Where to Stay in Kobe (神戸) For Your First Epic Visit to Japan
It is written that Kobe, Japan is only worth a day trip visit from Osaka and Kyoto.
I say how dare they. Have they ever visited Sannomiya?
The magnificent port city of Kobe, in its own right, is a city that deserves at least several overnight stays. And on this post, I’ll explain why Sannomiya is the best area to stay in Kobe along with a couple of affordable hotels I’ve stayed in.
Not long ago, I visited a full week in Kobe moving around three neighborhoods and staying in three different hotels. From my experience Kobe hotels are a lot more affordable than larger cities within the Kansai region of Japan.
Especially while I was in Sannomiya and discovered the reasons why it’s such a perfect location. It’s the center of Kobe and a major public transportation hub.
Kobe is a Fantastic Jump Point to Visit Other Prefectures of Japan’s Kansai Region
Most travelers make the choice of staying in Osaka or Kyoto first. And then visit nearby cities like Nara, Kobe, and Himeji which is the furthest city from the rest mentioned. That’s not a bad choice, Osaka is also a great city to visit for a first-time trip to Japan.
Instead, I’m making the case that Kobe is a great city as a base to explore other parts of Japan’s Kansai region. Especially when you don’t have a lot of time.
This is especially true when you’re flying out of Kansai International Airport (KIX). Traveling from Kobe to KIX is fast and affordable. From central Kobe where we were staying, it only took us one hour to reach Kansai International Airport.
If you stay in Sannomiya you won’t have a hard time traveling or rushing to the airport since it is so near.
Ferris wheel at Kobe harborland…
5 Reasons Why Kobe is Such a Great City to Check Out for Your First Visit in Japan
Kobe is located in Hyogo prefecture in Kansai region. It only takes a 20 to 30 minutes train ride (depending on the train line) to Osaka and train fares cost 300 yen to 400 yen.
Kobe hotels are more affordable compared to Osaka and Kyoto. And way more affordable compared to Tokyo. Below is a selection of fine affordable family family-friendly hotels I recommend.
Kobe is a historic city where many foreigners used to live in the Kitano-cho (北野町, Kitanochō) district. You’ll certainly enjoy the city’s history and natural beauty starting with Mount Rokko to Sorakuen Garden and on to Arima Onsen for hot springs. There’s more to see along Nankinmachi (南京町), Kobe’s own little Chinatown. There are plenty of sights and attractions in Kobe to round out an amazing vacation in Japan.
Kobe beef. Need I say more?
It only takes roughly one hour to travel between Kobe and Kansai International Airport.
Best Way to Travel to Kobe from Kansai International Airport And Back
Yes, it only takes 1 hour to travel from Kobe to KIX airport and vice versa. Here’s a post I wrote about traveling from central Kobe to KIX airport using the convenient Bay Shuttle. There are photos with directions on that post that will help you navigate and find the right area to catch the shuttle boat to the KIX.
A short 30 minute ride from on ferry shuttle from Kobe Airport to Kansai International Airport (KIX)
Bay Shuttle Kobe-Kansai Airport Fare 2023:
Adults 1880 yen (one way) – 3060 yen (round trip) Children ages 6 – 11 940 yen (one way) – 1530 yen (round trip)
But great news! While I was looking up the current fare price for Kobe-Kansai Airport Bay Shuttle. I saw a big discount for tickets.
Discounted Fare for Foreign Tourists Until March 31st, 2024:
Adults 500 yen (one way) Children ages 6-11 250 yen ( one way)
To reserve your fares and check the ferry schedule take a look at their website, credit cards are accepted. This is a special deal only available to foreign tourists.
This is the biggest discount I’ve ever seen…
But here’s a heads up. Japan’s typhoon season starts end of August to early September. So you’ll want to check the weather forecast or plan around this time to avoid travel delays.
How to Get to the Bay Shuttle from Kobe’s Sannomiya Station
At JR Sannomiya Station look for signs near the east gate leading to Kobe Portliner Sannomiya Station. Adult fare is only 330 yen and the ride. Look for the train heading to Kobe Airport which is the terminal station. The ride only takes 20 minutes.
Portliner Station is where you catch the train to the bay shuttle ferry at Kobe airport…The Kobe Portliner train is located at the east gate. You will see plenty of signs leading to the station…
Now that you know the reasons why I think you should stay longer in Kobe for your first epic visit to Japan, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. You’re home away from home.
My 4 Favorite Hotels Are located in Kobe’s Chuo Ward in Sannomiya
All the hotels I recommend in Sannomiya are close to 6 train stations:
JR / Sannomiya station
Hankyu Railway / Kobe-Sannomiya station
Hanshin Railway / Kobe-Sannomiya station
Kobe Port Liner / Sannomiya station
Kobe Subway Seishin-Yamate line / Sannomiya station
Kobe Subway Kaigan line / Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae station
With so many train stations you can easily catch one for day trips around the Kansai regions. I used the JR train to visit Himeji for a day.
Plus Nearby Things to See and Do in Kobe
Sannomiya, the center of Kobe’s city
Meriken Park is located on the bay of Kobe with its signature iconic red, cylindrical 108-meter-high Port Tower
Kobe Harborland has a seaport shopping center right next to Meiken Park. If traveling with young children check out Anpanman Children’s Museum & Mall.
Kobe Maritime Museum also located within Meriken Park
Nanking Machi is Kobe’s vibrant Chinatown
My Favorite Hotels in Sannomiya
Sannomiya is the heart of Kobe City. It is divided into two areas, north and south which is conveniently divided by Sannoymiya Station.
Hotels in South Sannomiya from my experience is where you’ll find the most budget-friendly hotels in Kobe.
My recommended hotels all have free internet wi-fi as most hotels in this day and age should. And it’s fast with easy connection. I chose a few of these mostly because of the larger-than-average Japanese hotel room sizes.
Except for the capsule hotel which was mainly done out of fun and experience. Overall, my pick of these four hotels in Sannomiya will ensure you have a comfortable, enjoyable stay.
The rates I provided are based on season. And also two persons per room, except for the capsule hotel of course.
the b KobeKobe Capsule Hotel SekiAPA Hotel – Kobe SannomiyaHotel Villa Fontaine
1. the b Kobe Hotel – $75USD (Check rates and read reviews on agoda.com) This is the first hotel I’ve ever stayed in for my first trip to Kobe. And I’ve been back ever since. The reason is simple. Their rooms are larger than the average Japanese hotel room. With 14 sq. meters of space, my wife and I can stay in comfort without bumping into our luggage.
2. Kobe Capsule Hotel Seki – $30USD (Check rates and read reviews on agoda.com) What kind of Kobe hotel review will this be if I don’t include one of Japan’s famous capsule-style hotels? I stayed here while I was traveling solo a few years back. It’s fun, comfortable and clean. Most importantly cheap. A while ago it was converted into men’s only capsule hotel.
3. APA Hotel Kobe Sannomiya – $75USD (Check rates and reviews on agoda.com) I always rave about the APA chain of business classed hotels. This is my go-to hotel option whenever I’m in Japan and I don’t know which hotel to stay in. This particular APA hotel has a buffet breakfast option that costs $10USD extra. Which is a very good deal.
4. Hotel Villa Fontaine – $65USD (Check rates and read reviews on agoda.com) I stayed at this hotel because all of my favorite budget hotels in Kobe were either fully booked or didn’t have double rooms to share with my wife. But when I got my room here I was totally happy. A superior double room is 18 sq. meters. Hotel Villa Fontaine is very popular today and one of the best affordable hotels in Kobe with terrific reviews.
Half Day Trip to Two of Bangkok’s Nearest Tourist Attractions – Damnoen Saduak and Maeklong Market
Finally, I went somewhere in Thailand I’d thought I’d never visit. It was a half day tour of Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (ตลาดน้ำดำเนินสะดวก ราชบุรี) and Maeklong Railway Train Marketa.k.a. Umbrella Pulldown Market (ตลาดร่มหุบ).
It’s a perfect combination as a short day trip coming from Bangkok, especially when you’re in the city for a few days. And it was a self-guided tour with good friends, so that’s the main reason why I went.
Because I always tell everyone that Thailand is an amazing country with many beautiful scenery and natural attractions.
But when I mentioned to my Thai friends that I went to Damnoen Saduak, they shook their heads and asked, “Why would you go there?”
Two old vendors selling decorative fans at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Thailand…
Unfortunately it’s because Damnoen Saduak Float Market has a reputation as one Thailand’s biggest tourist traps. I’ve never been.
So I can’t say that it is, or it isn’t.
