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Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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 Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 7:50 pm Post subject: Anyone Ever Travel to Beijing Alone? |
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Have you ever traveled to Beijing alone?
Is it possible to go there yourself and hire a guide as opposed to taking a tour package?
The problem with buying a tour package from one of the travel agents in Korea is that you are more or less stuck to choose from the dates they offer.
How is Beijing compared to Shanghai? I know that Shanghai is clean and modern. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 7:59 pm Post subject: Re: Anyone Ever Travel to Beijing Alone? |
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| Dev wrote: |
Have you ever traveled to Beijing alone?
Is it possible to go there yourself and hire a guide as opposed to taking a tour package?
The problem with buying a tour package from one of the travel agents in Korea is that you are more or less stuck to choose from the dates they offer.
How is Beijing compared to Shanghai? I know that Shanghai is clean and modern. |
I have traveled there many times and I have never gone on a package tour.
Many hotels have staff (at least on the front desk) that can speak English and they can help you arrange whatever local tour you want
OR
you can just get them to write the destination of the attraction you want to visit (forbidden city, summer palace, temple to heaven) on a card and you can catch a taxi.
Most of the stuff you won't need a guide for anyway.
(except perhaps a day trip to the great wall and ming tombs).
Cabs are CHEAP. In most tourist attractions there are also staff who speak English and most signage is dual language (Chinese/English).
With the Olympics only a year away the city is in very good shape to deal with foreign tourists.
You will find that Shanghai is similar in it's ability to deal with foreigners. |
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just because
Joined: 01 Aug 2003
Location: Changwon - 4964
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:06 am Post subject: |
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I have been there by myself as well for a week...
Just stayed at a little hotel and asked the front desk about what is the best way to get to certain places and little bits of info i wanted to know...
you will be fine....
I went to beijing the 2nd time on a tour(first and last tour group ever)..
I had a much better time doing my own thing |
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tfunk
Joined: 12 Aug 2006
Location: Dublin, Ireland
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| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 6:35 am Post subject: |
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I went on my own and had a good time. If you hang out in the hostel pub then you'll probably meet people which is always good times!
It's possible to hire a guide but I never did. If you like history then I'd hire a guide. I just wanted to hang out in all the beautiful places, didn't need any history. I read a few books before I went though, that definately put me in the mood for it (I don't mean travel books like lonely planet, I mean books written about peoples experiences in china).
History = Beijing.
Architecture, nightlife = Shanghai
But I've never been to shanghai, that's what I've heard. |
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travel zen
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Location: Good old Toronto, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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For the best and most interesting time...try to find other foreigners in Beijing.
I found the city to be crowded and more than dry. About 99.8% of the people you meet on the street DO NOT speak english, so plan ahead. |
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tfunk
Joined: 12 Aug 2006
Location: Dublin, Ireland
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:39 am Post subject: |
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| As regards crowds, that largely depends on the time of year. It will be busy at chuseok but when I went it wasn't busy at all! I was really surprised and a bit taken aback. (talking about Beijing here) |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:51 am Post subject: Re: Anyone Ever Travel to Beijing Alone? |
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| Dev wrote: |
Have you ever traveled to Beijing alone?
Is it possible to go there yourself and hire a guide as opposed to taking a tour package?
The problem with buying a tour package from one of the travel agents in Korea is that you are more or less stuck to choose from the dates they offer.
How is Beijing compared to Shanghai? I know that Shanghai is clean and modern. |
You don't need to hire a tour guide Beijing or take a tour package. It isn't difficult to find your way around on your own or with the other travelers you'll meet. Any hostel you stay in, has all kinds of 'guide-related activities' anyways.. Great Wall in particular, I think its best to schedule something beforehand from the hostel.
Most places, the Imperial Palaces, Tienamen Square, etc.. quite easy just walking to them.. look in the Lonely Planet guide.. there is a hostel easily within walking distance of most of what you want to see. |
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crazy_arcade
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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For Beijing, can any one you recommend a decent place to stay?
Also, is the Chinese embassy in Seoul open on Saturdays? What's the visa process? Do I need proof of travel? |
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lowpo
Joined: 01 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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| crazy_arcade wrote: |
For Beijing, can any one you recommend a decent place to stay?
Also, is the Chinese embassy in Seoul open on Saturdays? What's the visa process? Do I need proof of travel? |
http://www.beijinghotelchina.com/index.html
Here is a webpage to Chinese Traditional Hotels. They are a little cheaper price and a nice place to stay. Some of them offer free breakfast. They are a like Bed and Breakfast. |
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cbeck13
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Leo Hostel.....I've heard from many people that it is a great place to stay right in the heart of beijing.....they have a website |
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