Shanghai - A trip report in it's infancy...

[munitalP]

Cast your mind back a few days and I started a thread about RTW flights for Mr & Mrs! at Xmas - well, to be honest, unnecessary travel in Y left me feeling a little worn out even before the trip, so with a groggy head (from MEL Drinks last night), I played with J (U) options on the QF site and have just blown 280K and $480 in business flights to Shanghai departing DEC27, RET JAN08

So one asks, "why the hell did I do that?" - the answer is simple - "I have no idea!"

Shanghai has never appealed to me as a travel destination however, China has, so I have the flights and absolutly no idea of what to do, where to go or what to see.

I will catch at least two nights in Taipei over this time - I want to take Mrs! up Taipei 101 and also wish to catch up with a friend, other than that, I will leave all other consideration to where I go and what I do to my learned friends here at AFF and hopefully establish an itinerary that will make the most of my time in China.

I look forward to everyone's help in planning our holiday!


Mr!

 

[munitalP]

Darn - I'm already banging my head on the wall - I cant book a flight SHANGHAI to TPE on EVA, Air China or CX - can anyone offer help here - I want Shanghai / TPE / Shanghai out 07/01/10 return no later than 1800 09/01/10

Mr!

:shock:

 

[drron]

We went to Shanghai last year and loved the place.Going back in May 2010 for the expo.Trip report here starting at post 5 for Shanghai-
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...p-photos/circle-asia-and-flounging-13125.html

 

[medhead]

would have guessed it would be difficult to find flights between mainland china and Taipei given the political situation.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Darn - I'm already banging my head on the wall - I cant book a flight SHANGHAI to TPE on EVA, Air China or CX - can anyone offer help here - I want Shanghai / TPE / Shanghai out 07/01/10 return no later than 1800 09/01/10

Mr!

:shock:

Seats are avalable on Shanghai Airlines for the dates and times you want.

The fare is expensive at CNY3627 per person (divide by 5.4 at the moment).

You can book through ctrip:

Travel China & save with Ctrip: Cheap flights, hotels & vacation packages

If you are not already registered with them you need to make the booking then they will send you an authorisation form, you'll need to scan your passport and credit card and send it all back to them (by email is ok but it's not https).

They will charge you an additional 2.5% or something for credit card. Australian credit cards are no problem.

Once you have sent the details they keep your card on file for future.

I have used ctrip several times and all works very well - but you don't get tickets - they just send you an email to confirm everything is paid (this is usual according to feedback).

The shanghai airlines flight is direct.

Ctrip has other options connecting in HKG (using CX/KA) but these are slightly more expensive.

mel-t

 

[munitalP]

Seats are avalable on Shanghai Airlines for the dates and times you want.

The fare is expensive at CNY3627 per person (divide by 5.4 at the moment).

You can book through ctrip:

Travel China & save with Ctrip: Cheap flights, hotels & vacation packages

If you are not already registered with them you need to make the booking then they will send you an authorisation form, you'll need to scan your passport and credit card and send it all back to them (by email is ok but it's not https).

They will charge you an additional 2.5% or something for credit card. Australian credit cards are no problem.

Once you have sent the details they keep your card on file for future.

I have used ctrip several times and all works very well - but you don't get tickets - they just send you an email to confirm everything is paid (this is usual according to feedback).

The shanghai airlines flight is direct.

Ctrip has other options connecting in HKG (using CX/KA) but these are slightly more expensive.

mel-t

thanks - I will ask our corp agent on Monday to do this


Mr!

 

[Keith009]

What happened to Hong Kong?

 

[munitalP]

What happened to Hong Kong?

See thats what happens when I go out drinking with you!

Mr!

:shock:

 

[auriga]

would have guessed it would be difficult to find flights between mainland china and Taipei given the political situation.

That situation has changed recently. Direct flights are available.

 

[Travel Guru]

China Eastern have a fare quoting at $746.50 inc. taxes booked in H class (Fare basis HEE6MCN)

Times are:

MU 5007 Y 07JAN PVGTPE HS1 1050 1220 O
MU 5008 Y 09JAN TPEPVG HS1 1320 1500 O


Other than that, not having much luck, I checked Eva but it's not quoting for some reason.

Hope that helps.

TG

 

[munitalP]

China Eastern have a fare quoting at $746.50 inc. taxes booked in H class (Fare basis HEE6MCN)

Times are:

MU 5007 Y 07JAN PVGTPE HS1 1050 1220 O
MU 5008 Y 09JAN TPEPVG HS1 1320 1500 O


Other than that, not having much luck, I checked Eva but it's not quoting for some reason.

Hope that helps.

TG

Yeah, I was wanting EVA - that way I woul be able to check my luggage TPE to MEL on my return flight... I wonder whats up - I will contact my friend in TPE today and see if he's able to book flights...

Mr!

:?:

 

[Travel Guru]

Yeah, I was wanting EVA - that way I woul be able to check my luggage TPE to MEL on my return flight... I wonder whats up - I will contact my friend in TPE today and see if he's able to book flights...

Mr!

:?:

Not sure, strange that it won't quote...it will quote the TPE-PVG sector, but its over $700, you may well find being over there they may have either better access to availability or a better idea whats going on.

