Several Questions
Apr 4, 2007 | 3:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 102
Several Questions
I am flying to Qingdao for a fair and shall be staying there for a few days.
This is my first trip to China so I need advice on several matters:
How to find a decent/reasonable hotel in Qingdao?
How to find/reserve reasonable rental Car?
Dont have a GSM phone that I can take to China. What is the alternative since I want to be able to use cell phone there?
Need to travel from Qingdao to Guangzhou and Shanghai. Any websites where I can book the tickets in advance?
Need to find reasonable hotel in Guangzhou ... any suggestion?
I know i've asked lots of questions .. but any help is appreciated!
This is my first trip to China so I need advice on several matters:
How to find a decent/reasonable hotel in Qingdao?
How to find/reserve reasonable rental Car?
Dont have a GSM phone that I can take to China. What is the alternative since I want to be able to use cell phone there?
Need to travel from Qingdao to Guangzhou and Shanghai. Any websites where I can book the tickets in advance?
Need to find reasonable hotel in Guangzhou ... any suggestion?
I know i've asked lots of questions .. but any help is appreciated!
Apr 4, 2007 | 5:14 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728
Welcome
Give us idea of your budget for hotels, requirements so we can help.
GSM - go to eBay, pick up triband, UNLOCKED phone, upon arrival, buy China Mobile sim/account, around RMB120, call to your heart's content (do search on this and you'll see prior discussions on this thread).
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...ighlight=china
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...ighlight=china
Give us idea of your budget for hotels, requirements so we can help.
GSM - go to eBay, pick up triband, UNLOCKED phone, upon arrival, buy China Mobile sim/account, around RMB120, call to your heart's content (do search on this and you'll see prior discussions on this thread).
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...ighlight=china
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...ighlight=china
Last edited by dtsm; Apr 4, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Apr 4, 2007 | 8:31 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Here, There & Everywhere
Programs: SQ PPS, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, OZ Diamond
Posts: 660
I am flying to Qingdao for a fair and shall be staying there for a few days.
This is my first trip to China so I need advice on several matters:
How to find a decent/reasonable hotel in Qingdao?
There are plenty of options in Qingdao - I prefer the Shangri-La. Depending on your dates, rates would be between US$100-200/night.
How to find/reserve reasonable rental Car?
Don't think about driving yourself. Qingdao is pretty small comparatively, and you'll do fine with taxis. I don't have any hookups for private car/driver rental in Qingdao but others may do.
Dont have a GSM phone that I can take to China. What is the alternative since I want to be able to use cell phone there?
As the previous poster said, get an unlocked tri-band GSM phone before leaving the US. Once here, get an M-Zone pre-paid SIM Card. Around RMB50 for the SIM and load it up with an amount you feel you need.
Need to travel from Qingdao to Guangzhou and Shanghai. Any websites where I can book the tickets in advance?
WWW.ELONG.COM - Use it all the time, highly recommended.
Need to find reasonable hotel in Guangzhou ... any suggestion?
Again, depends on when you're going and what your idea of reasonable is. If its during April15-30 then nothing will seem reasonable. Outside those dates, try the Donlord Hotel (www.donlordhotels.com) - very good value at around RMB450/night - but worth every cent.
I know i've asked lots of questions .. but any help is appreciated!
This is my first trip to China so I need advice on several matters:
How to find a decent/reasonable hotel in Qingdao?
There are plenty of options in Qingdao - I prefer the Shangri-La. Depending on your dates, rates would be between US$100-200/night.
How to find/reserve reasonable rental Car?
Don't think about driving yourself. Qingdao is pretty small comparatively, and you'll do fine with taxis. I don't have any hookups for private car/driver rental in Qingdao but others may do.
Dont have a GSM phone that I can take to China. What is the alternative since I want to be able to use cell phone there?
As the previous poster said, get an unlocked tri-band GSM phone before leaving the US. Once here, get an M-Zone pre-paid SIM Card. Around RMB50 for the SIM and load it up with an amount you feel you need.
Need to travel from Qingdao to Guangzhou and Shanghai. Any websites where I can book the tickets in advance?
WWW.ELONG.COM - Use it all the time, highly recommended.
Need to find reasonable hotel in Guangzhou ... any suggestion?
Again, depends on when you're going and what your idea of reasonable is. If its during April15-30 then nothing will seem reasonable. Outside those dates, try the Donlord Hotel (www.donlordhotels.com) - very good value at around RMB450/night - but worth every cent.
I know i've asked lots of questions .. but any help is appreciated!
