China hotels are as elaborate as they come. They have a way of providing an accommodation experience in China that is both special and unique. At the same time, these same hotels in China have a way of including exorbitant fees and unnecessary room charges that can inflate a guest’s hotel bills.


Like most hotels you know, there are hotels in China that charge $5 for a room safe that you will not use, or for the “complimentary” bottled water stacked in the minibar of your hotel room. The list of hidden and unnecessary hotel charges does not stop here. Read on to see how your hotel bills can balloon unexpectedly and, more importantly, how you can avoid them.


Airport-Hotel Shuttle Service–Shuttle service from the airport to your hotel in China would not be a problem if you are staying in an airport hotel the way busy businessmen do. They go to their hotel, attend a meeting at the conference room, and, if they are lucky, get some sleep before the flight on the next day.


There are airport hotels in China that can be said to have the full amenities of a regular hotel, like the the Argyle International Hotel near the Hongqing International Airport in Shanghai. Located a brief stroll away from the airport, the hotel in Shanghai of Argyle International offers convenience and gets rid off the shuttle service fee that most hotels charge. If you are not staying in an airport hotel in China, one of the important things you should know is that it is cheaper to take a taxi than take advantage of a hotel’s airport shuttle service.


Unless it has been explicitly said that your hotel’s shuttle service is free, it would do you well not to assume. Pacific Hotel in Shanghai is one of those China Hotels that offer free shuttle service. Look out for their guest service counter at the Pudong International Airport to arrange a transport.


Cancellation Charges–Different hotels have different grace periods when guests can cancel their hotel reservations. Cancellation charges can bill you of up to a night’s worth of accommodation or more, so before you think you can just cancel a hotel reservation any time, read the cancellation policy of your choice hotel in China.


Internet/Telephone–Most China hotels, from business hotels to boutique hotels, from serviced apartments to 5-Star hotels, offer free Internet connection and telephone calls. But not all. You can log in to a WiFi network in your room, but unless it is free it will show up in your hotel bills. Check with the reception desk first before logging in.


Big hotels in China like the Shanghai Metropole Hotel offer free high-speed Internet, as well as the Fujian Hotel in Beijing, and The Asia Hotel. As for the telephone calls, take note which kind of calls are free. Most hotels in China will allow you to use a telephone only for domestic calls and they say you can use the telephone in your room for free. As always, check with the reception desk or the hotel’s website.


Hidden charges by hotels in China may be different from what hotels in other countries are charging guests. But nearly all hotels do charge extra for hotel services. It would not be altogether wrong to say that these charges are being tacked on to your hotel bills without your knowing. But, most of the time, in a country like China where English is not the native language, one could get lost in translation and pay dearly.

Know before you go. Visit China like the savvy traveler that you are.

It is not only now when the economy is slowing down that travelers in China seek to maximize their vacation money. Finding the best travel deals and looking for creative ways to stretch travel budget in a big country like China have been long-held practices of most travelers.


Not getting shortchanged is important, now that the economy is on a slump, more than it has ever been. Savvy travelers have tested-and-effective practices to prevent just that while visiting China. With simple preparations and a little foresight you, too, can stretch your travel budget while taking full advantage of your China vacations.


Do the math. Always—The marketing arms of most hotels in China have a way of making you feel you are saving on their hotel room rates more than you actually do. Not that it is a bad practice among hotels to offer hotel room deals like “50% off your 2nd night,” “Book 3 nights and your 4th night is free,” or “30% off your nightly rates.” It’s just that, with a little computation, there is actually a deal that can give China guests the most savings.


Granted that the different deals on China hotel rooms are made for different travelers with different intended lengths of stay, it would to a hotel guest’s advantage if he could do a simple computation first before booking a hotel room in China. The above deals, for example, all sound great. But do the math using any imaginary hotel rates and you will find out that the 30% off your nightly rates bests the other two.


Haggle with hotel room rates and inclusions—More so now in the middle of an economic slowdown, hotels in China are finding it hard to fill up all the rooms with hotel guests and reach a decent occupancy rate. Hotel room pricing is mostly about supply and demand. With many travelers opting to delay their trips now because of the economic uncertainties, those who decide to go have some leverage.


You can’t get what you don’t ask for, so bargain and negotiate. Of course, do it politely. If you are traveling to another country and you have to make a reservation online, you will have to use the room rates listed on the hotel website. But if not discounts, maybe you can get complimentary breakfasts or free use of the hotel facilities.


Hotels in China that includes a complimentary use of facilities to their room rates are the Cypress Hotel in Shanghai, while the Nan Yang Royal Hotel in Guangzhou, the Haikou Hotel in Hainan and the Hainan Hot Spring Hotel have room rates that are inclusive of breakfasts.


For business travelers, it would be nice to know that there is a fast internet connection in most parts of China. What they will have to worry about, on the other hand, is the extra expense of using a business center. The Hainan Hot Spring Hotel in China has rooms with personal computers, while the Argyle International Airport Hotel in Shanghai has rooms with business desk, both of them at no extra charges.


Book online direct with the hotel—Making hotel reservations online is easier and simpler now with the maturity of technology in China. Guests can book online at room rates from the hotel, at no service costs or any hidden charges.


Hotels in China all have their own website, but not all of them are run and operated by the hotel itself. One can tell if the hotel website is official if it carries the lowest rates online. Because the website is run by the hotel, no hidden charges are included in the hotel room rates.

Say what you will about the alleged fake fireworks at the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, the West Lake Expo proved that China can stage an amazing firework display.



