Asia Trip Itinerary

In article .com,
says...
Hi,

Any thoughts on this itinerary? I know that it is an ambitious schedule
with the number of cities involved. Only city that I am not sure about
is Seoul. I want feedback on the price and duration (am I better of
spending a day more in Shanghai as opposed to Hong Kong, etc.). Is Xian
worth visiting? If so, can I accommodate in this schedule (or, do I not
go to Seoul)? I am also thinking of advancing the trip by a week so
that I can be in Tokyo for the peak Cherry Blossoms. I am planning to
visit Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan. Is Mount Fuji worth visiting, if I am
not planning to climb it?

I plan to buy the tickets by next week. Your feedback is greatly
appreciated.
Srini

UA 851 01APR IADORD 9.45A/10.58A (Washington DC - Chicago)
UA 895 01APR ORDHKG 12.15P/6.05P 02APR (Chicago-Hong Kong)
KA 898 08APR HKGPVG 9.00A/11.15A (Hong Kong-Shanghai)
CA1590 12APR SHAPEK 8.55A/10.45A (Shanghai-Beijing)
KE 854 16APR PEKICN 7.55A/10.55A (Beijing-Seoul)
UA 800 16APR ICNNRT 12.05P/2.25P (Seoul-Tokyo)
UA 884 23APR NRTORD 2.20P/11.50A (Tokyo-Chicago)
UA 388 23APR ORDIAD 1.15P/4.12P (Chicago-Washington DC)
FARE USD 1773.51 TAX INCL

One week in Hong Kong is too much, because there is not that much to
see. You could reduce your stay to four days and spend more time in
other places or add one location (Xian or Guilin/Yangshuo by plane).
--

Alfred Molon

http://www.molon.de/Galleries.htm - Photos from Myanmar, Brunei,
Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, Egypt, Germany, Austria,
Prague, Budapest and Portugal

In HK, 5th April will be a public hoiday called Ching Ming Festival. In
traditional chinese philosophy/prediction, it will probably rain on that
day. It was true in the past although it's the moist and foggy spring here
in April anyhow. Maybe you can consider everything when you decide when to
visit HK as you can "predict" the weather here. FYI, the official website
showing past weather in HK: http://www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/pastwx/ywx2004.htm

What about:
Washington DC - Stopover in Tokyo for a week - HK (By UA)
HK- Shanghai (buy the airticket in HK)
Shanghai-Beijing (buy the airticket in HK or beijing or even by train if
you want to)
Beijing- Seoul (or Beijing - Washington DC via Toyko by UA)

Actually, I am not sure it's easy for you to sort out the travel stuff in
Beijing/Shanghai as I never visited there before. IMHO, i think it's good
to first visit HK so that you can buy all the airtickets easily in HK.
Also, when you return to Washington DC via Toyko, it would take lesser time
if you depart in Beijing or Seoul.

If you choose to visit Beijing and Shanghai first, maybe the airfare from
those cities to HK would be cheaper?

If you still want to visit Seoul, you can even consider buying a oneway air
ticket to Beijing/shanghai of Korean Airlines.

Here's a URL of a travel agency in HK and you can check the airfare of
recent flights for your information.
http://www.morningstar.com.hk/eng/packages/ep01.htm



"Giny" ¦b¶l¥ó
¤¤¼¶¼g...
Hello Srini,

The peak of Tokyo and Kyoto cherryblossoms is in the end of MARCH.
Usually Japanese sakura calendars mention 28th of March as the highlight-
date, but between 25 March and 3-5 April is usually good.

I have lived in Japan for 7 byears and never esaw cherry blossoms in Tokyo
or Kyoto after 10 April.

Giny
Amsterdam


schreef in bericht
oups.com...
Hi,

Any thoughts on this itinerary? I know that it is an ambitious schedule
with the number of cities involved. Only city that I am not sure about
is Seoul. I want feedback on the price and duration (am I better of
spending a day more in Shanghai as opposed to Hong Kong, etc.). Is Xian
worth visiting? If so, can I accommodate in this schedule (or, do I not
go to Seoul)? I am also thinking of advancing the trip by a week so
that I can be in Tokyo for the peak Cherry Blossoms. I am planning to
visit Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan. Is Mount Fuji worth visiting, if I am
not planning to climb it?

