My low expectations of Beijing were superseded before I got past immigration. Friends had told me about the pollution and the traffic so my husband and I planned to to see the sites, get a new stamp in our passports and return back to our reasonably pollution-free countries.
As we expected, the dun colored haze of China's air pollution greeted us as we landed. Also in appearance: an expeditor from the Raffles, a youngish woman with a no-nonsense bun and dress suit, appeared to take our bags and usher us to our waiting Audi to take us to the hotel. The Raffles brand is defined by exceptional customer service but we had expected a 6 by 12 airport sign after we cleared customs. Likewise, our we found that what we originally imagined to be a check-the-box-on-China trip exceeded our expectations and left us wanting more. Read after the break for specific recommendations on doing Beijing in style with three days on the ground. View from the shared balcony at the Adventure Hostel. If a boutique hotel could have a younger sibling the Adventure Hostel in Queenstown would earn a place in the family. With its private rooms, service and modern decor, the hostel emulates the service and style of its older sister. Adventure Hostel may not yet be quite at the level of a hotel, but it comes close. And as a hostel, it looks down on other hostels like a parent.
My husband and I sandwiched our trek in New Zealand's Southern Alps with two nights in Queenstown. Read more about it here. We normally pick a boutique hotel or Starwood Points property for our lodging, but none seemed to match up for our requirements of price, value and location. The Dairy, a close second to the hostel, seemed lovely but slightly out of town. Our decision-making matrix had us only two nights in Queensland sandwiching a hiking trek. We wanted to stay close to the city so we could buy supplies and stay close to transportation connections. We wanted to stock up on meals and gear. and could not spend a day enjoying the grounds and amenities of a finer property. We went for value instead. The Adventure Hostel had high marks on TripAdvisor and offered private rooms, a rarity among the hostels in the area. According to manager Brett Duncan, the hostel maintains 90% occupancy so were were glad we booked early. Brett took the time to give us a tour of the rest of the hostel, which has a proper kitchen, lounge, and lockers. It is always great to see managers who stay passionate about their business and clients. Our private room on the third floor had access to the sunny wood balcony and a view of the the lake. The bathroom featured modern Italian fixtures and a neutral tile. I could see the mountains from my shower. The room had coffee, tea, a kettle and a TV and DVD player. Hiking gear and happy hours lay two blocks away. With the privacy of our own room, we could not help but feel we were in a hotel. The natty linens, industrial blue carpet and bunk beds parked next our queen bed, however, reminded us we were in a hostel. With an upgrade to white hotel lines and a carpet upgrade--wood flooring, perhaps--Brett would have hotel rooms on his hands. And I would certainly choose the Adventure Hostel again for a quick stay in Queenstown on my way to the mountains. An alpine trek before an overnight cruise. Stunning alpine views, an abundance of waterfalls and a relaxing cruise in Milford Sound. My travel buddy and I came away confident that we traveled New Zealand's Fjordland the right way: roughing it for gasp-inducing scenery and splurging for a post-hike overnight cruise in Milford Sound, the most popular of New Zealand’s majestic fjords. We followed the proven formula of roughing it before luxury, or instead of luxury, merely a comfortable, shower-filled, buffet-side existence. We met travelers who were doing the reverse and felt sorry for them. Best to do the trek before rewarding oneself with a relaxing cruise. The Milford Sound trek may claim fame as one of the world’s greatest walks. We had heard that the Routeburn proves more interesting in its ecological diversity and choice places to stay along the way. More than 13,000 people a year do the twenty-eight kilometer trek, making it one of New Zealand's busiest. After viewing wildflowers, glacier lakes and quite possibly the forests from Middle Earth, we stand by our original position. Three things I wish I had brought on the Routeburn Trek: |