China Trip - QF/CX/LA/MU/FM - IHG/HH - Trains

[muppet]

Our Treasurer would describe me as a leaner, I view this forum often, usually logged out and contribute little. So to give back I’ll do a trip report of my China trip that starts today (Sat 4 July).

The trip is fairly busy – driven by this forum’s frequentflyer antics – and includes a far flung stop in Colombo due to my poor understanding of geography. I booked one of the cheapo Business class CMB to AKL fares thinking Sri Lanka was a little closer to Asia than it is…. Oops.

The flights are:
QF SYD – PVG Y (No Pics)
FM SHA – TXN Y
MU XIY – DYG Y
CX CAN – HKG Y
CX HKG – CMB Y+
UL CMB – SIN J
QF SIN – SYD J
LA SYD – AKL J
EK AKL – MEL Y

Trains:
Z Beijing to Xi’an – Deluxe Sleeper
T Zhangjiajie to Guangzhou – Soft Sleeper

Hotels:
Intercontinental Shanghai Pudong
Crowne Plaza Huangshan
DoubleTree Beijing
Intercontinental Singapore

QF 129 SYD – PVG Y
So first flight over 4 hours in Y for about 5 years….. L I chose 24K on the newconfig A330 to review as I couldn’t find any discussion to date….
But was not to be. IFE and seat controls not working so it was subbed at last minute to old config – making 24K a rubbish seat.
Also went from having a shadow to having a seat mate, lost the bulkhead and delayed from 9:35 to noon… awesome. But better than 11 hours with no IFE. Giving this is an old aircraft and uneventful seat now – I won’t bother reviewing.
Actually, on board the couple that scored the 23JK, once the seats existed, had an infant so they moved to an empty pair of basinet seats(ummmm why not give them those seats in the first place?). So I snavelled the bulkhead in the end anyway. Very nice onboard service. Addressed by name the whole time, impressive really, and thanked for my business – I like that, I did pay extra to fly QF. Better attention than I get in Business.

[RE: No pics - old A330 pics exist - but I promise there will be pics in this TR - hotels train flights - starting with IC Pudong]

muppet

 

[boomy]

China trips are always interesting, looking forward to reports and photos.

 

[muppet]

Intercontinental Shanghai Pudong

Status: Platinum Ambassador
Booked: Superior Room (lowest)
Received: Business Suite

Quite nice hotel. The area is nice, almost everyone speaks English (well for their particular transaction).
Arrived late due to late QF129 - was given a bag of biscuits and set of coasters as a welcome give and offered discounted club access for RMB300 per night. Declined.

I used my IHG Dining Rewards Voucher here as it's worth RMB393 in China but only $50 AUD. Had a delicious and well cooked Aussie steak. But in true IHG style the happy hour prices for beers were reversed before applying the voucher. What is with IHG and making sure the customer never thinks its a good company?


Pros: Overall very happy with this hotel, close to Metro, generous upgrades, affordable room rate - would stay again.
Cons: Indoor pool only, food and bev prices a bit excessive - (60RMB for a scooner...) I'd scoff even in Aus but more so seeing a beer for 4RMB at the shops.

 

[muppet]

So a change of plans due to rain. Didn't want to hike up Mt Huangshan in the rain so went to Hangzhou instead. I stayed at the Holiday Inn as the Intercontinental was about 1500RMB p/n last minute. Holiday Inn was great value. reasonably well located. nice rooms.

Holiday Inn Hangzhou City Centre

Room Booked: Standard (10,000 points p/n)
Room Received: Premier – one level up

Quite a nice hotel in sort of the middle of town. 30 min walk to West Lake. 15 min taxi to Hangzhou East Station. Great value for 10,000 points each night.

On check-in offered club lounge for 420RMB… no thanks. But took the breakfast at 88RMB.

Breakfast was only okay due to turnover. Had a dinner buffet for 150RMB including beers and it was the absolute pits!!! Everything seems to be served slightly warm here. Beer. Meat. Must be a bacteria festival.

No scammers in Hangzhou. Loved it. Taxi used the meter. Great big shiny CHR station. Beautiful West Lake to walk around. Highly recommend. No more than two nights though.

 

[muppet]

CHR High Speed Business Class
Hangzhou East to Beijing South
Rate: 1700 RMB

Very comfortable way to spend 6 hours. And got to say, wouldn’t do the lower classes just to save 800RMB over that distance.
Highly recommend packing snacks…. Food was horrid. But if you’re desperate you can eat it.

I was in the front “sightseeing” cabin. As it’s so small there’s only room for one row of business class, they then cram three first class seats behind the business ones. The bloke behind me forced out disgusting burps and mouth noises the whole 6 hours. I don’t know how the guy next him could stand it. Bring entertainment or ear plugs!!!

At Shanghai (the day before / different service) and Hangzhou there are VIP lounges for Business Class and Soft Sleeper. Good luck getting anyone to tell you.

In Hangzhou the VIP lounge is accessed from the ground level on the north east side.

In Shanghai the VIP lounge is listed at 1F – when you walk in you’re on -1F so go to the West end (same as Subway exit) and up one level of escalators to the middle level. If you’re at Departures you’re one level too high. No pics as I only worked out the VIP lounges late and couldn’t be bothered dragging my bag around.

 

[moa999]

Nice seat but agree that meal looks horrid