a vacation night in a cramped transit hotel? both shenzhen and hk are interesting places in their own right (though i can't really say i'm a big shenzhen fan).

i would play it by ear. reserve a hotel in shenzhen, but if you get in early and are feeling adventurous, book a prepaid hotel in hk from one of the counters at shenzhen airport. ime the airport agents provide very good rates at mid-range hk hotels.

A review from Guy Betsy here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showp...4&postcount=15