If you’re like me, you’d rather count smog particles with a magnifying glass than try to merge onto the Third Ring Road. Driving in a foreign country can be daunting at the best of times, and then add to the mix the insurance, number plate rental, license conversion, etc., and most of us just prefer staying far away from it.

We decided on a spur-of-the-moment little beach breakaway and wanted something not too far away, since we are traveling with two under 2. We hoped to try out the first-class train seats for the first time, as they are not exorbitant for short trips. Alas, they were all sold out, and we were left pondering whether to brave it in commuter class with a family of five or find alternative means of travel.

Upon checking whether one could do long trips on DiDi, I found the trip from Beijing to Beidaihe (our chosen beach break destination) was RMB 2,000 with a six-seater vehicle. Now, before you do a spit-take, consider that first-class train tickets would have cost us just over RMB 1,700, plus the DiDi rides to and from the station and all the hassle of clearing security, going through the gate with the swarm of people (with two babies), and boarding and disembarking the train.

Once I saw the DiDi price, I decided to contact a few car services to see what they could offer, because I wanted to be able to book and confirm details in advance and have the flexibility of stopping along the way if needed.

While most of the car services quoted me prices higher than DiDi, May from Show Beijing was willing to organize a car for us that matched Didi’s rate. We decided to book the car for the trip there and economy-class tickets on the high-speed train for the trip back.

Pro Tip: May does more than just help you book show tickets and cars. She also has access to great masseuses and can help you plan amazing boat rides on the Liangma River.

What we loved about the car:

Convenience – With two little ones (one eager to run everywhere), it was so much easier to be picked up right outside our building and dropped off right in front of the hotel check-in. Especially since May and the driver took the time in advance to confirm the correct address with the hotel.
Comfort – The driver brought both ice-cold and room-temperature water bottles for the ride. The car was air-conditioned, and the six-seater gave us plenty of space for all our luggage and for us to sit comfortably.
Speed – Though the train is much faster, when you factor in the trips to and from the stations, along with all the checks, boarding, and queuing at the station, the car service ended up saving us time. With a total ride of about 3.5 hours, the train ride of 1.5 hours turned out to be a five-hour endeavor in total.
Care – May took extra care to check whether we needed car seats for the babies and to ensure that the car was clean and odor-free.Things to consider:

Checkpoints – There are often police checkpoints when crossing provincial borders, so keep everyone’s passports handy for a quick grab if needed. Be prepared to sit tight for a bit as they ask the driver a few standard questions and give the car a quick scan while looking over your passports.
Munchies – We packed a few sandwiches, berries, grapes and dried fruit snacks (and coffee for the adults) as they were great, bite-sized, and mess-free treats that occupied our toddler and served as breakfast, allowing us an even earlier getaway.
Busy bees – We got one of those magnetic drawing boards and downloaded the Finger Sparkles and Fluid apps on our tablet, which kept our daughter wonderfully busy until she passed out cold.

After this experience, we will definitely be booking car services more often going forward. It is hassle-free and convenient, and when travelling with many passengers, it can end up saving money. With so many destinations within driving distance, it cuts out a lot of the 麻烦 máfan of traveling with toddlers. With everything running around in a parent’s mind (“Did I pack the swimming diapers?”, “Did I remember to turn off the AC?”) it is incredibly comforting having an entire aspect of the trip that you don’t need to spend any brain power on.

Images: Janita Shahsavari

Traveling with kids and grandparents isn’t about the destination anymore – it’s about surviving the journey in style. How do I know this? Well, I’ve got twin boys so when we travel with the whole family, it takes a lot of planning to make the trip fun for three generations of people – 8 people. Here’s how we upgraded our last big family holiday expedition to Yanqing’s World Garden Park area which was about a two-hour drive from our home!

The Space Solution:

When regular vans failed and two cars meant double the chaos, my husband struck gold on Xiaohongshu when he found an RMB 3,000 round-trip charter (peak season pricing) that gave us VIP mobility for under RMB 400/person for a rolling lounge experience. The Toyota Coaster is essentially a mini bus that comfortably seats up to 13 passengers (excluding the driver).

This wasn’t just hiring a personal driver who had a big car. The entire trip was an unforgettable experience in its own. The whole group had a great time singing karaoke with their built-in system and the ample leg room made what would have been a dreaded long drive into so much fun for the whole family.

Pro Tips:
Confirm mileage limits upfront (we kept single trips under 100km).
Coordinate pick-up/drop-off routes with drivers in advance so you don’t have any unforeseen miscommunications on the day of your trip.

Why We Loved Our Toyota Coaster:

• Airport-grade VIP shuttle comfort
• Zero-gravity seats + strollers-friendly aisle space
• Built-in karaoke system (toddler rockstars activated!)
• Climate control + motion-sickness-friendly suspension

Our “boring 2-hour drive” became a multigenerational concert! From Chinese ballads to nursery rhymes and juice boxes in hand. On the return trip, even our most carsick-prone grandma marveled: ‘These seats are incredibly comfortable to sit in – I didn’t feel nauseous at all throughout the journey!’

We really appreciated our driver taking the extra initiative to arrive 20 minutes early and assist us with all six luggage with the skills of a ninja as well as assist our elderly passengers with boarding and getting comfortably settled in. He took the time to confirm the navigation and provided technical support for the entertainment system along the way.

It’s worth pointing out that families with special needs or requests need to inform the rental company in advance. Things like child seats or wheelchair accessibility will require them to prepare 72-hours in advance.

With all the logistics out of the way, it’s just a matter of making your family’s favorite playlist and packing ample drinks and (non-messy) snacks. Unlike airline services, charter vehicles don’t provide catering – we brought insulated bags with juice boxes and banana bread.

So was it worth the splurge? For our Brady Bunch crew, this meant:

• Parents actually relaxing (no white-knuckle driving!)
• Kids entertained ≠ digital devices used
• Motion-sick grandparents traveling with their dignity intact

For our larger family with three generations traveling together, this chartered service perfectly solved our seating capacity issues while delivering unexpected comfort and entertainment perks – even allowing my perpetually ‘driver-doomed’ husband to finally relax on the road. Though pricier than DIY road trips, the premium paid for this stress-free experience proved a worthwhile investment in family harmony.

If you’d like to book them for your next road trip, get in touch at the WeChat below.

Images: Siyu He