China Travel Forum

[Randolph]

One carrier we are considering is Northwest, but it arrives in Bejing at 9:30 p.m. We don't know Chinese, we haven't booked an hotel yet and this create apprehension. Does anyone know of an hotel close to the airport? How much are taxis? I never like to arrive to a country I am unfamiliar with in the evening. Everything seems more difficult.
I may consider another carrier, but I will have to start my trip from Hong Kong going north, rather than from north to south as we hoped to do. Any suggestions? Are there advantages on starting a trip from Bejing rather thatn Hong Kong?

[Paul]

hello! I am currently in China and I arrived 2 weeks ago with United, they arrive in Beijing around 3.30 in the afternoon and it is ok. When you exit the airport, don't take the bus that is suppose to take you downtown because as I experienced, it doesn't go to the exact point where you want to get. I wanted to get to the train station and they left us about a km away with chilling temperature, jet laged in your body , no knowledge of Chinese, it is complicated, we bumped into an Italian girl working in Beijing and she helped us find a taxi and the youth hostel. I would strongly recommend that you go for the Beijing youth hostel , facing the central station in Beijing ( beijing zhan) it is accross the street, it's it incredibly nice, comfortable, double rooms, if you want your privacy, clean washrooms, and showers and the staff is more than friendly, there is a cozy bar on the 3 floor for the first night, it's nice and you will enjoy it. It is not a youth hostel for me, it is a very nice hotel with nice furiniture for app. 16 $ a night! from there you can get anywhere, since the train station is facing it. there are plenty of excellent restaurants near it and the convenience store is open 24 hours! From the airport take a red taxi it will cost you about 80 yuan and it takes you right downtown. You may have to pay for the toll which is about 50 yuan , so about 5 $ it is ok. Find someone at the airport that knows mandarin and ask them to write you the name of the hostel on a paper. Staying around the airport is boring and there is NOTHING to do in the surroundings. Enjoy, China is amazingly BEAUTIFUL!