Viking China (Part 2)

[caribill]

We're heading home this morning...8:30 am flight...

 

What time do you have to leave the hotel for the airport?

[irocks]

The information on Hong Kong is very helpful. Our flight leaves HK at 9:30AM. I was wondering how early we should arrive at the airport and how long it took you to get to airport from Shangri-La Kowloon. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip, thank you for sharing it with Cruise Critic!

[Bruin Steve]

What time do you have to leave the hotel for the airport?

 

We left the Shangri La for the airport at 5:30 am...

Home now, dead tired...

[pacheco18]

Just booked my air for next year -- lucky enough to use the last of my Delta miles for Bus Class.

 

We are flying in to Beijing 4 days early and we have hired a private guide. For those of you who have flown in early, how have you handled the transfer from the airport to your hotel? i will ask my guide about it but I wondered if anyone has a service they recommend.

[Turtles06]

Just booked my air for next year -- lucky enough to use the last of my Delta miles for Bus Class.

 

We are flying in to Beijing 4 days early and we have hired a private guide. For those of you who have flown in early, how have you handled the transfer from the airport to your hotel? i will ask my guide about it but I wondered if anyone has a service they recommend.

 

We booked a private car from our hotel in Beijing (the Grand Hyatt) to pick us up at the airport. It was the first time we ever did something like that, and it was well worth the money after that long flight. An agent met us right at the gate when we deplaned, escorted us to immigration, took us some back way past all the crowds to baggage claim, and brought us to the hotel car. Bottled water waiting for us in the car, and no worries about whether a taxi in a strange city was going the right way on the long drive to the hotel. Again, pricey but worth it.

[Turtles06]

We left the Shangri La for the airport at 5:30 am...

Home now, dead tired...

 

Welcome back, Steve! Thanks for sharing your trip along the way.

 

I think I was more tired after our return from China than from any other trip I've ever taken. But it was well worth it!

[pacheco18]

We booked a private car from our hotel in Beijing (the Grand Hyatt) to pick us up at the airport. It was the first time we ever did something like that, and it was well worth the money after that long flight. An agent met us right at the gate when we deplaned, escorted us to immigration, took us some back way past all the crowds to baggage claim, and brought us to the hotel car. Bottled water waiting for us in the car, and no worries about whether a taxi in a strange city was going the right way on the long drive to the hotel. Again, pricey but worth it.

 

Unclear -- you booked the pickup through the hotel??

[Mark_T]

Unclear -- you booked the pickup through the hotel??

 

This is quite normal, most of the better hotels will provide an airport pick-up as a service.

 

You pay for it, but in China they seem to be able to meet you right off the plane so no need to wonder where to go or what to do, just follow and be happy :)

[pacheco18]

This is quite normal, most of the better hotels will provide an airport pick-up as a service.

 

You pay for it, but in China they seem to be able to meet you right off the plane so no need to wonder where to go or what to do, just follow and be happy :)

 

I understand that. I have used hotel pickups occasion in other cities when taxis were not plentiful. I did not think the post was clear.

 

From everything I have read, metered taxis at the airport are plentiful, cheap and easy to deal with. All you need is the name of your hotel written in Chinese. Has anyone just taken a taxi?

[Carol From California]

I understand that. I have used hotel pickups occasion in other cities when taxis were not plentiful. I did not think the post was clear.

 

From everything I have read, metered taxis at the airport are plentiful, cheap and easy to deal with. All you need is the name of your hotel written in Chinese. Has anyone just taken a taxi?

 

Hi Laraine, Yes, we did take taxi's. You are correct about what you read. We did not book our air with Viking and came in early and left a day later, so we used taxi's to and from the airport and at other times as well to get to places we wanted to see.

[pacheco18]

Hi Laraine, Yes, we did take taxi's. You are correct about what you read. We did not book our air with Viking and came in early and left a day later, so we used taxi's to and from the airport and at other times as well to get to places we wanted to see.

