accommodation

The Cost of Living in China – for Travelers & Expats

The Cost of Living in China – for Travelers & Expats

Last Updated: Rodney

How much does it cost to go to China? Take a look on the travel forums and it’s one of the most common questions there is, so, let’s break it down.

Just like anywhere, there’s a big difference between holidaying and living for extended periods so let’s tackle it in two parts.

Holidaying in China: The Costs

It is a bit like how long is a piece of string, it depends on the level of comfort your seeking and where you want to go and what you’d like to see. For this example, lets’ focus on Tier One cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou. read more

The Top Value Accommodation options in Tsim Sha Tsui, HK

The Top Value Accommodation options in Tsim Sha Tsui, HK

Last Updated: Rodney

Tsim Sha Tsui is a popular location from which to base a Hong Kong trip, there are numerous attractions in the area such as the Star Ferry, Victoria Harbour, Museums, Mosque and endless shopping via the major malls, Ladies Market, Temple St Night Market and much more.

These top 15 accommodation options are based on primarily visitor reviews, but also value and location.

Philippine Hostel 1-star hotel

Area: Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Located in Hong Kong, 109 yards from iSquare. It features air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi throughout the property. Each room includes a flat-screen TV. read more

The Top 10 Hotels in Zhongshan

The Top 10 Hotels in Zhongshan

Last Updated: Rodney

The Top 10 Hotels in Zhongshan (ranked by value, location, foreign friendly, review rating)

Map

Zhongshan Yihe Grand Hotel
 5-star hotel

Area: Zhongshan
Located in the vibrant Xingzhong Avenue within walking distance from entertainment and shopping options. It boasts 5-star facilities like an indoor pool, a spa and tennis courts.




Hilton Zhongshan Downtown
 5-star hotel

Area: Zhongshan
A 5-minute drive from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Park. It boasts luxuriously decorated guestrooms, a spa and wellness centre, a 24-hour fitness centre with sauna room and an indoor pool. read more

The Top 13 Hotels in Wuhan China

The Top 13 Hotels in Wuhan China

Last Updated: Rodney

Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, features several quality hotels and here we have listed the top 13 based on suitability, value, visitor reviews and central location.

Wuhan features many attractions including Hubei Provincial Museum, Yellow Crane Tower, Villa of Chairman Mao Zedong, Guiyuan Buddhist Temple, Heptachord Terrace and East Lake to name some.

The Top Wuhan Hotels:

New World Wuhan Hotel
 5-star hotel

Area: Qiao Kou, Wuhan
A 10-minute walk from Zhongshan Park. It offers 5-star upscale accommodation and an outdoor pool. A fitness centre and an archery club are also available. read more

The Top 15 Xiamen Hotels

The Top 15 Xiamen Hotels

Last Updated: Rodney

These hotels in Xiamen are picked based on their visitor reviews, location, suitability for a foreign guest and value.

Xiamen is a beautiful coastal city in Fujian Province, a city I really enjoyed especially the island, Gulangyu, and also heading inland to Yongding to visit the Hakka Tulou buildings.

Hotel Indigo Xiamen Harbour
 5-star hotel

Area: Siming, Xiamen
A 5 minutes’ walk from Huangu Ferry Marina, offers relaxing beachside living in modern guestrooms with free wired internet. All rooms offer wide windows that allow much natural light and the fresh ocean breeze in. read more

The Top 15 Hotels in Central, Hong Kong

The Top 15 Hotels in Central, Hong Kong

Last Updated: Rodney

Central is the financial heart of Hong Kong, featuring not only the business district but also numerous attractions such as the Peak Tram, Hollywood Road, the Mid Level Escalators, world famous shopping and more.

JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong 5-star hotel

Area: Central District, Hong Kong

Sitting at top the prestigious Pacific Place Complex. It has direct access to the Admiralty MTR subway station and Pacific Place Shopping Mall.



Conrad Hong Kong 5-star hotel

Area: Central District, Hong Kong

It has direct access to Pacific Place, a prestigious shopping and entertainment complex. read more

The Top 15 Hotels in Shenzhen, China

The Top 15 Hotels in Shenzhen, China

Last Updated: Rodney

Hotels are chosen based on suitability, overall value, star rating, location and visitor reviews.

Shenzhen was a city that I spent a lot of time in, living there for more than two years. It’s convenient, with it’s metro system, and offers a lot of western comforts. It is mainly visited for its significant electronics industry, proximity to Hong Kong, and job opportunities but it also offers tourist attractions and value shopping.

