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Post by Nate M on Jul 8, 2005 11:13:52 GMT 7
...and by good I mean cheap. Just a decent 2 or so star hotel. I'm not particularly picky, I just want a place where the cockroaches are small enough to stamp with your foot. Preferably less than 250 a night or so. All I can seem to find on most travel sites are 4 and 5 stars, and thus out of my budget range. Any recommendations?
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Post by Jollyjunklass on Jul 8, 2005 11:33:20 GMT 7
Be honest here please, are there cockroaches in apartments over there, all apartments?
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Post by Mr Nobody on Jul 8, 2005 11:42:42 GMT 7
Yes, but it is ok, they are the friendly kind. They want to eat breakfast, watch tv and even shower with you. They try to make friends with you. Maybe even cuddle up to you late at night.
Yes, there are roaches here, but hardly ever see them, though. Funny, the girlie has no fear of most crawley things including spiders, but goes into screaming fits with roaches. Hah.
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Post by Nate M on Jul 8, 2005 11:43:58 GMT 7
Yes, some places have cockroaches. No, not all. Personally, I don't have any, although I get plenty of mosquitos as well as a baby lizard. He/She/It eats the mosquitos, though, and tends to stay in the same place more or less, so I'm not too bothered by it's presence.
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Post by Mr Nobody on Jul 8, 2005 12:09:30 GMT 7
The first half of my post was a wind-up.
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Post by Nate M on Jul 8, 2005 12:14:19 GMT 7
Take your wind-up thingies elsewhere, punk!
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Post by George61 on Jul 8, 2005 12:20:40 GMT 7
ARLIS!! Nate wants your assistance.
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Post by Mr Nobody on Jul 8, 2005 12:36:13 GMT 7
I am not a punk, I am a hippy, can't you tell by the haircut? I am a chaos hippy, not the peace, love drugs kind, tho.
All them protest songs were too whiney for me.
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Post by Jollyjunklass on Jul 8, 2005 12:43:16 GMT 7
Spiders don't bug me one bit but I can't take cockroaches.
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Post by Lotus Eater on Jul 8, 2005 13:02:21 GMT 7
Millana - depends on where you go whether there are cockroaches. There are more down south and near the coast - more humidity. There are downsides to warmth you know!!  Mr N. - yo shure does have a big mouf on yo.  |
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Post by Arlis on Jul 8, 2005 13:30:53 GMT 7
I'm on it, checking out some hotels at the moment. There are a couple for under 250, but I'm looking for a place that's actually in a decent part of town. Most of the cheap ones are around the long-distance train station where you'll be getting off. Most of the places you'll be visiting though will be 15kuai away by cab. Not too bad, but I'm looking for a more central place around Hong Kong Middle Rd. This is the place to be in Qingdao. PS. hahaha... it seems that due to that week being the real start to the summer holidays many hotels have jumped up prices and are fully booked. haha haha umm...   Let me try a few other places - ever considered staying at a university dorm perhaps? Can be cheap as, not many roaches, working shower and toilet. |
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Post by Raoul Duke on Jul 8, 2005 22:17:07 GMT 7
Thanks, Arlis, for getting this incredibly prematurely hijacked thread back on track... Nate, it's been a few years since I visited Qingdao, but we had no trouble finding a rather nice 3-star Chinese hotel in Qingdao at a very reasonable price even over the National Day holiday. If I recall right, we just had a taxi driver take us to one of his choice. Arlis, if you're in Qingdao, would you please be so kind as to start a thread about it over in the Cities Info area? I can add a bit but my knowledge of QD is pretty superficial. Millana, I've briefly had one apartment (in Beijing) that had awful cockroaches. There were roaches in the refrigerator in this place! Most apartments have had a few occasional roaches. My last few apartments have had none at all. Older funkier buildings in older funkier neighborhoods will inevitably have a few. But I have never noticed roaches being any more of a problem here than anywhere else...other than the case of that horrible Beijing place. One must be wary of roaches anywhere in the world. They can sneak up and devour the "New Thread" button right off of one's computer screen!  |
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Post by acjade on Jul 8, 2005 22:36:00 GMT 7
Not had any cockies since taking up residence in the middle kingdom. What a pity!
But no spiders either. I think the flock of sparrows nesting under the awnings are eating the insects. Did find a ladybird last week on Daniella's rock. It must have been suicidal. I picked her up and took her downstairs to rethink her options in the bowers of the crepe-myrtle trees.
Back to the thread. No sorry Nate. I don't know but I'll ask When and How tomorrow after his College English exam. He'll have a friend of a relative who will know these things. They've come through for me in the past. That is if you don't mind being the only Western face in the joint. You won't get a western breakfast menu either. It will be a spread like you've never seen served at breakfast and have only eaten at midday or dinner. You can start and finish with rice congee though. It's included in the cost of the room. (I've never paid more then 150 for a double)
The other thing about these places is people won't stare at you the way do on the street in those places still foreigner challenged. You will need to pay for the room up front. The desk clerks aren't used to westerners and the fright (well hidden) makes them want to examine every peice of paper you have on you and, to protect their asses, get the money upfront. Most of which is refunded by the way when you check out.
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Post by Arlis on Jul 9, 2005 19:45:39 GMT 7
Academic Jade's method is probably the cheapest way (maybe besides a uni dorm). I'm currently still trying to find a hostel here in Qingdao as another option but haven't found one yet.
The prices I've seen are high, but as per Raoul's experience if you actually approach the hotel and speak to them you'll have a better chance of bringing down the price than the exorbitant ones currently listed on advertisements.
Sorry Nate, I can't really speak a lick of Chinese so I can't ring the hotels and ask for price. The only one who will have someone who can answer in english will be out of your budget. But I'll provide a list of hotels for you before you go. As Raoul said though, if you don't mind rocking up to the front desk and asking you won't have any problems as Qingdao has a plethora of them. Just remember to bargain.
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Post by con's fly is open on Jul 9, 2005 21:20:25 GMT 7
My province at hime has neither roaches nor rats, and my hometown has precious few skeeters (unless you're right by the river). Since coming to China, I've been in the company of 6-legged critters everywhere, and I have me a new attitude:
Do you want to dine on me? Then DIE! No? Okay, stay out of my way.
The roaches here have,on the whole, good manners. Occasionally one gets right into my area and I squish him for his effrontery. Otherwise, I either seal off my food or get what I deserve.
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Post by Nate M on Jul 10, 2005 21:05:22 GMT 7
Thanks for all the help, everyone. AJ, I'd definately be willing to look into what your student knows about. I'd also be willing to stay in a university dorm/hotel. Do you know of any, Arlis, that are fairly close to some of the main attractions?
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Post by acjade on Jul 10, 2005 21:41:06 GMT 7
When and How has rung his auntie. I'll post you as soon as the details come through. How's your Chinese?
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Post by Nate M on Jul 11, 2005 6:35:00 GMT 7
My Chinese is pretty terrible, but I can get by. If needs be, I can use some friends as translators over the phone if needs be.
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Post by acjade on Jul 11, 2005 8:28:57 GMT 7
Okay. When and How will be here after his exams this arvo so I'll post his advise straight away.  |
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Post by ilunga on Jul 13, 2005 23:16:44 GMT 7
San Ju Fu hotel on Changchun lu (off weihai lu). 80RMB a night. All mod-cons. I'm there tonight. Would definitely recommend it.
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Post by MK on Jul 14, 2005 11:00:23 GMT 7
80 a night!!!
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