Bangkok To Shanghai..not Chiang Mai

[Rinrada]

KW is using her birthday Thai airways ROCI air miles on next trip and has just told me that they have extended her ticket to include for a run up to Shanghai....half milage deal.. but of course I wanna go to.

Its been about 35 plus years since I briefly visited (dropped anchor -MN-Hanoi-Manila-Shangers-Honkers Etc.) the place and that resulted in more of an alcoholic haze experience so this time I wouldnt mind actually seeing something of the place but need an update on Flights (prefer TG -£$ and recco hotels)

I am well up on the lowdown of Pudong Airport,visa formalities etc and and gotta try the new high speed MAGLEV into town but apart from the Bund and vague memories of the old HSBC building it was at that time from memory all a bit of a dump....Mao jackets,students leaping forward and wee red books. ....still got one somewhere...

So intrepid travellers,adventurers ,old China Hands ...wots the SP?.....

[PeaceBlondie]

Shanghai, not ChiangMai: you won't recognize the old girl; even the Bund looks different. I went back in March/April, but stayed at a friend's condo. Anyway, on the prior trip, the downtown Holiday Inn was quite sufficient, but I'm never a big spender. Okay, for example: my friend's 85 square meter modern condo sells for US$250,000. Pounds sterling, that's 138,000. Oh, and very commercialized, as in capitalism.

[Rinrada]

Thanks PB....got this info from forum...keep em coming...R

Looking For $ Hotel In Shanghai, cheap hotel

[joinme2leave]

flight: AirIndia seems to be cheapest BKK-PVG

hotel: i normally check in at Motel168-chain. It is good rooms approx 190RMB, lotsa locations all around Shanghai.

check their website (not sure if in english):

www.motel168.com

bookings via CTRIP might be an alternative.

enjoy nightlife if u have the time.

be prepared to pay a fortune for your beers

[Rinrada]

flight: AirIndia seems to be cheapest BKK-PVG

hotel: i normally check in at Motel168-chain. It is good rooms approx 190RMB, lotsa locations all around Shanghai.

check their website (not sure if in english):

www.motel168.com

bookings via CTRIP might be an alternative.

enjoy nightlife if u have the time.

be prepared to pay a fortune for your beers

Beers ..Peng ..WOT....dont like the sound of that.....

..Thanks for the info.....

I have been quoted Bt.16K r/t Bangkok-Shanghai on Thai from Charlie Con.in LOS which looks OK but still sussing out the hotel situation.

Wife dosnt like the idea of staying in any building over about 3 months old (full of ghosts -Typ Thai) whereas I would go for an old doss house in the seedy parts of town where the boxer rebels used to live....

Now gotta nip down tae the Chinese Embassy (Portland Place) and do the biz with the Visas....

...London-Bangkok-Shanghai-Bangkok-Hua Hin-Chiangmai-Mai Sai-Bangkok-London.......supposed to be a relaxing holiday....

[Rinrada]

Getting a Visa to visit China

Bit of an update on my up and coming jolli to LOS plus the bodyswerve through Shanghai.

Anybody picked up a VISA from the Peoples Republic of Peckam...sorry China recently?

Rather looks as though they have dropped all their Socialist pretentions...money grabbing little .f..

Anyway toddled down there expecting a quick in and out...but it looks a though half of of London is trying to move/holiday over there....loads amoney..eh.

The Q was at least 100 yards long...old imperial unit...and stretched round the corner towards the Edgware Road....and it was hot..30 degrees...This is. london

Anyway finally ..after 2 hours being fried to a toadstool...got through the hallowed portals and everyone is being ever so polite (in case the Chinese Army arrives and.......) until I get to the cinema ticket femail....behind the bullet proof glass....

What u want...?

eh Wot do you think?...two tickets for the stalls maybe ...see the big picture.....john wayne appearing?...

(It is the Visa Office of an Embassy...wot do I want)

2 Visas please.....

How long you go......3 days ....

How many people.....2....

When You Go...............me ...soon.....

Why you no say....

I have just told you ..........

By now she going through K.Wife Passport to make sure she aint an illegal ...

Whats that?

Right of Abode stamp to stay in UK....(Shes got her UK/EU PP but going to LOS first)

She (cinema girl) looks at it facinated...Big RED Stamp...

What Service do you Want?...sounds interesting..

Whats service?......as it errr comes... I suppose ?

No Express or fast...(cost another £20 quid )

Normal.....mai peng....gotta go ...

[LaoPo]

Hi Rinrada....."welcome' to China

Flew BKK-Shanghai just 2 days ago with Thai; 747 plane; packed....it was a 'night-flight' though, leaving BKK at 01.45AM, arriving at 07.00AM (1 hour + =Chinese time) so about 4 hours.

Hotels? ....hmmmm not so easy because there are so many. Maybe you like to stay in a 'Chinese' Hotel rather than a 'Western' hotel?

