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Visiting China - Is it Cheap Anymore?
Visiting China - Is it Cheap Anymore?
I was contemplating a trip to Vietnam through southeastern China and noticed
the VISA fees for China from the US have gone up to $130. A night at the
Sheraton in Jiuzhaigou for October is running $500. I have a booking for
June that I reserved for half that price. I realize the dollar is dropping
like a lead ballon but the increases seem steep compared to a year ago. Is
this a symptom of the 2008 Olympics and will prices drop in September or
later?
Vietnam, while under intense inflationary pressure, still seems to be a
bargain compared to China.
Rick
I was contemplating a trip to Vietnam through southeastern China and noticed
the VISA fees for China from the US have gone up to $130. A night at the
Sheraton in Jiuzhaigou for October is running $500. I have a booking for
June that I reserved for half that price. I realize the dollar is dropping
like a lead ballon but the increases seem steep compared to a year ago. Is
this a symptom of the 2008 Olympics and will prices drop in September or
later?
Vietnam, while under intense inflationary pressure, still seems to be a
bargain compared to China.
Rick
Re: Visiting China - Is it Cheap Anymore?
In article <jO0Dj.10960$k92.10809@trndny06>, Sharkbait says...
> I was contemplating a trip to Vietnam through southeastern China and noticed
> the VISA fees for China from the US have gone up to $130.
The visa was 30 Euro here in Munich the last time I needed one.
> A night at the
> Sheraton in Jiuzhaigou for October is running $500. I have a booking for
> June that I reserved for half that price. I realize the dollar is dropping
> like a lead ballon but the increases seem steep compared to a year ago. Is
> this a symptom of the 2008 Olympics and will prices drop in September or
> later?
Ehmmm... why do you need to stay at the Sheraton? There are excellent
four star hotels for 500 yuan (= 50 Euro) or less. And yes, I'd guess
that prices for hotels will go up during the Olympics.
--
Alfred Molon
* w w w .molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe
In article <jO0Dj.10960$k92.10809@trndny06>, Sharkbait says...
> I was contemplating a trip to Vietnam through southeastern China and noticed
> the VISA fees for China from the US have gone up to $130.
The visa was 30 Euro here in Munich the last time I needed one.
> A night at the
> Sheraton in Jiuzhaigou for October is running $500. I have a booking for
> June that I reserved for half that price. I realize the dollar is dropping
> like a lead ballon but the increases seem steep compared to a year ago. Is
> this a symptom of the 2008 Olympics and will prices drop in September or
> later?
Ehmmm... why do you need to stay at the Sheraton? There are excellent
four star hotels for 500 yuan (= 50 Euro) or less. And yes, I'd guess
that prices for hotels will go up during the Olympics.
--
Alfred Molon
* w w w .molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe
Re: Visiting China - Is it Cheap Anymore?
Sharkbait <sharkbait999@verizon . net > wrote:
> I was contemplating a trip to Vietnam through southeastern China and noticed
> the VISA fees for China from the US have gone up to $130.
This is correct. According to China this is in response to a raise in
prices for Chinese citizens wishing to visit the U.S. If it's any
consolation the period of visa validity has improved.
>A night at the
> Sheraton in Jiuzhaigou for October is running $500. I have a booking for
> June that I reserved for half that price.
China certainly is cheap, but never has been at a Sheraton, and even
US$250 is a ridiculous price to pay for a foreign-run hotel in a remoter
corner of China, and hardly likely to be good value for money in terms
of the service received.
>I realize the dollar is dropping
> like a lead ballon but the increases seem steep compared to a year ago. Is
> this a symptom of the 2008 Olympics and will prices drop in September or
> later?
More likely the October price is a function of the fact that the first
half of October is peak travel season in China, as it is every year, and
nothing to do with the Oympics. The fact that the corresponding May
holiday has now been cut down to a day may possibility be fuelling
expectation that October will be busier than ever before.
> Vietnam, while under intense inflationary pressure, still seems to be a
> bargain compared to China.
Possibly--I haven't had recent experience of Vietnam. But no one
travelling to stay in Sheratons is likely to have much idea of real
costs, but only of the carefully-engineered-for-tourists sector of the
economy, which in either country has little to do with the real world.
But within the tourist bubble the selection of June at a summer resort,
and October at the highest peak of the Chinese travel season may anyway
have more to do with it.
Peter N-H
* w w w .datasinica . com
Sharkbait <sharkbait999@verizon . net > wrote:
> I was contemplating a trip to Vietnam through southeastern China and noticed
> the VISA fees for China from the US have gone up to $130.
This is correct. According to China this is in response to a raise in
prices for Chinese citizens wishing to visit the U.S. If it's any
consolation the period of visa validity has improved.
>A night at the
> Sheraton in Jiuzhaigou for October is running $500. I have a booking for
> June that I reserved for half that price.
China certainly is cheap, but never has been at a Sheraton, and even
US$250 is a ridiculous price to pay for a foreign-run hotel in a remoter
corner of China, and hardly likely to be good value for money in terms
of the service received.
