How to Book China Hotels: A Guide to the Best Rates & Experiences

Every year, we pack our bags and travel to China, exploring everywhere from the bustling streets of Guangzhou to the serene landscapes of Zhangjiajie. Through these trips, we’ve stayed in many hotels and have learned one thing - booking your accommodation can be confusing and frustrating, especially for first-timers.

We understand the pain. You jump on your usual booking website only to find limited options, and you’re left wondering if the hotel you picked can even legally host you. We've navigated these challenges for years, and this guide will share our proven secrets on how to find and book the best hotels in China at the best price, completely stress-free.

Why Is It Difficult to Book China Hotels?

Planning to book hotels in China from the USA, UK, or Australia? You probably started your search on familiar platforms like Booking.com or Expedia, and quickly realise that the selection is surprisingly sparse. Many excellent Chinese hotel brands, especially local chains and independent gems, exclusively list on Chinese-centric platforms, making them invisible to your usual search.

Furthermore, China's unique digital ecosystem presents payment hurdles. While major international hotel brands accept foreign credit cards, many local Chinese hotels primarily process payments through domestic methods like Alipay or WeChat Pay. You might struggle with paying for hotels in China with a foreign credit card if you don't use the right booking platform.

Effectively, even though Chinese law requires all hotels to accept non-Chinese guests, the reality is you need a platform that confirms the property is actually willing and equipped to handle the foreigner registration process and international payment methods. This is the key to ensuring a smooth check-in.

Our Go-To Websites for China Hotel Bookings

To solve the problems of limited selection and payment issues, you need to use a platform that is deeply integrated with the local market. For years of traveling in China, we have relied on one website above all others: Trip.com.

As China's largest online travel agency, Trip.com offers an unparalleled inventory of hotels. You'll find everything from luxury international chains to fantastic local brands that simply aren't listed anywhere else. Because of their direct local partnerships, they consistently offer the best prices.

Most importantly, Trip.com is designed for international users. It features a perfect English interface and, crucially, accepts all major foreign credit cards without any issues. It is undoubtedly our best hotel booking website for mainland China.

You may come across other local booking platforms, but be mindful that many do not accept international credit cards directly. They often require payment through Alipay or WeChat Pay. While these apps are essential for China travel, it is important to remember that they charge a transaction fee of 3% for any single payment over CNY200 made with a linked foreign card. This extra cost can add up over multiple hotel bookings!

While Trip.com is our top choice, savvy travellers know the secret to getting the absolute lowest price is to also compare it with Agoda. As a major player in the Asian market, Agoda often has competitive deals and a slightly different inventory.

To get the most out of this guide, we recommend you open both sites in separate tabs using the links below now. As you follow along our tips, you can search for your travel dates, and see the price differences in real-time.

Insider Tips for Scoring the Best Room Price in China

You might be surprised by how affordable luxury can be in China. Outside of peak travel times, a room at a premium international brand like a Hilton or Wyndham can be found for around US$100 per night, a fraction of what you would pay in the West.

Here is how to get the best possible price for your stay:

• Avoid National Holidays. The number one rule for getting good prices is to avoid China's major domestic travel periods. Hotel rates can easily double or triple during these periods. For a detailed breakdown of these dates, check out our guide on the worst times to travel to China.

• Save Money on Location. In major cities like Beijing or Shanghai with fantastic metro systems, you don't need to pay a premium to stay next to a landmark. Instead, pick a hotel near metro stations. In smaller cities, however, we recommend staying near the main popular streets, as you'll spend more time there and public transport is less convenient.

• Check Direct if You Have Loyalty Status. If you are a member of a major hotel loyalty program like Hilton Honors or World of Hyatt, it's always worth checking the price on the hotel's official website. While the room rate might not be lower than Trip.com, booking direct is the good way you can earn and redeem points or even enjoy status benefits like free upgrades and lounge access. The overall value can often be much higher.

• Book Early with Free Cancellation. Book your rooms as far in advance as possible to lock in lower rates. On Trip.com and Agoda, look specifically for deals that offer a decent free cancellation policy. This gives you the flexibility to change your plans or rebook if you find an even better last-minute deal.

• Skip the Hotel Breakfast. Another easy way to lower the cost is to skip the often mediocre hotel breakfast, especially in big cities. You can enjoy a far more delicious and authentic local breakfast just around the corner.

