I know I'm posting allot today, but I have a zillion things flying through my thoughts. I don't have a TA (travel approval), so I of course don't have a CA (consulate appointment). I assume I will go to Guangzhou at the end of our trip around April 17-20. This is during the trade show in Guangzhou and hotels are 3 times as expensive as normal times. On the one hand, I don't want to book a room now because they charge a very steep cancellation fee during this period. On the other hand, if I do not book a flight and hotel, I may not be able to get a flight. The hotel space will be there but the cheaper rooms may not be available. The White swan for example cost $450 per night for their cheapest rooms. The Victory is now $170 per night for a cheap room (normally only $45 per night). I don't want to be paying these prices in Guangzhou if I'm not going to get a CA during this week. I would be better off hanging out in Hong Kong or Shanghai. But if the CA on this week does work out...perhaps I had better just book something now. What would you do? OK, I know you probably would not even be going ...but if you were me what would you do?