China holds a fascinating allure for adventurers all over the world. But exploring China can be daunting. Get the inside track with these top tips from expert travelers.

With a population of 1.3 billion people, one of the world’s fastest growing economies and landscapes ranging from subtropical forests to deserts and mountains, who wouldn’t want to visit China?

It’s right up there on my travel to do list, but I’ll be honest, the thought of stepping off the plane into one of the hugest countries in the world does scare me a little.

If in doubt speak to people in the know, right? So… check out these top tips from the people who travel for a living  and explore China like a pro!

1. Avoid “Tourist” Rates

“If you’re comfortable staying at hotels where few of the staff speak English, you can avoid paying high “foreigner’s prices” by booking your hotels through elong.net or Ctrip.com - sites targeted at domestic Chinese travelers.

Edward Hasbrouck, The Practical Nomad.

2. Escape the Crowds

“Very few people speak English so a good phrase book is essential. Use the point at phrases method or bring a picture book, but as long as the Chinese is there you’re all set.

Planning on visting Guilin? … Head to Yangshuo instead.  Much less touristy and much more beautiful. You’ll get all the Benefits of Guilin with more natural wonders and great hiking.

Take a local bus to a nearby town for a more authentic and less expensive experience. Most towns have a few hotels and it’s easy to find a beautiful place for less.

Take an overnight train – go for the soft sleeper if your budget allows. They’re comfortable and clean and will save you the cost of a hotel. Another bonus is that you get to see the countryside.”

Reuven Levitt, Tripbase CEO

3. Beware of What You Blog

“The Grand Hyatt Beijing is perfect, no doubt about it! Fresh flowers skillfully laid out in my room and a meal never to be forgotten. The pool is laid out like an island resort, just amazing.

Go for lunch in an average Chinese restaurant. A simple meal there can be as fresh and satisfying as a luxury dinner!

Beware of subversive blogging from Shanghai: censure is common practice!”

Kent St John, Go Nomad

4. Be Respectful if Arrested

“If you find yourself about to climb a holy mountain, and the ticket office offers extra insurance, you might want to take it.

If walking in the street and you hear “chwaaaak”, don’t change your pace, or you might get a big fat yellow lurgee on your shoe.

If you’re really hot, push your shirt up your chest, like everyone else.

Speak in honorable and deeply respectful prose, especially if you get arrested, or are toasting government officials.

Drink the rice wine.”

Robin Esrock, Modern Gonzo

The World’s Most Dangerous Hike – Amazing!

5. Expect the Unexpected

”Coming from the western world, I’ve always found visiting China like going to another planet. Expect the unexpected and don’t take things personally!

Chris Guillebeau, The Art of Nonconformity

6. Get the Magic Card

“Ask your hotel’s concierge for a card of common destinations in the city. Get the concierge to write the corresponding Chinese characters. Indispensable for directing taxis!”

Paul Cayanes, Pau Travels Blog

”Taxis are abundant and inexpensive in China’s major cities, but most cab drivers do not speak English. Most hotels have business cards with their address written in English and Chinese and a space on the back where the Chinese name of a destination can be filled in.”

Wendy, Escape from New York

7. Go Further than Fried Rice

“Be adventurous with the food. There are so many great regional variations across China that travelers can miss out on the best food if they just stick to the dishes they recognize from their local Chinese take-out!”

Tim Hughes, The Boot

Planning a trip to China? Got more useful China travel tips? Post up your comments below, we want to hear from you!

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Photo credits: Yangshuo by B_cool, Summer Palace, Beijing by d’n'c, Lanterns by Mike

You know the feeling - you’ve been traveling for an eternity, you’re completely whacked, all you want is to drift off into a blissful snooze before catching your next flight.

But those airport chairs are hard, so very hard and the arm-rest keeps digging into your head.

The latest trend of “pod” or “capsule” hotels might be just the solution to this perennial traveling dilemma.

Take, for example, Yotel’s London and Amsterdam hotels. Situated in airport terminals they offer futuristic pod rooms for stays as short as four hours - perfect for “nappers in transit”.

Capsule living
With cabin-like rooms measuring just seven square meters, it won’t take you long to grasp the space-saving capsule concept.

But Yotel promises that there’s as much in this tiny space as you’ll find in most four star hotels. And with talk of organic cotton sheets, flat screen TVs and 24 hour cabin service, they might just be right.

The micro hotel trend certainly seems to be catching on. Originating in Japan, catering for inebriated businessmen too scared to face their wives, teeny tiny hotels have now spread throughout Europe and the US.

Broom cupboard benefits
Cost and convenience are the main reasons why travelers are opting to risk a bout of claustrophobia to stay in these ultra-modern hotel joints, as well as the draw of something genuinely fresh and different.

