Vacation Home Rentals

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Feb 15

A Guide to the Chinatown Bus

The word is out-the most cost-effective technique to get from one major U.S.  City to another is on the’Chinatown bus’.  Recently this has become transportation option of choice for budget travelers in the Big Apple, Washington DC, and Boston, and more lately on the West Coast.  Scholars, backpackers, and an array of other savvy travelers have long liked the rock bottom costs that these bus companies offer.  Notwithstanding the idolization of these bus lines it can still be tricky to find information on Chinatown bus service. 
What exactly is a’Chinatown Bus’?  Read on and you will have the inside track on this great budget travel option. 

Chinatown Bus history

The Chinatown bus phenomenon started in the late 1990s when a businessman in NY’s Chinatown started running daily bus service from Chinatown in the Big Apple to Chinatown in Boston.  The service was aimed at Asian immigrants who wished to shop or visit relatives in either town and needed inexpensive and convenient transportation.  The service was bare bones-no advertising, customer service, or bus stations.  Shoppers simply went to the bus stop, waited for the bus ( or wagon ), and paid the driver upon boarding.  For those ready to do without frills, they offered virtually the same service as traditional bus firms at a significantly lower cost.  Before long, the word spread and all categories of people started to use the service.  It became especially well liked by scholars, budget travelers, or people for whom the service was simply more convenient. 

soon more bus firms duplicated this model and started offering service in other towns.  Now you’ll be able to find this type of bus service in Philadelphia, Virginia, Baltimore Washington DC, L.  A.  , las vegas and San Francisco.  At this point the term’Chinatown bus’ is used more loosely to explain this kind of low-cost/low-frills service.  Many if not most, of the companies do not have Chinatown as their main location and may not serve the immigrant population at all .  These operators are also often referred to as’curbside’ operators. 

How can tickets be so cheap?

$15 between New York to Boston?  $25 from Vegas to Los Angeles?  It appears hard to fathom.  Chinatown bus corporations can keep costs low because they operate in a fundamentally different way from normal carriers.  Foremost, the service is very basic.  There’s not much in the way of client service or comforts.  Most of these operators don’t have formal stations, picking up passengers at bus stops instead.  They eschew traditional advertising in favour of recommendation by friends.  Further, lots of the operators play a very hands-on role in the operation-you won’t see idle operatives at a little independent bus company.  Finally, these operators make sure they fill their buses.  That is why Chinatown bus operators often only operate on heavily trafficked routes.  Indeed some companies only run buses at peak times.

Are they safe?

When these firms first started operating, concerns were raised about safety standards.  There’s still controversy within the bus industry about whether these newbies are complying with the same regulations as the standard firms. However a task force set up by the federal government to look at issues of safety revealed that Chinatown bus corporations didn’t perform good or bad than other kinds of bus firms ( ie.  Charter, tour buses ).  All bus companies operating in the U.S.  Must undergo the same inspection standards and must go along with the same rules.  Realistically there’s probably a selection of quality among Chinatown bus carriers.  Some are fly-by-night operators attempting to make a fast buck, while others are bonafide entrepreneurs who intend to grow and operate a long-term business. 

What you need to expect

• No frills service-the driver may be the ticket collector ; there won’t be a lot of purchaser service.
• Comfortable buses.  Despite the low fares buses are usually quite nice.  Most buses are comparable to Greyhound and many are really more deluxe.
• Communication challenges.  Drivers are legally required to communicate enough English to help passengers in the case of emergency.  In reality this is frequently sticked to rather loosely.  At the very least, expect your driver to have an accent.
• Possible delays.  Many of these bus routes are on highly congested roads.  When the roads are busy, expect delays.
• Rest stops.  Buses will have a can on board but there is customarily a 10 or 15 minute bathroom break on trips over 4 hours.  Don’t be late returning to the bus, the driver will not count heads before leaving at the allocated time.
• Full buses.  Buses definitely sell out at peak times ( weekends and evenings ).  Book ahead or get there early if you want secure a seat.
• Plastic Bags.  An odd small affectation on Chinatown buses is that every aisle seat generally has a plastic grocery bag tied to the arm.  I guess they find this is the best way to keep the buses clean.

How do I find the Chinatown Bus?

Again,’Chinatown bus’ is a term used to explain a sort of operator and not an individual bus company.  Many not related bus corporations fall into this class.  Since most Chinatown buses do not spend money on advertising it can be tough to find out details about schedules and bus stop locations.  Lots of the carriers are becoming savvier about the Internet and quite a few have websites with info.  Sometimes an internet search will yield links to bus service to your destination.  There are also several directories, such as chinatown-bus.org that include links for most Chinatown bus companies and the writer’s employer, GotoBus.com, is a centralized booking site that has schedules and sells tickets online for most Chinatown bus corporations. 

The Chinatown bus is not for everybody.  If you want an orderly system with American style customer service, you should likely stick to traditional carriers.  However if you know what to expect and come prepared with a feeling of adventure and humor, you must enjoy the trip fine.  You’ll also enjoy the money you save!

Enjoy traveling around the world? If you love to travel, check out famouswonders.com to see the most famous places around the world and also have a look at Shouxi Lake China.

