getting from PVG/Shanghai to Suzhou
 

Anyone have words of wisdom on this?. I know I'm landing at the "wrong" Shanghai airport for this trip, but I had no choice. We'll be 4 people, so I guess a car service MIGHT make sense? Or am I better getting into Shanghai, taking the "bullet train," and then a taxi to my hotel from the Suzhou station? Or maybe an airport bus? Looking for the best value option after weighing speed, comfort and cost.

Thanks for the help.

With 4 people my first inclination would be to take an airport bus into town. Unless you're traveling awfully light you're going to have a big problem with 4 people + luggage in a Chinese taxi.

I have never taken the high speed train but from what others say it's not too luggage friendly, either.

PVG/Sozhou
 

I was in Shanghai just a few weeks ago. The "Bullet Train" is 40-50 RMB each way depending on if you can show an airplane ticket. A taxi to Zhongshan Park (West part of Shanghai) was about 200 RMB. I had to make 3 trips to the airport to meet others coming in so I used both. The maglev/metro was quicker than a taxi because of traffic, but not easy with luggage.

So for four people a taxi would be the least hassle and make the most sense. Stop at the informormation desk at the aiport and have them write out the translation of the Taxi driver if you don't already have it before you leave. That said the MagLev is REALLY cool, but a pain to transfer to the metro on.

Are you actually going to Sozhou or a metro stop called Sozhou? If you are going to the city, take the taxi to to the North Rail Station. They have automated kiosks to buy you tickets. When I went to Sozhou I tried buying tickets the same day (During the Dragon boat festival) and they didn't have any, so we took a taxi to the south train station and took the bus to Sozhou. We then got train tickets when we arrived in Sozhou for our return that evening. I doubt you'll have any issues getting tickets to Sozhou, it was just the holiday causing issues. Hope that helps!

We're actually headed to the city of Suzhou, which is 50 miles (?) west of Shanghai. I've taken the high-speed train from Shanghai center to Suzhou a few years ago, but I've never travelled from PVG to Suzhou.

PVG has direct bus service to SuZhou, 84rmb/person, last bus departs at 20:00, here is the link in Chinese, you can use google to translate it.

If you have 4 people, could you hire a driver for about the same price?

Hotels quote between 450 to 550 kuai, one way, for a taxi. You might want to contact the hotel you're staying at, or just see if a taxi driver is willing to take you to Suzhou (negotiate a price with these quotes in mind)...

You could email ctrip what they charge for a car: http://english.ctrip.com/supermarket...entalQuery.asp

Thanks. I looked at that ctrip link and they seem to only quote car rates for destinations within Shanghai -- I guess Suzhou is too far for them.

I'm staying at the Suzhou Sofitel on this visit, and I've never had luck arranging a driver from a 4 or 5 star Western-managed hotel. They usually quote me twice the "going" rate.

Taxi driver most likely will charge you RT fare, so the cost could be 800rmb+, besides, I'm not sure if 4 adults can ride comfortably in a VW Santana.

The bus would be the way to go, unless willing to spend the $$ on private car big enough to accommodate 4 people plus luggage.

I've done the train before (in reverse, coming from Suzhou), and the Sofitel is just a short cab ride from the Suzhou train station so could be an option, but would be tough if you had any real luggage. Hauling luggage up and down stairs at the train station can be brutal. Also would be somewhat inefficient as you would need to take a cab (or maybe 2) to the station, buy the tickets, and then wait for the train. By the time you get on the train, the bus could be halfway there.

Safe Travels

We hired a private car for the two of us -- if I recall, it was about 400 RMB. This was VERY convenient, as it was door-to-door, the car was a spotless Mercedes, and the ride was pleasant.

How or through whom did you hire the car and was it from Shanghai city or PVG?

Actually, we went from the city. We booked the car when we arrived at Hongqiao. We didn't want to wait on the line for vans, which were few and far between. My wife, who is Chinese, checked out one of the car services at the terminal. We used them to take us to the hotel, and also to take us to and from Suzhou. Worked out great.

I would be thrilled to arrange a driver to meet me for 400 RMB at PVG and drive us to our Suzhou hotel, but I'm not sure how to duplicate your results! :)

I'll ask my wife if she remembers which car company we used. I suppose it's possible that she bargained -- I usually walk away during these transactions, as she can get a better price without her gweilo husband hanging around. ;)