There’s only one way to find out and that’s to go!
You’ve seen attractive photos of foreigners gently rowed down a river surrounded by friendly vendors selling fresh fruit, souvenir tchotchke and way overpriced coconut water. That’s what people are afraid of, getting overcharged.
Damnoen Saduak Floating River Market is widely advertised as one of the must see side trips from Bangkok. But it’s got that tourist trap stigma that’s hard to shake. And that’s something I’ve known ever since I first traveled to Thailand. And the main reason why I stayed away for so long.
7 Quick Tips About Visiting Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
River tour boats can fit 6 adult passengers.
There’s not really a best time to visit this market in my opinion. If you want to see more tourists and more activity than visit between 8am and 10am. I got there at 11am when activity started winding down. But there were still many tourists and shop vendors by the canal still open.
Life vests are available on request.
Make sure you ask for boats with a roof or umbrella to protect from rain and sun. My wife and I got wet from rain because our boat had no umbrellas.
Don’t hold onto the sides of the boats. Boat drivers get very close to piers and if you’re holding the sides of the boat you’ll hurt your fingers.
There are paddle boats and motor boats for hire. Please choose the paddle boats. It’s environmentally friendlier.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market has no entrance fee. Just putting it out there in case someone asks for money.
Visiting Damnoen Saduak was Inevitable – With a Side Visit to Maeklong Railway Train Market
As fate will have it, a very good family friend was coming over to Bangkok from Hong Kong. She and her friends wanted to visit Damnoen Saduak and also Maeklong Railway Train Market for a half-day tour.
She’s been to Thailand dozens of times so she’s a seasoned traveler in this country. And she and her friends were curious enough to check both markets. And me too I have to admit.
I was particularly looking forward to seeing Maeklong Railway Train Market. I’ve seen dozens of videos of a big, slow lumbering train passing through an active market. Right before shop vendors quickly, yet casually, pull and roll their goods away from the path of the train. So I was really looking forward to making a video of the train passing through.
I Have to Admit, I Was Excited to Go
My mission, if I choose to accept it, is to locate a local driver, where I and my wife will be the tour guides. Mission accepted. It’s on, it’s on like Donkey Kong.
I was presented with a chance to visit and write and share it all here. And I must say, I was extremely curious as to what would happen. I mean I already knew there’s a distinct possibility that we’re going to get over-charged for something. What that something will be, I don’t know.
There’s only one way to find out.
Getting to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Maeklong Railway Train Market from Bangkok
Both well known markets are about 100 kilometers southwest of Bangkok. And an hour and a half drive from central Bangkok. Or if you have a crazy van driver with a death wish around forty five minutes with no traffic.
We hired a local Thai driver familiar with the roads of Ratchaburi province where the river market is located. And also Samut Sakhon province where the train market is located.
By car, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Maeklong Railway Train Market is a short 30 to 45 minutes away from each other. Which is why both stopes make a very good half day to full day trip combo.
Cost of hiring a private driver is 3000THB. Here’s what it includes:
Driving from 9am to 7pm. After 7pm the driver gets an additional 300THB per hour counted as over-time.
Tollway fees
Fuel costs included. Usually when you hire a private driver you have to pay to cover the cost of fuel, so this is normal.
There were seven of us in total, so split that with 3000THB the price came out to 430THB per head. Which is an exceptional value for a private driver. He could only speak a little bit of English but not a problem. My wife and I could do all the translating.
Meeting at 9am Sharp
My wife and I left our house at 7:30am. But of course we got there 30 minutes late. Which isn’t so bad considering the horrific traffic we had to go through.
Our plan was to meet at the hotel my friends were staying at. That’s also where our driver will be waiting. He arrived an hour early. My friends were staying in Siam Square which is a perfect jumping point to both destinations.
Once we got to their hotel we quickly jumped into the van and off we went. Our plan was to make the first stop at the floating market because it’s more active in the mornings.
Also we knew there will be a train running through Maeklong Railway Market at 2:30pm. You can find a train schedule below where I go into detail. So we would have plenty of time to explore Damnoen Saduak first.
This is near one of the entrance. This photo was taken around after 11am and as you can see, the river is not so crowded…
First Stop, Damnoen Saduak Floating River Market
It took us one hour and thirty minutes to reach the floating market. It was a weekday and driving out of Bangkok at that time meant less vehicles on the road but still had pockets of congestion at certain points. And our driver wasn’t a speed freak so that was good.
He also knew a lot of road short cuts which made the trip quicker. Which made up the time where we got stuck in traffic. This is one of the reasons why it’s better to hire a local driver familiar with the area. Google maps is good and effective in Thailand. But not as effective as a driver that really knows the area.
When we got close to the area around Damnoen Saduak we found out there were numerous side boat entrances. But we decided to stop off at the main entrance, use the toilet and then take a short walk around, before checking out prices for tour boats.
First Impressions
Along the canal there are many shops selling souvenirs. Okay, really the first thought that came to my mind was, who buys all of this stuff? There were large pieces of Thai style home ornaments and decorations. Large paintings of fish and animal carvings.
Granted there were t-shirts, keychains, sun hats, umbrellas and sunscreen could sell well. But I couldn’t really see anyone buying large carvings of wooden elephants out in the middle of nowhere and lugging it back to their hotels.
Most of the market is situated along the side of canals. We saw boats selling grilled pork but those were all near the entrance. But as you travel further down the canal we didn’t see any boats selling anything at all.
There’s food and drinks all around which are priced higher than usual. Which is to be expected. But we’re not here for shopping. We’re here to check out the prices for tour boats and hopefully find out the real cost of hiring a boat to tour around Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
My friend from Hong Kong stated that her friend previously paid 3000THB for two persons to tour the river. That price does not include the cost of transportation to the market. A 3000THB price tag in itself is highly suspicious.
Time to Ask Prices for Boat Rides
When you’re touring Thailand, bargaining is a national pastime. Yes, even Thais do it when they travel. And believe me, locals do not get preferential pricing treatment at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
My friends and I took a step back and let my Thai wife do the talking. We only found two boat tour desks.
The first tour desk we approached quoted a price of 100THB per head for a one hour tour of the river. Wow, that wasn’t so bad.
Second tour desk we asked quoted us 150THB per head for one hour ride also. But they’ll take us to some type of “special” place where we can taste some “special” local drinks.
Okay the prices weren’t so bad. It was a hell of a lot better than paying 3000THB for a wooden boat. And we already knew where to go to save 50THB so we went back to the first tour boat desk. Or did we? Yeah I know, 50THB is such a small difference.
Problem with self guided tour is you don’t know what’s the real price for anything…
Talking in Circles
Here’s where things get a little tricky. The first desk that quoted us 100THB now told us the boat ride is for 30 minutes. And that 150THB is the new price for 1 hour trip.
There was another lady who seemed to be the one in charge at a different desk at a souvenir shop that changed the price to 150THB. Granted 50THB extra per person isn’t too much to complain about. I mean, we’re already there so we might as well go through with the tour.
A day later though my wife spoke to her mother and she also said she paid 150THB for a 1 hour river ride. So, I guess that’s the normal price. So I suspect the 100THB was just a lure to hook customers away from competitors. That’s just playing dirty.
But they know what they’re doing. Because we’re there already.
The Real Price of River Boats Tours at Damnoen Saduak
So my friends and I paid 150THB per head. But I checked around on google and read people paid 1000THB per person. But their tours were 2 hours long. We paid 150THB for 1 hour. Like I mentioned already, my friend mentioned her friend paid 3000THB for an hour tour for two persons.
The issue is, there’s no standardized rates nor tour itinerary at Damnoen Saduak. The prices depend on who’s taking you there. Could even be the driver or a hired guide taking a cut. Plus there are tour operators claiming they provide more value for the money. Thus the higher prices.
Our driver never accompanied us and stayed with the van the whole time while we were out. So we can’t suspect him of bumping up our price.
Which makes me think that the real price for a 1 hour boat ride is 150THB at Damnoen Saduak.
Onwards to the Tour
There are lots of boats with tourists coming and going and it was in the middle of the afternoon. The mornings would’ve been a lot worst I was told because that’s when most visitors from tour buses arrive. So we got in at a perfect time.
We hired a paddle boat which moved surprisingly fast through the canal. Sadly, the water isn’t too clean. Tourism has certainly taken its toll. So please take care of your trash.
Once you hop on that boat and start taking selfies, the boat driver will immediately park you near market stalls along the river.
Which you should expect. It’s a floating market after all. But it’s full of souvenirs and things you probably don’t want taking up space in your home. I honestly didn’t see other tourists buy anything at all. Like almost everything today, you’ll find it cheaper on Amazon.com with free shipping.
