Should not be a problem. I have used both the Bangkok Airways fly to Trat option combined with a speedboat to Ko Chang and a car and driver. Car and Driver is more or less the same amount of time (perhaps 45 minutes more) when factoring in the arrive at airport/check in/security/boarding/queue at BKK to take off/arrival at Trat/get luggage/get driver to pier/get speedboat/arrive at Ko Chang.

I like the car option as it is a bit more relaxing. Costs total around 3800 THB (or less depending on the car you want) including ferry.

Given CNY I doubt he can even get a paid ticket to Hong Kong.

PEK-MNL actually isn't all that expensive, but the Phils are not on my list. Believe it or not, award availability is pretty good to HK and beyond on CX/KA, but at an absurdly high cost in miles. I've been research *A options (15k BD miles each way, including whatever stopovers I might be able to sneak in). TG is good to BKK, and presumably beyond, though I only checked KUL (yes) and BKI (no).

Regarding Ko Chang, I've done both the plane and the private car option, and found the latter to be a better value.

If you have any avios, they are good value for short, direct hops (e.g. to HKG -- 10k each way). However, you need to pay YQ, so not that great value.

tb

10k will get you to Hong Kong, but those onward flights from HK cost an additional 10k. At to this that the 23rd is only available in business class, and we're up to 40k one way. Those same 40k could get me to Finland in business class, and up until November 15, 50k was enough to swing JFK to CKG in business class with up to a year to stop over in HKG, NRT, and/or YVR.

Very true. The old US/Asia redemption rates are now gone...so no point dwelling on that. Agree that going beyond HKG is not good value, but it would get you to HKG with few miles, and from there, perhaps a cheap cash ticket?

However, Avios are really only good value now for short hop one segment redemptions. I haven't figured out the YQ for JL, but am interested in a short trip to NRT later this year (15k return in Y)...pretty excellent value, I would say if YQ doesn't spoil the party.

tb

Saturday the trek to Nanjing like every year since 2007. On occasion I've arrived at NKG on New Years eve but never missed this short tradition. And this with no Chinese roots or cultural affinity.

Small talk, eating, baijiu, watching the Beijing spectacle on telly, halting attempts at mahjong against the assembled pros and of course the inevitable fireworks at any time of day.

Oh, and the only cigarettes I smoke every year...

Thailand for me....been planning this for a long time so the redemption rates weren't an issue.

watching CCTV this am, they said 3 billion journeys over 40 days..

BJ is already changed. The am street food vendors are gone now.
BJ car traffic is down, the subway is still busy with several people with travel bags.

And for the last 3 evenings in BJ, a few people are prematurely practicing their fireworks. Grrr. I am so looking forward to being stuck here....NOT. But even worse is being stuck in the throng of travelers.

Did we ever hear where moondog is going to be ending up?

Well, The CCTV news said that there were still 'train' tickets for saturday night ! , & he is the "train expert" !.

I went to the temporary fireworks store/tent... NEAT stuff....

The long and hard journey home.

http://english.cntv.cn/program/china...8/108733.shtml

China experts, need some advice. Have a last minute trip through PEK next week, didn't realize it was CNY until today.

I'm arriving on AA into PEK at 11:30p, Jan. 23. Departing the next day around 4pm on KA. Using the 24 hr. TWOV.

Original plan was to taxi it to the Hilton Wangfujing and get a decent night's sleep. Wake up early, have a nice morning wandering around the city before heading back to the airport. Never been to Beijing before.

Now, all the talk here of everyone trying to 'get out of BJ' has me worried. Trying to get a gauge on how much of a zoo or non-zoo the city will be. Alternate plan is to just get a room a the Hilton PEK Airport and an earlier KA flight out the next day.

Any insight is appreciated!

They might be sleeping soon after that remark about animals.

The mad travel rush should be at a lull. Bring earplugs for the fireworks, though.