KEY POINTS:
My wife and I will be in Shanghai for three days early next month. We will be taking a grand city tour, but what else should we try to see while there? And what do you suggest for places to eat?
- Denys Boshier
Shanghai is where history, tradition, sumptuous food and modern glitz meet, so you'll have plenty to do in this fascinating city.
You could start by visiting the top five sites: the views from Jinmao Tower, the faded 1930s architecture of the French Concession, the temples and shops of the Old Town, the Bund, and the Shanghai Museum.
You'll certainly be given a taste of these sites on your Grand City tour.
Other highlights include the Yuyuan Gardens and Bazaar in the Old Town, taking in a performance at the Shanghai Grand Theatre, browsing at the Dongtai Rd antique market, cruising along the Huangpu River and taking a taxi to the old canal quarter of Qibao.
Shanghai has been attracting some big-name restaurateurs and fabulous restaurants specialising in fusion cuisine have been springing up along the Bund.
These are great for a splurge, but you'll find more authentic dining experiences in the backstreet shops and dumpling stalls.
Increasingly, these local restaurants are producing English-language menus or at least ones with pictures you can point to.
The city's food streets are Yunnan Rd (speciality Chinese), Wujiang Rd (the night market), Zhapu Rd (dozens to choose from) and Huanghe Rd (including the vegetarian Lotus behind the Park Hotel).
For that first or final-night splurge, head to any of the restaurants at Three on the Bund, including Jean Georges (meals from $39) and Laris, or the French Concession restaurants including the Deco-era Yin or Crystal Jade's dim sum.
You could also head to the big hotels for surprisingly reasonable grand buffets.
The Grand Hyatt's 56th floor is the place to head for a meal with a view. For Shanghainese cuisine try 1221 (1221 West Yan'an Rd; dishes from $5.50), the expat favourite.
Delights of Dubai
We are stopping in Dubai for three nights but have found it difficult to find a good place to stay at a realistic price. Are there such places as B&Bs in Dubai?
- Perry and Jan Bathgate
Dubai makes a terrific stopover, but with temperatures a humid 45C at this time of year you'll want to stay in a place with air-conditioning.
Don't miss taking a trip up the Creek in a dhow, bartering at the perfume and spice souqs, window-shopping at the gold souq, wandering around the traditional quarter of Bestakia, visiting the Dubai Museum and Heritage House, taking a taxi to Jumeirah to relax at the beach or in the bar of a five-star hotel, dining at night at a Creek-side open-air restaurant and shopping at the Egyptian-themed Wafi City mega-mall.
Dubai is better known for multi-star swish hotels such as Jumeirah's Burj Al Arab, the world's first seven-star hotel, rather than homely B&Bs.
Generally speaking, hotels are in two categories - largely split between beach resorts and the cheaper city hotels.
The best place to start looking for reasonably priced options is Deira, in the heart of old Dubai. It's the most traditional area, with souqs, dhow wharfs and the classic wind towers and courtyards of Arab architecture.
But even here B&Bs and guesthouses are rare.
We've tracked down a couple of B&Bs for you to try.
Fusion B&B (www.fusionbandb.com; suites $160 a night) is a stylish boutique option in Jumeirah, and Villa 47 (www.villa47.com; doubles $107) is in Garhoud, not far from the airport.
Also try Barsha Guesthouse (Villa 13, Al Barsha 3; ph 563 7000).
Reasonably priced hotels include the central three-star Gulf Pearl Hotel (www.hotels-of-dubai.com/hotels/gulfpearlhotel.htm; doubles $94).
And there's the Pacific Hotel (www.pacifichotel-dubai.com/html/default.htm; doubles $107), close to the Creek in Bur Dubai.
Before heading off, make sure you read the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's travel advisory, which you'll find at www.safetravel.govt.nz