 

Thanks for confirming that

I think we will just take a cab

 

Next -- 2 questions for all the experts on these boards:

 

1. What are the top 5 or 6 things you would do or see in Beijing that are NOT on the Viking itinerary.

 

2. If you took the Shanghai extension, was that organized with a guide or were you on your own for sightseeing? Did you have any options as to what you do for those extra days?

[caribill]

Yes, we did take taxi's. You are correct about what you read. We did not book our air with Viking and came in early and left a day later, so we used taxi's to and from the airport and at other times as well to get to places we wanted to see.

 

How did you pay, local currency or credit card?

[caribill]

1. What are the top 5 or 6 things you would do or see in Beijing that are NOT on the Viking itinerary.

 

 

1. Since Viking is now discouraging it, a visit to the Summer Palace.

 

2. A different section of the Great Wall. Viking goes to Badaling. We once went to Huangyaguan on a differnt trip.

[Carol From California]

How did you pay, local currency or credit card?

 

When we landed we changed money at the ATM (at the airport) into Chinese Yuan. That way we would have it for the taxi ride to our hotel. We also changed money a couple of other times near the hotels where we stayed. Make sure your ATM card does not charge foreign transaction fees and that you know the four digit numerical pin number.

[Turtles06]

I understand that. I have used hotel pickups occasion in other cities when taxis were not plentiful. I did not think the post was clear.

 

 

It's pretty hard to imagine how else my post could have been understood, especially by someone as well traveled as you who has used hotel pickups before. In any event, sorry my post wasted your time.

[pacheco18]

It's pretty hard to imagine how else my post could have been understood, especially by someone as well traveled as you who has used hotel pickups before. In any event, sorry my post wasted your time.

 

Wasn't a waste of time - I think you are being a bit sensitive

 

What was unclear to me (and still is) was whether it was a hotel pickup (hotel has its own vehicle -- many do) or whether you had the hotel arrange a private pickup. That makes a difference. A private pickup makes the hotel the middleman and anyone can book the exact same thing directly. If it's the hotel vehicle that's a different story.

[irocks]

We are also arriving 4 days early to Beijing for our trip this September. Those of you who have been on a China Tour with Viking, did you feel Viking spent plenty of time at Forbidden City or did you wish you would have spent a full day there on your own? I have read that you can rent audio guides at FC. We are planning on spending a day going to the Mutianya section of the Great Wall and stopping at the Olympic Park. The other days we would like to see: Jingshan Park, Beihai Park, Temple of Heaven and Lama Temple. Did I miss anything that you highly recommend? Ohh, we would also like to eat at Made in China and Black Sesame. We are on the Roof of the World tour so I believe we will still see Summer Palace with Viking. Thank you ALL for your contributions!

[pacheco18]

We are also arriving 4 days early to Beijing for our trip this September. Those of you who have been on a China Tour with Viking, did you feel Viking spent plenty of time at Forbidden City or did you wish you would have spent a full day there on your own? I have read that you can rent audio guides at FC. We are planning on spending a day going to the Mutianya section of the Great Wall and stopping at the Olympic Park. The other days we would like to see: Jingshan Park, Beihai Park, Temple of Heaven and Lama Temple. Did I miss anything that you highly recommend? Ohh, we would also like to eat at Made in China and Black Sesame. We are on the Roof of the World tour so I believe we will still see Summer Palace with Viking. Thank you ALL for your contributions!

 

Thanks -- very helpful

 

Does anyone have recommendations for day trips outside of Beijing?

[Lola911]

We will get YUEN at our exchange here in Vancouver before leaving, but can someone give me an estimate of how much you spent...what should one be prepared to spend in China currency. I have read quite a few messages about having CRISP USD on hand b/c they will not take otherwise for exchange. Is carrying USD necessary in bargaining for trinkets-shopping?

 

I had already researched the cost of taxi from and to Shanghai ($35 or 200RMB) and Beijing ($26 or 150RMB) airports. I would not book a private car. Those prices were quoted from the hotels we are staying at.

