Travel tips

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Hi Everyone,

We're in for an adventure. You've heard quite a bit from us and from the three past participants, Heather, Judy, and Frank about what you should bring, what not to bring, how to prepare, etc. Obviously, each person has his/her own comfort zone and preferences (to karaoke or not to karaoke:-D) but there are some things that are pretty universal. Here's a list of what we thought you should bring or not bring:

THINGS TO BRING

•Lightweight clothing (that you don’t necessarily need to iron)
women: we suggest skirts and dresses for convenience
men: we suggest khaki shorts or lightweight breathable pants
•Travel laundry detergent
•VERY comfortable walking shoes (if you can walk all day in flip flops, this is fine)
•One fairly presentable outfit – high heels or patent leather shoes are not necessary
•A sweater for heavily air-conditioned buildings/buses
•Sunblock
•Sunglasses
•Hat or umbrella for sun protection
•Travel tissue or toilet paper
•Hand sanitizer
•Insect repellant
•Any prescription medications you use and enough to last the entire trip
•Any over-the-counter medications (cold, flu, Imodium, allergies, etc.) you prefer as the brands you are used to may not necessarily be available for purchase in China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan
•Women: bring your own feminine products – really
•Contact lens solution for the duration of the trip
•Shampoo/soap/conditioner – there may be a few hotels that may not supply these so bring a travel sized supply
•Hairdryer – if you absolutely need one – some hotels may not have these, so you might want to bring a small travel sized one from home

WHAT NOT TO BRING

•Halter tops, tube tops, sheer tops, etc – unless you plan on putting a sweater on over it
•Daisy dukes and mini-skirts
•Shirts with controversial logos/slogans/pictures
•Avoid denim – it gets hot and doesn’t dry fast enough
•Too much luggage! You will need to carry your own luggage wherever we go
Please note: If there is a baggage check fee anywhere we travel, you will be responsible for paying the fee.

As Frank said, use your common sense and best judgement while on the trip. Three weeks together is a lot of time, especially given the intensity of the trip. Nerves get frayed, patience gets tested. But if everyone does their best to stay positive and go-with-the-flow, we’ll all have a wonderful time.

See you all in a few months!
Linda

[Anonymous]

Thanks Linda!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the list Linda!!! 😀

[Anonymous]

Sweet! Thank you. 8)

[Anonymous]

Thank you Linda for the info.

[Anonymous]

Cell phone use

If you have an iPhone or other similar device, you can add the Skype app. This will allow you to text and call other people with Skype whenever you find wifi, at no charge!

[Anonymous]

Enjoy comfortable seats?

United Airlines offers "Economy Plus" seats. It offers 5 more inches of leg room.
To me, this makes a big difference on long international flights. It's also closer towards the front of the cabin which seems a bit more comfortable compared to the back.
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1314,00.html

If you want to "upgrade" to Economy Plus, log onto UAL's website, enter your Confirmation number/name and select "Travel Options" You'll have to pay a slight fee to upgrade, SFO to Beijing was $120. (As of last night, there were many seats available on our outbound flight).

See all of you in July!
Joe

[Anonymous]

P.S. - you can do the same ("upgrade" to Economy Plus seats for a fee) on your return flight too.

[Anonymous]

Do you have your confirmation number?

[Anonymous]

Your confirmation number (combo of six digits and letters) should be in the flight itinerary Venus sent you.

[Anonymous]

All Fantastic Ideas... and let's not forget Travel Adapters/Chargers 😀

[Anonymous]

Whats the cost of iphone use in China or is only the Skype charges for international service.
Mike

[clay dube]

Hi Mike,

You can pay a fee to AT&T to be able to use your iPhone there. The costs are high (a monthly surcharge of something like $6, plus per minute charges), but it is the most convenient option. I used an AT&T phone in China last fall without any problems (one advantage, you keep your number, one disadvantage -- you keep your number, which means that if someone in China calls you it is an international call for them). Skype might work, but you'd need to have an international or China data plan to cover the connection fee.

In early May Linda and I were in Shanghai. I tried to get that same phone unlocked (legal, since my service contract had long since expired and I was no longer even an AT&T customer). The phone wizards at a cell phone palace in Shanghai were unable to make it happen. If you do have an unlocked GSM phone, you can simply buy a SIM card which will have a local phone number (calls from the use will need to use 011-86 ahead of your cell number). The per minute charge is about 1 yuan for calls within China and 8 yuan for international calls.

How are we doing on our Chinese yuan, Taiwan NT$ and Hong Kong $ exchange rates? Are you ready to do that math in your head?

We will have two phones on the trip and will probably also have the guide's phone numbers as well. We will also give you the hotel phone/fax numbers once everything is confirmed. In most cases, this is plenty to share with family who might need to contact you in an emergency. IT IS NOT NECESSARY to bring your phone or to buy a phone in China.

PS - Unlocked means to be released from a single network.

[Anonymous]

REI is having a great sale on travel bags...fyi. I bought two last week (one for this trip). I hope it's still going on. If you aren't a member, become a member because members get 20% off any reg. price bag. There are sales for non-members too!

[Anonymous]

Thanks Priya! Was just there yesterday picking up some things from their big sale. They do have good quality items.

[Author]

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