Talking Travel: Fly to the US for Under RMB 6,000

Steven Schwankert | Feb 18, 2014 11:00 am | 7 comments | 2897 reads

This week it's all tidbits, hopefully some of them will be useful to you.

Looks like Kempinski is not kidding around with its Yanqi Lake resort outside Beijing. They're recruiting 700 staff for 14 hotels, 14 restaurants, and other facilities including an 18-hole golf course. That's a bit more than a resort. This will be Kempinski's largest project in the world, and is likely to open this summer. The recruitment fair is Saturday, February 22, from 9am to 5pm. For more information visit Kempinski Jobs.

In Today's Talking Travel Truism: if you want Chinese tourists to patronize your business, try being friendly to them. A long article from Caixin Online looks at the Chinese travel experience in Europe, and how cultural differences may be diminishing its appeal for Chinese tourists. We'll save you the reading to simplify their suggestion: be nice.

Travelers who didn't go away for Spring Festival may notice that with very little fanfare, airfares to the US are pretty reasonable right now. Prices for March departures to the US east coast on United are running just under RMB 6,000. Flights to the US west coast on Delta can be had for just over RMB 5,500. Both of those fares include tax.

European airlines are also making a pre-spring push. Air France is offering its "Ready? Pack&Go" promotion to various European cities with fares as low as RMB 2,500. However, those fares don't include tax, and the taxes and fees push flights to Paris up to RMB 6,500 and makes flights to London to be about the same. Non merci.

British Airways? Same thing. What they're calling The Big British Invite for RMB 7,333. Gee mate, thanks for nothing. Have they visited the UK in March? They might want to spice up that invitation a bit. The high fees at Heathrow make it a bit clearer why there's a fuss over Air China flights to Gatwick.

For sun worshippers, not much good news. Thai Airways is offering the Loving Thai deal that includes no departure airports in China. Love you too, Thai. Garuda Indonesia is offering fares as low as RMB 2,050 roundtrip to Bali, but again, that doesn't include tax, so the fare is ultimately just under RMB 5,000. Their definition of "three months' advance purchase" is "July 5 and onward."

This edition of Talking Travel has thoroughly depressed me, so I'll wrap up here. Next week, I'll look at where you should buy your air tickets: travel agent, travel website, or from the airline itself. Until then, one road flat safe.

Photo: Steven Schwankert

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britomart's picture britomart Submitted by Guest on Tue, 02/18/2014 - 14:45

I have to agree with miclac1... I've been really embarrassed for Chinese who I see traveling abroad. Last summer, when visiting friends in NY, I stayed near Niagara Falls in a hotel which was occupied almost entirely by Chinese tour groups. I noticed very quickly that the hotel staff dreaded dealing with the Chinese patrons. The Chinese guests were not polite to the people manning the desk, were rude to the cleaning staff, and generally left their rooms trashed. (I had to change rooms three times because the first two rooms each had bed frames broken right down the middle, under the mattress, which meant I rolled into a trough when I went to bed; when I asked the front desk how in the world two rooms could have the same weird problem, they explained that the Chinese patrons treat the rooms/furniture pretty roughly. The staff is able to repair or remove most of the damage, but that frame/mattress problem wasn't something they'd have ever known about until a guest complained.)

The same lack of respect for others or others' property held true at every tourist site I saw Chinese tourists--not the same groups, all different groups. I pretty quickly learned that whenever I saw a Chinese tour group coming, whether at the Falls or at Fort Niagara or wherever, that I'd better clear out quickly or I'd have no hope of enjoying the site. They were loud, pushy, and paid no attention at all to warnings or restrictions. Not all of them, but the majority definitely behaved in a less than civilized manner.

I KNOW not all Chinese behave in that way; my close Chinese friends are polite, respectful of others, thoughtful... It's really unfortunate that so many Chinese tourists that give such a negative impression of their culture to the rest of the world. It seems that when I meet Chinese individuals traveling alone or with just one other person, they are much more considerate. Perhaps it's the tour group phenomenon that brings out the worst in Chinese tourists. Or is it that only the more uncivilized Chinese travel in tour groups?

Doubt wisely; in strange way / To stand inquiring right is not to stray; / To sleep, or run wrong, is. (Donne, Satire III)

charlesliu's picture charlesliu Submitted by Guest on Tue, 02/18/2014 - 14:39

miclac1 wrote:

If Chinese tourists wish people to "be nice" to them then maybe they should consider "being polite."

Considering that the source of that article is a media outlet devoted to money, perhaps this re-wording should be more suitable:

"...if you want Chinese tourists to patronize your business, try patronizing them first."

charlesliu's picture charlesliu Submitted by Guest on Tue, 02/18/2014 - 14:36

That's their homepage for Kempinski Jobs, and the one particular job event they are currently promoting is in Munich.

It does not appear a direct hyperlink will stick, instead bouncing the user back to a page with a drop down menu selection. Therefore, any parties interested in finding out more about this exciting opportunity should select "China" under "Region" in the dropbox, followed by "Yangqi Lake Kempinski Hotel China" under "Hotel". Huzzah! Happiness for you.

miclac1's picture miclac1 Submitted by Guest on Tue, 02/18/2014 - 11:49

If Chinese tourists wish people to "be nice" to them then maybe they should consider "being polite."

I have personally been pushed and shoved and had Chinese tourists cutting in line at the duty free in airports abroad, been in airport bathrooms where Chinese were smoking, and more. If they behave better than maybe people will be nicer to them.

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