Introduction of China Accommodation:

Introduction to China Accommodation

Hotels range from five-star to one star-rated, inexpensive hostels, local guesthouses and roadside inns. Some hotels offer typical Chinese or local features and architecture, while others are completely modern, and of course there are those that are simply average.

Not all the hotels can accommodate foreign visitors, but three, four and five star-rated hotels certainly do. There are both domestically run hotels and international chain hotels, especially in highly developed or tourist cities, where you may find Sheraton, Shangri-la, Hilton, Hyatt, Holiday Inn, Four Seasons, and so on.

Price, however, is not a good guide to quality. Eastern China, for instance, is far more expensive than western China. Large cities are more expensive than small cities. Tourist cities are more expensive than non-tourist cities. Most hotels charge much higher rates during major holiday periods, particularly around Chinese New Year, the first week in May and the first week in October. Even within a major city, a more expensive hotel is not necessarily the best.

Quality can also vary considerably between hotels of the same star rating. Standards of service and cleanliness vary in the lower star-rated hotels, as does the amount of English that is spoken. Four and five star hotels, particularly those from international chains, have some staff who speak reasonable English, but it is unusual to find the majority of the staff not speaking any English. In three star hotels the people on the reception desk can usually be relied on to speak some English. It is not difficult to reserve a hotel by phone, fax or on the Internet. However, hotels of less than three stars may not have staff with good English-speaking skills, which makes phone or even e-mail reservations difficult or unreliable at times. Many travel agencies, tourism or transportation companies offer a reservation service, and there are many on-line reservation centers offering very fast and nice service.

Do not leave money or valuables lying about in your room. Take them with you or leave them in the security in the room or at the receptionist if it is available. Common check-in and checkout times are respectively after 2pm and before noon. Extra costs will be charged if you check in before 6am.

 

How to Rent a Tent:

Tent Ratings

Tent names usually include a seasonal and occupancy rating. Warm weather, or 1- season tents are for summer use when good ventilation is a major requirement; however, many 1-season tents will not keep you dry during a heavy rain. 3-season tents are the most versatile, providing good ventilation and protection against heavy rain and light snow. 4-season tents utilize sturdier fabric and poles and can withstand high winds and heavy snow. When you rent a camping tent for winter use, consider a convertible. These winter tents convert into 3-season tents through the removal of panels. Tent ratings also include weight, an important consideration if you are backpacking. If you do not like sleeping snugly, rent a tent with an occupancy rating one person higher than the number of people who will be sharing the tent.

 

Rental Logistics

When you rent a camping tent at a local store, look at availability far in advance of your trip to ensure they have the model you want; the selection may be limited. When you rent from a chain, you can pick up the tent at a local outlet or a store near the campsite. Use the store’s web site to determine whether the model you need is available at a convenient location. You can also rent your camping tent from vendors specializing in direct online rental. These vendors often have a larger selection than gear stores that focus primarily on equipment sales. They will ship the tent directly to your door, but you will have to repack it and ship it back after the trip. Camping tents are also available at camp stores and gear outlets at popular parks and trailheads and as option at private or concessionaire-run campsites where site fees and equipment rental can be combined into vacation packages.

Long before you need to rent your camping tent, check on the vendor’s reservation (or shipping-time) requirements and cancellation policies. Some vendors will add a cleaning fee if you return a tent dirty or wet.

 

Personal Style

When you rent a camping tent, you can opt for creature comforts and space or for a minimalist style. When you are backpacking or spending most of your time hiking, climbing, fishing or kayaking, a utilitarian tent may suffice. When you are car camping or spending time with family and friends around the campsite, a more spacious tent may be more convenient. When you rent a camping tent, you always have the luxury of selecting the exact model you need for the people, the season, the weather and the trip.

Hotels in Main Tourist Cities:

Hotels in Main Tourist Cities

Beijing

As far as Beijing accommodation is considered, the city offers many accommodation options in varying rates. You can choose to stay in the cheap hotels or youth hostels or even check out the mid-range or high-end hotels. The luxurious and comfortable hotel rooms offer you all the comforts of a home environment.

Beijing accommodation consists of a great number of hotels that include Budget, Cheap, and many rivaling the highest international standards. Other than hotels, budget travelers can seek the low rated Hostels, youth hostels and such other facilities.

Some of the Budget Hotels in Beijing offer facilities like air-conditioned rooms, large beds, personalized service and much more. The rate usually starts from around 31 Yuan per night. The mid-range hotels in Beijing offer accommodation at a rate of around 180 - 300 Yuan per night. The facilities available include cleaning of the room twice a day by the staff and free Internet access. The high-end hotels include Five Star Hotels that offer accommodation at a rate of around $150 per night.

