Travel Q&A: China and beyond

Travel writer Carol answered your questions about China and other Asia destinations in a live Q&A. Thanks to all who participated.

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Any recommendations for fairly reasonably priced hotels in Beijing and Shanghai? I am traveling own my own. Thanks.
— Romesh Grover, Sammamish, WA

C.P.: In Shanghai, try The Old House Inn, a 12-room boutique hotel in the French Concession. Rates: $122 for double with air conditioning and breakfast, based on current exchange rate of 8.07 yuan to the dollar. Phone 011-86-21-6248-6118 or see www.oldhouse.cn.

In Beijing, check out the Far East Hotel, the upscale sister to the Far East International Youth Hostel across the street. This hotel is a good value in an atmospheric hutong location, 20-minute walk to Tiananmen Square. It's also a good place for a single traveler. There's a 24-hour Internet cafe, restaurants, English-speaking staff and all sorts of travelers' services. Upper-floor doubles with private bath go for about $35 (be sure and ask for a discount if you e-mail or call). Other room prices vary. Call 011-86-10-5195-8811 or see www.fareastyh.com.

If you're in the mood for something a little more upscale, try the Red Capital Residence, a five-room luxury boutique hotel in a historic courtyard location. See www.redcapitalclub.com.cn for details. Rooms include the "Chairman's Suite (in memory of a time when Mao made key decisions from his bedroom). Rates start at $195 a night.

For a lively location amid modern shops and restaurants, consider the Hua Fu International Hotel at the top of Wangfujing Street in Dong Cheng. This is a business hotel popular with Chinese tourists and groups. Doubles with air conditioning starting at around $50. Call 011-86-10-5120-9588 or see www.huafuhotel.com (Chinese only).

Is it best to get a visa before leaving (how long in advance?) or buy one in Hong Kong on arrival. What will I pay?
— Dick Braun, Cashmere, WA

C.P.: You can obtain your visa either in the United States or in Hong Kong. You'll pay more for the service here, but the trade-off is the peace of mind of knowing that all your documents are in order before you leave.

You can get a Chinese tourist visa in Hong Kong from a travel agency in about three working days, sometimes less if you pay for expedited service. You'll need a passport valid for at least six months with at least one blank page left it in. You'll also need a passport-sized photo. The cost for the visa and processing fee is around $50, but varies depending on the agency.

In the United States, the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., or its consulate offices (the closest one is in San Francisco, Phone: 415-674-2900) process visa applications, but they require you to apply in person. For this reason, most people use a visa services company to obtain their China visas. These services process applications by mail. Visa Services Northwest in Seattle charges $113 for a single-entry tourist visa good for three months. Processing time is about two weeks. Phone 206-448-8400 for information.

What suggestions do you have for lodging in Tokyo for a family of three?
— David, North Bend, WA

C.P.: You might start by checking some of the links on the Japanese National Tourist Organization's Web site: www.jnto.go.jp/eng/PS/. There's a link for the Japan Economy Hotel Group at www.kid97.co.jp/~jeh-group/jeh-group.html with four listings in Tokyo, including the reliable Asia Center.

If you're familiar with Tokyo neighborhoods, you might try a bid on Priceline.com or check rates on www.expedia.com, both of which offer some surprisingly low dollar rates on modern high-rise business hotels in central locations. Hotel standards in Japan are high so you rarely have to worry about the place not being clean or in good repair.

If you'll be traveling outside of Tokyo, one way to cut costs is to check into a minshuku, the Japanese equivalent of guest-home type lodgings where rooms in family homes are rented out at reasonable prices. Also check out the modern youth hostels, most of which have no age restrictions. See www.jyh.or.jp.

Here is my friend's great China blog...everything Beijing and Shanghai. A Seattlelite's life in China. www.jasonbarbacovi.com. Everything the travel books won't tell you.
— Carrie, Portland, OR

C.P.: This is great! Thanks for sharing it with our readers.

How do I determine the health risks and immunizations recommended if I was to visit Bhutan, Nepal and India?
— Karl Bergerson, Seattle, WA

C.P.: Start familiarizing yourself by looking at the Center for Disease Control's Web site at www.cdc.gov and doing a search for information on health concerns regarding each of these countries. Then check in with your health care provider who should be able to tell you what immunizations you will need and what precautions to take regarding malaria and other risks.

