When you think of Oriental hospitality, charming ethnic culture and folklore, the most impressive structures ever built and an irresistible cuisine that combines the exotic and the familiar, China is the country that usually springs into mind.

With major international events such as the Beijing Olympics and the Shanghai World Expo drawing in huge crowds of visitors, you can be assured that hotels in China are continuously improving on their standards to deliver you with an experience that you would remember fondly long after you have left the country. With a mind-boggling selection of accommodation to cater to your specific taste and budget, you can be sure to find a hotel with the amenities and services you seek.

To top it off, the warm and gracious hospitality delivered by these hotels will impress you so much that you will be reluctant to return home.

Comfortable accommodation for all budgets

When you arrive in China as a new visitor, you may be wondering about what the country’s accommodation is really like. After all, your hotel should be your home away from home. Here is some information that would enlighten you. For a simple, basic and affordable choice of accommodation, the one- to two-star hotels will be more than sufficient in providing a comfortable night’s rest, with the two-star hotels even offering extras such as on-site barber shops, drugstores and post offices.

Are you a business or tech-savvy traveler visiting one of China’s major cities on a tight budget? Your needs will be well taken of by the rapidly-proliferating budget hotel chains that offer all the conveniences that you would need for connectivity on the go – free Internet access, several electrical outlets which let you charge mobile devices, and even universal plug adapters which means that you do not have to bring your own.

Willing to splash out more for more comfort, conveniences and luxury? The hotels rated three-star and above will do a good job in delivering the quality, amenities and services that you would expect back home. These include boilers for boiling water in the rooms, business facilities and services, function rooms and halls, concierge and delivery services, as well as a choice of Western or Chinese cuisine served in the hotels’ restaurants.

Rapidly improving English standards in hotels

As China is rapidly modernizing, the standards of English language among hotel staff have also been rapidly improving to accommodate foreign guests. Step into any five-star hotel and you would be impressed by the staff’s competent command of the language and eagerness to be of service to you. Similarly, the cheaper hotels also have staff and receptionists who are at least conversant in English so that they can understand you and meet your needs. Nonetheless, it does not hurt to bring a Chinese phrasebook to facilitate conversation and communication.

Drinking water

Quenching your thirst in your hotel room is easy, even though the tap water is usually not drinkable. How is this so? Well, you can find flasks of hot water or an electrical boiler for you to boil water yourself in your room. Buying mineral bottle for a cheap price to satisfy your drinking needs is not a bad idea either, sometimes you can even find free bottled water in your room.

Some other useful pointers

Do not forget to have your passport handy when checking into your hotel, as you will be required to show an ID before you can check in. Getting lost outside your hotel should also be the least of your concerns if you bring along the room keycard as this contains the vital information you would need to ask for directions back to your hotel.