 

Shanghai

Shanghai, the eighth largest city of the world, is also the largest city in China.

Shanghai is one of the highly popular tourist destinations of the world and tourism in Shanghai is a booming industry. Here, we give you a brief idea about Shanghai accommodation. Each year, tourists come to this wonderful metropolis and wonderful vacations.

If you plan to take a tour of the famous city of Shanghai, you will always look for some accommodation which is cozy, comfortable and offers the facilities and services that are convenient enough to make your vacation in Shanghai all the more enjoyable. Numerous world-class luxurious hotels, star hotels and budget hotels accommodate the tourists that pour in here. The famous Chinese hospitality makes your tour a thing to cherish forever.

Shanghai is home to many luxury hotels, which are right up there with the very best in the hospitality industry. There are internationally acclaimed and reputed hotels such as the Park Hotel, JW Marriott, JC Mandarin, Grand Hyatt, Four Seasons, Ritz Portman and many others. As one can expect, services of these upper crest hotels have a price. However,you don't have to worry if your budget doesn't allow you the luxury of the highest quality. There are numerous cheap Shanghai accommodations, hotels and budget hotel chains like Super Group, 168 Motel etc. They are dedicated to serve you without compromising much on the quality and comfort.

Guangzhou

Guangzhou is dotted with a number of scenic spots and historical sites. It is one of the most famous tourist hubs in China. Besides a beautiful landscape, Guangzhou enjoys a subtropical humid monsoon climate. Guangzhou accommodation caters to the need of every tourist who visits the place every year.

Hotels in Guangzhou

Guangzhou, a major metropolis in south China, boasts more than 50 hotels of international level ranging from 3 to 5 stars. Guangzhou accommodation is distributed in six important areas that include:

The shopping center Beijing Road

The HaizhuPlaza

The bustling Huanshi Dong Road 

The Embassy Area

The Canton Fair Exhibition Center

Since the Liuhua and Pazhou Complexes are the only two centers in use during Canton Fair, the hotels around these two complexes are always in high demand. Almost every hotel offers free shuttle bus service to the two complexes. Because of the large number of visitors, hotel space in Guangzhou is very tight during the fair.

Guangzhou accommodation is close to international standards. Most hotels are equipped with modern facilities such as private bathrooms, air-conditioners and comfortable beds. Prices are moderate except during the biannual Canton Fair when room rates rise rapidly. There is a huge rush of tourists during the Canton Fair and so visitors should do their reservations at least one or two months earlier than usual.

 

Chengdu

Blessed with a favorable climate with such varied attractions, Chengdu is swarmed by people almost every time througout the year. Hotels in Chengdu provide accommodation to travelers whatever their budget is.

Adjacent to Xinnanmen bus station, Jiaotong Hotel offers good accommodation to tourists visiting Chengdu. The room fare is inclusive of free breakfast. You can start your day with either Chinese or Western foods. The hotel offers other facilities like bicycle rental and internet access.

Kempinski Hotel provides luxurious accommodation to travelers. Located in the affluent southern part of Chengdu, the hotel offers a nice view. All rooms have 24-hours free access to satellite television. A mini bar is also housed inside this facility.

If you want to stay in a cozy place, head for Sim's Cozy Guest House. Managed by a Sino-Japanese couple this place offers cheap accommodation in Chengdu.

Many travelers due to the hotel’s proximity to the railway station favor Jingrong Hotel. Apart from the positional advantage, the hotel offers all modern facilities and a comfortable accommodation place at a reasonable price.

If the cheapest accommodation is what you are searching for in Chengdu, search no more. Mainly the backpackers frequent Chengdu Mix Hotel. The hotel,however,does not compromise on quality and is equipped with facilities like free internet, cheap DVD rentals and a lot more.

There are numerous other hotels too. Minshan Hotel and Holiday Inn Crown Plaza are among some of the best places to stay in Chengdu.

 

Dalian

Dalian is sub-provincial city in the eastern part of Liaoning Province of China. Dalian is one of the favorite tourist destinations in China. Dalian accommodation provides tourists with the perfect hotel facilities that make tours to Dalian all the more enjoyable.

There is no dearth of Dalian accommodation. Tourists can find suitable hotels to stay in. The hospitality sector of Dalian offers luxurious star hotels, mid-range hotels and cost-effective budget accommodation. Accommodation is available according to your requirements and tailor-made to keep to your budget obligations.