Even then, it’s quite nice to glide down a quiet narrow river even though there are vendors just staring at you while hoping you’d buy something. Thankfully, the vendors keep to themselves and never pushed things in our faces.
Usually the boat driver will just hang out at vendors for a minute before moving along to the next area.
Lunch on a River
Since we left our home early in the morning we only had time to grab coffee. So my wife and I were both hungry and waited until we could find some food vendors on the river. And we couldn’t find any.
Later on, we found a stall by the canal selling a variety of food, including paintings of nature and wood carvings of current pop culture figures.
This was actually quite a tasty styrofoam plate of chicken fried rice…
My wife ordered a bowl of noodles with pork. And I opted for a plate of fried rice with chicken. Before our hungry brains realized there were no prices on the menus. That’s a bad sign. My wife asked how much for both items including one bottle of water.
The food vendor just smiled and said one moment. One moment of calculating the price is not a problem to answer a customer. But no answer came.
Double the price of Bangkok for a bowl of noodles with pork. But it’s to be expected…
It was only until our food came out that we were given the price. The total came out to 160THB. So in Thailand that is expensive for an outside food vendor. It’s twice what you’d pay for at a hawker stand in Bangkok.
But it’s certainly a price that a Thai tourist would balk at. And that’s the reason why there are no prices on the food menus. They don’t want to scare away customers that know better. To be fair, all tourist attractions all over the world charge expensive prices for food.
Just take a look at Disney Land for example. Or have you ever bought a bottle of water in Central Park in New York City? Absolutely expensive.
My wife and I didn’t freak out about the prices. Only thing is she didn’t like her bowl of noodles. But my chicken fried rice was good and tasty and a decent sized portion with fresh ingredients. I’d buy another plate.
I think they should just put prices on their menus. There will be customers that find those food prices reasonable.
A Souvenir Shop Stop is Inevitable
Whether you want to or not a boat driver will take you to a souvenir shop. It’s also a rest area so if you have to use the toilet it’s the place to go do your business. You’re not obligated to buy anything at all but if I had a choice I’d just tell the boatsman to take us somewhere else.
Our boat driver dropped us off at this souvenir and rest stop for 15 minutes…
So expect a short trip to a souvenir shop, it’s standard procedure.
After spending fifteen minutes or so browsing at things we would never buy we called for our boat. It was time to head back and just when we did, it started drizzling lightly. Five minutes later it turned into full on rain.
There are roofs that hang out over market stalls that provided cover. But at certain points there are none so if it’s really pouring you’ll get a good drenching.
Back on Dry Land
After we got off our tour boat there was a huge downpour. We quickly ran back to our awaiting van where our driver took us to a really good spot for seafood lunch.
Overall, it’s great now that I can say, yes, I’ve been to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. It’s one thing I can cross off my check list.
And if you are deciding to visit Damnoen Saduak Floating River Market, you too will know what to expect. But I know it’s not easy for most to make this a self guided tour. Especially when there’s a language barrier.
Second Stop, Maeklong Railway Train Market
With our belly’s full from enjoying a seafood restaurant recommended by our driver we made our way to Maeklong Railway Train Market.
I have to admit, this was one place I was really looking forward to seeing. I’ve watched dozens of videos of such markets with trains passing through. I wanted to take an old Go Pro camera and place it in the center of one of the tracks.
Below is my video:
Maeklong is a fully functional local wet and dry market, with an emphasis on local. Thais come here to buy groceries at cheaper than supermarket prices.
There’s fresh fish, all sorts of butchered meat, fresh vegetables and fruits for them to shop for. And the local folks don’t mind us tourists taking selfies in their shopping space. They’re even nice enough to warn folks to not stand too close to the tracks as the train approaches.
There are lots of durian sellers pushing their stinky, spikey fruit at this market. But to be honest, you’re better off going to Aor Tor Gor Market because that’s where you’ll find the best Durian in Bangkok.
Maeklong Railway Train Market Schedule
The local market opens 7 days a week from 6:20am to 5:40pm. Which is the same time the trains operate.
Arrival:
8:30am
11:10am
2:30pm
5:40pm
Departure:
6:20am
9:00am
11:30am
3:30pm
To explain the schedule further, don’t worry too much about the departure time, unless you’re planning to take ride on the train.
If you’re coming to Maeklong Market to see the train passing through, focus on the Arrival hours. We got to the market at 2pm to wait for the 2:30pm train.
The train arrived slightly ahead of schedule. In any case, get there at least 30 minutes before scheduled arrival so you can pick a nice spot to snap them photos.
Above is a train schedule chart I found inside a local coffee shop with an incredibly super friendly café owner. I wrote an article about opening coffee shops in Thailand and this owner has the perfect location. You can enjoy a drink while waiting for the train to come by.
If You Must Visit Damnoen Saduak & Maeklong Market – Look For a Reputable Tour Agency
If you’re looking for day trip recommendations from Bangkok, Damnoen Saduak and Maeklong Markets are really good side trip options. But I know it’s really difficult for foreign visitors to do self-guided tours in Thailand.
And finding a handsome funny guy like me to be your local guide will be difficult.
Okay, kidding aside, I know most travelers don’t want the hassle of doing a self tour where it’s a challenge to organize everything on your own. And organized day trip tours around Bangkok are inexpensive.
Going on an Personal Tour is the Best Way to Visit Both Markets
However, you want to find a tour agency that won’t charge funny fees or ask for money after you’ve paid for everything up front already.
Which is why I recommend TakeMeTour.com that is really popular in Thailand. They have local experts that can take you to all the locations I wrote about on this post. A TakeMeTour local guide will pick you up from your hotel or a meeting point.
Local tour experts will show you around the way only a local can. And when tours over they’ll take you back to where they met you.
After the train passed it was safe for a selfie…
The Final Verdict
I must say, I had a good time and fun! I really did even though I dreaded traveling to tourist trap destinations. But I can say from my own personal experience that Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is not a tourist trap. Sure, the food and souvenirs are overprice.
If those two reasons alone are sufficient to classify Damnoen Saduak a tourist trap then you have to lump Disney Land and Universal Studios also.
It definitely helps when you’re traveling with good friends. I might even recommend it to all of my Thai friends that wouldn’t even want to go near there.
I enjoyed my time so much that if another friend came over to Thailand and wanted to visit both markets as a day trip and asked me to join, I’d go. Without hesitation.
Most importantly was the experiences I gained from visiting Damnoen Saduak and Maeklong markets that I think are perfect day trip tours coming from Bangkok.
It’s been a long while since I’ve written a hotel review in Thailand. So I’m super excited to share my experience staying at AWA Resort Koh Chang.
My wife and I were planning to drive from Bangkok to Koh Chang for a week. And her friend from the island said she has this great recommendation of a 4 star hotel right on Kai Bae Beach. She said we definitely needed to check out AWA Resort.
It’s located on the south end of Kai Bae Beach which means it’ll be a lot quieter. And we do enjoy our quiet. Plus her recommendations were never wrong so far.
She was the one that told us about Emerald Cove Koh Chang which I reviewed a few years back. And she wasn’t wrong then so she knew we would like definitely love AWA Resort.
This is a view you get from AWA Resort’s lobby.
I also did my own research and found lots of positive reviews on the internet. So I booked a deluxe room on Agoda.com website for 3 nights at AWA Resort. We went there during late March, which was still high season. We paid $80USD per night which included breakfast. And thats not a bad price for a four star beach hotel on Koh Chang.
Remember to Book a Room on the Main Property
I want to add that if you want a room with a gorgeous view of the hotel’s swimming pool or the beach, then DO NOT book a room on the hillside. You see, AWA Resort has an annex building across the road where the hotel’s car park is also located. It’s not a far walk and the hillside room has a beautiful garden.
But if you’re going to stay at resort on the beach. Then you might as well stay on the beach side. Even then while checking prices recently, hillside rooms at the AWA Resort are only slightly cheaper than rooms on beach side. Pay a little more and you’ll stay at a better part of AWA Resort.
Kai Bae Beach at AWA Resort
The resort is located right on the southern end of Kai Bae beach. Which is on the west side of Koh Chang island. During my three day stay at AWA I enjoyed swimming at this beach. You have to go down some steps to get to the water.
Every time I get into the water in certain beaches I hate stepping on sharp rocks and coral. Good news is at AWA Resort I didn’t have that problem. There is a reef further ahead where you can do snorkeling. But overall I didn’t come across jagged rocks. I’ve got sensitive feet so it’s a legitimate complaint.
