PEK to Hotel: Taxi? Pre-reserved transfer service?
 

I'll being going to China (PEK) for the first time this summer.

I have never been to China (though I've been to HKG and BKK/HKT).

If my flight arrives at 9:15PM, to go to my hotel (near CCTV) would I be better off:

1. Going for a taxi?

2. Going for a pre-reserved transfer service?

It's just me alone, but with a bunch of luggage.

I'm fine with #2 if it is double the price of a taxi (which I've heard is only $15 anyway). Any recommendations for a service?

Take a taxi...it's easy and safe. Just print out the hotel's name in Chinese from the website and you'll be all set. The Pre-reserved transfers are generally a rip off.

I'd also recommend the taxi trip. You'll likely be coming into Terminal 3, but could be Terminal 2 depending on airline. If Terminal 3, after you get luggage and go through Customs and into the arrival hall, follow the signs pointing downstairs to lowest level (use elevator or escalator/ramp) for Taxis. Ignore any touts that approach you. When you get outside on the sidewalk, you'll see the taxi queue(s), there will be a worker directing at the head of each queue, assigning people to cabs. At that time of evening, there may be quite a few flights coming in, but even if the queues look long, they move fast. If coming into Terminal 2, once you get into arrival hall, just look for exit door (same level and nearby) with sign for "Taxis" and you'll see the queues outside. Show the driver the printout with hotel address in Chinese.

Price: Will be metered (I've never yet had a cabbie at the airport fail to turn on the meter). There will be a toll booth charge of RMB 10 which the cabbie will pay, and add to your metered fare at end of trip. Also an RMB 1 fuel surcharge. Have some RMB handy before you leave the arrival hall and head out of the terminal. ATM's are available, or exchange a little cash for RMB at one of the banking counters. If your hotel is near the CCTV building ("Big Underpants") in the Central Business District on the East side of Beijing, total fare including the above surcharges will be in the RMB 80-90 Range. If near the CCTV TOWER on the West side, it will be more like RMB 120-ish. There are no extra surcharges for luggage or anything else. Unlike many countries, cabbies in China do not expect or receive tips. Although for airport trips, if my total fare including surcharge is within 1-2 RMB of a round number like 90 or 100, I generally tell him to keep the change.

Taxi.

Credit cards
 

Do taxis in Beijing take credit cards?

No. Despite the plethora of Visa and Mastercard signs, foreign credit cards have acceptance largely limited to upper end hotels and restaurants. Shops that accept foreign credit cards tend to be those you shouldn't be shopping in (because they are tourist-targeting and overpriced).

This is mainly a cash economy, and you'll find yourself often paying even for air tickets in cash.

You may pay for taxis using a card called an yikatong, which is a stored value public transport pass mainly used on the metro and buses (and very convenient), but taxi drivers still prefer cash.

If your flight arrives at 9:15pm, you should be able to catch the taxi at 11:00pm since you need to go through customs clearance.

The taxi fee will be 30% higher after 11:00 pm.

Oh, that's very good to know. It sounds like I won't be getting to my hotel until midnight. Yucksters.

The rate as the flag goes down is ¥10, which includes 3km. The rate per km (at the moment) is ¥2. After 15km that rate goes up by 50%. After 11pm and before 5am all rates go up by 20% (and the starting price is ¥11).

At the moment, when petrol prices are between certain numbers, there's an addition ¥1 charge for journeys over 3km, which isn't shown on the meter and for which an extra paper receipt is given.

On the airport run there's an extra ¥10, also not on the meter, for the airport expressway toll. The cabbie should give you the receipt he receives from the toll booth).

One more thing - get on the official Taxi queue. Don't let someone hustle you to a cab that doesn't use the queue - I made that mistake once, and got a cab with a rigged meter, that was running at roughly 3 times the proper speed. I ended up paying $60 for a cab ride that should have cost $20.

Personally, I have had decent experiences with touts at PEK in the past, but it's important to stick to your guns: preset price, clearly agreed upon destination and route of travel, no additional passengers, etc.

That might not be too easy if you can't speak the language and not familiar with the city.

To reiterate what travelinmanS said, definitely print off name and address of the hotel IN CHINESE. I have yet to find a taxi driver who had a clue about where the Hilton Beijing hotel is (for example). Worst case, have the local number for the hotel and be prepared to call and have the hotel staff talk to the taxi driver.

Does anyone know how long it should take from PEK to InterContinental Financial Street and approximately how much (by taxi) after midnight? Are the taxi drivers tricky?

Thanks for any input in advance.:)

I think it is about RMB150. It does not take long since it is midnight, about 70 minutes drive.