Hotel help

Not sure how to pick a place to stay in Beijing? We've got the scoop on where to sleep, how to book, and what to pay

It seems that nothing is reaping the benefits of the 2008 Olympic Games and China's economic boom more than the Beijing hotel industry. High-rise hotel after high-rise hotel appears on the skyline, and the constant construction shows no signs of abating.

Up until the late 1970s, very few hotels were built in Beijing – during this period any display of luxury of the sort touted by hotels was explicitly banned. Visitors were expected to stay in distinctly unglamorous dorms or zhaodaisuos (accommodation centres). It wasn't until China began modernising in the 1980s that any effort was made to attract foreigners and businesses to the city. With plenty of gaps left in the Chinese market and projections that China will overtake the US as the world's number one tourist destination by 2020, investing in the Beijing hospitality business suddenly makes a lot of sense.

Beijing's range of accommodation varies from courtyard homes and restored royal palaces to design hotels and hutong hostels. In spite of the growing numbers, however, most hotels in Beijing are geared towards business travellers and the number of cutting-edge or boutique hotels are few. For most travellers, the quality of service can also niggle. The absence of any service culture in China, coupled with a shortage of people with the experience and language skills required means this is one area where even international hotels struggle – the pace of progress has been so fast that education and training can't catch up. Things are changing, though, and the situation is improving.

The best hotels unsurprisingly gravitate towards the centre near Tiananmen and the Forbidden City, while Qianmen, Gulou and Houhai provide more authentic accommodation in a less touristy setting, perfect for students or those on a budget. Anything in the Chaoyang district will be near a good bar, restaurant or shop of some kind and Financial Street now has three stylish international chain hotels perfect for business travellers. Those afraid their hotel isn't very central shouldn't worry too much, since getting from A to B anywhere in this sprawling city requires a 20-minute or so taxi ride. It's also worth bearing in mind that even five-star hotels have no qualms about hailing an old banger of a cab off the street, so be sure to take along a piece of paper with your destination written on it in Chinese characters just in case.

Hotels to look forward to

The rate at which new hotels are arriving in Beijing means that when you read this, several new ones will have popped up, such as Marriot International's newest Ritz Carlton and JW Marrion. Other ones to look for include the potentially spectacular Park Hyatt, currently towering above all others in the area, which will feature Beijing's highest restaurant, fine views of the city and outdoor terraces and bars. The Mandarin Oriental will also be opening shortly and Hilton Garden Inns and China's own budget chain Jinjiang are also boosting the number of mid-range hotels in the city.

Booking Information

Given the high occupancy rates of most hotels, booking a room in advance is recommended. Hotels in the budget category, and even in the mid-range hotels, may not have a competent English-speaking reservation line, so always make sure you have some sort of written confirmation by emailing or faxing ahead of time. Alternatively, for ease of booking and some genuinely good deals on accommodation rates, try Ctrip .

It's important to remember that prices given by hotels are their published rates, which are often 50 per cent higher than what rooms actually go for. It's also worth bearing in mind that prices fluctuate greatly throughout the year. Discounts will almost always be given, so haggle hard, whether it's the Grand Hyatt or the Lusongyuang. Rates listed are for basic rooms or suites; something like a 'deluxe room' or 'presidential suite' will be more expensive. For nearly all hotels in the moderate and expensive categories, room rates are subject to a 15 per cent surcharge. Note that the 120-odd smarter hotels in Beijing (including the yet-to-be-built ones) are already booked solid for the duration of the Olympic Games, having been assigned to a national team and/or sponsor by the authorities.

Sarah Keenlyside