I plan to buy the tickets by next week. Your feedback is greatly
appreciated.
Srini

UA 851 01APR IADORD 9.45A/10.58A (Washington DC - Chicago)
UA 895 01APR ORDHKG 12.15P/6.05P 02APR (Chicago-Hong Kong)
KA 898 08APR HKGPVG 9.00A/11.15A (Hong Kong-Shanghai)
CA1590 12APR SHAPEK 8.55A/10.45A (Shanghai-Beijing)
KE 854 16APR PEKICN 7.55A/10.55A (Beijing-Seoul)
UA 800 16APR ICNNRT 12.05P/2.25P (Seoul-Tokyo)
UA 884 23APR NRTORD 2.20P/11.50A (Tokyo-Chicago)
UA 388 23APR ORDIAD 1.15P/4.12P (Chicago-Washington DC)
FARE USD 1773.51 TAX INCL

In HK, 5th April will be a public hoiday called Ching Ming Festival. In
traditional chinese philosophy/prediction, it will probably rain on that
day. It was true in the past although it's the moist and foggy spring here
in April anyhow. Maybe you can consider everything when you decide when to
visit HK as you can "predict" the weather here. FYI, the official website
showing past weather in HK: http://www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/pastwx/ywx2004.htm

What about:
Washington DC - Stopover in Tokyo for a week - HK (By UA)
HK- Shanghai (buy the airticket in HK)
Shanghai-Beijing (buy the airticket in HK or beijing or even by train if
you want to)
Beijing- Seoul (or Beijing - Washington DC via Toyko by UA)

Actually, I am not sure it's easy for you to sort out the travel stuff in
Beijing/Shanghai as I never visited there before. IMHO, i think it's good
to first visit HK so that you can buy all the airtickets easily in HK.
Also, when you return to Washington DC via Toyko, it would take lesser time
if you depart in Beijing or Seoul.

If you choose to visit Beijing and Shanghai first, maybe the airfare from
those cities to HK would be cheaper?

If you still want to visit Seoul, you can even consider buying a oneway air
ticket to Beijing/shanghai of Korean Airlines.

Here's a URL of a travel agency in HK and you can check the airfare of
recent flights for your information.
http://www.morningstar.com.hk/eng/packages/ep01.htm



"Giny" ¦b¶l¥ó
¤¤¼¶¼g...
Hello Srini,

The peak of Tokyo and Kyoto cherryblossoms is in the end of MARCH.
Usually Japanese sakura calendars mention 28th of March as the highlight-
date, but between 25 March and 3-5 April is usually good.

I have lived in Japan for 7 byears and never esaw cherry blossoms in Tokyo
or Kyoto after 10 April.

Giny
Amsterdam


schreef in bericht
oups.com...
Hi,

Any thoughts on this itinerary? I know that it is an ambitious schedule
with the number of cities involved. Only city that I am not sure about
is Seoul. I want feedback on the price and duration (am I better of
spending a day more in Shanghai as opposed to Hong Kong, etc.). Is Xian
worth visiting? If so, can I accommodate in this schedule (or, do I not
go to Seoul)? I am also thinking of advancing the trip by a week so
that I can be in Tokyo for the peak Cherry Blossoms. I am planning to
visit Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan. Is Mount Fuji worth visiting, if I am
not planning to climb it?

I plan to buy the tickets by next week. Your feedback is greatly
appreciated.
Srini

UA 851 01APR IADORD 9.45A/10.58A (Washington DC - Chicago)
UA 895 01APR ORDHKG 12.15P/6.05P 02APR (Chicago-Hong Kong)
KA 898 08APR HKGPVG 9.00A/11.15A (Hong Kong-Shanghai)
CA1590 12APR SHAPEK 8.55A/10.45A (Shanghai-Beijing)
KE 854 16APR PEKICN 7.55A/10.55A (Beijing-Seoul)
UA 800 16APR ICNNRT 12.05P/2.25P (Seoul-Tokyo)
UA 884 23APR NRTORD 2.20P/11.50A (Tokyo-Chicago)
UA 388 23APR ORDIAD 1.15P/4.12P (Chicago-Washington DC)
FARE USD 1773.51 TAX INCL

In HK, 5th April will be a public hoiday called Ching Ming Festival. In
traditional chinese philosophy/prediction, it will probably rain on that
day. It was true in the past although it's the moist and foggy spring here
in April anyhow. Maybe you can consider everything when you decide when to
visit HK as you can "predict" the weather here. FYI, the official website
showing past weather in HK: http://www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/pastwx/ywx2004.htm

What about:
Washington DC - Stopover in Tokyo for a week - HK (By UA)
HK- Shanghai (buy the airticket in HK)
Shanghai-Beijing (buy the airticket in HK or beijing or even by train if
you want to)
Beijing- Seoul (or Beijing - Washington DC via Toyko by UA)

Actually, I am not sure it's easy for you to sort out the travel stuff in
Beijing/Shanghai as I never visited there before. IMHO, i think it's good
to first visit HK so that you can buy all the airtickets easily in HK.
Also, when you return to Washington DC via Toyko, it would take lesser time
if you depart in Beijing or Seoul.

