China Travel Tips

There are all kinds of accommodations in China, ranging from dorm-style bunkrooms to world-class luxury hotels. Generally speaking, most hotels are good and the prices are usually reasonable. The following are general services and facilities offered by hotels above 3 star:
 

• Color TV, telephone, refrigerator, central control air-conditioner;
• Private bathroom with 24-hour hot water and other daily-used toiletries including soap, bath lotion and shampoo, etc;
• One or two beds, a dressing table, and a wardrobe;
• An electrical water boiler;
• Round-the-clock room service;
• Tour department and business center;
• Bank service of exchanging money and post card delivery services;
• Shops where souvenirs are sold;
• Coffee shops, bars, Chinese and Western restaurants, banqueting halls, multi-function halls, conference rooms, ballrooms and beauty shop.

In China, finding a cheap hotel is not very difficult and here are some instructions for you:

• Look into alternative accommodation options such as house-swapping and apartment rental. Renting apartment through an agency can be a great help to facilitate the process.

• You should not only look for medium-priced hotels but also for hotels in budget price. Currently, a hotel in medium price costs as little as $ 35 per night.

• Bargain with the hotel so as to get the price you want to offer.

Generally, you can make your hotel reservation in websites of the travel agency or other relevant organizations, by e-mail, by fax or by telephone.
 

While making a hotel order, the following details should be included:
• Name of the hotel you are going to reserve and state clearly whether you accept any other similar alternatives;
• Your planned check-in and check-out date;
• The number of rooms you want to book;
• Complete your name;
• Your contact details, such as telephone number and e-mail address;
• Your special request (airport pick up, etc.)

On principle, you can make the reservation 6 months earlier before your trip, but you must remember that you have reserved hotel rooms the time you begin your journey.

Receptionists in all 5 star hotels can speak English well, and their other staff like restaurant and room servants can speak English to some extend. Many staff in most 4 or 3 star hotels can understand and some can speak good English. Therefore go to the receptionists if you need help and they will be very pleased to do you the favor.

Tap water in hotels is not drinkable although some luxury hotels declare that it is drinkable after being purified in advance. Normally there are water heaters or thermos in hotel rooms to provide boiled water, and bottled water is also available in some hotels for free. Besides, bottled water can be easily bought in every shops and restaurants.

Yes, all star-level hotels have non-smoking rooms or floors. If you have this kind of requirement, inform your travel company or the hotel in advance and then they will make arrangement for you beforehand.

Yes, you can rent a wheelchair free of charge at the hotel as a registered guest. But considering that there might be no sufficient chairs, the hotel may assign them on a first arrival priority.

Internet access is available in most hotels in china, but if the hotel you are living has no access, you can go to its business center with an extra charge.

CNN and some other English TV stations such as Star Television are available in most Chinese hotels in major cities.

Put your dirty clothes in the laundry bag in your room and the room attendant will take it away to wash. Make sure that you have taken out items that would be washed away. Normally, it takes a day to have your laundry done and you will get your clothes back the next day if handed in the morning. An extra fee is charged if you require an express service.

Generally you can check in the hotel from 2:00 p.m. and check out before 12:00 a.m., which is subject to the management of some specific hotels. Sometimes you may pay extra if you check in earlier or check out later.

Yes, it provides. If you need this kind of service just let the hotel know and leave the exact information of your flight including the flight No. and the arrival time. Apart from hotels near the airport which offer free pick-up, most hotels charge a fee for it.

Chinese believe that hard beds are good for people’s health, so beds in China are made so. Although each year many foreigners coming to China for sightseeing, the majority of tourists come within the country, so hotels cater for the major customers. But the situation is changing since more and more hotels have realized the different need of foreign guests. You can ask the hotel staff to add a couple of extra blankets to make your bed softer if beds in the hotel are too hard for you.

Usually business centers in China hotels provide their guests services including faxing, photocopying, travel consultancy and air ticketing. They are also equipped with PCs and printers.

Yes, many hotels in China have safety boxes in rooms. But in those that haven’t, you can leave your valuables in the safe of the reception.

Almost all the hotels in China have restaurants and some may have several ones that provide both Chinese cuisine and Western cuisine. As for the flavor of these cuisines, it is usual of high level and tastes good. 

In China, most hotel rates are per room, however, there are a few that charge fees on the basis of persons.

Usually a single bed is 1.2 meters wide and 2.0 meters long, and the double bed 1.8 meters wide and 2.0 meters long, but it may vary from hotel to hotel.
 

Note: 1 meter = 3.28 feet