Group Health Cooperative has a travel advisory service for members. Phone: 206-326-3488 in the Seattle dialing area, or toll-free at 1-800-562-6300, extension 3488. (You'll pay extra for immunizations and medications). Similar advice is available through travel clinics operated by King County and the University of Washington. For details and contact phone numbers, see www.seattletimes.com/internationaltravel and scroll down to "Health Information."

Any advice on planning my shopping while traveling in Asia? What should I expect in getting my goods home, i.e., is it easy to ship from there?
— Alisa, Seattle, WA

C.P.: There's excellent shopping all over Asia and shipping is easily handled either by the shops themselves or hotels. Large items are usually transported via container ship, so it could take a month or two for your goods to arrive. Keep in mind that you'll also need to deal with customs on this end for anything that is shipped.

I usually pack a large, fold-up duffle bag in my suitcase and use it to bring things back home that I purchase as I go along. If you're ending your trip in a big city such as Bangkok, Shanghai or Beijing, you might consider waiting and doing most of your shopping there. The prices and selection in the bigger cities are usually better, and you avoid the hassles of lugging around your purchases.

One caveat if you're shipping: Make sure the item you purchased is the item that is actually shipped. Keep receipts and all the paperwork in case something goes wrong.

When it comes to actually buying merchandise in Asia, the No. 1 rule is to bargain hard. Don't feel guilty about offering a third of the asking price or less. Bargaining is part of the culture in most Asian countries and it's expected.

China is still a repressive state that doesn't allow free expression. Did this put limits on your travel there? Were you ever frustrated by the lack of candor?
— David, Cambridge, MA

C.P.: Oddly enough, I didn't experience any limitations, and I was expecting some, particularly because I didn't travel on a journalist's visa. I used an ordinary tourist visa, yet I interviewed people in public and experienced no problems or unwanted attention. People — ordinary citizens — seemed anxious to talk, and freely expressed their feelings about China's changing political and economic situation — or at least as best they could, given the language barrier. Despite what I had read about Internet restrictions, I was able to access U.S. news Web sites such as the www.seattletimes.com and The New York Times . Once in an Internet cafe, I was asked for my passport number which was recorded.

Carol - I've always resisted traveling anywhere where I didn't speak the local tongue, but Chinese is not on my short list of languages. Is travel in rural China without a companion who speaks the language impossibly difficult? Also, what is the best time of year to travel in China with regard to the weather?
— Robert Strait, Seattle, WA

C.P.: I memorized a few Chinese words before I left, but I don't speak the language either, yet I found it much easier than I thought to get around.

Many young Chinese are learning English, and everywhere I went, there was least one person who could interpret, even in rural villages. Deep conversations, of course, weren't always possible, but I found that people really went out of their way to help me communicate whatever it was that I needed.

I'd definitely encourage you to learn a few key phrases, such as "Hello,'' "Thank you,'' "Where is...'' but more out of politeness than necessity.

Spring and fall are the best times to visit China. Winters are cold and summers are hot and humid in most parts of the country.

Are most parts of China reasonably safe for women travelers? Do the cities have a universal 911 number?
— Marisa, Seattle, WA

C.P.: China is very safe for female travelers. Crime rates are low, and personal safety is rarely an issue. 110 is China's equivalent of our 911 number. For the latest security information, monitor the U.S. State Department's web site at travel.state.gov where the current travel warnings and public announcements can be found.

Are there any problems bringing back things one buys in China - is there some kind of limit on what you can bring home?
— Carol Watts, New York

C.P.: U.S. Customs allows $800 worth of purchases per person duty-free. There are restrictions on antiques - only those cleared for sale to foreigners are allowed to be taken out of the country.

Counterfeit goods — "designer label" clothing, sportswear, bags, software, watches etc. — are found in markets and shops all over China, and although it's illegal for retailers to import them, most tourists end up bringing some back.

The biggest risk for the average traveler is that an item you thought was real — a cheap flash drive or a chip for a digital camera — might turn out to be defective.

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