AccommodationsJust like ride-hailing options, there are also many ways to book hotels. However, I’d stick with Trip.com to keep things simple. Both the web and mobile interfaces are easy to navigate, and they’ve been very reliable during all my travels so far.
A few tips on booking accommodations in China:
Many hotels allow smoking indoors. Although there are non-smoking rooms, I’ve found that smoke can still travel through vents; this can be very annoying!! International and well-known chains on the pricier end is a good (but not always reliable) way to avoid this, but most hotels will also let you switch rooms if it’s an issue. Don’t be too hesitant to ask if this is the case; Chinese hotels are usually quite accommodating with this.
A good tip from my cousins: newer buildings (2022 and after is my preference) will generally be more pleasant from a lack of wear and tear. This info is available on listings within Trip.
Just like with restaurants, guests can be incentivized to rate a hotel on the higher end in return for things like goodie bags. Try to read a few of lower-rated reviews and see if there are any patterns, and note the recency of problems that guests had.
Popular hotel chains I recommend Budget: The Hi Inn (海友酒店) chain is popular for budget travellers and students. Hi Inns utilize single use amenities from towels to slippers, and these items are replenished daily.
Mid-range: Ji (全季酒店) and HanTing (汉庭酒店) are plentiful in most cities and towns.
Hi-end: Atour Hotel (亚朵酒店). I’ve never stayed here personally since I was generally satisfied with less pricey options, but this is a well-reputed and more elevated chain.
There are of course popular international chains as well, but local chains might be fun to experience and are usually more budget-friendly. The tip of selecting newer hotels applies heavily for a better experience. `