IF we ever go back to Urumqi, we will stay at the Mirage. That will be after the Chinese government drops its visa fee from its current exorbitant rate of $300 back down to a reasonable $50. Our trip to China was disappointing; our stay at Mirage was delightful.

Jeanette Camp

We got to the checkin window at 35 minutes before takeoff, and (Surprise, Surprise!) there was a big blinking sign that said no checkin after 45 minutes before scheduled departure! We begged them to put us on that plane. We went to three different windows. Finally, we had to buy new tickets for 3200 yuan, $473 USD. They were kind enough to book us a room at Aviation Hotel.

On our way back from Wuhan to Almaty, with four big, heavy bags in tow, we paid for overweight baggage in Wuhan, and then again in Urumqi. Our travel again told us we would only have to pay once. We paid $363 USD in Wuhan and $515 in Urumqi. Same bags, same weight. If I have a choice, I will never use China Southern again as long as I live.

Again, this is not just about Tunhe, but about our unpleasant journey through Urumqi going both directions. When you get off the plane, you are mobbed by gypsy drivers who want "to overcharge us, and even the metered cab drivers are a little sly. The first time we disembarked in Urumqi, we asked the security guard, "Chuzuche?" He directed us to a man standing there, who grabbed our bags and was loading them into his car when I yelled, "Stop!" He asked me, "Duo shao qian?" When I answered, "Sanshi," he and his companions laughed. We pulled our two bags out of his car and looked for a meter cab. A driver directed us to his cab and then typed out on his calculator, "60". We agreed. The ride should have been 35.

Going back through Urumqi, it was even worse. We had made a reservation at the Mirage Hotel, which by the way, is a wonderful hotel, especially the lobby manager Jack Zheng, and we showed the reservation and map to a gypsy driver. He asked for 150 yuan because by this time we had four big, heavy bags. We agreed. We went to the vehicle, which was a van, but they didn't have the key. They asked us to wait for the friend to bring the key, but I didn't want to wait. So I went to the other end of the airport to check on a bus to the Mirage. At first the ticket seller said that they did have a bus to the Mirage Hotel, but a man standing there said they didn't. He connected me to the lobby manager of the Mirage Hotel, who told me that the bus did not go there. I didn't really believe that he was who he said he was, and so we went to get a regular metered cab. The car was not very big, and we barely got our bags into the trunk and back seat. Then the driver started whining and sighing, "Four bags, and it's far to the hotel. I should get 100 yuan." (All of this, of course, in Chinese.) Sorry, I did not have the presence of mind to get the license numbers of these two drivers, and neither of them turned their meters on, so it was entirely off the record.

We had hoped to return to Urumqi for a real visit, but with the visas at $300 each and the hassles of dealing with all the drivers at the airport, I don't think it will be very soon. But we did really enjoy our stay at the Mirage. The service personnel there are so helpful and polite. If we go back there, we will definitely stay at the Mirage!

Thank you for taking the time and effort to ask me about my hotel experiences. Sorry to unload on you about everything, but someone has to know why tourism is down 37% in some places in China.

Oh, and by the way, your booking service is five-star. You did an excellent job of booking the hotels we thought we wanted. Next time, maybe you can book the flights, too.

Sincerely

Jeanette Camp