Talking Travel: On the Precipice of 2014 Edition

This is a mixed bag of new flights, new promotions, and new openings just ahead of the new year. Next week we'll have the 2014 travel preview to look at up and coming destinations and other trends in China travel.

Beijing's on again, off again air relationship with London's Gatwick airport is on again, with the announcement that Virgin Atlantic will begin a codeshare agreement with Air China for that airline's flights from Beijing to London's favorite alternate, starting March 30, 2014. Whoopdeedoo. Virgin still only flies to Shanghai, and the Gatwick flights only came after there was wailing and gnashing of teeth over their seasonal cessation. At least it's four more flights per week to London during the warmer months of the year.

Hilton Hotels is offering a 1,000-point bonus on any stay at its newly opened Conrad Beijing, just south of Changhong Qiao on the east Third Ring road. Maybe time for a winter staycation over Spring Festival? The terms are here, the offer is valid through February 28, 2014.

China Eastern Airlines will fly non-stop Beijing to Bali starting...today, December 31, through February 28, 2014, to handle holiday traffic. Good luck booking on their website. Hint: search for "Denpasar," not "Bali." We tried to find the fare but despite inputting numerous different dates, every single one seemed to be sold out or unavailable.

Sheraton opened the Sheraton Langfang Chaobai River Hotel on December 28. Langfang lies to the east-southeast of Beijing, just over the municipality border in Hebei province. Not exactly a mecca for tourism, but there are some big factories in the area that may attract a business crowd. And expect that your company offsite will be held there at some point.

Shanghai launched a number of new high-speed rail lines to other parts of China, and Beijing ... didn't. Work on the high-speed line to Shenyang is slated to begin in 2014, cutting the travel time from the current four hours and 40 minutes to something like 90 minutes. That also would mean Beijingers could be in the Beidaihe/Qinhuangdao area in under an hour. Sometimes we have to admit our southern rival is just better at certain things than we are, like getting things done.

Talking Travel wishes all of you a Happy New Year and more frequent flyer miles in 2014. One road flat safe!

Photo: Starwood Hotels