Before leaving the airport
The airport is the last place with free Wi-Fi, English signs, and staff who deal with confused foreigners all day. Use it. Sort your stuff here, not on the street.
What to do
- 1
Check your phone actually has data. Open a webpage — if it loads, you're good. If not, find the airport Wi-Fi or buy a SIM.
- 2
Pull up your hotel address, map route, payment app, and translation app. Make sure they all open.
- 3
Use the bathroom, buy a bottle of water, and decide how you're getting to the hotel. Do this while you're still inside.
- 4
If something critical isn't working (no data, payment broken), fix it here. There are counters and staff. Outside, you're on your own.
Double-check before you rely on this
Hotel address is visible in Chinese characters (not just English).
You know where to go: taxi queue, metro entrance, ride-hailing pickup, or hotel shuttle meeting point.
Phone has enough battery to last the trip to your hotel.