Travel Tips for China
After a few weeks in China, we've learned a great deal about this amazing country. Here are a few tips for navigating this behemoth of a nation with so much to see and do.
An overlook on top of Huangshan
China on the Cheap
We arrived in China almost two weeks ago. The country has made a good impression so far. This is actually our second trip to China, our first being five years ago to the south (from Hong Kong to the Yunnan). After five years, this behemoth of a country is advancing in leaps and bounds. Economic growth can be witnessed everywhere. At the same time, ancient culture and personal experiences await around every corner. After arriving in Beijing late in the evening, we found our hotel down one of Beijing’s many Hutong alleyways. These microcosms of Chinese culture, where locals live in close proximity to one another and share a tight-knit neighborhood, are slowly being torn apart and replaced with towering skyscrapers. Beijing as a whole is impressive. It’s huge and modern in some parts, but ancient and cultural in others. We visited Beihai park, where crowds perform Tai Chi in unison along the shore of an ancient lake with a modern skyline as a backdrop.
Somewhere in Thailand
Ten Cheap Travel Destinations in Southeast Asia
Asia, is large, and of course diverse. But when you move beyond the glitz and glamour of Hong Kong and Singapore you can find some of the least expensive and most inspiring travel destinations. We've compiled a list of what we think are the most interesting, and cheapest, destinations in eastern Asia.
Disney World, Cheap
Yes, it's true. Disney World can be done on a tight budget. Luckily for us, we live within driving distance of Orlando. It's a long drive, granted, but doable for us. We realize not everyone is geographically close, but driving may be a lot cheaper than flying. Depending on the size of your family and your willingness to spend the night at a cheap hotel along the way, you could save hundreds if not over a thousand dollars by driving. Cheap hotel rooms can be found all along the interstate, and the price of gas for a few days is probably cheaper than a plane ticket.