From:
United States
Michigan
Rockford
@Tyler72
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Time
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2013-05-21 09:21:31
#4
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Let your girl get all your reservations. Chinas notorious for having a dual tiered pricing system... One price for Chinese and another much higher one for "rich" Westerners. Just give her the money and then let her handle it for you.
I am lucky in that, as a shoe designer, my company pays for my trips! Yes yes, not only is my job way cooler than yours but it also pays me to go to china, lol... Seriously though. Maybe you can start a bs business as a sole proprieter, which means you wont need to incorporate and your taxes get rolled into ypur petsonal filings.. It could be anything.. But my suggestion is to get on alibaba.com and find some products that are made in the area you want to travel.. Then contact one of those companies and set up a tour.. This wont get you cheaper travel up front but if you can justify a trip to china as business in any way, you will be able to write off a lot of your travel expenses.. You know make your trip coincide wi the canton fair for example.. Or hit a couple companies to look around as if you are going to do a garment line etc... Its a thought anyway... Its what I would do if I had your problem.. I would come up with some art.. Contact a cycling jersey company ( i have doneth is part) spend $50 a pop for some custom sample jersies using my art.. Then arrange a trip to the factory... You want to see their equipment, check the working conditions etc... When there, take pics and document it.. Voila.. Business trip.. Even if the planned business falls through and of course you know it will... Shhhh that part is a secret, you have documented justification for the irs if you ever get audited..
That works for me as a softgoods designer.. For you I would consider your actual industry and see what you could do. What makes a reasonable story.. Make up some business cards with an online printer.. Theyre cheap.. It sounds crazy but people really do start business this way and import product to sell in the US... You could get a gmail address in the company name.. Like your name.company name @ gmail.com
Otherwise just start saving. The flight is by far the most spendy part. Hotels can be as cheap as you want them to be.. Hotels for locals are super cheap. Dont stay in Beijing... You can stay up all night in an airport if you need to and sleep on the plane etc. food can be super cheap in China too if you eat local food at little locals only restaurants. You can eat like a king on $5 a meal if you are brave and eat in little local dives. I do that sort of thing all the time but I usually have a nice, cute guide who knows where to go and what to order. Its tough to do that on your own.
My biggest advice is dont stop moving until youre in Guilin and safe with your girl. Let her help you manage your budget and she will be able to get you the best deals and save you a ton of cash over what you will spend if you are trying to arrange things on your own.
Goood luck!