There is plenty of luxurious accommodation in Dalian. The top end of the hotel industry in Dalian is predominantly operated by large and reputed hotels. Some of the big players of the international hotel chains run star hotels in Dalian. These star hotels provide tourists with most modern forms of amenities. The service and hospitality offered by them is outstanding. The hotels are able to achieve consumer satisfaction, enabling them to run their business successfully. The prices are usually set based on international standards.

The mid-range accommodation of Dalian is made up of 3-star or 4-star Chinese-run hotels. These hotels offer decent sized clean rooms and quality dining service. The staff of the hotels is usually conversant with English language. There are numerous hotels that fall under this category, and some of them are very popular.

Like the rest of the cities in China, Dalian is also less resourceful when it comes to budget accommodation. Foreign tourists are not accepted by many of these hotels. A better option in this case is to go for university guesthouses or youth hostels.

Dalian’s Victoria Hotel has been built by two corporations of China and Canada jointly. It is international four-star standard. The hotel covers an area of 2,700 sq m and the building area is 10,000 sq m. Total investment is up to 90,000,000 RMB. The hotel has a business center and beautiful gardens.  Mountains in the distance form a colorful backdrop.

Shenzhen

Accommodation forms an important part of traveling and tours. The accommodation includes numerous options like cheap yet clean and hygienic facilities available in the range and many other things. Here there are hotels that provide packages which includes food, accommodation, spa and often with complimentary breakfast or dinner. The tourists must consider these things. In case of a “corporate” visit, the facilities of seminar halls, banquets and golf or tennis courts need to be considered.

 

Hangzhou

You can never short of suitable accommodation on your visit to Hangzhou. There are plenty of hotels and guesthouses ranging right from the 5- star ones to the ordinary budget hotels for those looking for a more economical option. Most of the hotels are located in the city center where most of the shopping malls are located. The West Side Lake also offers good accommodation facilities and a panoramic view of the surrounding area often makes the tourists choose accommodation near the lake. However, there are also hotels near the railway station that will make transportation easier for you.

Luxury Hotels:

The luxury hotels are mostly star rated and expensive but they also provide you with excellent facilities and service. Here are the names of some of the luxury hotels in Hangzhou:

Longhill Business Hotel Hangzhou: This is a four star hotel that not only provides you with excellent room services but also allows you to hold large conferences, business meetings or celebrate a private occasion in their large function hall. The hotel is accompanied with gym and restaurants.

Regal Plaza Hotel: this hotel is located in the City Centre and is rated as a five star hotel. The hotel was opened to the visitors in the year 2004.

Shangri-La Hotel: This hotel in Hangzhou offers complete luxury treatment to the guests and offers everything from fitness centers, swimming pools, restaurants and business centers to comfortable wheelchair accessibility.

Budget Hotels:

Center Hotel Hangzhou: This hotel is conveniently located near the railway station and consists of 184 guest rooms.

Lily Hotel Hangzhou: This hotel is situated near the picturesque WestLake and the room rates are quite cheap compared to the spectacular view that it offers of the surrounding area. The hotel has 155 guest rooms.

Being a popular weekend destination for the people living in the nearby cities, it is advisable that you make a prior reservation in specific hotel especially if you are traveling in the peak season

 

Guilin

There are not so many hotels in Guilin, although Guilin is a very famous tourism city. Guilin hotels recommended by us are suggested by our travelers. The price of Guilin hotels is not very high, so we suggest 4-star and 5-star hotels in Guilin. They provide better service and equipment.  

Note of Guilin Hotel Reservation: Price of Guilin hotels will be affected by Golden Week Holiday (MAY 1-3, OCT.1-7) each year.

Payment at Guilin Hotels:

Most Guilin hotels accept credit card upon arrival. Some hotels need guarantee by credit card when a reservation is made. Some 3-star hotels need prepayment during national holidays or large-scale exhibitions.

 

Xian

You will never worry about not finding a good Xian hotel. As the capital city of Shanxi province, Xian is a very famous international tourist city. Xian hotels cover all star rating levels and all locations in this city, from 3-star to 5-star and from downtown to airport. Many famous hotel management brands are available such as Sheraton, Holiday Inn and Shangri-la.

Some Xian hotels are in ancient Chinese style. Many foreign travelers prefer this kind of hotel.

Note about Xian Hotel Reservations: Price of Xian hotels will be affected by Golden Week Holiday (MAY 1-3, OCT.1-7) each year.