• Opt to 'Pay Now' Online to Avoid Fees. When you book, choose the option to "Pay Now" online with your credit card. If you select "Pay at Hotel," you risk the hotel not accepting your foreign credit card upon arrival. This may force you to pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay, which then adds a 3% transaction fee to your entire hotel bill.

Now that you've found a few hotels that fit your budget, how do you ensure you pick a real winner and avoid a dud? A great price is only good value if the hotel is clean, comfortable, and meets your expectations. The next step is to decode the hotel listings like an expert.

How to Choose Your Hotel: Decoding Online Ratings and Reviews

Alright, let's put those search results on Trip.com and Agoda to the test. If you don't still have them open in separate tabs, now is the time to do so.

Finding a hotel at within your price range is the easy part. Now comes the most important step - making sure it’s actually a great hotel. Here are the three essential checks we use to pick a winner every single time:

• Newer or Newly Renovated Hotels. China’s hotel star rating system can be inconsistent. We prioritize newer or newly renovated hotels, and avoid “apartment rooms”. Trip.com has filters for this.

• Trust Negative Reviews. Google is not widely used in China, so its reviews are often scarce. Instead, focus on the reviews within Trip.com and Agoda and pay more attention to the negative reviews and take positive reviews with a pinch of salt. For a local perspective, look up the hotel on Dianping, as we cover in our guide to essential apps for China travel.

• The Smoking Problem. If you are sensitive to smoke, stick to reputable international hotel brands like Hilton, Hyatt or Wyndham. They have strict non-smoking policies. If you are given a “non-smoking room” that smells of smoke, make sure to request for a room change immediately!

We cannot overstate these 3 points. It was painful for us to spend 3 nights in an apartment room with a broken window, stagnant puddle in the bathroom, and sheets with cigarette-burnt holes. And its online overall rating was 4 out of 5! 😵

While our hotel preference leans towards international brands, you may find good deals by exploring some of the top-tier local Chinese hotel brands, which often provide excellent rooms at a lower price point.

Recommended Chinese Hotel Brands for Tourists

While sticking to familiar international brands is our best recommendation, the adventurer in us is sometimes inclined to explore hotels by China's own hospitality giants. These are not small local chains. They are massive, publicly-listed companies that rival the biggest names in the West. The two players you should know are Jin Jiang Hotels, and H World Group (formerly Huazhu).

They operate a vast portfolio of brands catering to every budget, from economy to luxury. In fact, they also manage many well-known international brands within China, so you may have stayed in one of their properties without even knowing it. Below is a snapshot of the popular hotel brands these two groups operate.

Does this mean you can book any hotel from these groups blindly? Not at all. The key is to use this knowledge as a starting point. Think of the parent company as a mark of general reliability, but you must still vet the specific hotel using the rules we covered earlier.

Now that you have the insider knowledge, it's time to secure your hotel booking! Use the links below to begin your search on our recommended sites for your next China adventure!

FAQs About Booking China Hotels

Q1. What is the best and safest website to book hotels in China for foreigners?

A1. For international travelers, the best and safest website is Trip.com. It has the largest selection of hotels that are confirmed to accept foreigners, a full English interface, and securely processes international credit cards. Agoda is our second choice and is excellent for comparing prices to ensure you get the best deal.

Q2. Can tourist stay in any hotel in China?

A2. Legally, yes. Chinese law requires hotels to be able to host non-Chinese guests. However, in practice, some smaller, independent hotels are not equipped or willing to handle the mandatory foreigner registration process. It is their responsibility to register you.

Q3. What documents do I need to check into a hotel in China as a tourist?

A3. You will need your original passport. This is a legal requirement. The hotel must scan your passport to register your stay with the local Public Security Bureau. Photocopies or other forms of ID will not be accepted.

Q4. Are Chinese hotel star ratings the same as in the US/Europe?

A4. No, they are not directly comparable. The star rating system in China can be inconsistent and often focuses more on the presence of facilities rather than service quality or modern comfort.

Q5. Can I use my credit card to pay for hotels in China?

A5. It depends. Major international chains (like Hilton or Marriott) may accept foreign credit cards at the front desk. However, some local Chinese hotels will not. The safest and most reliable method is to always pre-pay for your room online through Trip.com or Agoda when you book. This guarantees your payment is accepted and helps you avoid potential 3% transaction fees from using Alipay or WeChat Pay at the hotel.

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