China Travel Forum

[hossa]

Hello. I am flying to Peking in September, objective : Xian and Lhasa.

I need someone to book my internal flights and provide some guidance. Also I need help with the Tibet permit.
I also need someone to book for me the hotels in Beijing, Xian, and Lhasa.

So far I contacted agencies but they definitly want to sell me a driver and a guide all day long which I do not want. They don't want to provide just flight and hotel, and say they provide "big discounts" on flights to people who buy whole packages.

Could you recommend an agent who could get me the flights, book the hotels & help with the Tibet permit ?
I have seen international webs with Hotels in China, this seems to be the easy bit, but maybe a Chinese agency will have better prices ??

Also, what are these 'discounts' on flights which people tell me about, also mentionned in guidebooks. What is the best way for me to book these flights and get the Tibet permit.

Best regards

[kamal]

The Tibet permit is easily arranged once in China. There are flights from Xian to Lhasa a couple of times per week. From Chengdu there are a 4 flights per day and there they can arrange the permit and ticket for Lhasa in 24 hours. You dont get any discount on the Xian to Lhasa or Chengdu to Lhasa flights as its sold in a package. The other way you might get a discount. From Beijing to Xian its definitely possible with a discount.
Unless you are on a very tight timeschedule wait to arrange the domestic flights untill you are in China. That way you can arrange the ticket from Beijing to Xian through a local travel agency and they will know whether you can get a discount, sometimes up to 40% on a ticket.

[lancy]

In Xi'an I can recommend my travel agent John. He is a former English teacher. His website is here. Inside China his mobile phone is (0)138-9182-2246. He offers a trip to Tibet, as well as hotel and flight services. I'll be calling him tomorrow to book my ticket for the start of my vacation. He does have an odd habit for a travel agent: He wants to try to sell you the cheaper alternative. I was thinking about flying to Xiamen, but he suggested saving money by taking the train. But the train ride is about 36 hours! Besides this oddity, I am quite pleased with him. As I understand it, his Tibet tour includes getting the permit and four days in Lhasa. You can stay longer if you want to, but without tour guide service. I haven't been to Tibet, though, so ask him for more information. He should be able to book you into hotels in Beijing and Xi'an, but tell him if you don't want a cheap hotel. I'm not sure if he can get you a Beijing-Xi'an ticket, but your hotel should be able to do that.