China Travel Forum

[Donald]

Planning a short trip with my wife and 5 year old son to Beijing in late May 08. May stop off in Seoul for a few days along the way to visit friends.

We'll be booking a flight on our own but are wondering if it is cheapest to to book hotel and flight together and then book site-seeing tours on our own once we arrive or to do so through a group tour (airline, hotel, tour, etc.).

Anyone have any recommendations? We plan to see the normal things... forbidden city, tiennanmen square, Beijing Opera, Beijing Zoo, Great Wall, etc.

Would love any recommendations from anyone who's done it. I am up for adventure but my wife is something of a princess and I would be in deep trouble if we have to "rough it".

Thanks in advance!!!

[Guest]

the zoo is not the best. In fact, I felt quite depressed after seeing the pandas....they don't appear to be well cared for. Our experience of Beijing hotels was not impressive, considering our other experiences throughout Asia. So, I would not skimp on this. Go for as upmarket as you can if you want to keep the princess happy!

You don't really need a guide to get around. Select your wall visit carefuly. Some parts are very busy and touristy.

[Jennifer Li]

Beijing is an easy city to get around in, so independant travel is easy. Taxi's from one place to another, they are very cheap and as long as you have a taxi map, that most hotels will give you (this has the destination in both chinese and english) you will be fine.

If you want a trip to the Great Wall, we opted for an organised trip and went through Cycle China (just goggle them) they were very good.