Trip tip

Tips--Hotel

Hotels

There are lots of hotels in China, quite a few of them are above three star. Hotel star in China is assessed by China National Tourism Bureau with very strict criteria. Generally speaking, the services and facilities offered by the hotels above three-star include:

·                           Central control air-conditioner, a color TV, telephone, and a double curtain in the room. Some hotels provide a refrigerator in each room (4 and 5 star hotels).

·                           A private bathroom with 24-hour hot water, disinfected towels & glasses, tooth brushes &paste, soap, bath lotion & shampoo and toilet paper.

·                           One or two beds, a wardrobe, and a dressing table, with ceiling lamps, bedside lamps.

·                           An electrical water boiler, with which you can boil the water to drink. If no boiler, boiled water will be served by room service.

·                           Concierge service & Bank service of exchanging money & post card delivery service

·                           Business center where you can send or receive a fax

·                           Chinese and Western restaurants, coffee shops, bars, banqueting halls, conference rooms, multi-function halls, ballrooms, beauty parlors, massage rooms.

·                          

Once arrival at the hotels, our guides will help you go through the check-in formality. You will be required to show your passport since it is our Chinese regulation to show your ID card before checking into any hotels.

A standard room will be arranged for you, unless you have required for the other type of room and have special requirement and your Travel Consultant has confirmed the availability.

Water

Tap water is not drinkable except in some of the hotels. In hotel rooms there will be thermos of boiled water offered by the hotel free of charge or sometimes an electrical water boiler with which you can boil water by yourself. Bottled mineral water is recommended, especially for the first few days of your tour. The bottled water can be purchased easily for about $0.25 to $0.75 per bottle everywhere. Sometimes a bottle or two is provided free in your room by certain hotels. You can buy steamed water or mineral water easily everywhere.

Laundry in the hotels

Laundry service in the hotels is quick and reliable. You will find a laundry bag in your room, which you can put your dirty clothes in and leave it to the room attendant. Be sure to point out any items that may be washed-out. Generally, the laundry handed in the morning is returned the next day. Extra fee is required if you ask for an express service. Prices for laundry may vary at different hotels.

There are a few public laundries on the streets, even there are, it is advisable to have your laundries done in the hotels or cruise ships you are staying.

Mail service in the hotels

When you want to send postcards or letters to your friends, normally it is very easy for you to buy stamps at the front desk of the hotels. Stamps for sending one postcard cost RMB 4.50 to 6, while RMB 6 to 7 for a normal weight letter. And you can leave your postcards or letters to the receptionists, who will hand them to the postman

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Telephone service in the hotels

Most joint venture hotels provide IDD (International Direct Dialing) from your room. Instructions for IDD calls are available in the room. Please check with hotel regarding service charges for placing IDD calls. Other hotels will require international calls to be placed through the English-speaking long-distance operator, who will book a call for you at a specific hour. There are no special nights, day or person-to-person rates.

Electric Current

Throughout China (including Hong Kong), 220 volt/50 cycles is used. If your appliances are designed to operate at 110 volts, then you will need a Converter. Two-phase and three-phase sockets are commonly used in hotels. You may also need an adapter plug in order to use your electrical appliances. In case you forget to bring your own, you can always ask the housekeeper to lend you one.

Most hotels now provide a variety of beverages/snacks in the in-room mini-bar. Consumption of these items will be at your own cost.

In some of the hotels, in the bathroom, you may see colorful bags of beauty lotion, bags of sanitarian drawers that are for sale, not for free, consumption of these items will be at your own cost.

Normally check-in time is: from2:00 p.m. in the afternoon, check-out time: before 12:00 (noon)

Notes:

1) The check-in and check-out time are subject to the management of the specific hotel. Earlier Check-in or later Check-out sometimes results in an extra charge.

2) If you book a package tour from us, our tour guides in each destination will help you go through check-in & check-out procedures, and they will also contact the hotel beforehand to see if it is possible to let you have an early check-in and a late check out free of charge.