Amazing Architecture
When you step inside for the very first time through the doors of AWA Resort your jaws will drop. The hotel’s lobby is really high. The walls are white with Chinese motifs throughout. It’s a very beautiful hotel with so much open space.
While checking in we were given a welcome drink, which is a nice touch. We also got a huge basket of fruit! Just joking. Though you can help yourself. I did and the staff never minded. Just leave some for other guests.
I just couldn’t help but get good vibes about staying at this amazing resort in Koh Chang. I’m a hotel exploring fanatic and could not wait to see our room.
There’s a subtle Chinese theme throughout. Chinese porcelain and paintings decorate AWA Resort
Our Deluxe Room at AWA Resort Koh Chang
We booked a deluxe room for $80 USD per night. Which included breakfast. We were shown our room which was on the fourth floor. We passed by some rooms on the ground floor that have easier access to the swimming pools. Next time we stay at AWA we should definitely see if we can get those rooms.
I’m sure it’ll cost more but I’m curious to see how much more.
Here’s my only gripe, there’s a big wall but the flatscreen television is tiny compared to the overall space.
A spacious balcony to hang out
With an incredible view of the swimming pool and beach ahead
We were so impressed with our deluxe room at AWA Resort. It was about 50 square meters with this big bathroom, complete with a bath tub. There were also complimentary bath salts to give yourself a spa treatment. I did every single night before bed. Heaven I tell you.
Everything you needed for a perfect stay was inside. Some beach towels, bathrobes, an electronic safe, coffee and tea maker and a refrigerator with complimentary water. Every evening housekeeping, knocks on guest doors with tiny Thai dessert to hand out.
Don’t you think that televisions too small for that wall?
One of the biggest bathrooms I’ve seen for deluxe hotel room
There’s free Wi-Fi and it worked well even though my room was a little far from the router. Yes, I do check. As a digital nomad I always check and see how many routers there are near where ever I stay. Judging from what I saw on the floor I stayed on I think every guest room should get proper internet coverage.
You know I always thought the mattress at home is the best. Until I went around staying at different 4 and 5 star hotels. AWA Resort mattress was really comfortable. And the pillows were so soft it cradled my head like a fluffy cloud.
Besides the small flat screen television, another thing that bothered me was the amount of lighting inside the room. The brightest light source was the reading light by the bed. But the light on the desk was really dim. Maybe it’s a way to dissuade guests from working?
If so, it worked.
Breakfast Time
If you booked a room with breakfast, serving time starts 7:00am to 10:30am. It’s a buffet breakfast and it’s served in a cool looking restaurant called the Spoon that overlooks Kai Bae beach.
The Spoon has these super high ceilings just like the lobby. Though it only seats 120 inside. But no worries, theres plenty of tables and seats at The Sala, which is another on-site restaurant serving Thai food.
My wife and I had our breakfast at the Spoon the entire time we stayed there. And we certainly enjoyed all the food served inside. They’ll make pancakes and waffles fresh. There’s an egg station too. And of course a section with Thai breakfast with noodles and porridge.
I also noticed there are numerous kitchen staff from the Philippines. Because Filipinos can speak English fluently and I suppose management brought them on board to take care of English speaking tourists. Good move AWA.
You can also enjoy breakfast near this beach. But it’ll be a short walk.
AWA Resort Koh Chang is an amazing hotel. Can you believe it’s priced under $100USD. For us ordinary humans that’s reasonable. As of writing I see a beachfront room for $75USD a night with taxes included on Agoda.com. That’s cheaper then when I booked in March and it’s a better room.
I’ve stayed at several hotels around Kai Bae Beach in Koh Chang and I have to say, AWA Resort is the best, in terms of quality, service and price.
So you want to start an E-commerce business, eh? Maybe you’re making some decent bank from the drop shipping biz. And now you want a direct link to a Chinese factory for maximum profits. Even if your goal is to open a physical store selling products, you must come to the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China.
China’s Canton Fair Buyer’s Guide
Finding the latest fad products and jumping in before the craze hits the fan starts with a visit to Canton Fair in Guangzhou. Before you begin your new business venture, I’ll share tips on what to expect when dealing with Chinese suppliers and vendors inside one of China’s largest business expos.
Today practically everything you’ve interacted with, especially wearing was manufactured, or at least a part of it was made in the People’s Republic of China. From medical, health, and beauty products, agricultural, clothes, and especially those crazy little fidget spinners that made America’s kids go insane over a few years ago.
Fidget Spinners – Every single one of these were manufactured in China
If you had a steady supply of fidget spinners at that time you would’ve made some cash. And that’s what most entrepreneurs today want to replicate. Finding that one viral product consumers will eat up and pay ridiculous amounts of money for.
Yes, so that’s the idea. Meeting and rubbing shoulders with factories that produce products for cheap so you can line your pockets with big profits.
But… it’s not that simple. Well, it is and it isn’t. Luck plays into this in my experience. Which I’ll get into later below.
But first here are some reasons why you should go to Canton Fair to find factories for your desired niche products.
Canton Fair Is Where You Should Go
Whether you’re planning to start an E-Commerce business or sell from a physical store, Canton Fair is a great place to start sourcing products to stock your warehouse or store shelves.
It doesn’t matter what country you are in. The fact is any market selling shoes, stuffed animals, and local souvenirs was made in Chinese factories. Even 90% of the products sold in Bangkok’s Sampeng Wholesale Market came from China. Because many Chinese Thais have retained ties with family members in China.
Canton Fair, also known as China Import and Export Fair was founded in 1957 by the Chinese government. Twice a year in Spring (mid-April to early May) and Autumn (mid-October to early November) approximately 200,000 buyers from 210 nations converge on the grounds of Canton Fair to find out what’s new, hip, and chic to sell and make hefty profits on the market.
There are 150,000 exhibits spanning 16 industries during the Canton Fair to meet, greet, and gather information on trending items with the potential to go viral, like fidget spinners.
With so many buyers and sellers converging on one space, Canton Fair is broken up into three phases, with each phase lasting four days:
Phase 1
Electronics, lighting equipment, vehicles & spare parts, machinery, hardware & tools, construction materials, chemical products, and energy resources.
Phase 2
Consumer goods, gifts, and home decorations.
Phase 3
Textiles and garments, shoes, office supplies, cases and bags, recreation products, food, health products, and medical devices.
You’re probably super psyched about visiting Canton Fair to make some deals. But first, you’ll need a China Visa on your passport.
Traveling to Guangzhou, China for Canton Fair (A China Visa Might Be Required)
Depending on your passport you may need a China travel visa. Because I’m an American citizen with a US passport I needed one. I detailed my experience in applying for a China Visa in Bangkok, Thailand where I live most of the year.
Good news if you have a US passport you can apply for a multiple-entry visa with a 10-year expiration. This is great because I will be planning to visit the Canton Fair once a year. If I had to apply individually for each visit I’d have to pay 5060 Thai Baht each time I want to travel to China.
It is important to remember, that when you register as a buyer to attend the Canton Fair, you should receive an electronic invitation letter which is a good idea to take with you when applying. Bringing a copy of this invitation letter when handing in your visa application could make your China visa process smoother.
Because you will see on your China Visa application there are questions asking where you will be going or what you will be doing in China during your entire stay.
The Language
The only real obstacle however will be language. English is not widely spoken even in most service industry providers in Guangzhou. Most restaurants do not have menus in English.
Guangzhou’s metro subway train station is entirely in English including announced stops.
If you need to get somewhere by taxi make sure you have the address written down in Chinese.
While at Canton Fair rest assured everyone inside the exhibit booths can converse and write English.
In any case, have your Google Translate app ready for action. Better yet download the WeChat App. Every single vendor inside uses this app. There is even a nifty built-in translate-to-Chinese function.
Here’s a video of my 4 day stay in Guangzhou while attending the Canton Fair in late October through early November 2018:
1. Best Area to Stay in Guangzhou for Canton Fair
Yuexiu District
From my experience, if you want to stay in an area that is easy to travel to Canton Fairgrounds it is best to stay in Yuexiu District.
Personally, I stayed at Nomo Beijing Road A Jiedang MIX International Apartments and yeah, it’s got a long name. But the location is perfect. We were right inside a shopping center full of restaurants plus this subway station Gongyuanqian 公园前 in the lower levels. It can’t get any better than that.
You can check out more Yuexiu Hotels in Guangzhou on Agoda.com which is the same hotel website I used to search for discounts.
I’m looking at this from a business and a tourist viewpoint. Might as well go sightseeing in Guangzhou while making deals at Canton Fair, right?