 

I look forward to comments on YUEN or RMB currency. Thanks

[Carol From California]

We will get YUEN at our exchange here in Vancouver before leaving, but can someone give me an estimate of how much you spent...what should one be prepared to spend in China currency. I have read quite a few messages about having CRISP USD on hand b/c they will not take otherwise for exchange. Is carrying USD necessary in bargaining for trinkets-shopping?

 

I had already researched the cost of taxi from and to Shanghai ($35 or 200RMB) and Beijing ($26 or 150RMB) airports. I would not book a private car. Those prices were quoted from the hotels we are staying at.

 

I look forward to comments on YUEN or RMB currency. Thanks

 

They will take USD for trinkets/shopping. You will need Yuan for the taxis.

 

RMB and Yuan is basically the same thing. Renminbi is the official name for the currency, and yuan is the main unit of currency.

[Lola911]

Thanks for tip on using USD for trinkets. What about the word CRISP...does the money have to look brand new as I have read on other threads?

 

I know Yuen and RMB are the same...how much did you have on hand? Or is it that easy to just keep going to an ATM?

[pacheco18]

Thanks for tip on using USD for trinkets. What about the word CRISP...does the money have to look brand new as I have read on other threads?

 

I know Yuen and RMB are the same...how much did you have on hand? Or is it that easy to just keep going to an ATM?

 

Great question. In Africa, for example, you could not use a bill that was printed before a certain year AND the bills had to be in excellent condition -- no tears, no writing or markings. I often drive my banker crazy before a trip as she searches for pristine bills. Any issue with that in China?

[caribill]

We are also arriving 4 days early to Beijing for our trip this September. Those of you who have been on a China Tour with Viking, did you feel Viking spent plenty of time at Forbidden City or did you wish you would have spent a full day there on your own? I have read that you can rent audio guides at FC. We are planning on spending a day going to the Mutianya section of the Great Wall and stopping at the Olympic Park. The other days we would like to see: Jingshan Park, Beihai Park, Temple of Heaven and Lama Temple. Did I miss anything that you highly recommend? Ohh, we would also like to eat at Made in China and Black Sesame. We are on the Roof of the World tour so I believe we will still see Summer Palace with Viking. Thank you ALL for your contributions!

 

Not sure this is worth any time if it is out of the way.

[caribill]

We will get YUEN at our exchange here in Vancouver before leaving, unless this is at the official exchange rate with no fees added, I suggest waiting until you get to China. There is no problem exchanging currency for Yuan at the airport in China or at your hotel. The rate is regulated by the Chinese government and the rate is the same everywhere.

 

but can someone give me an estimate of how much you spent...what should one be prepared to spend in China currency. This is a hard question to answer because not everyone fits in the same spending pattern on a trip. Some like to buy more trinkets or souvenirs or clothes more than others. Some like to buy coffee or ice cream or something else while touring and some do not. In our case we spent about $150 in yuan and about $300 in US currency during our Jewels trip. This included tips to our group guide which we gave as a combination of yuan (to use it up) and US $. Where we could we used credit cards (about $700 worth) instead of cash. The credit card charges included the extra cost Viking tours. Tipping of the local guides should be done in yuan as they may have little access to currency exchange facilities.

 

 

I have read quite a few messages about having CRISP USD on hand b/c they will not take otherwise for exchange. Is carrying USD necessary in bargaining for trinkets-shopping? Some street vendors would only take US $, some would only take yuan, especially those at the stops along the Yangtze. I do not remember how crisp the US $ bills needed to be, but I tried to take ones reasonably in good condition. Do remember that you cannot get change at a hotel or bank or on the ship for US $ currency, so bring along your supply of small denomination bills.

 

 

 

See above in red

Edited July 5, 2014 by caribill

[Lola911]

Caribill...that was helpful. We will ponder. Appointment for China Visa is on Tuesday. Then I understand I send off to Viking for them to apply for Tibet Visa. Any comments?