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.