Question: Is the Internet service available in Chinese hotels?
The Internet service is available in many 4 and 5 star hotels. Mostly you can find this service in the business center. Prices can vary anywhere from $5 for 15 minutes to $5 for 1 hour's time. Uploading pictures and files is quite easy but may take some time. Some newly renovated hotels offer free internet service for your laptop in all rooms.
Question: What time can I check-in and check-out the hotel?
General check-in and check-out times may vary according to hotel. In general they are: Check-in time: from 12.00 am (midday). Check-out time: before 12.00 am (midday). Early check-in and late check-out are subject to availability and individual hotel policy. Some of the downtown hotels ask passengers to check in not early than 2.00 p.m. in the peak season.
Exress check-in service
We have long-term good relationship with some 5 star hotels in major Chinese cities and vacation destinations, for our incentive programs or VIP clients, our tour guide will go get the room key before airport pickup, you will go directly to your room when you arrive the hotel, all registration work will be completed by your tour guide.
Late check-out service
If your departure flight is at night, you might need to fresh up after a full day sightseeing, ask your tour guide to arrange one day prior. The hotel needs to check the detail informations of the expect in-coming passengers on that day, check the arrival time and flight of passengers, assiagn your room to a new passenger who arrives late on that day. The house keeping office also need to change the shift of working hours for room cleaning. Lots of works! Only an expereinced travel agent like Shanghai Holiday knows how to focus on details of our service quality.
Question: Is the Hotel staff able to speak english?
In the 4- to 5-star hotels the staff is well trained in speaking English, especially at the reception. These upper class hotels also provide an English description of the hotel in your room.
In the big Chinese cities also the staff of 3-star hotels is able to speak English.
In smaller cities they speak only simple English.
If you face some communication problems during your stay, please contact the assistant manager in the lobby or our local tour guide first.
If they can also not help you, please do not hesitate to contact the staff of Sinoway Travel directly. We will offer a contact list for every client who has booked our service.
Question: For safety, what should we pay special attension of staying in a hotel?
1. Check to see where the emergency exits are and familiarize yourself with the hotel emergency evacuation plans. Do this immediately.
2. Do not open the door for unexpected visitors.
3. Before going to bed, make sure that the deadbolt on the door is locked and all sliding doors or windows are locked and secured.
Question: What can I expect from the hotels in China?
According to the Chinese rating system, 1- 5 star hotels are approved to receive foreign guests. In the bigger, more developed places like Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Kunming, Lijiang, Chongqing, Wuhan, you can stay in 3 star or 4 star hotels.
In smaller towns like Yangshuo, Dali and Zhongdian, there are many good small hotels. Almost all the rooms have twin beds (few double beds are available in the hotels) and have a private bath (with Western style flush toilet and bath and shower), heating and air conditioning, as well as a telephone capable of international direct dialing and a television (although usually only Chinese channels are available, but some international channels are available in the hotels over 3 star).
Sinoway Travel always recommends a good centrally located hotel for you. It is very easy for you to walk around to explore the city, and particularly the local street markets, as well as many wonderful local restaurants.
Question: Do we have English TV programs in Chinese hotels?
In addition to Chinese language TV broadcast, some English TV programs are available in many hotels via satellite.
Some local TV stations also provide English news and other programs in English.
In Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, you can watch the evening news in English at 7:30 pm and again after movies or programs around 11:00 pm. early in the morning (7:30 am), you will find ABC news and CBS news broadcasts from the U.S. on TVB Pearl and ATV World. These two channels from Hong Kong carry world and local news, including news from Mainland China.
During the night, you will find American programs and good movies. At most 4 and 5 star hotels, you may also get HBO, CNN and more.
Question: How to I tip in the hotels in China?
Remember to tip the porter who delivers your suicase to your room when you check in, otherwise it might take extra hours for him to pickup your big suicase when you leave the hotel. Usually you will leave your big suicase outside your room and go for breakfast on the day when you leave the hotel, telephone the porter to pick up the baggage, Some passengers will find out their big suicases are still at their doors when they have come back from breakfast. It might be true that the porters are quite busy now, for most of the passengers check out in the morning.
Please also tip for the good service of bar attendent, waiter or waitress. If you are happy with the service of your room maids, leave small change on the pillow for the maids. Do not try to give it to the maids personally, as in most cases they will not take it.
Question: What are the different room types of a Chinese hotel?
The actual differences between the bedrooms varies from one hotel to another, with Executive being the highest standard of room.
Single Room - A single room is designed to accommodate one person only. The room may contain one single bed or twin beds.
Double Room - A double room is designed to accommodate two people only. The room contains one queen size or king size bed or if not available twin beds.
Twin Room - A twin room is designed to accommodate two people only. The room contains two single beds or if not available a king size bed.
Family Rooms - The family room type is usually a Triple Room, designed to accommodate three people only.
Question: What is your hotel room rate included?
All of our hotel room rates are calculated per room and per night, NOT per person (unless otherwise specified). For hotel booking only, there is no charge for children at the age of 12 or below, if they share a room with their parents and do not need an extra bed.
Some of the room rates are not inclusive of breakfast, they are shown as USD *** room only.
Most of our room rates are inclusive of two persons' breakfast. If a child sharing one room with their parents, and do not need an extra bed, the hotel might charge for the child's breakfast cost, it is from USD 5 to USD 15, differs from hotel to hotel.
Question: What is single supplement?
The hotel is based on double occupancy. If the visitor travels alone or the number of the travelers is odd (such as 3,5, 7...), the person who stays in one single room has to pay the single supplement.
Question: How to use the hotel name card?
Bring a card with the hotel address and phone number on it (separate from the key) when you leave for the day. I recommend this in case you get lost or find yourself too far away from the hotel to walk back and have to take a cab, you can just show the driver the card, and he will know where to take you.
We also highly recommend you to ask our tour guide to write his/her cellphome number on this card. Every passenger has been asked to take the contact information of our offices in every Chinese city all the time.