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Aug 11

Planning to have some fun near your hotel in Beijing? Getting ready to wind down after a tiring day? Looking for one of a kind party experience to jazz up your stay in Beijing?

Then visit Sanlitun Street-the best place to pull in Beijing-with top bars, cafes, nightclubs and restaurants the city can possibly offer.

During the Beijing Olympics, swimming star Michael Phelps, soccer star Renaldhino, and movie star Vince Vaughn were among the many celebrities to make appearance at the bars here.

Known as ‘Sanlitun Bar Street’ among locals, this hot nightlife venue lies in the famous embassy area not far from Beijing’s east 3rd Ring Road. Every day from afternoon till late night, this bar street is overflowing with foreign tourists, expats, and locals who have excess energy to burn.

The street comprises two parts: Sanlitun North and Sanlitun South. Sanlitun North is where most bars are located, where you could rock until early morning. It’s not far fromthe 4 star Beijing Taiyue Suites Hotel.

This north part of the street is home to several dozen bars, most of have tables outside where customers can have a drink while enjoy the fresh air. The treat can be agreeable even in Beijing’s hot summer, because the dense trees keep you out of the sun and offer you only cool shade.

Most of the bars on the street offer liquor and beer from around the world to cater to an increasing number of international customers. Some even offer drinks from your hometown!

Despite this, many visitors to China fall in love with local draft beers such as Yangjing and Tsingtao, which are palatable and refreshing by anyone’s taste. Prices for these two beers go around 25 RMB (a little over $3 US), expensive by Beijing standards, but still cheaper than back home.

Another good spot to visit for drinks at low pricesis the bar at the Beijing Avic hotel.

At night, many bars stage live band performances, which soon bring the party to its climax. Party goers groove to beats from DJs or covers and originals by local bands, bartenders work magic as they pour your drink, and waitresses weave their way through tables to deliver your order. You might find the spirit slightly different from that back home, but with the good looking crowd and sexy ambience, who cares!

Of course, if you need quiet surroundings to have an intimate conversation with your loved one, you could find bars hidden in the alleyways offering just that. Lovely surroundings create cozy and romantic ambience.

Most of the bars offer salad, hamburgers, spaghetti, and soup, so you can have a quick dinner here. Otherwise, just go to Sanlitun South for a formal meal.

Sanlitun South gathers some of Beijing’s best restaurants for south Asian cuisines. A considerable number of ambassadors and diplomats are among the regular customers.

Ok, you know the street, now it’s time for you to set out to experience all the fun at firsthandJust don’t have so much drink that you can’t return to your Beijing hotel or miss your Great Wall tour the next morning!

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Aug 3

Beijing’s Confucius Temple, built for the great Chinese educator and philosopher, lies on the north side of the city, just a few minutes away from the 4 star Beijing Ningxia Hotel.

Each day there are people paying homage to the man who had altered the course of Chinese culture and history. And you won’t find yourself a better place to get to know China.

As soon as you step in this ancient sanctuary, you are sure to be astonished by the lushness of its trees. Many of them have been there since the time the temple was built, testifying to the reverence the Chinese hold to Confucius.

There 198 large stone tablets lie in rows on each side of the path that leads you to the main courtyard. The tablets bear the names of all 51,624 Jingshi scholars who passed the imperial exams throughout Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.

Having passed the world’s oldest civil service system, these scholars joined ancient China’s social elite. To became a Jingshi scholar and hold a government post, first one would have to pass various Confucian exams held in his home provinces. If they can succeed in these exams, they will enter the final and most important one – the exam to which to topic will be assigned by the emperor himself.

The chance of fail was high: Only one thousandth could pass the imperial exam, and the previous exams that brought one scholar to this point had already took him ten years. Still, more were coming to try their luck, for success in the imperial exam could mean wealth and honor of their family.

Just past the tablets, a huge gate stands at the entrance to the main courtyard. Under the gate are a Chinese drum and a bell. Throughout his life, Confucius had been a great advocate of harmony among people. But was the best tool to accomplish that? He suggested music, which allows one to achieve mental peace and makes him a true lover of harmony.

Once in the main courtyard, you will be immediately attracted by a large, old well. This isn’t any well; it got its name Yanshui from a Qing dynasty emperor. Legend has it that anyone who drinks water from this well will become quick-witted and pass their exams. Come here and you seem to be able to picture the crowd of hundreds of Jingshi-scholar wannabes who came for the special water, hoping it could help in passing the imperial exam.

The dominant building in the courtyard is Da Cheng Dian – Hall of Ultimate Accomplishment. This is the hall where people offer their reverence to Confucius. Various emperors had personally written tablets to Confucius to be hanged here. One written by Emperor Kangxi says: The Eternal Mentor.

Following a thousand-year-old imperial tradition, Emperor Kangxi offer sacrifices to Confucius every year. The emperor would chair a series of imperial rites with the height being a grand dance performed by 64 dancers. The dance was only performed to pay tribute to the most important imperial ancestors. Throughout Chinese history, few figures who were not royals enjoyed such an honor as Confucius did.

Also under the roof are shrines of accomplished Confucius disciples who had helped to bring Confucius doctrine to people in all around the country.

There are many prime hotels in Beijing nearthe Confucian temple, some only a few minutes away by walk. See some of the best hotels in Beijing here.