Planning trip to China

Planning trip to China
Feb 16, 2010 16:33
BREAKBREAD Points: Join Date: Feb 16, 2010 Status: offline	Between tax returns and savings, I've been entertaining the idea of taking a trip to China this summer. I've been learning to speak the language, and I also have 2 close friends who live in Beijing with whom I could stay with some of the time. Of course, I do plan on seeing other places as well, so extra accommodations are a potential factor, though shouldn't be a big one. What else should I be expecting and what else should I plan for? I'm wanting to spend a good month over there. I can talk with my friends about what to expect within the context of China but I'm looking for some broader perspectives on the whole trip in general. I know some people who spend a month backpacking Europe and only spent around $2300. They couch-surfed and what not to keep costs at a bare minimum, and this is what I'm interested in doing. I'm fine with skimping on the luxuries in order to experience what I want to experience. My understanding is that day-to-day necessities are considerably cheap in China. Much more so than Europe where I hear most things are comparatively more expensive, even compared to the U.S. With that in mind, I still am at a loss on how to best estimate everything. Obviously, I want to make sure I'm not going over there with a bare minimum, but I just don't know how to estimate it out.

Feb 16, 2010 16:33

BREAKBREAD
Points:
Join Date: Feb 16, 2010
Status: offline

Between tax returns and savings, I've been entertaining the idea of taking a trip to China this summer. I've been learning to speak the language, and I also have 2 close friends who live in Beijing with whom I could stay with some of the time. Of course, I do plan on seeing other places as well, so extra accommodations are a potential factor, though shouldn't be a big one.

What else should I be expecting and what else should I plan for? I'm wanting to spend a good month over there. I can talk with my friends about what to expect within the context of China but I'm looking for some broader perspectives on the whole trip in general. I know some people who spend a month backpacking Europe and only spent around $2300. They couch-surfed and what not to keep costs at a bare minimum, and this is what I'm interested in doing. I'm fine with skimping on the luxuries in order to experience what I want to experience.

My understanding is that day-to-day necessities are considerably cheap in China. Much more so than Europe where I hear most things are comparatively more expensive, even compared to the U.S. With that in mind, I still am at a loss on how to best estimate everything. Obviously, I want to make sure I'm not going over there with a bare minimum, but I just don't know how to estimate it out.

Feb 16, 2010 21:33

ELLYSE
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Join Date: Oct 30, 2005
Status: Offline

It would also depend on how many destinations and sights you cover, as transport and admission fees are unnegotiable and might make up for a big part of your expenditure.
Also depends on which part of China you're going to, and how much partying you're doing.
I've done week-long trips for about 4000-5000 RMB, and also a 3-week trip in NW China for 4000 RMB.
Generally I think about 250-300 RMB/day would be a reasonable budget (sleeping in dorms, not too shoestring), or perhaps 200-250 RMB/day if you could find a host for each destination that you're going to.

Feb 17, 2010 00:26	#2
BREAKBREAD Points: Join Date: Feb 16, 2010 Status: Offline	Thank you very much for the the information. Y250 doesn't sound too terrible at all. Plus, I have my friend there who can house me. This trip is beginning to sound more feasible. How is rail transportation to nearby areas? Is that even the best means of travel?

Feb 17, 2010 05:40	#3
ELLYSE Points: Join Date: Oct 30, 2005 Status: Offline	Nearby areas? Nearby to where?

Feb 19, 2010 21:53

CROSIS
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Join Date: Sep 5, 2007
Status: Offline

I have done a number of trips to China now, 2 of which were almost a month long each. While I tend to prefer a good bed, China is still an incredibly cheap place to visit.

Breakfast was often in the cost of the room and an evening meal for 3 or 4 of us was never more than 250rmb. Often less the further away from the big cities.

One travel suggestion is do your traveling using soft sleeper on an overnight train. This way you get cheap transport AND a place to sleep. You also can save a small fortune. For example a plane flight from Beijing to Xian can be up to US$200 per person, but lets say US$100 on special, a room maybe US$50 in a cheap hotel, more for 4 or 5 star. The train fare overnight is around US$50-60 so you have saved a bit. If you travel with a family this can be really helpful! You arrive the next morning usually so very little time is lost. On longer train trips, you get to see the countryside rather than fly over it.

Also on a train you get to meet people which is nice. On a plane everyone ignores you. Attached is a low res pic from one of my trips where a bunch of us all crowded in a cabin and gossiped (a lot of laughs as everyone had to laugh twice as stories were translated <g>)

Feb 23, 2010 18:59	#5
ELLYSE Points: Join Date: Oct 30, 2005 Status: Offline	Crosis, I hope you didn't misread what I said earlier? I said 250 RMB/day in total, not for meals.

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