TG

 

[munitalP]

Have set our travel plans in concrete now - TPE seems out of the question due to cost so the entire trip will be on the mainland...

27/12 MEL/SYD/PVG (U)
29/12 Shanghai / Beijing, overnight train
02/01 Beijing / Harbin, daytime train
04/01 Harbin / Xian 2 day train excursion
07/01 Xian / Shanghai overnight train
09/01 PVG/SYD/MEL (U)

I have priced my train tickets on www.chinatravelguide.com and intend to puchase them in Australia before too long - any suggestions? Should I use a T/A or just wing it and do it myself on the internet?

Also, www.asiarooms.com, I have used this site before for booking a SIN hotel - we got caught out on extra charges when we got to the hotel - does anyone know of better sites than this or is it safer to book and pay through a T/A in Australia before leaving...

I am also thinking re hotels, that I perhaps should stick to a particular chain i.e. Marriot or Novotel (or similar) to 1) gain reward points and 2) safety net of knowing the hotels... suggestions would be welcomed...

Finally, wickapedia says that the average low temperature for Harbin during JAN is -25 and the average low temperature for Beijing is -9.4... Has anyone been to either of these places during JAN and can this be personally denied or confirmed? CIA world factbook state "subartic" in the north - yeah, real handy...

Mr!

:mrgreen:

 

[tuapekastar]

Have set our travel plans in concrete now - TPE seems out of the question due to cost so the entire trip will be on the mainland...

27/12 MEL/SYD/PVG (U)
29/12 Shanghai / Beijing, overnight train
02/01 Beijing / Harbin, daytime train
04/01 Harbin / Xian 2 day train excursion
07/01 Xian / Shanghai overnight train
09/01 PVG/SYD/MEL (U)

I have priced my train tickets on www.chinatravelguide.com and intend to puchase them in Australia before too long - any suggestions? Should I use a T/A or just wing it and do it myself on the internet?

Also, www.asiarooms.com, I have used this site before for booking a SIN hotel - we got caught out on extra charges when we got to the hotel - does anyone know of better sites than this or is it safer to book and pay through a T/A in Australia before leaving...

I am also thinking re hotels, that I perhaps should stick to a particular chain i.e. Marriot or Novotel (or similar) to 1) gain reward points and 2) safety net of knowing the hotels... suggestions would be welcomed...

Finally, wickapedia says that the average low temperature for Harbin during JAN is -25 and the average low temperature for Beijing is -9.4... Has anyone been to either of these places during JAN and can this be personally denied or confirmed? CIA world factbook state "subartic" in the north - yeah, real handy...

Mr!

:mrgreen:

Great sounding trip. I am considering some Chinese rail travel next year so will be interested in your experiences.

Not sure if it will help at this stage but www.seat61.com is an "all you wanted to know about rail travel anywhere" site and has plenty of stuff on Chinese rail travel.

Harbin has an Ice Festival each year - large and elaborate ice sculptures - probably confirms how cold it gets there. :shock:

 

[munitalP]

Harbin has an Ice Festival each year - large and elaborate ice sculptures - probably confirms how cold it gets there. :shock:

Yeah, saw it on discovery the other night - thats the only reason we are going - looks so awesome...


Mr!

 

[medhead]

Finally, wickapedia says that the average low temperature for Harbin during JAN is -25 and the average low temperature for Beijing is -9.4... Has anyone been to either of these places during JAN and can this be personally denied or confirmed? CIA world factbook state "subartic" in the north - yeah, real handy...

Mr!

:mrgreen:

Subarctic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Subarctic is a region in the Northern Hemisphere immediately south of the true Arctic and covering much of Alaska, Canada, southern Greenland, the north of Scandinavia, Siberia, northern Mongolia and the Chinese province of Heilongjiang. Generally, subarctic regions fall between 50°N and 70°N latitude, depending on local climates.

and

Monthly temperatures are above 10 °C for at least one and at most three months of the year.

 

[auriga]

Harbin definitely qualifies as "subarctic", so rug up.

There would certainly be a premium to be paid in choosing western hotel chains. However since you are travelling in low season, prices shouldn't be too bad.

 

[docjames]

Also, www.asiarooms.com, I have used this site before for booking a SIN hotel - we got caught out on extra charges when we got to the hotel - does anyone know of better sites than this or is it safer to book and pay through a T/A in Australia before leaving...

I am also thinking re hotels, that I perhaps should stick to a particular chain i.e. Marriot or Novotel (or similar) to 1) gain reward points and 2) safety net of knowing the hotels... suggestions would be welcomed...


Mr!

:mrgreen:

I've been using www.wego.com.au (or www.wego.com ) for SIN and HKG but it'll do virtually everywhere, and you can filter by chains easily. It's an aggregator, so you end up booking directly with another website or the actual hotel website, but it's bee a useful tool for me.

 

[Flashback]

I like using Online Hotel Discount Reservations Worldwide - Book Your Hotel With Agoda

 

[JohnK]

Try a combination of Agoda and Hotel Club for accommodation.

I used Agoda for a friend last year and got some reasonably priced accommodation in Shanghai during the Expo in May.

Also Hotel Club has a promotion at the moment of a free bottle of champagne for each stay booked >$380 value.