Travel Journal (Blog) | Travel Journal Tamagotchi

Watch Out! When You Travel to Tibet

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Tamagotchi

Tibet is one of the difficult places to travel. The rules change all the time in a second and there are many restrictions.

When I tried to go to Tibet in 2008, just one week ( so they said ) before getting visa in Nepal, the Chinese government closed the door to Tibet. I was waiting for hours and hours at the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu, and finally when my turn came up, they told me they closed the border. They should post the note at the door, then I did not have to waste my day!

When finally I made it in 2010, tourists had to go with a group tour or hired a 4WD ( no choice ) , a driver and a guide. I thought a group tour would give me more freedom within a group than taking a private tour which I had to be with someone all the time but I was going to surprise my boyfriend who was climbing Mt. Everest from Tibet side, so I took latter choice. It was hard because I could not tell exact date until close to entry due to expedition progress. I studied the past records and checked expedition news online and weather. There were many rules once I got in, too. I could not stay at the base camp ( There is a tented camp for tourist. ) more than 2 days and only they allowed one hour at the entrance ofthe expedition team base camp. They did not allow tourists to go into the expedition team camp area. There was a little hill and we were not allowed to go beyond. I liked Tibet. The landscape was gorgeous and buildings & culture were very interesting but I was not happy with those rules.

Now 2012, all the sudden, the Chinese government told tour operators they need minimum 4 passengers from the same country on the tour, then next day, they require 5 passengers. I do not know what makes difference?? Many English-speaking adventure tour operators have multi national passengers and they had to cancel many tours or they had to tell some of the passengers they cannot join a tour. Most of the passengers with Exodus and Explore are usually British, so maybe it did not affect too much as other companies like Kumuka, G Adventures and Intrepid. But now, According to G Adventures’s Safety and Destination Updates below once again the Chinese government close the door to Tibet.

Here is the note on their site;

Tibet closure

Posted: 11 Jun, 2012 | Updated: 11 Jun, 2012

Recent developments in Tibet mean once more it is out of bounds for overseas visitors.

The Chinese have stepped up major crackdowns against suspected dissidents in Tibet. The Chinese tourism office has asked tour operators to stop taking foreign visitors to Tibet indefinitely.

We are not sure how long this indefinite crack down may last. We are looking at tours a month in advance of departure, and are reviewing their viability.

The following is a list of tours cancelled to date:

* ANRT120617
* ANRT120701
* ACTA120715
* ANRT120715

If you are on one of the above tours, we will be refunding all tour, hotel and transfer services booked with G Adventures. Airfares are subject to the conditions of the carrier and are not the responsibility of G Adventures.

If your tour is more than a month away, we ask you to hold tight, and we will be in touch with you soon.

This note is still on thier site. ( July 3 )

Especially when you plant to go to Tibet, you should have a trip cancellation & interruption insurance as well.

Posted in Asia, Border Crossing, Visa | Tagged Tibet | Leave a comment

How I Travel From Airport When I Travel Around The World

Posted on June 30, 2012 by Tamagotchi

Research, Share and ready for NEGOTIATION !!

The very first thing you need to do when you travel is to find out how to get the town or the hotel. You may not think about how important and how frustrate it can be when you are planning your trip.

I do not search or read too much about the places I want to visit for my own trip. I want to leave it to explore by myself and I look forward to surprise. But I do research how to get to the town, how to get around, average cost and map.

I still remember chaos outside of the Peru airport in the dark when I started backpacking outside of Japan and North America where you can easily take airport shuttle bus, public transportation or taxi and nobody bothers you. There were many people grabbing the fence from other side waiting for the business . Once you step out to their side, you will be surrounded by taxi drivers and hotel runners. The taxi driver may take you the place they can get commission from if you do not have a reservation. Sometimes I could not get the place I wanted to. I ended up arguing with a rickshaw driver in India.

Research

Research is important. It does not have to be exact. It is good to have an idea for negotiation. The more you know, the more you feel comfortable and confident. I go to the book store or library to check a couple guide books, search internet, and thanks to my work, sometimes I ask our local operators. If I need to take a taxi, I sometimes ask airport staff how much usually cost before getting out.

I ask other travellers to share a taxi to the town. Especially when I take a long distance bus, I will talk before getting off the bus. I found a group negotiation works better . This is not only saving money but also safety reason as a female solo traveller. You can also share a information about the accommodations. I go to the area where many cheap hotels are so that I can check it around. But I do not want to waste my time looking for the hotels, so I usually have a few lists.

Study and memorize the map is important

You want to look like a local and look confident, look you know where you are going. You do not want to be a primary target.

