Best airport for getting to Shenzhen from US? HKIA or SZX?

[rdawson808]

Any opinions? It looks like I'll be at a conference in Shenzhen in late June and my secretary is trying to make travel arrangements.

One can fly directly into Shenzhen or can fly into Hong Kong and take a ferry to Shenzhen.

I've never been and it seems no one else around my office has either--this whole travel operation is f-ed up and it's pissing me off--so I'd appreciate any insight anyone has.

thanks,
b

 

[impolyt_one]

the answer is, do you want to be/need to be in Hong Kong too? There are probably better flights into HK anyway, and it's not exactly a long distance, you can travel overland easily as well.

 

[rdawson808]

No, no reason to be in HK. Just wondering if I do find a cheaper/better flight to HK it's worth it or too much of a pain **********. My conference hotel in Shenzhen does not appear to be in the downtown core. It's out by a lake.


thanks,
b

 

[beav3r]

Hi,

I think you should first check exactly where in Shenzhen are you headed. But I'd recommend flying into HK, and then take either the ferry, or one of those MPVs over to Shenzhen (some send you directly to your hotel, but you'd have to check with the counter).

 

[rdawson808]

Okay, more details are rolling in.

We will be at the Kylin Villa Hotel by the Xili Li lake (?).

And it looks like the best bet (for timing and price) is to fly into Hong Kong and take the ferry from HKIA to Shenzhen Fuyong ferry terminal and then get a cab to the hotel. Reverse the route to get home.

Does this sound about right? Hopefully someone has Shenzhen experience.


I cannot believe how little information anyone organizing this conference are able to provide us. It's like we're completely on our own. I'm used to conference organizers at least giving you directions on how to get from the airport to the conference hotel. Nothing here. Nice.


b

 

[globetrotter]

I've never flown directly in, always through HK, but that doesn't mean its the only way. good luck. buy a lot of bootleg movies.

 

[Joffrey]

Rdawson, correct me if I'm wrong but aren't you a government employee?

 

[rdawson808]



Rdawson, correct me if I'm wrong but aren't you a government employee?

That's correct.

 

[MikeDT]



Okay, more details are rolling in.
We will be at the Kylin Villa Hotel by the Xili Li lake (?).

It's in the Bao'an district, fairly close to Shenzhen Bao'an Airport..SZX, about 7km away.

And it looks like the best bet (for timing and price) is to fly into Hong Kong and take the ferry from HKIA to Shenzhen Fuyong ferry terminal and then get a cab to the hotel. Reverse the route to get home.
Does this sound about right? Hopefully someone has Shenzhen experience.

I'd fly directly to SZX, that's unless you actually want to visit HK or you've already set your literary. You can get a taxi from Shenzhen Airport, take you straight there, about 15-20 minutes. Make sure you take a regular licensed city taxi, and not some "black car" thing. Also make sure the bastard is using the taximeter, Chinese cabbies are notorious for ripping foreigners off. There may even be a hotel shuttle bus serving that resort.

I cannot believe how little information anyone organizing this conference are able to provide us. It's like we're completely on our own. I'm used to conference organizers at least giving you directions on how to get from the airport to the conference hotel. Nothing here. Nice.

Well this is China ..always best to do your own homework and research before starting out, especially when hotels are involved. BTW have you been to mainland China before?

FYI..
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g297415-d1203290-Reviews-Kylin_Villa-Shenzhen_Guangdong.html

 

[MikeDT]



I've never flown directly in, always through HK, but that doesn't mean its the only way. good luck. buy a lot of bootleg movies.

Not much point these days is there?...we just download them all from the internet. Buy a knock-off Rolex or something though.

 

[Joffrey]



That's correct.

So why the concern about cost?

 

[rdawson808]

Thanks guys.

MikeDT, I'll be flying into HK. It looks like right now flights into SZX are just too expensive. It sounds like it's easy enough to catch a cab from the Fuyong ferry terminal. And that's just 5 min from the SZX airport, I guess. I'll be sure to take a regulated cab and not an indie. And given my short stay, I think I'll be hanging at the hotel by the pool reading magazines until the conference starts. I have no energy to venture into a huge busy city (my medium-sized busy city is tiring me out these days). I get in one day, the next is registration and relaxation, day after that is my talk, then another day of the conference, then leave. In and out.

And, actually, the organization problems are from our end. Not my agency, I should note. We're in a support role as technical specialists who will go to meet with government officials and (in my case) give speeches at a conference.

And Joffrey, we only have so much money in the travel budget. Spending too much looks bad and in all seriousness means someone can't go somewhere else. Why spend a ton of money on this trip if it means 5 other trips can't be made. But we're getting the other agency to pay for my and a colleague's plane tickets and hotel rooms, so that's good. And the price difference is pretty huge from what my secretary tells me.

This whole pain in ****** better lead to invitations to speak in better places, like Copenhagen or Barcelona. That's my hope.

b

 

[az64q]

How much more is the flight difference, and is the price really that big of a factor? 10%? 20%?

Access from Hong Kong to Shenzhen is not a problem. You can get there by car, ferry, or train. But convenience is a different story. When you leave Hong Kong airport, you could be looking towards at least three intermediate modes of transportation to get to your destination in Shenzhen. You will be hauling whatever luggage and whoever else you brought with you. And you have to go through customs between HK and SZ (in addition to going through customs at the HK airport).

While it's doable, I wouldn't want to do it directly after an eighteen hour flight.

 

[globetrotter]

enjoy your trip

 

[rdawson808]

I'm not looking forward to the whole process. But flying into HK is set. But i have to say, the process looks really streamlined for taking the ferry. Airport, buy your ticket for the ferry, they get your baggage, when you get to the ferry terminal at Fuyong then you go through customs and immigration, etc. Taxi to hotel. Reverse the process, including checking in for the flight at the ferry terminal, when going home.

It'll be interesting. Thanks for your help guys.

b