Suggestions for travel to Guz?

[Cortr 3]

Going to be heading over in the next month or two for her interview -- waiting for P4 to arrive right now.

Seems that it's pretty difficult to get into Guangzhou from the Midwest (St Louis).

What is the best approach? I flew there last summer on Asiana from JFK, but it was like a 36 hour travel marathon -- though I loved the airline.

I know that flying into Hong Kong and taking the train is sometimes advised, but I'm a little leery of that since I'll be alone and can't read/speak enough of the local language to get anywhere if there's no English posted.

[BFHammer 0]

I go from DFW to San Fran to Shanghai - which is usually 19 hours including the layovers - that route should take off at least 10 hours to your trip.

[Matt&Cui 0]

NWA from Twin Cities, Detroit or any west coast city (LA,sanfran, portland, seattle) to Tokyo then on to Guz. American from Chicago to Shanghai. Best to search we are looking to go visit family in july and have found our best fair to be a korean air flight to soul then on to qingdao or beijing. Just takes alot of shopin around on the net which the wife is good at

[Darnell 8,478]

I like China Southern Airlines (CZ) from LAX (Los Angeles) to CAN (Guangzhou) - is straight flight - leaves around midnight, arrives at 6:50 AM local Guangzhou time

so you should be able to get to LAX, arrive no later than 9 PM LOCAL CALIFORNIA TIME (you gain some time, going west, from the midwest part o USA) -

who goes to LAX from your city?

Also - if you need cheap cheap cheap - the best way is to use 'asian' travel agents in the USA - we've some recent topics about this over at http://chinafamilyvisa.com - come visit?

Good Luck !

Edited March 26, 2010 by Darnell

[pushbrk 12,824]

I like China Southern Airlines (CZ) from LAX (Los Angeles) to CAN (Guangzhou) - is straight flight - leaves around midnight, arrives at 6:50 AM local Guangzhou time

so you should be able to get to LAX, arrive no later than 9 PM LOCAL CALIFORNIA TIME (you gain some time, going west, from the midwest part o USA) -

who goes to LAX from your city?

Also - if you need cheap cheap cheap - the best way is to use 'asian' travel agents in the USA - we've some recent topics about this over at http://chinafamilyvisa.com - come visit?

Good Luck !

Either of the last two suggestions are good though I've not used NWA, only China Southern. I much prefer CS over Air China. Might be a better chance of buying a last minute one-way home for your lady on CS as well.

[garfield529 47]

Southwest flies roundtrip to LAX from Lambert (STL)for about $300, so you just need to use Darnell's China Southern Airlines (CZ) from LAX (Los Angeles) to CAN (Guangzhou)and you are there.

[Eric & Jin 10]

I know that flying into Hong Kong and taking the train is sometimes advised, but I'm a little leery of that since I'll be alone and can't read/speak enough of the local language to get anywhere if there's no English posted.

Don't let the fact that you can't read/speak Chinese deter you from flying into HK and taking the train to GUZ if it will save you some money. All of the signs and announcements in the MTR & Train stations in Hong Kong are in both Chinese & English and just about everyone who works at the stations in HK speaks at least a bit of English. The train leaves from the Hong Hom station in HK and there are signs in English directing you to the desk where the tickets are sold and then to the departure platform. I have taken the train from HK to GUZ and vice versa several times and have never had a problem - it is really easy to do and the train ride is a good experience. There are 12 trains per day that run between HK & GUZ and the cost is about $25US.

[pushbrk 12,824]

Don't let the fact that you can't read/speak Chinese deter you from flying into HK and taking the train to GUZ if it will save you some money. All of the signs and announcements in the MTR & Train stations in Hong Kong are in both Chinese & English and just about everyone who works at the stations in HK speaks at least a bit of English. The train leaves from the Hong Hom station in HK and there are signs in English directing you to the desk where the tickets are sold and then to the departure platform. I have taken the train from HK to GUZ and vice versa several times and have never had a problem - it is really easy to do and the train ride is a good experience. There are 12 trains per day that run between HK & GUZ and the cost is about $25US.

My friend Steve, with no Chinese ability at all was able to navigate the Beijing Subways faster than my Chinese wife. I just don't like dealing with the luggage extra times but that's just me.

[clueless55 18]

Check flights into HK for both price, and flight duration. You can easily take the train, bus, and there even is supposed to be a ferry that goes to Guangzhou from HK.

You can also save money by flying into HK, and taking the ferry to the Shenzhen Airport. If you want to kill a day in HK on the way, book a flight from Shenzhen and buy the ferry ticket at any CTS office.

Flying to internal destinations in china from Shenzhen is much cheaper.

[Darnell 8,478]

So - what'd ya wind up doing?

Congratulations on the Approval !!!

[Me&Her 2]

I agree that if you can get to LAX, fly wih China Southern, direct flight to CAN. As the economic heading downward, United used to have a direct flight from SFO to CAN a few years back, but UAL decided to delay the flight (though I thought the flight has commenced after two years of delay).

As a foreigner (I assumed you are), you may want to be a bit mindful at the train station in China, particularly in GUZ. I am a native and I still don't feel confortable, or safe in any mainland's train station. Hope this help!

[jackc 0]

booked Cathay pacific one way flight couple days ago for next month trip, Portland - Vancouver - HK - GUZ ~ $900

very expensive. and the seats are pretty much all taken.

Edited May 12, 2010 by jackc

[Cortr 3]

I did Chicago to Seoul to Guz on Asiana. The direct flight from LA was tempting but the times didn't work as well, and I got FF miles with united doing it this way.

[Darnell 8,478]

Cortr - Cool ! IMO - one of the 'tradeoffs' with flying on CZ, is that I'm really losing 2 days in transit - other than that, I Love Going on CZ from LAX to CAN.