China
Nights in the Cowshed
Hyatt launched the UrCove brand in 2019 as a joint venture with China’s BTG Homeinns …
Strike While the Iron's Hot? Not Quite
We’ll catch up as the shinkansens roll along. July hotel prices in Japan sprang an …
The Status Monk
Yinchuan is not Shanghai. Here, running into a fellow Westerner counts as a stroke of …
Accor Platinum for 1 Night
Our old acquaintance Kai, the content machine, wrote something useful yesterday. Accor has …
A Chinese Visa Run
The 30 days flew by like winter in Vietnam. For the reset, I picked Macau. My “place …
Forfait Free Max
Remember when I recommended that French operator? Hélène and the lads have got merry on …
Air China, the National Carrier
With a European account, it shows prices through the roof. So I registered on the Chinese …
Accor Stay Plus
Those mischievous Parisians won’t let you pay with points if you’ve selected …
Hyatt House Yinchuan
As advertised earlier: the cheapest Hyatt House in the world. Not new, but perfectly …
An Existential Visa Run
Find the lady: round and round it goes, and the idea is that the Chinese border officers …
Landed in China
The crisis in the Middle East has hit the PRC harder than the news is letting on. No fuel. …
Hyatt Long Stay Rates
If you’re a disciplined status chaser and aren’t hypnotised by Fora’s …
Moneypenny-Bot
This year Marriott left its fan base out in the cold on double nights. They want people …
Taobao
China cross-pollinated Amazon and eBay, and out came Taobao. Verification through Alipay, …
And What About the Water?
The grass is always greener, and the water always softer, wherever you happen not to be. …
The Village of Nanchong
Last year the New Year spawning took place in the quiet little village of Nantong. This …
Same Again?
Stand down the panic. A scientific paper has been published that is inextricably linked to …
Bottle Opener, RIP
Grounded until 8 January in the sleepy hamlet of Nanchong (population: a mere couple of …
Spawning Season
Just as migrating birds fly south, December is when the status chaser starts to spawn. …
Hyatt on the Bund
A famous hotel. Cult, even. On paper it sits in the Grand Hyatt portfolio, but it markets …