Payment at Xian Hotels:

Most Xian hotels accept credit card upon arrival. Some hotels need guarantee by credit card when a reservation is made. Some Xian hotels need prepayment during national holidays or large scale exhibitions.

 

Hong Kong

There are hundreds of hotels in Hong Kong, including several high-class ones. Most of the hotels are located in Tsimshatsui, which is the place for shopping, food, and entertainment.

Causeway Bay, North Point, and the New Territories also have some very good hotels. Central, Admiralty and Wanchai, which are the financial districts, also have fantastic hotels.

Hotels in Hong Kong are top class, with world-class facilities and comforts. There are hotels that cater to all classes of tourists, with all budgets and various needs. Prices of rooms start from $100 to $200 on average and may go up to $600 per day. There are also some hotels where the prices of rooms start from less than $100 and they come in the budget category. Some of the most popular hotels under the $100 are the City Garden Hong Kong, Wharney Hotel, South Pacific Hong Kong, Majestic Hotel Hong Kong, Kimberley Hotel, Park Hotel Hong Kong, Royal Pacific Hotel, and New World Renaissance Hong Kong.

Hotel rooms in the range of $100-$150 include: Marco Polo Gateway Hotel Hong Kong, Marco Polo Prince Hotel, Regal Hong Kong Airport Hotel, Novotel Century Hong Kong, Harbour Plaza Hotel, Marco Polo Hotel Hong Kong, Hong Kong Hyatt Regency Hotel, Excelsior Hong Kong, Holiday Inn Hong Kong Golden Mile, and Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel. Then there some higher-priced  hotels such as the Renaissance Harbour View, Kowloon Shangri-La Hong Kong, JW Marriott Hong Kong, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong Hotel, Inter-Continental Hotel (formerly The Regent), Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and Peninsula Hotel, which have rooms priced at over $200.

However, the most premium hotels are the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Panda Hotel, Emperor Happy Valley Hotel, The Charterhouse, Kowloon Hotel, Dorsett Olympic Hotel, Cosmo Hotel, Guangdong Hotel, and the Dorsett Sea View Hotel, among many others. Room rents for these hotels are in the range of $700-$1,000 or more per day, for a standard room. The different kinds of hotel rooms are generally the standard rooms, deluxe rooms, deluxe courtyard room, grand deluxe view room, and suites like the superior suite, deluxe suite and others. Most of the Hong Kong hotels offer excellent cuisine consisting of fresh seafood, which is one of the specialties of Hong Kong. They also offer sightseeing services, cruises and night tours, airport transfer services, and host several indoor facilities such as: restaurants, bars, saloons, pools, gardens, spas, conference rooms, champagne bars, fitness facilities, and heated pools, massage treatments, and even Tai Chi and Yoga classes. The rooms are huge and offer high-speed Internet connectivity, television with cable, mini bars, massage showerheads, and other facilities.

Chinese Star-rating Hotels' Facility and Difference:

Chinese Star-rating Hotels: Facilities and Differences
The China National Tourism Administration has issued a standard to rate hotels in China from one to five stars. The basis for ratings is as follows: China National Tourism Administration issued a standard to rate hotels in China from one to five stars. The basis for ratings is as follows:

 

Five-Star Hotels

Five-star hotels are usually palatial with huge lobbies, their standards not quite matching the best of Paris or New York, but very close. Service should be better than the four-star hotels described below. There are many hotels of five-star international standard, just as good as hotels in Washington or Ottawa except for the standard of English. Some hotels have their own fleets of Mercedes limousines or Toyota vans that make regular runs to the airport or city center. Executive floors supply concierges and free continental breakfasts; best western food and probably the best Chinese food in town, and the most luxurious breakfast buffets. Many have magnificent ballrooms and lobbies and cater to foreign business people on expense accounts.

 

Four-Star Hotels

Four-star hotels should provide luxurious and spacious soundproof rooms, low-noise toilets, and hair dryers. They should have guests and service elevators, background music, health club, swimming pool, sauna, business center, greenhouse, 24-hour door attendant, reservations accepted through fax/telex, 24-hour room service, and onward reservations in China for guests. A guest reception and assistant manager should be available in the lobby 24 hours a day. Laundry should be returned by the next day. The restaurants in four-star hotels should provide two kinds of Chinese food with the last order no earlier than 9pm. Bar service should be available until 1 am. There should be a 24-hour coffee shop and a breakfast and dinner buffet. A clinic should be on-site. A business center with photocopying, typing and translation services should be available, as should a ticketing agency with city tours and babysitting services.

