China Travel Guide: How savvy travelers in China get the most bang from their vacation budget

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.