The Top 15 Hotels in Shenzhen

 

Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai
 5-star hotel

Area: Nanshan, Shenzhen
Located in Shekou District, Shenzhen, offering outdoor pool and indoor pool. Free Wi-Fi access is available in all public areas. read more

The Top 15 Luxury Hotels in Hong Kong

The Top 15 Luxury Hotels in Hong Kong

Last Updated: Rodney

The Top 15 luxury hotels in Hong Kong based on location, value, star rating and most importantly, visitor reviews.

Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel 5-star hotel

Area: Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Featuring an award-winning restaurant overlooking Victoria Harbour. It’s a Marriott Luxury & Lifestyle Hotel in Hong Kong, on the scenic Wanchai Waterfront.



Grand Hyatt Hong Kong 5-star hotel

Area: Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Directly connected to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and a 5-minute walk from Wanchai MTR Station and Star Ferry Pier. It offers a 50-metre heated outdoor pool and a spa. Its elegant rooms overlook Victoria Harbour from floor-to-ceiling windows. Free WiFi is provided. read more

The Top 15 Hotels in Guangzhou

The Top 15 Hotels in Guangzhou

Last Updated: Rodney

These Guangzhou hotels are selected based on proximity to the city center, visitor ratings, overall value and suitability for foreign visitors.

Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong, and in all respects, a mega-city with population exceeding 9 million. Popular attractions include Yuexiu Park, Canton Tower, Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Baiyun Shan, Bright Filial Piety Temple, Chimelong Tourist Resort and Baomo Garden to name just some.

It’s also a key destination for international trade featuring regular trade shows mostly held in the Panyu District, and many wholesale markets with the clothing markets being world famous, it’s also famous for shopping at Shanxiajiu Pedestrian Street and Beijing Lu shopping street, see here for a full list. read more

The Top 15 Macau Hotels

The Top 15 Macau Hotels

Last Updated: Rodney

The city is of course famous for it’s casinos but also for it’s Portuguese heritage. It’s a place I quite enjoy visiting, a fusion of cultures and much more. Macau is a must visit, and here’s the top 15 hotel options based on visitor reviews and overall value.

Casa Real Hotel
 5-star hotel

Area: Macau Center, Macau
Located adjacent to the Macau Ferry Terminal and offering an indoor pool. Each room has a flat-screen TV, air conditioning and a minibar. Featuring a shower, private bathroom also comes with a bath and a hairdryer. read more

The Top 10 Hotels in Foshan, Guangdong (inc Lecong and Shunde)

Last Updated: Rodney

These Foshan Hotels are ranked and chosen based on their suitability for foreigners, their locations and by the reviews of previous guests.

Foshan is a famous industrial city in Guangdong, located south of Guangzhou. Foshan is the ancestral home for overseas Chinese including it’s most well known, Li Xiaolong (Bruce Lee).

Crowne Plaza Foshan 5-star hotel

Area: Foshan

Located in the center of the city, a 10-minute drive from the train and bus stations. The hotel features an outdoor pool and provides free internet access. read more

The Top 10 Hotels in Dongguan [inc. Top Ten Attractions, Transport and district guide]

The Top 10 Hotels in Dongguan [inc. Top Ten Attractions, Transport and district guide]

Last Updated: Rodney

Heading to Dongguan for business or for sight-seeing? Here are my picks for the top ten places to stay in the area, plus the top ten things to see and do.

The city is located between Shenzhen and Guangzhou and is renowned as an industrial region being home to many factories along with several trade shows throughout the year. The area is surprisingly large, filling the space between Shenzhen and Guangzhou, and the Pearl River and Huizhou on its other sides.

This you may not believe, but the city is home to some 44 million people! You see, Dongguan is a megacity, a city of cities which includes 32 towns. The largest town is Humen which is home to over 630,000 people. read more

The Top 10 of Changsha: Hotels, Attractions and What to Eat

The Top 10 of Changsha: Hotels, Attractions and What to Eat

Last Updated: Rodney

Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, is home to 7 million people and renowned for its spicy local cuisine. For most tourists its a jumping point to head onwards to Zhangjiajie, Fenghuang, Wulingyuan, or Shaoshan and the birthplace of Mao Zedong. That’s a shame as Changsha offers quite a rich mix of history and cuisine.