And with many of the hotels located in pricey city and airport destinations, their rates are certainly in tune with today’s economic climate.

Where to find your pod
If you’re thinking of joining the capsule revolution, check out Yotel’s airport chain, The Pod or The Jane (New York), citizenM (Amsterdam) or StayOrange.com (Kuala Lumpur). For an authentic Japanese pod experience, check out the deals on flights to Tokyo, and head to the Capsule Inn Akihabara.

Travel fad or fresh innovation, it looks like capsule hotels are here to stay, for the time being at least. So take a break from arm-rest-itis and give them a whirl, just be sure to leave your cat at home.

Photos from Flickr. Photo credits (in order of placement): Yotel by donutshead, Tokyo Caspule Hotel by Matteo Mazzoni.

China
It seems innocent enough—you found a fantastic green hat at the market and want to give it to a Chinese friend or host as way of expressing gratitude for his boundless hospitality. Don’t do it! Giving a green hat to a Chinese man is the equivalent of calling him a cuckold… not only does this insult him, it also insults his wife.

Argentina and Chile
The simple act of pouring a glass of wine is fraught with nuances that are unknown to the uninitiated. No matter how much you want to refill the glass of the gorgeous woman or man next to you, this is a task that is best left to the host… otherwise you could make a major faux pas (and ruin your chances with the subject of admiration for good).

Hawaii
Surfing the waves without the skills can get you into more than deep waters… it can get you into deep trouble in this part of the world, where people take surfing pretty seriously. Breach this one and you’re sure to receive some not-so-friendly nicknames… or maybe even a beating.

Italy
Listening attentively while someone is talking is a major insult because it communicates a lack of interest. How do you show that you’re interested and enthusiastic about the conversation? By interrupting it—again and again.

Australia
Thought you were going to impress the locals with the accent and slang you picked up from Steve Irwin on the Crocodile Hunter? Think again. Pepper your language with too many “mate”s and you’ll find that you have none. Krikey!

Thailand
It is important to be aware of your feet and the heads of those around you. We’re not talking about kick-boxing here… we’re talking about etiquette. In Thailand, the feet are considered to be very dirty—they oughtn’t to be pointed at anyone, and certainly not a Buddha. If you are checking out a temple, be sure to remove your shoes and when you sit, tuck your feet under you so as not to direct these filthy offensive appendages at the Buddha, or the worshippers around you. And definitely don’t touch anyone’s head—the highest spot on the body is also the holiest. It is extremely insulting to touch someone’s head without permission and we’ve heard of fist-fights breaking out in response to head touching.

France
Never, ever give chrysanthemums to someone. What harm can there be in giving flowers? In France, these particular blooms are most closely associated with funerals. So, why not buy those yellow roses, instead? That’s a no-no, too—the color hints at the possibility that the husband is engaging in extramarital activities.

The Dominican Republic
Punctuality is not appreciated here. Better said—don’t arrive “on time” and then ask others why they’re late. Being late is being on time. If someone says they’ll meet you at ten, what they really mean is that they’ll meet you sometime close to eleven. Don’t piss them off by showing up at ten and then getting angry and laying into them… make like a local and arrive fashionably late, too.

Syria
Not thirsty? Well, drink up anyways. If you are a visitor in someone’s home and are offered a drink or food and you decline, chances are you have offended your host. This holds true for much of the Middle East. When in doubt, just say yes.

The United States and Canada
Many foreigners find North Americans to be rude and feel they’re lacking in manners. On the contrary, North Americans obey a complex set of social codes that reflect a variety of cultural influences and that vary according to the situation and the people involved. The smallest behaviors can have overtones or politeness or, conversely, rudeness… and you’re sometimes walking a fine line between the two. For example, making not enough eye-contact while talking is considered to be very disrespectful, however, making too much eye contact is considered to be aggressive.

We talk about traveling a lot—with each other, with our friends, with our families. Some of us have had some serious adventures (see my posts on Syria) and face questions when we return home: how could you have done that? How could you have gone there?

It got us thinking about fears that prevent people from traveling. So, we conducted an informal survey and here’s what people told us are the reasons not to travel, as well as our responses:

Plane crashes
The risk of being in a plane crash is actually very, very slim. You’re much more likely to be in a car accident in the city you live in.

Diseases
Are everywhere. As are treatments. Do a little research before you travel: get the appropriate vaccinations, bring along medicines, and look up locations of hospitals and doctors. A little bit of preparation can ensure that you have a fun, healthy trip.

Language barrier
I was in Thailand when I saw the sign: Feeding Area. Sure, it was in English, but I had no idea what it meant. Who or what was to be fed in this area? Could I be fed here? If I sat down, would someone bring me food? Or did the sign imply that this was a picnic area?