And, the hotel is just north of the Yuexiu district and easy to reach by taxi which is what we used because we arrived in the city late and left for the airport early in the morning.
I could’ve used the subway trains to get to Baiyun International Airport but the Guangzhou Metro Stations open from 6 am until about 11:30 pm.
My wife and I enjoyed our sightseeing side trip. We went walking around and visited tourist attractions. And, the food in Guangzhou is awesome. It’s the kind of food I grew up eating like dim sum in New York City’s Chinatown or Hong Kong.
Even Western food is surprisingly yummy.
Might as well fill up on good food from restaurants around the Yuexiu district. Because even though there’s a cafeteria-type area inside Canton Fair my wife and I really didn’t find what was offered there too appetizing. But that’s just us.
Now that you know where to stay to enjoy the city of Guangzhou let’s jump into what you’re here for, which is doing business inside Canton Fair.
Wheeling and Dealing at Canton Fair
Before heading to Canton Fair you register online to get a buyer’s badge. It’s free and simple to navigate through the online application forms. You will need to send a front-facing profile photo and business card.
You can register on the premises of Canton Fair if you wish but I believe there is a small fee. And possibly a waiting line. Besides, I highly recommend registering online because you can get an invitation letter to make it easier on your China visa process.
The first day I went to Canton Fair I took a public taxi. My wife and I just did a little bit of sightseeing so we were not near a train station. Since there were so many public taxis driving around we decided to try it out.
I just showed the driver my buyer’s badge which had Canton Fair written in Chinese so he knew where I wanted to go. Guangzhou taxi drivers should not have any problems at all finding Canton Fair. It’s a big deal event that happens twice a year in Guangzhou so there’s no reason at all they wouldn’t know where it is. The metered fare came out to about 70RMB ($10USD) for 8 kilometers. Which is a reasonable price.
We took a subway train back to our hotel because I wanted to try it out. I mentioned there was a station right beneath our hotel too. It is insanely cheap, just 5RMB which is .70 cents US. Just bear in mind Guangzhou Metro train fares are priced on distance.
3. Tips on Finding and Meeting the Right Sellers for Your Products
Currently, I am selling different products manufactured in China. One of the items is ladies’ shoes. 60% of the shoes are made in China, whether it is fake or genuine. I’ll be using ladies’ shoes as a product example.
When you get to Canton Fair you will be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of sellers occupying exhibit booths. We certainly were. Many are elaborately decorated booths and some are modestly designed. All have wall-to-wall displays of shoe samples they have produced.
All the salespeople can speak English, some more fluently than others. Since we were selling ladies’ shoes to the Thai market we had to find a style that suited the style choices of Thai women.
China manufactures half of the world’s shoesMany shoe exhibition booths are small and others are largeYou can pick colors and designs at the exhibition booths of Canton FairRemember to take a photo with any seller you are planning to buy from
You will be speaking with lots and lots of salespeople because in the shoe section alone at Canton Fair there were hundreds of exhibit booths lining up and down the massive convention hall.
So have a notebook in hand to take down information. But most importantly staple the business cards of companies you’ve spoken with to said notebook. Even better download the WeChat app, which is China’s very own messaging app, and take down their contact information. On top of that, take photos of salespeople including the exhibit booth so you and they can remember who you spoke with.
4. Price Negotiating Like a Pro and Understanding MOQ
Remember this little three-letter acronym MOQ. It means Minimum Order Quantity. It means exactly what it sounds. Every seller you consequently speak with has a MOQ. And every seller you will encounter has a varying MOQ number. The prices they quote are in US dollars.
For example, this would’ve been our first time attempt at ordering shoes so we didn’t want to order too many ladies’ shoes to handle.
We were only looking to purchase an initial order of 1000 pairs of high-heeled ladies’ shoes. Which is a very, very small order in the world of shoe industry in China. Obviously, sellers want buyers to order as much as they can.
We did find many sellers with too high of an MOQ. But don’t sweat it, there are so many sellers you are bound to find one that fits your MOQ as long as it’s reasonable.
But the fact is, most people attending the Canton Fair are folks like you and I. My wife and I didn’t want to commit ourselves to a huge order. We just wanted a thousand pairs of ladies’ shoes to test the market back in Thailand. The women’s shoe business in Thailand is very competitive.
Chances are, whatever you are planning to manufacture in China and sell in your home country you don’t want to order a massive amount too. It will take some digging to find a seller willing to deal with small orders.
Three Tips to Remember Inside Canton Fair
The first thing you should never do is lock down a deal with the first exhibit booth. No matter how nice or friendly the salespeople are. Even if they’re giving out unlimited donuts. Just kidding.
Make it clear you are walking around and checking prices. If a salesperson knows you’re browsing for prices they may try and offer the best price they can give. But even then, try and talk it down as much as you can. You’d be surprised.
Chances are you will not be dealing directly with a manufacturer, but instead some sort of manufacturing broker. A middle company.
Okay, that third tip deserves some explanation. Believe me, it was a real revelation for me also.
This was something I suspected while speaking with the sellers on the side. And was confirmed with a family member who does business in Guangzhou and is sorta of kinda business broker herself in China.
I’ll explain from the start. You see, Guangzhou is a modern metropolis as I mentioned. It’s not exactly littered with factories spitting out gadgets, clothes, and, picture frames. Where Chinese workers toil long hours in sweaty factories.
That happens inside factories located in cities on the edge of Guangzhou. Like Shenzen, Foshan, Huizhou, Zhuhai, and so on.
There are many cities surrounding Guangzhou doing most of the actual manufacturing work
Guangzhou is also a convenient place for foreigners to connect with Chinese manufacturers, or at least with Chinese companies with connections to Chinese factories. Because there’s an airport in the city, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Guangzhou has a suitable and adequate hospitality infrastructure to handle foreign visitors comfortably.
And Guangzhou has a lot of office structures where middle companies have showrooms where buyers can go visit. We visited the company we used to put in our shoe orders. They picked us up from our hotel. And when we were finished finalizing our shoe order the owner was nice enough to drive us to a mall where we could do some shopping.
Don’t Be Shocked to Find Out You’re Dealing With Middle Companies – There Are Advantages
In essence, you’ll be dealing with middlemen companies that take orders from foreign buyers to factories surrounding Guangzhou. These middlemen companies deal with multiple factories. So they’ll take your order and shop around for factories fitting your price criteria as well as theirs.
I’m not saying this is true for every single industry represented at Canton Fair.
For my instance, it wouldn’t make sense for shoe factories to spend money on renting a space, spend money on decorating and designing a booth. Hiring people to sell. Break everything down at the end of the convention and ship everything back to their headquarters. That’s a lot of unnecessary work. Factory owners rather sit back and have middlemen bring orders to them.
I didn’t mind dealing with a middle company. Sure, they cut into your profits. But again, in my instance, there’s a big chance a shoe factory would not accept my small order. A broker could take my order, bundle it with all the other orders, and thus be able to present it to a factory for preferred pricing.
In the end, it’s a win-win situation where I’m satisfied with the price and quality of my shoe order.
Wrapping It All Up
Guangzhou is an amazing modern city and one of the largest three in China. I could’ve squeezed in the old cliche about the old and the new. But really, Guangzhou is a city intertwined with the old and the new! What can I say that no one else has said already?
There are modern buildings, modern subway trains with English signs and announcement stops, with modern buses. Above all this is how you know when a city has reached a level of peak sophistication. And that is the amount of Starbucks. There are so many Starbucks Café in Guangzhou that if you threw a rock you’d hit two Starbucks.
It’s an ideal location for hosting the Canton Fair. Remember to pre-register. Pick a hotel in the Yuexiu district. Don’t worry too much if you’re not dealing with a factory directly. Figure out the price you are willing to pay and the amount of products you can handle. Don’t remember to factor in the price for shipping freight. And grab some dim sum at a restaurant in Guangzhou and enjoy your trip.
I’ve never been to China before. So my first ever trip to Guangzhou (广州市), China is a milestone for me. If this will be your first trip to Guangzhou too I’m going to show you what you can expect through my experiences. From traveling to Guangzhou Baiyun international airport to Guangzhou’s city center at night and eating.
So the city of Guangzhou is 119 mile from Hong Kong in Southern China. It’s a city known for mass producing most of the products you’re wearing and using at this very moment. Which is why my wife and I was also going to the 124th Canton Fair for business. Nonetheless, I was super excited for my first ever visit to Guangzhou, China.
And it’ll be a special trip. Because my parents were originally from Guangzhou before immigrating to the USA.