The Chinese hotels are a lot cheaper if you know the 'way' so to speak.

My wife is Chinese so she always looks at the Chinese websites.

If you give me some more info about your budget I can ask her to look some hotels for you?

Let me know, if you wish, ok?

LaoPo

[Rinrada]

LaoPo...Many thanks for your offer ....

Just to finish of my earlier bit...

I finally bunged our 2 passports into the bowels of the Chinese Embassy and hopefully will pick them up first thing on Thursday morning....£30 for me (UK/EU ) PP and £20 for wifes Thai PP. ...even over here theres 2 prices......

So ref: Accomodation in Shanghai...as said many thaks for Info but basically all I really need is to know is Locations...

I have been checking throgh a load of site and even Holiday Inss are coming up at £25 quid a night and since we are only in town for the 3 then might as well go for it....

My sort of place would be something like the Peace Hotel @ £35/night see description as follows...but she being 1/2 Chinese and a bit hung up recons anywhere over 5 years old must be haunted and full of Ghosts....so it will have to be sumit half decent /modern:D

Peace Hotel..

Located at right in front of the Bund and the corner of Nanjing East Road, the Peace Hotel is one of Shanghai's most treasured historic buildings.

The Bund is a major financial hub of East Asia and one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai. With its notable green pyramid, the Peace Hotel stands out in this developing Pundong area.

Other nearby attractions are the soaring Orient Pearl TV Tower over the Huangpu River and the Nanjing Road shopping area.

Highlighting Shanghai's history, the Peace Hotel features high ceilings, ornate woodwork and Art Deco fixtures.

The hotel's ballroom evokes old Shanghai cabarets and gala parties. The south building was formerly the Palace Hotel.

Built in 1906 by the British, it is the oldest building on the Bund. ...Yes Ghosts right enough ...probably MY Ancesters...

The more popular north building, formerly the Cathay Hotel, was built in 1929 and was known as the private playground of its owner Victor Sassoon.

Today, guestrooms at the Peace Hotel feature dark wood furnishings and include high- speed Internet access, satellite television and separate sitting areas.

The Peace Hotel offers 17 restaurants, banquet halls and multi-function rooms serving Shanghai, Cantonese and Sichuan cuisines.

Featured spots at the hotel are the Peace Grill, serving French cuisine in an elegant environment; the Shanghai Night Bar, with a roof garden location offering an excellent view of the Bund and the river; and the Golden Hall, with a vaulted ceiling and moon-hole windows on both sides, plus six large crystalline pendant lamps.

Sassoon's Room, formerly Sassoon's private bedroom and study, is one of the most extravagant banquet rooms in the hotel, boasting a magnificent view of both the glistening Huangpu River in the daytime and neon lights in the evening.

Other hotel amenities include a bar, beauty salon, exercise room, a full-service health spa, and local shops offering hand-crafted gifts

Also until I /We get the visa I aint doing nuffin yet......

You say that you went with Thai which we will be flying also but I aint got a price yet ...

whats the best from Bangkok..any idea? ...Ist week in Oct...

Apart from that its back to the guide book ...will need a think... ..R

[LaoPo]

""The Peace Hotel offers 17 restaurants, banquet halls and multi-function rooms serving Shanghai, Cantonese and Sichuan cuisines""

If you stay 3 nights overthere you will be bl__dy busy, visiting all restaurants...no time to sleep

""You say that you went with Thai which we will be flying also but I aint got a price yet ...

whats the best from Bangkok..any idea? ...Ist week in Oct...""

Sorry, I have no idea because we were re-booked by Bangkok Airways and don't know any prices.

Maybe one of the chaps of the 'Bangkok' Forum know better than me.

I have a feeling it's better to book in BKK rather than the UK!

Good Luck!

LaoPo

[Rinrada]

LaoPo...Many thanks for your offer ....

Just to finish of my earlier bit...

I finally bunged our 2 passports into the bowels of the Chinese Embassy and hopefully will pick them up first thing on Thursday morning....£30 for me (UK/EU ) PP and £20 for wifes Thai PP. ...even over here theres 2 prices......

Anyway until I /We get the visa I aint doing nuffin yet......

You say that you went with Thai which we will be flying also but I aint got a price yet ...

whats the best from Bangkok..any idea? ...Ist week in Oct...

Apart from that its back to the guide book ...will need a think... ..R

F.I.O....Picked up my 2 visas for China and No Problem.

After you hand them at the visa office (ground Floor Level) Plus the completed Form and One Picture they give you a receipt and a date when to come back and pick them up.

I went for the "normal service" so it was 3 days.

This morning I went back down to Portland Place (London) where the doors open at 9-00am and you go downstairs... pay your "dosh" £30-me £20 -wife.

You get another receipt and hand it to the next checkout woman and she hands you the "reds"...all in all about 10 minutes....Now for the Tics...and some egg fried....