>I realize the dollar is dropping
> like a lead ballon but the increases seem steep compared to a year ago. Is
> this a symptom of the 2008 Olympics and will prices drop in September or
> later?
More likely the October price is a function of the fact that the first
half of October is peak travel season in China, as it is every year, and
nothing to do with the Oympics. The fact that the corresponding May
holiday has now been cut down to a day may possibility be fuelling
expectation that October will be busier than ever before.
> Vietnam, while under intense inflationary pressure, still seems to be a
> bargain compared to China.
Possibly--I haven't had recent experience of Vietnam. But no one
travelling to stay in Sheratons is likely to have much idea of real
costs, but only of the carefully-engineered-for-tourists sector of the
economy, which in either country has little to do with the real world.
But within the tourist bubble the selection of June at a summer resort,
and October at the highest peak of the Chinese travel season may anyway
have more to do with it.
Peter N-H
* w w w .datasinica . com
Re: Visiting China - Is it Cheap Anymore?
Peter Neville-Hadley wrote;
> This is correct. According to China this is in response to a raise in
> prices for Chinese citizens wishing to visit the U.S. If it's any
> consolation the period of visa validity has improved.
>
Correct. The Chinese Consulate office in Los Angeles in a simple statement
said the following on their website:
"starting from Jan.20, 2008, visa fee for U.S. citizens will be adjusted on
a reciprocal basis"
Rasing these fees on either side does nothing to support tourism. I suppose
it couldn't have come at a better time for the host of the 2008 Olympics. I
also heard of some ridiculous ticket prices for Olympic events. I wonder if
there will be two-tier pricing (one for locals and one for foreigners) for
events?
rg
Peter Neville-Hadley wrote;
> This is correct. According to China this is in response to a raise in
> prices for Chinese citizens wishing to visit the U.S. If it's any
> consolation the period of visa validity has improved.
>
Correct. The Chinese Consulate office in Los Angeles in a simple statement
said the following on their website:
"starting from Jan.20, 2008, visa fee for U.S. citizens will be adjusted on
a reciprocal basis"
Rasing these fees on either side does nothing to support tourism. I suppose
it couldn't have come at a better time for the host of the 2008 Olympics. I
also heard of some ridiculous ticket prices for Olympic events. I wonder if
there will be two-tier pricing (one for locals and one for foreigners) for
events?
rg
Re: Visiting China - Is it Cheap Anymore?
it is so ridiculous that many 5x hotels raise prices up to 10 fold.
2-tier pricing is unlikely though
On Mar 17, 1:19 am, "Sharkbait" <sharkbait...@verizon . net > wrote:
> Peter Neville-Hadley wrote;
>
> > This is correct. According to China this is in response to a raise in
> > prices for Chinese citizens wishing to visit the U.S. If it's any
> > consolation the period of visa validity has improved.
>
> Correct. The Chinese Consulate office in Los Angeles in a simple statem=
ent
> said the following on their website:
>
> "starting from Jan.20, 2008, visa fee for U.S. citizens will be adjuste=
d on
> a reciprocal basis"
>
> Rasing these fees on either side does nothing to support tourism. I sup=
pose
> it couldn't have come at a better time for the host of the 2008 Olympics. =
I
> also heard of some ridiculous ticket prices for Olympic events. I wonde=
r if
> there will be two-tier pricing (one for locals and one for foreigners) for=
> events?
>
> rg
it is so ridiculous that many 5x hotels raise prices up to 10 fold.
2-tier pricing is unlikely though
On Mar 17, 1:19 am, "Sharkbait" <sharkbait...@verizon . net > wrote:
> Peter Neville-Hadley wrote;
>
> > This is correct. According to China this is in response to a raise in
> > prices for Chinese citizens wishing to visit the U.S. If it's any
> > consolation the period of visa validity has improved.
>
> Correct. The Chinese Consulate office in Los Angeles in a simple statem=
ent
> said the following on their website:
>
> "starting from Jan.20, 2008, visa fee for U.S. citizens will be adjuste=
d on
> a reciprocal basis"
>
> Rasing these fees on either side does nothing to support tourism. I sup=
pose
> it couldn't have come at a better time for the host of the 2008 Olympics. =
I
> also heard of some ridiculous ticket prices for Olympic events. I wonde=
r if
> there will be two-tier pricing (one for locals and one for foreigners) for=
> events?
>
> rg
Re: Visiting China - Is it Cheap Anymore?
"Sharkbait" <sharkbait999@verizon . net > wrote in message
news:mEcDj.3719$sw3.2768@trnddc06...
> Peter Neville-Hadley wrote;
>
>> This is correct. According to China this is in response to a raise in
>> prices for Chinese citizens wishing to visit the U.S. If it's any
>> consolation the period of visa validity has improved.
>>
>
> Correct. The Chinese Consulate office in Los Angeles in a simple
> statement said the following on their website:
>
> "starting from Jan.20, 2008, visa fee for U.S. citizens will be adjusted
> on a reciprocal basis"
>
> Rasing these fees on either side does nothing to support tourism.