Apr 4, 2007 | 9:55 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 102
Thanks guys.
I have one local contact in Qingdao and he was saying he can arrange a 3 star for 180 RMB a day and it includes internet access. Dont know if I can find a better hotel for that price or lower. As I am not familiar with the city, I will have to rely on his choice and judgement for the location.
I want to be able to attend the Fair in Qingdao International Convention Center and meet few businesses in the city on later dates.
My contact person will arrange for the car (i'll be paying) but he will drive. We have to visit different places in the city and outside the city so I think car might be the only good option.
I have a Nokia 6103 with Tmobile. I will ask them to help unlock it. The bands supported are 850, 1800, 1900. I want to be able to send SMS and ofcourse place calls.
The ticket prices from Qingdao to Guangzhou are kind of high. 1800 RMB to 2000 RMB. Not sure if these are the standard rates in China. If I cannot find lower rates I will have to drop the visit to Guangzhou. I already checked elong.com
Also the hotel rates I'm getting for Guangzhou are kinda scary!
But from Qingdao to Shanghai is around RMB 350 which is decent.
Ideally, I wanted to stay in Qingdao for a week. Make a round trip to Guangzhou for two days within that week and than get a one way from Qingdao to Shanghai. But with the high rates to Guangzhou it is looking very difficult.
Any subway(restaurant) in China?
I have one local contact in Qingdao and he was saying he can arrange a 3 star for 180 RMB a day and it includes internet access. Dont know if I can find a better hotel for that price or lower. As I am not familiar with the city, I will have to rely on his choice and judgement for the location.
I want to be able to attend the Fair in Qingdao International Convention Center and meet few businesses in the city on later dates.
My contact person will arrange for the car (i'll be paying) but he will drive. We have to visit different places in the city and outside the city so I think car might be the only good option.
I have a Nokia 6103 with Tmobile. I will ask them to help unlock it. The bands supported are 850, 1800, 1900. I want to be able to send SMS and ofcourse place calls.
The ticket prices from Qingdao to Guangzhou are kind of high. 1800 RMB to 2000 RMB. Not sure if these are the standard rates in China. If I cannot find lower rates I will have to drop the visit to Guangzhou. I already checked elong.com
Also the hotel rates I'm getting for Guangzhou are kinda scary!
But from Qingdao to Shanghai is around RMB 350 which is decent.
Ideally, I wanted to stay in Qingdao for a week. Make a round trip to Guangzhou for two days within that week and than get a one way from Qingdao to Shanghai. But with the high rates to Guangzhou it is looking very difficult.
Any subway(restaurant) in China?
Apr 4, 2007 | 10:21 pm
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,303
Yes, in fact we met the master franchise holders last week at a conference; they are expanding rapidly. On the whole, the quality is notch or two down from the US standard, but definitely works in a pinch. There is also at least one in Beijing Airport, which has dramatically improved my travel experience.
Your phone should work in China if you get unlocked, but you still might want to consider buying one locally if you care about Chinese language support.
As for the hotel, I suggest you try to figure out its location before making a final decision because Qingdao is a big place.
Based on those fares, it sounds like you might be trying to go to Guangzhou during the fair. If so, be prepared to spend a lot more money than you otherwise would.
Your phone should work in China if you get unlocked, but you still might want to consider buying one locally if you care about Chinese language support.
As for the hotel, I suggest you try to figure out its location before making a final decision because Qingdao is a big place.
Based on those fares, it sounds like you might be trying to go to Guangzhou during the fair. If so, be prepared to spend a lot more money than you otherwise would.
Apr 4, 2007 | 10:26 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 211
Mr Zhu much prefers www.ctrip.com (and so does Wall Street!!!)
Apr 5, 2007 | 12:16 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bay Area
Programs: HH, PC, SPG, MR, GP, US, UA, AA
Posts: 3,680
Apr 5, 2007 | 12:47 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 102
Apr 5, 2007 | 12:48 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 102
Yes, in fact we met the master franchise holders last week at a conference; they are expanding rapidly. On the whole, the quality is notch or two down from the US standard, but definitely works in a pinch. There is also at least one in Beijing Airport, which has dramatically improved my travel experience.
Your phone should work in China if you get unlocked, but you still might want to consider buying one locally if you care about Chinese language support.
As for the hotel, I suggest you try to figure out its location before making a final decision because Qingdao is a big place.
Based on those fares, it sounds like you might be trying to go to Guangzhou during the fair. If so, be prepared to spend a lot more money than you otherwise would.