Knowing the way around gives you a peace of mind

I check where the airport, bus or train station is located in the city or area, so that I know which direction I need to go, East, West, North or South. Also it is good to know how long it takes. So far I never had any problem with the driver who took me to the wrong direction but I think I have a good sense of direction, actually I navigate a taxi driver in Cuba. He did not know the address. Thanks to technology, traveling is much easier nowadays. Google map is great. You can check what it looks like around the neighbour. Well, this case, I just use the map from the guide book which I made marked on where the Casa Particulares ( B&B ) is. ( I usually copy a few pages to save the space in my backpack. )

When you go to Nepal, the taxi driver makes turn from the big street and go into narrow neighbourhood. You may think they are taking to a wrong place and rob you. Don’t worry. That’s the short cut or the only way to get Tamel. Actually, I am not quite sure every time when I go to Nepal, they use that street for last 10+ years.

Time

If you like TV show- amazing race, you may remember the scene that somehow the taxi drivers like to fill the gas after picking up customers. It happened to me including the bus. So you should take this into consideration when you are timing.

Confirm price

Before getting a taxi, rickshaw or other private transportation, especially in India, I ask them to repeat the price. I should speak Hindu but many does not speak English and just shake their heads like a bobblehead doll. You cannot tell yes or no. They may change the price which also happened to me. I feel bad to argue for a little money but I do not like to be cheated or misunderstanding. So I think confirming the price out loud is fair for both of us.

Don’t show your wallet!

Another tip is I always separate money and put a little in my wallet. I prepare the amount I negotiate in my hand just before getting off. So they cannot see how much I have, if they do, I can say this is all I have.

This does not happen all the time but it is good to know and to prepare.

If you do not want to take risks, bother negotiation, handle any bad situation or your first time traveling abroad, taking adventures tour is an option. Especially grassroots style is good one if you want to have a little bit of challenge. They use local transportations and many are local tour leaders, so you can still get the sense of independent backpacking, visit the off the beaten path and you can learn how to travel. But all the hustle will be taken care of. It is nice to have somebody watch your bag when you need to go to the bathroom. Then also add the arrival airport transfer. After the long flight, you can just go straight to the hotel and spend time for sightseeing or just relax.

Posted in Adventure Travel, How to, Travel Tips | Tagged How to get around, travel from Airport | Leave a comment

Booking Tip for Chic Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Tamagotchi

We had a chance to go to Rosewood Hotel Georgia for hotel inspection and had a monthly meeting at 1927 – Lobby Lounge.

The lobby, rooms, food and service were amazing! Their ballroom is also very cute. The lobby is dark and black traditional looking but the ballroom is all white. The pefect place for wedding reception. They renovated and kept old charm as much as possible. The floor, clock and fireplace in the lobby are original. The rest of them are new but replicated. I went to hotel inspection before renovation about 8 years ago. The guest rooms were colorful and looked like Circus Circus in Las Vegas and it was 3 stars hotel. But now the rooms are so chic and much nicer. They reborn as 5 stars hotel.

They used to have around 300 rooms but now they have 156 rooms which means each rooms are bigger. But I thought a superior room looks smaller. Every room has a big bathroom with waterfall shower, deep bathtub and two separate sinks, though. Deluxe rooms are a little bit bigger with extra sofa. Maybe a big bed makes a room look small. Suites are specious with one bed room and a living room with dining table. Rosewood Suite is a penthouse suite with 2 bed rooms, specious living room and dining room. Also there is a roof top outside space looking down at art museum. Every rooms have an Nespresso coffee maker and Bose docking station !

Rosewood Hotel Georgia is located in the middle of downtown Vancouver. Pacific mall on one side, and Art museum on the other side. It is very convenient but the view from room is not nice. Only view you can enjoy will be Georgia street side.

So Booking Tip for Rosewood Hotel Georgia will be;

1. Get a room on Georgia side
2. Stay longer and book Deluxe room or higher to get 3rd night free

For example, when I checked the price in July with hotels.com Canada , Superior room cost $395 and Deluxe room cost $435. If you stay 3 nights, 3rd night is free, so each night comes down to $290 . Other 5 stars hotel in Vancouver, such as Shangri La room price starts from $395 and four seasons starts from $355.

Our agency are a member of Ensemble Travel Group. We can get free room up-grade. Which is nice, too.

I went to see four seasons hotel before. The rooms are chic but nothing special. I like Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Especially I like their Christmas season and piano bar. It’s very soothing. Le Soleil is French and Marie Antoinette like. Red and gold decor is kind of flashy but I love it. It’s not for everyday but if I spend lots of money on hotel room, then I’d like to stay something different from everyday life.

I like Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Le Soleil and Sutton hotel for rooms and good location for shopping and restaurants. But for the view of beautiful Vancouver, you should stay at hotel close to water front like Fairmont Water front, Fairmont Pacific Rim, Pan Pacific and Delta.