As an American and even for Thais in my wife’s case we first had to get a China visa. Which depending on which blog you read could be easy. Or it could rather difficult. Luckily while we were applying for our Chinese visa in Bangkok we didn’t have any issues at all.
The Great (Fire) Wall of China
As a digital nomad, China’s great firewall could really hamper one’s efforts to share or write about their experiences in China on location. In China, if you plan on taking selfies plus food porn and posting them up on Facebook and Instagram you’ll be disappointed.
Only Chinese manufactured social media platforms function in China. This means Line, Instagram and Facebook apps won’t work as all are blocked by the firewall. But WeChat app which is China owned does.
Here’s your options for all you social media addicts
If you’re using your home countries’ mobile service provider with free or affordable international roaming then you’ll be fine. So if you’re from the United States and you’re using a service provider like T-Mobile you can post on your choice of social media inside China freely.
It’s a different story for your computer though because you can’t install SIM cards into one. Instead you’ll need a Virtual Protocol Network(VPN) which essentially disguises your computer’s IP address and fooling the great Firewall. In essence, a VPN makes it look like your computer is not in China.
You can try using installing ExpressVPN on your computer which I heard has good results in China to post photos and experiences on Facebook. Or even watch Netlflix when you’ve got a lot of down time.
Lots of nice photo opportunities in Guangzhou, China
Best Area to Stay in Guangzhou for Your First Visit – Beijing Road
So I did some extensive research for myself on which area I should stay in Guangzhou. I found out Beijing Road location is the best, in terms of convenience for finding transportation, food and walking distance to local attractions.
For instance the hotel or rather the serviced apartment I stayed at is called Nomo Beijing Road A Mall Apartments. It’s located inside a mall so plenty of food options. And the Gongyuanqian 公园前站 train station is underneath the hotel with a shopping arcade. Can’t get any better than that.
Now that you know how to post on social media in China, lets get down to the nitty gritty of visiting Guangzhou for your first time.
Starting with how to get from Baiyun international Airport to the city at night.
Getting from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to the City after Midnight
I arrived into Baiyun airport a little after 11pm. Which left me with not a lot of choices for getting to the city. Actually I was only left with one choice which is metered taxi.
The line in passport control was long but it moved fairly quickly
We landed a little after 11pm. After getting through passport control and retrieving my luggage we were out of the airport by midnight. Luckily, metered taxis waiting outside of Baiyun airport are a plenty. While I was there there were lines of taxis waiting for tired passengers eager to get to their hotel rooms for shut eye.
Are Taxis from Airports in Guangzhou Reliable?
The official airport metered taxi line at Baiyun airport
I stayed in Guangzhou for about 6 days. Throughout those six days I’ve used taxis at least once a day. Every driver turned on their meter. No one tried to force a flat rate on me. And through google maps I followed the routes to my destination. None of the taxis made serious route deviations to run up the meter.
Though I should also add that Google maps is not that reliable in Guangzhou. I’ll get into that later though.
From my experience, Guangzhou taxi drivers are reliable. Except that one taxi driver that was drifting asleep during stop signals. And when he’d wake up, he’d start singing. What a great way to stay awake.
Metered taxi fare from Guangzhou Baiyun airport to the Nomo Beijing Road A Mall Apartments, the hotel I was staying at cost me 145¥, including the 15¥ tollway. About $20USD for a 30 minute trip. It’s not as expensive as my home city of New York. Though not as cheap as Bangkok, Thailand.
Not complaining though as the ride was convenient and hassle free. Especially in the middle of the night where transportation options are limited.
I already read elsewhere that metered taxi rides to Guangzhou from the airport cost roughly 120¥ so it’s on par with my experience.
I can’t remember specifically where the metered taxi line is at Baiyun airport but there are many signs in English pointing the way. Like most airports around the world you’ll get approached by taxi touts while making way to the official airport taxi stand.
Taxis in Guangzhou run 24 hours. You’ll find less past midnight but I wouldn’t worry. On our return flight to Bangkok we had to check out of our hotel 1am in the morning. And we did’t wait long to find a taxi.
Other than taxis, traveling around Guangzhou is super easy, especially on foot.
Getting Around Guangzhou
Guangzhou, just like Seoul, Taipei and Osaka is a real joy to explore on foot. The sidewalks are flat and spacious. The vehicles obey traffic lights. There are many street signs in English and finding the places we wanted to go to was easy.
Beijing Road is the main avenue in the city of Guangzhou. If you get lost, just find Beijing Road to reorient yourself and find where you need to go.
Only problem is if you’re using Google or Apple maps for directions you’ll see it’s a total gamble. Meaning the directions you find on it may not lead you to your destination.
This happened to me on numerous occasions.
This is the mall my hotel was located in…
I was looking for a Citibank and even on the Citibank app via Google or Apple maps I still couldn’t locate the branch.
Another example, according to Google maps the hotel I was staying at was actually 465 meters off from the actual location. Luckily the taxi driver knew the exact location of the hotel we were staying in.
Nearly 475 meters off from the actual location is quite a big difference
Then on Trip Advisor I was trying to find this Szechuan restaurant for an hour following Google maps. Only to discover that I’m not at the right location. From hindsight, what I will do the next time I’m back in Guangzhou is to call the places to check 1) if they’re still there and 2) where the exact location is.
Guangzhou metro subway train fares are cheap. And so efficient with frequent train arrivals. It simply is one of the best ways to get around the city. I used it to get from my hotel to the station near Canton Fair which is about 7 miles away. The train fare was only .70 cents or 5¥.
Subsequent times I’ve used the trains I’ve never spent more than 5¥ per train ride. The ticket machines are in English with plenty of English signs and maps leading the way. Station stops are also announced in English.
A Few Places We Visited on Foot
Like I mentioned already, Google maps is unreliable in Guangzhou for finding most businesses. However, it’s reliable for finding long established city attractions. And I visited them easily on foot.
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall
For the short week we were in Guangzhou we went to Chen Clan Ancestral Hall located in the center of the city. My last name is Chan. But it’s the same as Chen when written in Chinese 陳 so in a way, I’m visiting my roots and paying homage to my ancestors
The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall also houses old and new artwork. With many antiques spread throughout the compound. You can easily visit all of the exhibits in about 30 or 40 minutes. It was nice to sit outside in the huge open courtyard and just think about what what life was like in the past. Certainly worth dropping by especially if you’ve got the Chen name.
There is an entrance fee of 10¥ and you have to show your passport. Normally I don’t bother carrying my passport around for fear of losing it. But in China, best to have it with when you’re out and about.
Temple of the Six Banyan Tree
This attraction is actually a lot closer to where we were staying. There’s a tall pagoda called Temple of the Six Banyan Tree. There’s a lot of history in this area which I won’t go into on this post. But you can find plenty of info about it here.
Also not a big huge attraction but cool place to pop in and take a look. Entrance fee to the main temple grounds is 5¥ and you can go up the pagoda for an extra fee of 10¥. Which I would’ve done if I knew we could go inside and up to the top.
Overall walking around and exploring the city of Guangzhou was pleasant. We here in early November and the weather was cool and crisp.
I would’ve explored more of Guangzhou but I was here mostly to check out the 124th Canton Fair for business. So I spent some days checking factories and so on. And still a lot of walking.
All this walking of course is going to build up an appetite. It’s time to eat! And in Guangzhou, there’s no shortage of good food.
Only thing is, we gotta find a restaurant with English menus!
Eating Out in Guangzhou
You’re not going to have a problem finding good food in Guangzhou. You are however, going to have a hard time finding a restaurant with English menus. Although I can speak Cantonese, I cannot read or write it.
Though the ability to speak Cantonese helps somewhat. But most locals in Guangzhou speak Mandarin. Which I cannot understand. Yet they can understand my Cantonese.
Very good pizza at Pizza Factory located inside the A Mall…
So I’m bit of an oddball whenever I’m talking and interacting with the locals. My point is, if you want to eat inside local restaurants there will be a language barrier. I guess you can always point at the actual food or photos of food which helps.
For anyone that doesn’t want to deal with the language barrier in Guangzhou there are plenty of McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Huts, Starbucks and many more international fast food chains.
But if you’re in Guangzhou you must have dim sum!
Dim Sum in Guangzhou, China
In Guangzhou, I recommend having some good old Cantonese dim sum for breakfast. Though you can have it as brunch or even for late lunch because most dim sum restaurants close around 10pm.
Though I usually eat dim sum for breakfast because that’s just the way I had it growing up in New York’s Chinatown. We call it “yum cha” which means “drink tea” which is an essential part of the dim sum experience.