Language barrier is one of the most common concerns we heard. But there are certain parts of the United States where people don’t speak English (Head to Miami—you’ll find enclaves that are impossible to navigate without Spanish). Once you start traveling, you’ll be surprised by how little you actually need language and how much smiles and gestures work. We think the language barrier, a common concern, is less of a barrier and more of an illusion.

In the deep south of Thailand, where no Western tourist dares to go, and most of the locals don’t speak a lick of English, I made a friend.  I stopped to admire her store, and this elderly woman patted the seat, asked me to join her, and I did. Without language, we communicated our ages to each other and she made it clear to me that she admired my skin and hair. We sat for a time without words. It was lovely.

Political turmoil
In the rare instances there is an upheaval or unrest, it is unusual for foreigners to be targeted. Political turmoil is a local affair and typically it will not spread so quickly through the population as to prevent you from leaving the area, if need be.

Wild animals
What? Wild animals? Yes, this one surprised us to. Strike this one off the list if you’re headed to a big city. And if you’re headed into nature, well, just remember that wild animals are everywhere in the world. If you’re truly terrified, inform yourself before you go and avoid the areas that are full of the animal you fear.

Expensive
Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive. It can be as expensive or cheap as you want it to be. On a tight budget? Try hostels and street food. Actually, we think being on a tight budget is an advantage… when you’re spending a lot of money you tend to be in a bubble of luxury or tourists. When you’re spending money like a local, you tend to be, well, around more locals. And that’s where the truly rewarding and memorable experiences come from—interacting with people, sometimes without language, and seeing that you are welcomed in the world.

Have you ever walked away from a vendor with that sinking feeling you were ripped off? Have you bought something overseas and arrived home only to have a friend tell you that they got the same thing—but for half the price? Here are five sure-fire haggling tips (and a video tutorial) that will help you get that great souvenir, at a great price:

5) Confuse the vendor. (Is this guy really a monk, or is it a clever disguise for haggling?)

Typically, vendors will ask you where you come from. Why? They are trying to size you up to charge you accordingly. Vendors have different prices in mind for Europeans and Americans and they even adjust the prices according to where in Europe you come from. If they can’t size you up so well, they’re thrown off their game.

This might sound devious, but you can do it nicely, playfully:
“Where are you from?” they ask.
“Where do you think I’m from?” you respond.

They rattle off a list of places, maybe even try out some foreign languages on you, and you smile beatifically, giving an occasional nonchalant shrug (or better yet, if you speak multiple languages respond in a little, just a little, of each). Play coy. Which leads me to the next point…

4) Keep calm. And keep quiet. (That Buddha’s got a thing or two to teach you about bargaining).

Keeping calm is obvious. But keeping quiet? Sounds like a counter-intuitive Zen koan, right? How can you haggle if you’re not… well, talking? But think about it– the more you speak, the more they can place your accent and background. So make your responses short, but pleasant. Remember that it’s a business transaction and that it’s not necessary to get personally acquainted with the salesperson.

However, there are some places where a lengthy, leisurely conversation (or a passionate debate) is part of the transaction, which leads me to…

3) Be aware of the local customs. (This woman isn’t pointing her feet at you, so make sure you don’t point those filthy appendages of yours at her).

Huh? What do dirty feet have to do with haggling? The point is that you’ve got to be aware of the local customs and manners. In some countries, the advice you have read thus far will work like gold and you’ll get in, get out, and get a great price on that one-of-a-kind souvenir. But in other cultures, the advice I have given is totally wrong and will get you nowhere. Be fluid and adapt yourself. How? First, watch the locals and then imitate them. Even if you don’t understand a lick of the language, you’ll get a sense of the rhythm of the transaction by watching a few.

But no matter where you go:

2) Be prepared to walk. (Yes, those handmade, Moroccan shoes were made for walking. Get ready to use them).

No, I don’t mean from site to site! I mean that you have to be prepared to walk away from that perfect souvenir if the price isn’t right. Non-attachment is one of the keys to haggling, no matter where you are in the world. The less interest you show in an item, the harder the vendor will try to convince you that it, and the price, is great.

In fact, some of the best deals I’ve gotten have been struck when I have literally walked away. The moment my feet have started moving, the price started moving too—down, that is.

1) Keep a target price, and item, in mind and stick to it. Adamantly. (Don’t walk away with bananas when you really wanted to buy avocados).

Stay focused on what you want and what you pay for it. It’s common sense, but you’d be suprised at how is it is to get carried away in the haggling itself and end up walking away with that mosque-shaped alarm clock (that rings five times a day to remind you to pray!) you never knew you wanted.

Did we miss one? Got a haggling tip that always works for you? Tell us about it!