The Top Ten things to Eat in Changsha

1. Steamed Nesting Birds (San Ceng Tao Ji  三层套鸡)
2. Spicy Chicken Cubes (Mala Zi Ji 麻辣子鸡)
3. Crisp Sesame Duck (Maren Xiangsu Ji 麻仁香酥鸭 )
4. Deyuan Steamed Bun (德园包子)
5. Non-Yolk Eggs with Mushroom (Huagu Wu Danhuang)
6. Kouwei Shrimp (Kou Wei Xia)
7. Dumpling in Soup (Liu Defang Tangyuan)
8. Changsha-style stinky tofu (Changsha Chou Doufu 长沙臭豆腐)
9. Mao’s braised pork (Mao shi hongshao rou 毛氏红烧肉)
10. Beer duck (piji u ya 啤酒鸭) read more

The Top 15 Hotels in Xi’an China

The Top 15 Hotels in Xi’an China

Last Updated: Guest Post

Xi’an was one of my favorite destinations and I place I highly recommend to anyone touring China. You can read more about my journey here. These are top rated hotels in Xi’an that are also convenient to all the major attractions such as the Drum and Bell Towers, the Mosque, City Wall and so on, also they are highly suitable for foreign visitors. For the Terracotta Warriors, no matter which hotel, you’ll need to organise transport, for which the concierge at these hotels will be able to assist. read more

Accommodation in Humen: the Grand Noble Hotel

Accommodation in Humen: the Grand Noble Hotel

Last Updated: Rodney

While in Humen we stayed at the Grand Noble Hotel. It’s a clean, comfortable hotel, the food at the restaurant was more than fine and there was even English speaking staff.

Even more interesting is that there is a Starbucks on site, so coffee and somewhere to chill is taken care of. The hotel is also very central to the main shopping area which is packed with clothes stores. It’s also easy to get to the city’s main attractions including the Weiyuan Fort, Naval Battle Museum, Humen Bridge, and Opium Museum. read more

V Inn Hotel Xiamen

V Inn Hotel Xiamen

Last Updated: Rodney

I’m glad I left the Xiamen Huaqiao Hotel to come here, whilst the room is not quite as nice, the service at the V Inn makes all the difference.

The staff are friendly, and some speak English, while at the four-star Xiamen Huaqiao Hotel, combined with a CTS travel agency, couldn’t book a bus ticket, the staff at this hotel had it done in minutes. Really so helpful.

Id also made this reservation with cTrip over the phone who managed to find a place at a great price even on the weekend with only hours notice. read more

Fuyulou Changdi Inn and Hukeng Village

Fuyulou Changdi Inn and Hukeng Village

Last Updated: Rodney

After a full day tour of the tulou buildings it was back to the Fuyulou Changdi Inn just in time for a tea drinking session with the owner and guests. Here they grow there own tea, and it’s good gear, so good, I made sure to take some home. After an hour of solid tea drinking it was time for dinner, and fortunately they have english menu, and even a French menu too!

The food from the in house kitchen is top quality, fresh, tasty and fairly priced. It’s just what I needed after a sleepless night on the train and a long day exploring the tulou buildings throughout the area. Even better, was having the French couple as company for dinner. read more

Macau Accommodation: Ole London Hotel

Macau Accommodation: Ole London Hotel

Last Updated: Rodney

Initially, I’d only booked two nights at the Pousada Marina Infante Hotel and when I got around to asking to extend for another night, the price had doubled, bugger. So it was onto the online accommodation sites again and this time cTrip had the best deal.

The Ole London Hotel was the cheapest option listed and looked reasonable,  its located on the main part of Macau and very close to Macau’s Historic area.

All the taxi drivers know the place by its English name too, which is handy, and the place is right next door to the Best Western Sun Sun. The hotel is a bit of a walk to the major casinos like Lisboa, Wynn or the MGM Grand, but it’s only about 17HKD in a taxi (less than $3 aud). There’s also a bus stop nearby. read more

Macau Accommodation: Pousada Marina Infante Hotel Macau

Macau Accommodation: Pousada Marina Infante Hotel Macau

Last Updated: Rodney

Accommodation in Macau is nowhere near as cheap as the mainland, and can even be on par with western hotel prices during busy periods. After searching Hotel Club, eLong and Ctrip to find the cheapest, most reasonable hotel in Macau, at the time, Hotel Club ended up having the best deal and I stayed at the Pousada Marina Infante Hotel Macau. Accommodation in Macau is a little like Hong Kong in that you need to book in advance to get really good deals.

The hotel is located on Taipa Island so its a little way from central Macau and the casinos like the Grand Lisboa, Wynn, Sands or MGM, but it’s close to the Venetian, The Plaza and the City of Dreams or what’s often referred to as the Cotai Strip. read more

Cheap Hong Kong Hotels: Mirador Mansions

Cheap Hong Kong Hotels: Mirador Mansions

Last Updated: Rodney

Mirador Mansions on Nathan Rd of Tsim Sha Tsui is an extremely well-known building that has been frequented by travelers to Hong Kong for many many years. The building takes up the whole block width ways and is about 15 stories high, and was built back in the 70’s is my guess. For many years it has been home to several different independently run hostels, including the well known Cosmic Guest House.

