Now into the last day of our trip to China, thought the following may help others.
Visas: Submitted in the morning to the Offices opposite the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok, collected after 3 the same day. The office is difficult to find if driving, best to park and use the subway...5 min walk from the nearest terminal.
Flights: Air China at 28,500 for 2 rtn. We used them as they are part of Star Alliance. Bought and paid online with http://www.thaifly.com" have used them for the last 3 years with no problems.
Inflight: Food just passable, beer cold but no IFE...just an overhead screen :crybaby: Managed to get row 10 which is the bulkhead, and at 180cm there was room to stretch and sleep (arrived at 01.05)
Downside, we arrived in Terminal 3 and have a 35 min walk to terminal one, via Train and Walkways to complete Imm and Baggage Claim. On the flight they do not give Arrival Forms, so collect one opposite the Imm desks. Imm only took 2 mins for the both of us...Swampy please take note.
Hotel: Xihao Temple Hotel, a little out of the way, but good rooms and facilities.
Tours: Using http://www.tour-beijing.com...look" under their budget tours, we had no more than 9 people on each of the 4 days tours we used.
Beijing: Organised, clean air whilst here, pavements (sidewalks for our USA friends) that you can walk on, no street vendors every 2 feet. Subway - 2 RYB (10 Baht) for all trips. Bar Street - bedlam..and forget trying to get a taxi back at 01.00, we ended up taking a "..want a taxi, only 25 RYB" guy's offer.
short update- though it seems this should be in another forum-part.
1. the visum cost less if collected day 4 (sat-sun do not count)- 50% more collect day 2 and 100% more if collect same day.
2.prices vary with nation-USAers pay much more-to reflect the same sum their country charges Chinese-140US$. For Thai it is less as 1000 THB(4 days)
3.since 1/1/12 you now also need to show airline tix and confirmed hotelbookings-new and sharper regulations.
It should have been stated a little bit more clear this was to BeiJing-must be pretty cold there now, I guess. AirAsia flies much cheaper to various other CN-towns, now also Chongching. BJ is a special gtovmt. case-subways cost much more in other CN towns-Sjanghai being the expensive one.
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