Not a CircleAsia tour of ... well umm Asia

[simongr]

Yup - I had a copy of the offer with me. I was still fuming that I didnt get this before

I bought two bottles of vintage Moet that I normally pay $80 for and only paid $62 this time. I have bought about 6 bottles recently (since the offer has been on) and 4 bottles of spirits - and never once got a discount - thinking about email Amex to say how disappointed I am that DTDF didnt offer the discount or advertise it.... I know its not in their interest - but then its not in Amex's interest for their offers not to be well offered...

 

[garyjohn951]

{Finally the next morning I get to see Shanghai proper with my colleague. He is not in the best of moods (this trip was bad timing for him) and matters were made worse yesterday when he misread the meter in the cab and handed over RMB200 instead of RMB20 and the driver just drove off!}

It amazes me the number of people that do this in China. I am surprised that companies that send there employees overseas so often and at a large expense don't spend a fe bucks on travel education for there emloyees.
200RMB would have got a taxi in China [almost anywhere] for 2 days use.
Wonder what else he got ripped off on that trip.

I see them regularly on my trips to China, walking around, with camera, backpacks, shoulder bags all waiting for the robber to slit the bag and off with passport etc. If I walk, never with anything other than a plastic shopping bag, looks like you are just getting some things from a 7/11 etc.
Always ask the taxi driver or conceirge "how much", even if they have meter.

The yanks are the worst, recently the factory I visit sent a "taxi" to Tai Ping ferry to pick up this american. When he arrived they asked him how much he paid for the 1/2 hr taxi as they wanted to re-imburse him. The yank said, it was cheap only 60. They said 60RMB was too much, should have been 40RMB. He said, Oh, I thought it was 60 dollars so I paid him that.

The chinese generally are a very friendly and helping race but you need to be on your toes all the time. When walking, keep a good lookout and don't let down your guard.

 

[simongr]

One day you will find it necessary; I have one of these and once it saved me about 30 minutes. (After arriving on QF29 from MEL). On a side note, mrs serfty was able to come though with me.
When you do, you will wonder why you have not done so before. My last use was a 5 minute taxi from hotel to Central Airport Express station for about HKD25 (~AUD4). (With in town check in you can check in up to 24 hours before your flight here and really get that wing/pier experience - unlike the airport where it's 3 hours. ). Checked in and waited 5 minutes for the next train (They run every 12 minutes) and was inside the Airport 22 minutes after departing Central.

OK - can you stop being right all the time?????
:mrgreen:

After finding the underground people carrier a delight when exiting HKG today I took a punt on the train option

It worked like a dream - well sort of I had planned to use a lim service but with the no checked baggage policy and the fact that I was too busy having a massage to book one at NRT I resigned myself to a cab ride. Now I really do not like the cabs in HKG - and it is a long uncomfortable cab ride.

Starting the story more clearly I used my HKIAFV card for the first - what a breeze that was I grabbed some cash and headed to the train. It was v ery comfortable and I was able to watch a little more TV on laptop - actually more comfortable than the cab.

It was a little confusing at Central and a little confusing at Admiralty but overall a reasonably good experience. Not one I would do with checked baggage - but on this rtip another first - looks like this trip wont be such an tame experience after all

 

[Ric]

Yes, the HKIAFV card is very beneficial to have!! Most of the time its nobody there or just one person at the queue.

Usually, with or without checked luggage, I almost always take the train. Much more comfortable and faster than than a cab/hire car. At central I will just take the hotel shuttle that comes around every 20 mins. If I can see the shuttle that I am to take just takes off, then its to the taxi ranks rather than wait for 20 mins.

Ric

 

[serfty]

... It was a little confusing at Central and a little confusing at Admiralty but overall a reasonably good experience. Not one I would do with checked baggage - but on this rtip another first - looks like this trip wont be such an tame experience after all

I agree the the trek within the Central Railway Station buildings to get from the Airport Express to the MTR Platforms can be quite confusing.

Certainly it would not be much fun if toting any more than basic carry-on.

 

[simongr]

Well that was interesting. I considered taking the train this morning - but Pacific Place (the route from the conrad to admiralty is through pacific place) was closed at 6AM so I decided to get a cab to central.

In the cab and was immediately offered 25 mins and HK$260 to the airport - this was both faster and cheaper than normal. I was taken aorund the back streets of kowloon (well thta's what it looked like to me) exactly on schedule and price we got to the airport.

I will still take the train back to the city next week and probably take train from CIty to Airport on the way out.

 

[Ric]

Yes, 25 mins at that time of the morning.
And HK$260 is a fair price from Conrad.