 

Three-Star Hotels

Three-star hotels must have : at least well-decorated guest rooms with dressing table, desk, drawers and closet; carpet or wood floor; telephones in every room with international direct dial(IDD); mini-bar and refrigerator; color television sets, in-house movies, music; writing materials; sun-proof curtains; and bed turn-down service. They must have single rooms and suites, Western and Chinese dining rooms(with English-speaking attendants, and the last order no earlier than 8:30pm), 16-hour coffee shop, banquet hall or function room, buffet breakfast and bar service(until midnight), and 18-hour room service.  

 

They must also have elevator service, washroom, equipment and service for disabled people, disco or karaoke, foreign exchange, safe deposit boxes, store, camera film developing, fax and telex service, luggage storage, 24-hour laundry and dry-cleaning, wake-up calls, shoe polishing, and taxis. They should be able to mend articles of everyday use for guests. They should accept major credit cards. They must have an emergency electricity supply for public areas, medical services, 16-hour a day doorman, and message service, guest reception, and managers on call. An assistant manager should be in the lobby 18 hours and railroad timetables available.

 

Two-Star Hotels

Two-star hotels must have at least 20 guest rooms, 95% with private baths, 50% with telephones, and 16 hours of cold and hot running water, Western and Chinese breakfast must be offered.

 

One-Star Hotels

One-star hotels must have air-conditioning, coffee shop, dining room, and at least 20 guest rooms, cleaned daily. Of course, 75% must have private baths. They must have central heating, a lobby with information and reception desk, postal service, and 12-hour a day cold and hot running water.

China's Economy Hotels:

An economy hotel, called a “bed and breakfast” hotel in Western countries, offers standardized hotel services with a better price/performance ratio than luxury hotels, because it keeps only a high-standard accommodation facility. It has no accessory facilities for meetings, entertainment and catering, and cuts down on procurement costs and staff through standardized brand operation and facility management.

 

Most of China’s economy hotels are located in Shanghai, Beijing, and Jiangsu Province. China's domestic economy hotel chains, such as Home Inns, Jin Jiang Inns, and Motel168, have been rapidly developing, as have foreign economy hotel brands such as Super 8 and Green Tree Inn.  While foreign brands are on the rise, China’s domestic brands dominate the economy hotel market, with the top two domestic brands, Jin Jiang Inn and Home Inns, showing the strongest market position and development trends.

 

Jin Jiang Inn & Hotels Management, Inc.

Jin Jiang Inn is a subsidiary of Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels (Group) Company Limited ("Jin Jiang Hotels"), the largest hotel conglomerate in China. The company’s hotel portfolio ranges from the economy to the five-star. HOTELS magazine ranked Jin Jiang Hotels 22nd in the world for 2005 in terms of total number of hotel rooms.

 

Home Inns & Hotels Management, Inc.

Home Inns & Hotels Management, Inc., headquartered in Shanghai, has vastly expanded its nationwide network of economy hotels since its founding in 2002. As of October 1, 2007, the Home Inns hotel chain consisted of 200 properties.

 

Super 8 Hotels (China) Co. Ltd.

Super 8, which operates in China under a licensing agreement between Wyndham Worldwide Corporation and Tian Rui Hotel Investment Corporation, was among the first foreign economy hotel chains to enter the market when it opened its first hotel in Wangfujing, Beijing in June of 2004. The brand has since expanded to first-tier cities such as Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, as well as second-tier cities such as Dalian, Liaoning, Chengdu, Sichuan, Hangzhou, Harbin, Heilongjiang, Xiamen, and Fujian. Super eight China plans to continue the expansion to smaller cities and major highway locations.  

Super 8 capitalizes on the “first-mover” advantages of a foreign economy-hotel brand. These include modest price, high standards, and established brand reputation. Super 8's target customers are Chinese middle-class business and leisure travelers who appreciate good value and international levels of quality and service. Super eight maintains the same high international standards in China as its sister properties in North America, despite differences in areas such as room size and parking lot space.

 

Other Brands

Foreign economy-hotel brands such as Days Inn (Wyndham), Ibis (Accor), and Holiday Inn Express (Inter Continental) also have a presence in mainland China. The most competitive advantage of foreign versus domestic hotel chains is management expertise and technology. This applies especially to the central reservation system offered by foreign hotels, which helps advertise and simplify access to the hotel for international tourists. Meanwhile, domestic economy hotel chains take the advantage of local business knowledge, making progress in adapting the foreign hotel chains’ operation model.