I agree. Even as a Brit, who can afford to pay, US Visa fees are
extortionate, I'm not surprised that a Chinese person thinks them so.
tim
"Sharkbait" <sharkbait999@verizon . net > wrote in message
news:mEcDj.3719$sw3.2768@trnddc06...
> Peter Neville-Hadley wrote;
>
>> This is correct. According to China this is in response to a raise in
>> prices for Chinese citizens wishing to visit the U.S. If it's any
>> consolation the period of visa validity has improved.
>>
>
> Correct. The Chinese Consulate office in Los Angeles in a simple
> statement said the following on their website:
>
> "starting from Jan.20, 2008, visa fee for U.S. citizens will be adjusted
> on a reciprocal basis"
>
> Rasing these fees on either side does nothing to support tourism.
I agree. Even as a Brit, who can afford to pay, US Visa fees are
extortionate, I'm not surprised that a Chinese person thinks them so.
tim
Re: Visiting China - Is it Cheap Anymore?
Sharkbait wrote:
> Vietnam, while under intense inflationary pressure, still seems to be a
> bargain compared to China.
>
> Rick
Taiwan is also a bargain.
I just came back from Taiwan for a trade show, and was amazed at how
cheap it was. However I tend to stay at 3 star hotels, not 5 star. I
paid about $55/night for a hotel, and I could have gotten something for
less than that if the city wasn't so booked up for Taipei Cycle and
TaiSpo. The food is very cheap as well, you can easily eat well for
$12-15/day, actually much less if you eat like the local people do with
more street stall type eating.
While Taipei is pretty dumpy as Asian cities go (compared to Seoul, Hong
Kong, or Taipei), I got up into the mountains one day, and it's really a
beautiful country once you get away from the big cities.
It's easy to get around because most signs are also in English, and they
have an extensive train network, and easy to eat because most
restaurants (other than street stalls where you can point) have English
menus, and unlike in many U.S. Chinese restaurants the English menu is
simply a translation of the Chinese menu, rather than a different menu
with different selections and higher prices.
No visa is required from the U.S. for up to a 30 day stay.
Sharkbait wrote:
> Vietnam, while under intense inflationary pressure, still seems to be a
> bargain compared to China.
>
> Rick
Taiwan is also a bargain.
I just came back from Taiwan for a trade show, and was amazed at how
cheap it was. However I tend to stay at 3 star hotels, not 5 star. I
paid about $55/night for a hotel, and I could have gotten something for
less than that if the city wasn't so booked up for Taipei Cycle and
TaiSpo. The food is very cheap as well, you can easily eat well for
$12-15/day, actually much less if you eat like the local people do with
more street stall type eating.
While Taipei is pretty dumpy as Asian cities go (compared to Seoul, Hong
Kong, or Taipei), I got up into the mountains one day, and it's really a
beautiful country once you get away from the big cities.
It's easy to get around because most signs are also in English, and they
have an extensive train network, and easy to eat because most
restaurants (other than street stalls where you can point) have English
menus, and unlike in many U.S. Chinese restaurants the English menu is
simply a translation of the Chinese menu, rather than a different menu
with different selections and higher prices.
No visa is required from the U.S. for up to a 30 day stay.
Re: Visiting China - Is it Cheap Anymore?
SMS wrote:
> Sharkbait wrote:
>
>> Vietnam, while under intense inflationary pressure, still seems to be
>> a bargain compared to China.
>>
>> Rick
>
> Taiwan is also a bargain.
>
> I just came back from Taiwan for a trade show, and was amazed at how
> cheap it was. However I tend to stay at 3 star hotels, not 5 star. I
> paid about $55/night for a hotel, and I could have gotten something for
> less than that if the city wasn't so booked up for Taipei Cycle and
> TaiSpo. The food is very cheap as well, you can easily eat well for
> $12-15/day, actually much less if you eat like the local people do with
> more street stall type eating.
>
> While Taipei is pretty dumpy as Asian cities go (compared to Seoul, Hong
> Kong, or Taipei)
Oops, meant to write: "or Shanghai."
SMS wrote:
> Sharkbait wrote:
>
>> Vietnam, while under intense inflationary pressure, still seems to be
>> a bargain compared to China.
>>
>> Rick
>
> Taiwan is also a bargain.
>
> I just came back from Taiwan for a trade show, and was amazed at how
> cheap it was. However I tend to stay at 3 star hotels, not 5 star. I
> paid about $55/night for a hotel, and I could have gotten something for
> less than that if the city wasn't so booked up for Taipei Cycle and
> TaiSpo. The food is very cheap as well, you can easily eat well for
> $12-15/day, actually much less if you eat like the local people do with
> more street stall type eating.
>
> While Taipei is pretty dumpy as Asian cities go (compared to Seoul, Hong
> Kong, or Taipei)
Oops, meant to write: "or Shanghai."
