First Solo Trip to Shanghai on a 26K Budget Without a Tour Guide.
Here's a travel plan for a solo trip to Shanghai during Christmas 2024 for 5 days and 4 nights, staying at a 4-star hotel with a budget of 26K, including everything. The plan focuses on waking up at 9 AM and leaving the accommodation at 10 AM, using the bus for transportation.
Date: 24 - 29 Dec 2024
Day 1: BKK - PVG Terminal 1
🛫 05.05 - 10.35
Take the Metro and then a bus to the accommodation
🏢 Wassim R Hotel (Pudong New Area)
📷 Nanjing Lu
🛍️ Popmart
🍴 Xie san bao (Crab Roe Noodles)
📷 The Bund
Travel by bus 🚍
Day 2:
📷 Xintiandi
📷 Anfu Lu
🍴 Sunflour
🛍️ Qipu Lu
📷 Yuyuan
🍴 Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant
🛍️ Nanjing Lu
Travel by bus 🚍
Day 3:
🎡 Disneyland
Travel by Metro 🚇
Day 4:
🍴 Chaoshan Restaurant
📷 West Nanjing
🍴 Aman Lonbakery Town
📷 Rock Bund
📷 The Bund
🍴 Family Mart
Travel by bus 🚍
Day 5:
📷 North Bund Greenland
📷 Suzhou River
🍴 REi-Flower Coffee Bar
📷 Huaihai Lu
🍴 Bao’s Pastry
🍴 Arabica Coffee
🏢 Wassim R Hotel (Pudong New Area) to pick up luggage
Travel by bus 🚍
Day 6: PVG Terminal 1 - BKK
Take the bus from the hotel and then the Metro to the airport
Have a meal at the airport before the flight
🛫 00.15 - 04.05
💰 26,036.22 THB
~ Round-trip ticket + accommodation: 17,410 THB (booked via Trip)
*Outbound flight with China Eastern includes meals, return flight with Shanghai Airlines does not include meals, 23 kg baggage allowance for both ways*
~ Disneyland ticket: 2,212.31 THB (booked via Trip)
~ AIS Roaming 10 GB for 10 days + insurance: 549 THB
~ Food + bubble tea daily: 2,355.56 THB
~ Shopping (clothes, shoes, socks): 2,723.69 THB
~ SIM card in China 20 GB for 10 days: 399.63 THB
*On day 4, AIS Roaming did not work but still had 2 GB left*
~ Bus and Metro fare: 244.68 THB
~ Lottery: 141.32 THB
🛫 Good airline, direct flight, spacious seats, comfortable sleep
🏢 4-star hotel, clean, provides 2 bottles of water daily, quiet surroundings, helpful staff, but walls are not soundproof
🍴 Food is rather bland, and not eating spicy food makes it less appealing, but desserts and bubble tea are just right
🚘 Buses are very cheap, 2 yuan, punctual, but only in Chinese. Metro is more expensive by 1-2 yuan, used only when needing to transfer buses 3 times, frequent bag scans, and long walks
🛍️ Shopping is very cheap, 3 shirts for 100 yuan, pants for 150 yuan, shoes for 200 yuan, a must-buy
📱 Buy a Chinese SIM card from Thailand or China, fast and cheap internet, but need to activate VPN from Thailand before flying
📷 Xintiandi does not allow tripods, if found, staff will ask to put it in the bag
🎡 Disneyland does not allow tripods and flashlights, if brought, must be stored in a locker with a fee
💳 China does not accept cash, most food orders and payments are made via Alipay, WeChat, link Travel card with Alipay before going for convenience
🆘 Essential apps: Alipay, Travel card, Gaode, Leaf VPN, Shanghai Disney Resort
For those planning to visit Shanghai and want to try the bus, it is very cheap, punctual, easy to travel, and impressive, making you want to go again for sure.