Top of chapter ACCOMMODATION

Hosting the 2008 Olympics was the catalyst for a massive overhaul of Beijing’s hotel accommodation; as new luxury hotels were flung up, existing places revamped themselves for the tourist rush and budget chains extended their options in the capital. Now, Beijing has rooms in all price brackets and there are so many of them that travellers are spoilt for choice.

There’s no shortage of luxury options, including chains such as Sofitel (www.sofitel.com), Ritz-Carlton (www.ritzcarlton.com) and Peninsula (www.peninsula.com), but Beijing lacks the historic hotels found in Shanghai and Hong Kong, a result of its never having been colonised (except briefly by the Japanese).

Beijing makes up for that with its delightful courtyard hotels, which are mostly located in traditional hutong (alleyway) neighbourhoods and have atmosphere in spades, as well as usually boasting a good level of service. The downside is that their rooms tend to be smaller and less luxurious than the ones in the modern four- and five-star hotels.

Midrange hotels are less impressive. They can be found everywhere, but their decor is generally unremarkable, facilities can be old and amenities limited. Nor will many of their staff speak English, unlike in the luxury hotels. Motel-style chains, though, have mushroomed in Beijing. Their design may be generic without much Chinese flavour, but the service is efficient and rooms are clean and modern. Two ubiquitous chains in Beijing worth trying are Home Inn (www.homeinns.com) and Jinjiang Inn (www.jinjianginns.com).

Budget hotels are generally shabby and worth avoiding. Hostels, however, have sprung up all over central Beijing, particularly in Dongcheng and Xicheng’s Houhai Lake area, and are a terrific option. The staff usually speak good English, while visitor information and tour services are among the best in the city.

Most travellers base themselves in Dongcheng, Xicheng or north Chaoyang. Dongcheng has most of Beijing’s major sights, and many of the city’s popular luxury and courtyard hotels are in this district.

West of Dongcheng, Xicheng has decent hostels and plenty of midrange accommodation, which will put you near the Houhai Lake area’s bars, restaurants and shopping. East of Dongcheng, north Chaoyang is Beijing’s nightlife hub and has some of the best restaurants in town. The district has a full range of accommodation, from hostels to boutique hotels and luxury options.

With so many rooms on offer, most hotels slash their listed rates by as much as 40% to 50% for much of the year. Don’t be shy about asking for a discount. The exception to this is during the peak tourist season from June to September and public holidays like the Spring Festival/Chinese New Year. You’ll need to book well ahead if you’re planning to be in town then – visit lonelyplanet.com/hotels, or CTrip (www.english.ctrip.com).

At check-in, guests are required to fill out a registration form with their visa and passport details. The form is then sent to the local Public Security Bureau.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14