Your phone should work in China if you get unlocked, but you still might want to consider buying one locally if you care about Chinese language support.
As for the hotel, I suggest you try to figure out its location before making a final decision because Qingdao is a big place.
Based on those fares, it sounds like you might be trying to go to Guangzhou during the fair. If so, be prepared to spend a lot more money than you otherwise would.
Yes for Guangzhou (Canton fair) prices are miserably high for iairfare and hotel stay. I might just drop the idea for that reason.
I dont speak chinese so a sms/text in english phone would work for me.
Apr 5, 2007 | 8:00 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Asia/Europe
Programs: CX, OZ, MU (+AY, DL), Shangri-La, Hilton
Posts: 7,233
Get a HepB shot before you go. Qinqdao is big on oysters and other seafood and fish and that's what your hosts/partners will want you to eat. Good Korean options also as there is a massive company presence from the land of the morning calm.
Apr 5, 2007 | 9:07 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bay Area
Programs: HH, PC, SPG, MR, GP, US, UA, AA
Posts: 3,680
Apr 5, 2007 | 9:10 am
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,303
I think you mean HepA; HepB is generally only transmitted through close physical contact. I've given up on oysters entirely; learned my lesson after 6 bad experiences.... 24 hour delay, then 24 hours during which you'll wish you were dead.
Apr 5, 2007 | 9:26 am
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,303
As long as I'm here, I'd like to revisit the cell phone topic for a second. Even those that don't speak Chinese should still recognise that Chinese language support is a useful feature when you're in China (or Taiwan/HK/SIN). Let's say you're trying to meet someone at an obscure restaurant or bar; showing the cabbie an SMS goes a lot further than simply repeatedly shouting out "Friday's". My boss used to do the latter on a regular basis and it was quite embarrassing for the rest of us.
Finally, a few comments on the Canton Fair. Sure it's expensive, but every time I've gone, the investment ($1000 for 2-3 days) has paid off in spades. I can think of lots of trade shows in America that cost much more (CES comes to mind) and provide less value. That said, if you don't have a solid game plan, you might not get a lot out of it.
Apr 5, 2007 | 10:53 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 102
I actually looked at subway.com before I posted the link. I didn't reveal the results of my "research" because I figured the OP might derive satisfaction out of trying out the store locator himself. But, lest anyone else cares, they're do not appear to be any Subways in QD at this moment in time... could always grab a boat to Dalian, I suppose.
As long as I'm here, I'd like to revisit the cell phone topic for a second. Even those that don't speak Chinese should still recognise that Chinese language support is a useful feature when you're in China (or Taiwan/HK/SIN). Let's say you're trying to meet someone at an obscure restaurant or bar; showing the cabbie an SMS goes a lot further than simply repeatedly shouting out "Friday's". My boss used to do the latter on a regular basis and it was quite embarrassing for the rest of us.
Finally, a few comments on the Canton Fair. Sure it's expensive, but every time I've gone, the investment ($1000 for 2-3 days) has paid off in spades. I can think of lots of trade shows in America that cost much more (CES comes to mind) and provide less value. That said, if you don't have a solid game plan, you might not get a lot out of it.
As long as I'm here, I'd like to revisit the cell phone topic for a second. Even those that don't speak Chinese should still recognise that Chinese language support is a useful feature when you're in China (or Taiwan/HK/SIN). Let's say you're trying to meet someone at an obscure restaurant or bar; showing the cabbie an SMS goes a lot further than simply repeatedly shouting out "Friday's". My boss used to do the latter on a regular basis and it was quite embarrassing for the rest of us.
Finally, a few comments on the Canton Fair. Sure it's expensive, but every time I've gone, the investment ($1000 for 2-3 days) has paid off in spades. I can think of lots of trade shows in America that cost much more (CES comes to mind) and provide less value. That said, if you don't have a solid game plan, you might not get a lot out of it.
Regarding phone issue, I have a few contacts in China that speak English, worst case scenario.. when I'm travelling by myself, I'll call one of them and have them talk to the cabblie or shop owner etc etc.
Regarding Canton, It would be first trip there so It would a good exposure if nothing else. I have some good plans for Qingdao area but nothing concrete to target anyone at Canton Fair.
That said, I went on to ctrip, as someone suggested and I can see some 3+ star hotels between RMB 500 to RMB 800 which looks okay. Except some of them dont even have internet access and I dont know how far these are from the Canton Fair. For air travel, lowest I can find is RMB 1250 one way to Quangdon and another 1250 RMB for return.