Now you’re definitely going to come across the language barrier issue at a dim sum restaurant in Guangzhou. There’s only one restaurant that I know with English menus. But the menu has numerous spelling errors and translations. Don’t get discouraged.
Remember, a hungry tummy will always find a way.
The dim sum restaurant in Guangzhou with English menus is called Dim Sum Chef. It’s a restaurant chain but I can’t find any links to a website. But I found out about it because the hotel I was staying at has a mall called A Mall connected right to it on the 4th floor.
Another good dim sum option in Guangzhou that is also a chain is:
Dian Dou De 点都德 address: Beijing Road branch – 470 Hui Fu Dong Lu, Yuexiu district. There’s one more which is the main branch at: 587 Long Jin Zhong Lu, Liwan district
How to Order Dim Sum
The dim sum restaurants I went to in Guangzhou, every table gets a menu order form. But it’s in Chinese. I could speak Cantonese and relay to the servers that I can’t read Chinese. So I just mouth off the types of dim sum I normally order back in NYC.
And the waiters were friendly enough to help write in my order.
So, if you’re able to read Chinese you just check off which items you’d like to order…
But I also used WeChat to communicate with friends that can read Chinese. I just snapped a photo of the menu and asked my friend to translate for me. So if you know someone who can read and write Chinese this is one way you can order.
Otherwise, I recommend sitting next to a table with customers with lots and lots of dim sum on their tables. Then start pointing out to the servers what you want. Who knows, you’ll probably make friends with the folks sitting next to you too.
Tea Etiquette at Guangzhou Dim Sum Restaurants
Take a look at Luke Martin’s video below inside one of Dian Dou De’s branch. Where you’ll get an idea on what’s it like to enjoy a dim sum meal in Guangzhou. As well the process of tea preparation.
Also notice there’s a bowl and a plate. You eat from the bowl. The plate is there to put things like bones or discarded pieces of food. Don’t ask me why. I mean why do most fancy restaurants have like 3 different forks for different meal servings?
So these are the only two dim sum joints I’ve been to but I plan to check out others after checking out this blogger’s post on where to eat dim sum in Guangzhou.
But really your food options will be endless in Guangzhou. You’ll find something you’ll like, I’m sure of it.
Getting a Massage in Guangzhou
With old age quickly settling in on my bones after all the walking around in Guangzhou I searched out a massage place in the city via Google maps. I know I said it’s a gamble. But, I took a gamble. And my gamble paid off.
I followed Google map’s navigation all the way to Dongxing Blindman Massage Parlor. It was about a 15 minute walk from my hotel location. It turned out it was easy find.
Dongxing is not a fancy shop. It’s a local shop with neighborhood customers. Not a lot of tourists walk in those doors. And they can only speak Mandarin. Luckily they could understand my Cantonese.
While my wife and I went in, there was only one blind masseuse and a few others that could see. So not everyone inside is blind. I’m going to warn you, it’s going to be painful. Because they are trained to use their hands to locate points on your body that needs work on. So, they will continually massage and knead until the knots are gone with their super strong grips
Even after a few days later we were still sore. Not sore in a way where you can’t do your daily routines though. Just enough to let you know what they did worked. And we felt great afterwards. We went for the hour long massage which cost 70¥ per person. About $10USD which is a great bargain.
Looking forward to My Next Visit to Guangzhou
My first visit to Guangzhou has me feeling impressed. With most of my time spent on business I didn’t have enough time to scratch the surface of the city.
I wish Google Maps worked more effectively in China. I wish I learned Mandarin. Which I’ll try and pick up seeing as I will be visiting Guangzhou more often in the near future.
It’s a fun city to travel to and even with the language barrier you’ll still manage to score a good meal one way or the other. There’s no doubt you’ll have a pretty good experience on your first visit to Guangzhou too.
Applying for a Chinese visa in Bangkok could be smooth sailing. Or a total nightmare. That’s depending on where you’re getting your information from. Because I’m heading to Guangzhou (广州市), China to check out the 124th Canton Fair for business and to eat some dim sum.
Which means I’m going to have to get a China visa for my US passport. So like any average Joe looking for information about applying for a visa to visit China. And I was in Thailand at the time so I did a google search on how to get a Chinese visa in Bangkok.
I started reading blog comments and caught a glimpse of what to expect. And the glimpse I caught frankly caught me off guard.
According to this blogger, regular service takes 4 days. Which is normal and if you’ve done proper travel planning shouldn’t be an issue. But I also read it was possible that it could take a month to get back your passport and a tourist visa to China!
Applying for My First China Visa in Bangkok
In the immortal words of Bart Simpson, “Aye Caramba!” we were hoping it won’t take that long. My wife and I were applying for our Chinese travel visas two weeks before our scheduled flight departs for Guangzhou. And we already paid for our hotel in full with no refunds.
Then, I’ve been reading Mark Wien’s experience when he went to apply for his China tourist visa. His experience was more streamlined and uneventful. But it was the comments from his readers that got me nervous.
Bear in mind that his information and experience was posted in 2014. A lot of things could’ve changed in that time span. Which I found out did.
I read someone’s comment that he had to hand in a color copy of their passport. I always thought it was illegal to make photocopies of passports in color.
There’s just so much information out there about getting a China visa in Bangkok and I didn’t know who or what to believe. There were a mix of helpful information about the process. And there were some info out there to make oneself paranoid about the Chinese visa application process.
So like anything else I knew nothing about, I started with baby steps. First, I started off with something easy. Like check what time the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok opens.
The First Big Change
One thing my years of travel experience had taught me is you go to an embassy or consulate of the country you’re planning to visit to apply for a tourist visa.
So it would make sense that I would have to go to the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok, right?
Wrong!
Currently you cannot apply for a China Visa at the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok. You have to go to the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in Thailand (CVASC) located inside an office building a few miles away from the Chinese Embassy.
Business hours Monday-Friday, Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
Submission of applications: 9:00 to 15:00.
Payment and collection: 9:00 to 16:00.
Good thing I came across this bit of info. Otherwise I would’ve ended up at the front steps of the Chinese Embassy.
With my visa application in hand only to have guards pointing and laughing at me like the idiot I am.
Be Sure to Check Out CVASC Website
Next thing to do is to download the China visa application. And also find out what supporting documents are required for a US citizen staying in Thailand needs. Which I found on CVASC (website) a list of requirements for your specific visa purpose. For tourist the visa category is L.
Again, because I am going to China for business I needed to apply for the M category.
Even though you’re reading this and applying for a China tourist visa, the documents and procedure required which I listed below is 95.9% the same.
Click on that button to find requirements for all visa category
The CVASC website is cool. There is an online form, not a PDF version like the one that I used from China Embassy website. And, you can make an appointment too. Which had I known, I would’ve used the CVASC website exclusively.
You do not need to make an appointment before showing up.
Click on that button and you’ll see an online China visa. You can even make an appointment too
Getting Ready to go to China Visa Application Service Center
I didn’t use the CVASC online visa application form because I found out too late about it. Instead I used the this four page form I downloaded from Chinese Embassy in Thailand’s website.
Since it’s a PDF electronic form you can input your information directly in. And then print out and sign when completed.
Which is great because I’ve got horrible handwriting. There could be a few questions that could trip you up but I’ll highlight those later on. Make sure you put on the caps lock too while typing.
There are China visa application forms at the CVASC you can fill out with an old fashioned pen. But honestly printing out filled out forms beforehand is the smarter move.
Filling Out China Visa Application Form (V.2013)
Make Sure Your Visa Form is Filled Out Accurately
The visa form is straightforward with 5 sections with sub-sections. Chances are you won’t need to fill out all 5 sections in this China visa application.
There are just a few sections that might make you scratch your head though.
Section 1.5 – This section you put in your current occupation. If you don’t see the listed description for yourself then just mark “other” and then write in specifically what you do. For me, I’m a business person so I checked marked that box. But that’s too vague. So the clerk personnel instructed me to check “Other ☑️” and write in specific occupation.
Section 2.7 – This section is basically asking who’s paying for your trip. I just typed in “SELF FUNDED”.
Section 2.6 – Here you get asked about your itinerary. I was just staying the entire week in Guangzhou. I just wrote on one line. For date “30-10-18 TO 05-11-18” and then for detailed address I just wrote in the address of the hotel I was staying at.
Section 2.10 – This ones just an observation from myself. This section asks what other countries you’ve visited in the past 12 months. So I listed the countries I’ve been within 12 months and one of them was Taiwan. So if you don’t know by now, China and Taiwan are not so friendly towards each other. The clerk personnel who initially checked my visa form just taped over Taiwan with white out. So if you’ve been to Taiwan in the past 12 months, just leave it out.