The 9th West Lake Expo opened on Oct. 25 at the port city of Hangzhou in Zhejiang, China, and was highlighted by an Olympic-proportion firework display that almost looked unreal because it was really a spectacle. Fortunately we’ve got pictures.

2008 West Lake Expo in Hangzhou, China

The West Lake Expo is China’s showcase of products, services, and cultural attractions that can be found across the Zhejiang Province—a combination of commercial and cultural exhibitions in a port city known for natural sceneries and historical heritage.


The old city of Hangzhou in China is the center of commerce and industry in the Zhejiang Province. The city is modern and comfortable, yet there is a rustic air hanging in the air that comes from the scenic West Lake and Qiantang River. Among the recognitions received by Hangzhou is its inclusion in the Top 10 Chinese Cities.


With commerce, culture, and history thriving in Hangzhou, tourism makes the city one of China’s key destinations. There is a wide selection of business-class suites and five-star hotels in Hangzhou China because the city caters to almost any kinds of travelers on a business, family, or leisure trip.


One accommodation provider in Hangzhou, China, called the Lakeview Hotel, capitalizes on its lakeside location to attract guests. Backdropped by the West Lake, the hotel in China of Lakeview provides an ideal jump off point to what the city of Hangzhou has to offer.


Like most districts near a body of water, the location of Lakeview Hotel in Hangzhou is where the old city has taken its roots. Centers of commercial and culture, like the Lin Yin Temple, the WTC Exhibition and Convention Center, and the Great Hall of the People, are in the vicinity of the hotel in Hangzhou of Lakeview.


Scenic, comfortable, and at the center of commerce and culture, Hangzhou is like being in a candy store for most travelers interested in China.

2008 West Lake Expo in Hangzhou, China

2008 West Lake Expo in Hangzhou, China

The dynamic city of Beijing, China

You know it is a good time to visit a country when its art curators would dare risk the nation’s dated and priceless artworks in museums and gallery displays.


Such time in China traditionally falls in the early part of the last quarter of each year, the only time when the Palace Museum in Beijing displays the paintings of China’s renowned masters.


If such fragile and treasured paintings can stand China’s climate right now (characterized by low humidity and temperate weather), it only means that visitors and guests are in for a nice vacation climate in Beijing.


Beijing in the latter part of the year is temperate, with temperatures from 50F to 72F. It is not the case for other key cities in China.


The northern part of China is already incredibly cold this time of the year, while the infamous “Four Furnaces” of China is now benefiting from the cold north breeze. China is big that its key cities each have differing climate zones.


The Chinese capital of Beijing and its neighboring cities in northeast China are right now the most favorable part of the country. Winter is fast catching up though. But it is not without an upside.


Ice Lantern Festivals are a tradition come winter and they can be really charming. Also, the off season is a time of cut-rate hotel reservations and tour prices in China.


Of course, you still need to have extra money in the first place to accommodate plane tickets and a hotel room. But bargain Beijing hotels in this time of year can offer you a wide range of travel money savings, from dollar discounts on hotel rooms to free accommodation for one day/night.


Hotels in Beijing range from five-star to medium-sized accommodation providers. No matter what price range you are willing to devote to hotel accommodation, a first-class city like Beijing gives wide choices to China visitors.


At 400 to 600 Chinese Yuan price range, a safe and easy choice is the Fujian Hotel. It fits the role of a jump off point to a T, the hotel being in the Chaoyang District where most commercial hubs are located in Beijing.


For more class at such price range, there is the Oriental Garden Hotel. Featuring 173 oriental-style guestrooms, their hotel in Beijing is a favorite among foreign tourists and businessmen.


The fact that their hotel rooms are newly refurbished is another reason why Oriental Garden Hotel can put added touch of luxury to your stay in China.


Finally, for best value out of your accommodation budget, there is the Shenzen Hotel in the Xuanwu District of Beijing. The basics of hotel accommodation are all there, plus a concierge service that comes surprising at its 418 Yuan price. It is clean and comfortable, ideally located at the center of the city’s transportation system, and the staff is friendly.


The room rates we have gathered here are the hotel’s normal rates. With the onset of the off season, special rates, discounts, and even free nights availability are surely forthcoming.

China is a breathtaking tourist destination with an enormous number of sights and cultural troves. Home to motley ethnic groups, China offers a cultural variety that is not found elsewhere. China’s major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, and Guangzhou are all worth a trip alone.

But China is not only a giant of tourism; it is in the middle of an economic boom that makes China one of the leading nations in the world and is arguably one of the most popular destinations in East Asia.

As tourism in China continues to grow by leaps and bounds, the best places to go when visiting China are tourist destinations like the magnificent Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City.

The Great Wall stretches from East to West, covering about 4,163 miles and winding through valleys and across mountains. Its construction began around 600-700 BC and continued for over 2000 years and through 20 dynasties. The Great Wall is as much as 25 feet high in some areas and considered as one of the world’s largest building projects ever completed.

Another popular destination that you do not want to miss when visiting China is the Forbidden City. China’s Forbidden City is home to the world’s largest Palace. Situated in the heart of Beijing, the palace exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture, and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia. The enormous complex holds around 90 palaces and courtyards, 980 buildings and does have more than 8000 rooms.

Indeed, China is much more than just a country. When visiting China it’s like being in a whole different world. The tradition of this beautiful country, its proud sense of history and culture that spans back over 5,000 years, makes China a wonderland for millions of tourists each year.