China is doing everything in their power to make the 2008 Olympics unlike any of the Games we’ve ever seen. Find out all you need to know about getting to the Olympics and enjoying your time once you arrive!

By Dan Johnson

HOW TO GET THERE
The China Olympics 2008

People didn’t quite know what to think when Beijing won a fierce international competition to host the 2008 Olympic Games. Its a big, sprawling city that had had an overwhelmed airport, limited flights, and virtually no big-time athletic infrastructure.

China Says, Were Ready

Now, Beijing will unveil a brand new addition to its airport this March: Terminal Three will be the largest terminal building complex in the world, serving Air China and its international partners which should ease traffic. And the city now boasts a new stadium and an Olympic village, while hotel construction continues at a furious pace.

They’ll need every room: 1.7-million visitors are expected. But China says all systems are go for the August 6th start date of the Games.

Getting There: A Step-By-Step Guide

STEP #1 - Before You Leave

• GAME TICKETS: Make sure you can get them! Most tickets designated for U.S. residents have already been sold through a lottery system. However, check with Cosport, which sells the tickets (and is an official sponsor of the US Olympic team); there may be some left. Cosport will also have a ticket-office in Beijing for last-minute sales.
• PLANE RESERVATIONS: Make them NOW! A lot of seats are already gone.
• PASSPORT: If you need to renew your passport or get a new one, DO IT NOW. The U.S. Passport office has been backed up due to new regulations.
• VISA: U.S. citizens can visit China without a visa stamp for only 48-hours, so YOU WILL NEED A VISA. Go to an office of the Chinese Consulate General to get one; this handy map will show you the location of the office closest to you.
• VISA NOTE: Single-entry visas require a $100 processing fee (no personal checks allowed bring cash), 1-tourist visa application form, and 1-photo. Allow at least 5-business days processing time. You can pay an extra $30 for same-day processing. Save time by downloading the visa forms here.

STEP #2 - Find a Flight
U.S. AIRLINE NON-STOPS: Several airlines fly directly from the United States to China, although the flight volume is by no means high. The US Department of Transportation and the Chinese government recently announced several new US China flights; some of the routes will open up in time for the Olympics. Heres a list of U.S. carriers that can take you to the Olympics:

United

• San Francisco-Beijing
• Chicago-Beijing
• Washington (Dulles)-Beijing
• Chicago-Shanghai
• San Francisco-Shanghai
• San Francisco-Guangzhou (starts in 2008)

Continental

• Newark-Beijing

American

• Chicago - Shanghai

–United currently flies to Beijing directly from San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington (Dulles).Delta

• Atlanta-Shanghai (starts in 2008)

AIR CHINA NON-STOPS

Air China

• Los Angeles-Beijing
• San Francisco-Beijing
• New York (JFK)-Beijing

FLYING WITH STOP-OVERS: Many travelers can fly from any number of U.S. cities to connecting cities in Asia and then on to Beijing. And flying with stop-over(s) can save you money. Check with FareCompare before you book your trip. And look at these connections:

• Hong Kong: where dozens of flights go daily to Beijing and other cities
• Tokyo
• Bangkok

HIGH AIR FARES: Your trip will not be cheap. Week-long Olympic package tours start at around $4,000, and with a tour, you forfeit all control of your trip. Round-trip tickets from San Francisco for next August are currently running in the $12-$1400 range. For seats from Chicago or New York, add on an extra $100. Nonstop flights will be slightly more.

AIRPORT/HOTEL TRANSPORTATION: Luckily, getting from the airport to town will be much easier than it has been; China has spent the last two years on a Beijing airport-access construction binge. The original Airport Expressway has been around since the 1990s and connects the airport to downtown.

3-New Expressways: By the opening of the Olympics, 3-more highways will link the airport to central Beijing and the city’s ring roads.
Subway: An airport extension to the main Beijing subway is scheduled to open June 30, 2008; just in time for the Olympics.

STEP #3 - Find a Place to Stay

LODGING: Book a hotel NOW.

• Quality: Chinese hotels vary widely in quality if you’re staying at a place you have not seen yourself, it is worth checking a hotel rating sites such as www.tripadvisor.com.
• Hefty Down-Payment: Be prepared to put down half of your money when you make a reservation, and expect to pay a premium of 20%-50% over normal hotel prices during the Games themselves.
• Good News: Prices in China are still far below what they would be in New York or London.