Don’t forget to sign your China visa application form and date it.
Different Strokes for Different Folks
Okay, so everyone reading this will probably have to bring different documents depending on their traveling situation.
Here’s my situation. I’m married to a Thai with a Non-Immigrant O visa based on Thai family. And my work is based in the USA. I’m heading to China on a business/tourism purpose.
Here’s a list of documents I brought with me for submission:
My Prepared Documents (You only need to hand in one set)
Two recent passport sized photos (size and requirements) Glue one photo on the area indicated on first page of visa application. The other photo will be clipped to your passport.
Photo copy of passport photo page, Thailand entry stamp, Thai visa page
Proof of residence in Thailand (Not necessary if you have a Thai Tourist Visa)
Thai marriage certificate to prove I’m married to a Thai and the reason why I’m in Thailand (Also, don’t need this if you’re just a tourist in Thailand)
Flight itinerary – Into China and out of China
Hotel confirmation
* Invitation letter from Canton Fair
** Letter of intent (What’s all this about? You’ll find out below)
Recent bank statement
In Mark Wien’s blog post he stated Americans needed to hand in two sets of applications. I was only required to hand in one. I made an extra set, just to be safe. Again his blog post was made 4 years ago. In any case, the agency clerk took only one set from me.
There are copy machines and passport photo booths inside. I don’t remember how much they charge but just make your life easy and have all the copies and passport photos ready. Chances are, it’ll be cheaper to get all this done outside of the CVASC office.
* Letter of Intent
For #9 I mentioned letter of intent. This is a short letter you sign declaring what you’ll be doing in China. I didn’t even know I had to write this letter until I read this blogger’s post on getting a China visa in Bangkok.
Here’s what my letter of intent looked like:
To Whom it May Concern
My name is Warren Chan. I am a citizen of the United States with passport number ********. I have a Thai wife and currently staying in Thailand with a type “O” non immigrant visa based on marriage/family.
I would like to travel to Guangzhou China to attend the 124th Canton Fair and tourism with my wife. I have already pre-registered for attendance to Canton Fair and have included my invitation letter with my visa application.
I would like to stay in Guangzhou, China from October 30th, 2018 to November 5th, 2018.
Sincerely,
When you’re writing your own letter of intent just make it simple. My first letter of intent was long and too specific in detail. And I changed it to the one you see above.
** As my letter states I’m planning on attending the Canton Fair which upon registration I could download an invitation letter. Whenever you’re going to China for business if you can get an invitation letter from the company or factory you’re planning to visit make sure you get a letter from them so you can submit along with your China visa application. This is only needed if you’re applying for a China business visa.
If you know a Chinese citizen living in China and you’re planning to visit them, ask them to write a letter of invitation on your behalf. Same goes for education purpose, say for example if you want to study Chinese martial arts at an institution.
Going to Chinese Visa Application Service Center
The Chinese Visa Application Service Center is not an embassy nor a consulate. It’s just an agency operating on behalf of the Chinese government for processing and handling China visas. And they charge a service fee which you can see below on my receipt.
With my stack of documents organized like an anal retentive applicant I felt prepared for the worst.
The easiest way to reach Thanapoom Tower is by using the MRT subway train. The closest station is Petchaburi MRT station. Use Exit #2 and make a left turn when you’re outside. It’s a 700 meter walk, pass Saint Dominic’s School and Thailand Tourism Authority office building.
Remember the China visa application service office is on the 5th floor.
The front of the CVASC office, but the entrance is on the right with a metal detector…
Inside CVASC Office
During my research on submitting China visa applications in Bangkok I read a lot of blog posts and comments where people complained of long lines and long waits. However, there were also lots of comments saying it was a quick, easy and painless process.
I got inside 9:10am and there was a line but wasn’t that bad. There were 3 lines for individual applicants to queue up on. There were about 10 people ahead of us. So things went smoothly. But I can understand why this part of the process could be a slow going.
CVASC office in Bangkok
First of all from my sharp ears I could listen to the staff telling people they were missing documents. Or some parts of their visa forms were filled out incorrectly.
Also, there are a lot of Thai tour agencies handing in piles of China visa applications with Thai passports. Obviously this is for large Thai tour groups. So one messenger would bring in stacks and stacks of applications which would take time for Chinese visa agency staff to sort through.
But the office clerks went through the piles of Thai passports quickly as Thai travel agencies already know the document process and requirements.
Getting the Ticket Number
Okay, so the line my wife and I first queued up on is really where CSAVC clerks check your application to make sure you have all the necessary information filled out properly. And they take a look at your supporting documents.
The staff are all Thai. They can speak English but not fluently. From my short interactions with them they are sincere. They are there to really help out and offer suggestions to make your application as squeaky clean as possible. So your China visa application process goes smooth.
Ahead of us were a couple of young European travelers that were in line ahead of us. I overheard they did not have their paperwork together. From the looks of it they seemed frustrated. On their hands were only two China visa application forms. It didn’t look too good for them as they stepped off line.
Waiting to Be Called
Your number could come up quickly. Which happened in my case. Because I had to change my letter of intent a little under the advice of the CVASC staff who first looked at my papers. Luckily, I brought my laptop and made the corrections right on the spot.
But I needed to print it out. On the second floor there is a small convenience shop with a computer and printer. I emailed the letter to my email account and printed it off from there. It cost 15THB per print out.
Pay attention to these screens…
By the time I got back to the 5th floor my number had passed. No big deal. Just go back to the desk where you got the first ticket and let them know what happened. They’ll print you a new one.
There are television screens at the front with ticket numbers as well indications for which counter to go. There’s no automated voices announcing numbers. Just the sound of a bell whenever a new number is displayed. Which means you have to have your eyes glued to the screens when your number is almost up.
When your number does comes up head to the designated counter. And hand in your paper work to the nice clerks.
Photo copy of my passport photo page, entry stamp, Thai visa page
Proof of residence in Thailand (again, you won’t need this if you’re on a Thai tourist visa)
Thai marriage certificate (no, you do not have to marry a Thai to get a Chinese visa)
Flight itinerary – Into China and out of China
Hotel confirmation
Invitation letter from Canton Fair (to prove I’m going to China for business)
Letter of intent
Recent bank statement
The agency clerk went through our applications and it was pretty straight forward. We had all our papers ready and in order.
Only our hotel confirmation and bank statement copies were not needed and returned to us. I recommend bringing them anyways. Because you just never know.
Then we were given our receipts and because we chose regular service we were told to come back in 4 days. You pay the fee when you pick up your passport.
My China visa fee was 5060THB. If you think about it that’s a pricey visa fee. However USA charges Chinese citizens the same amount in US currency when they apply to visit USA. The CVASC clerk that handled my case recommended I get the 10 year multiple China entry visa.
Which made a lot of sense because it’s the same price as a single entry visa which I had initially marked on my visa form.
Everything was simple and easy for my experience. As long as you have all your papers in order the China visa process in Bangkok should be painless.
I was out of the CVASC office just a little over an hour. So didn’t take much time at all really.
Picking Up My Passport
4 days later I got back to the CVASC office. Passport pick up time is scheduled between 9am to 4pm. I got there about 1pm and the place looked quieter than the first time I went.
Perhaps, it’s best to go hand in visa applications in the afternoon time instead to beat the morning rush?
I went straight to the counter, with no line to wait and showed my receipt and got a ticket number. I plopped my ass down on one of the chairs and a few minutes later my number came up.
Notice the 467.29B service fee?
Went to the counter and handed in my receipt and paid my 5060B fee for my brand new Chinese visa. My wife has a Thai passport her fee is 1500B. I checked my passport with my brand new China visa and saw I had a 10 year expiration date. So that’s cool. Be sure to check that your name is spelled correctly and your passport numbers match before you leave the center.
My wife wasn’t with me this time but as long as I had her receipt I could pick it up for her. I spent no more than 10 minutes this time.
Smooth Sailing
Thankfully, everything went through without a hitch. I learned a few things about getting a Chinese visa in Bangkok to share with everyone here.
Granted I went for the business visa, I don’t think getting a tourist visa to visit China could be any much harder. Not that it was hard to begin with.
It’s not difficult at all as long as you have all your supporting documents with you, before you show up. That’s the main key. Also bring your laptop to make quick changes on your China visa application forms if necessary. There’s no internet access inside, but you can use your mobile phone to act as an internet hotspot.
With all the proper documents in hand you shouldn’t have any problems also while applying for a China visa in Bangkok whether you’re going as a tourist or for business.
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