If you choose to visit Beijing and Shanghai first, maybe the airfare from
those cities to HK would be cheaper?

If you still want to visit Seoul, you can even consider buying a oneway air
ticket to Beijing/shanghai of Korean Airlines.

Here's a URL of a travel agency in HK and you can check the airfare of
recent flights for your information.
http://www.morningstar.com.hk/eng/packages/ep01.htm



"Giny" ¦b¶l¥ó
¤¤¼¶¼g...
Hello Srini,

The peak of Tokyo and Kyoto cherryblossoms is in the end of MARCH.
Usually Japanese sakura calendars mention 28th of March as the highlight-
date, but between 25 March and 3-5 April is usually good.

I have lived in Japan for 7 byears and never esaw cherry blossoms in Tokyo
or Kyoto after 10 April.

Giny
Amsterdam


schreef in bericht
oups.com...
Hi,

Any thoughts on this itinerary? I know that it is an ambitious schedule
with the number of cities involved. Only city that I am not sure about
is Seoul. I want feedback on the price and duration (am I better of
spending a day more in Shanghai as opposed to Hong Kong, etc.). Is Xian
worth visiting? If so, can I accommodate in this schedule (or, do I not
go to Seoul)? I am also thinking of advancing the trip by a week so
that I can be in Tokyo for the peak Cherry Blossoms. I am planning to
visit Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan. Is Mount Fuji worth visiting, if I am
not planning to climb it?

I plan to buy the tickets by next week. Your feedback is greatly
appreciated.
Srini

UA 851 01APR IADORD 9.45A/10.58A (Washington DC - Chicago)
UA 895 01APR ORDHKG 12.15P/6.05P 02APR (Chicago-Hong Kong)
KA 898 08APR HKGPVG 9.00A/11.15A (Hong Kong-Shanghai)
CA1590 12APR SHAPEK 8.55A/10.45A (Shanghai-Beijing)
KE 854 16APR PEKICN 7.55A/10.55A (Beijing-Seoul)
UA 800 16APR ICNNRT 12.05P/2.25P (Seoul-Tokyo)
UA 884 23APR NRTORD 2.20P/11.50A (Tokyo-Chicago)
UA 388 23APR ORDIAD 1.15P/4.12P (Chicago-Washington DC)
FARE USD 1773.51 TAX INCL

"One week in Hong Kong is too much, because there is not that much to
see."

There isn't much in the way of "sights" in the conventional sense, but
I personally really enjoy traditional market districts, and spent much
of my time in Hong Kong just exploring Hong Kong's markets and craft
shops, as well as its temples. But if those things don't interest
someone at all, then they would probably only need 4-5 days in Hong
Kong, or consider missing it entirely and spending more time in
mainland China.

"One week in Hong Kong is too much, because there is not that much to
see."

There isn't much in the way of "sights" in the conventional sense, but
I personally really enjoy traditional market districts, and spent much
of my time in Hong Kong just exploring Hong Kong's markets and craft
shops, as well as its temples. But if those things don't interest
someone at all, then they would probably only need 4-5 days in Hong
Kong, or consider missing it entirely and spending more time in
mainland China.

The hotels in Macao are also much cheaper during the week. From sunday
night through thursday night, you can stay in most of the four-star
hotels for around US $40.

The hotels in Macao are also much cheaper during the week. From sunday
night through thursday night, you can stay in most of the four-star
hotels for around US $40.

The hotels in Macao are also much cheaper during the week. From sunday
night through thursday night, you can stay in most of the four-star
hotels for around US $40.

Thanks for the responses. How about this:

( $1,476.31 )
11:15 am Depart Washington DC (IAD)
Arrive Tokyo (NRT) 3:20 pm +1 day Fri 18-Mar
Duration: 14hr 5mn United Airlines 9681

6:45 pm Depart Tokyo (NRT)
Arrive Hong Kong (HKG) 10:55 pm Sat 26-Mar
Duration: 5hr 10mn United Airlines 891

9:40 am Depart Hong Kong (HKG)
Arrive Shanghai (PVG) 11:50 am Wed 30-Mar
Duration: 2hr 10mn China Eastern Airlines 594

12:00 pm Depart Beijing (PEK)
Arrive Washington DC (IAD) 6:04 pm Sat 9-Apr
Duration: 19hr 4mn United Airlines 888 / 188
Connect in San Francisco (SFO)

This way:

1. It is cheaper
2. I get a direct flight from DC to Tokyo
3. I dont go to Seoul
4. I get to Japan early for Cherry blossoms
5. Shanghai to Beijing is flexible- I can take a train, go to Xian, etc.