It has a great location, being less than a five-minute walk to the all the attractions along Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour. It’s also very close to Kowloon Park and its right across the road from the new iSquare shopping complex. Temple St Night market is within walking distance too. read more

Hong Kong Accommodation: Dorsett Kowloon Hotel

Hong Kong Accommodation: Dorsett Kowloon Hotel

Last Updated: Rodney

Formerly known as the Dorsett Olympic Hotel, the place has 141 rooms and is located on Anchor St at the northern end of Kowloon in the area known as Tai Kok Tsui. It’s well back from the main attraction of the Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour but close to Mong Kok which will please shoppers.

To their credit, they run a free shuttle bus at regular intervals from morning through into the night. The shuttle bus is a modern 21 seater that stops off at the nearby MTR station, it also runs through to the Dorsett Seaview Hotel and to the airport. read more

Shenzhen Accommodation: The Orient Sunseed Hotel

Shenzhen Accommodation: The Orient Sunseed Hotel

Last Updated: Rodney

I found and booked this place via the cTrip website and it seemed to be a reasonable compromise between price and comfort at just under 200RMB ($31AUD) and still in the Nanshan District of Shenzhen. I stayed here just before heading over to Hong Kong.

The place isn’t really close to anything, but at the same time it’s not too expensive to get a taxi to anywhere you need to go. If you after reasonable budget accommodation in Nanshan it’s probably worth checking the rates.

The place is starting to show its age but for a budget price it passes ok. The rooms are kept clean, but the carpets in the room I had graced a few stains. Otherwise everything works, the shower is clean, plenty of pressure and hot water and free toiletries included (toothbrush, soap, comb, etc.). read more

Holiday Inn Nanshan, Shenzhen China

Holiday Inn Nanshan, Shenzhen China

Last Updated: Rodney

The Holiday Inn is an American hotel chain, so, it’s guaranteed that the prices are going to be higher than your run of the mill Chinese hotel. But what do you get for the extra cost?

For a start, the Holiday Inn Donghua in Nanshan District is clean, like, western style clean and has western style service with attention to detail, and all the staff seemed to speak some level of English. Don’t get me wrong, I love roughing it in China, but sometimes the sense of familiarity is comforting. read more

New Asia Hotel Shanghai

New Asia Hotel Shanghai

Last Updated: Rodney

I booked the New Asia Hotel through HotelClub and at the time it was pretty cheap, and for the location, it was far cheaper than anything that was close to the Bund, Nanjing Rd and so on.

So I wasn’t expecting much, not for the price, but I was surprised to find that this was a quality hotel, it’s not new by any means, but it has English speaking staff, it’s clean and tasteful.

The hotel also features a bar and a restaurant on the ground floor and another restaurant which serves a buffet breakfast. I ate at the ground floor restaurant twice and enjoyed a tasty meal of fried eel and dumpling soup, on another occasion I ate a simple fried rice, both were good. The buffet breakfast is great value and comes with some real friendly and welcoming staff. read more

Beijing Accommodation: The Redwall Hotel

Beijing Accommodation: The Redwall Hotel

Last Updated: Rodney

The first thing that struck me about the Redwall Hotel was the incredible service provided by the concierge team. As soon as I put my foot on the steps of the hotel there was someone bounding out the front door to help with my luggage and escort me to the reception to check in.

Oddly, and to my benefit, the concierge even helped out in securing the best rate possible and matching the Ctrip price which initially the reception desk was unable to do.

The hotel is starting to show some age, the rooms are kept very clean and are well maintained with everything working as it should. Unfortunately, the same cant be said about the restaurant, it’s rubbish, the food is average and the place looks like it hasn’t had a decent clean in years, it really lets the rest of the hotel down. The breakfast is acceptable though, and reasonably priced by Beijing standards, but I’m sure better could be found if you were prepared to travel away from the hotel. read more

The Melody Hotel and Where to Stay in Xian

The Melody Hotel and Where to Stay in Xian

Last Updated: Rodney

Stupidly, I hadn’t booked a hotel when I went to Xi’an and by the time I got on the bus from the airport I was starting to get a little nervous. Fortunately, as I got off the bus in the center of Xi’an it stops right out the front of the Melody Hotel. I walked straight in and booked a room, probably paying twice what I would have had I booked via the net….

The hotel is quite conveniently located right in the center of the city and it’s straight across the road from the Drum Tower, walking distance to the Mosque and the markets, walking distance to the Bell Tower and much more. Whilst it’s not sparkling new by any means, the rooms are comfortable, clean and many have great views towards the Drum Tower. read more

The Traffic Hotel Chengdu

The Traffic Hotel Chengdu

Last Updated: Rodney

The Traffic Hotel is located south of central Chengdu alongside the Nanhe River. Right next door to the hotel is the Xinnanmen Bus Station (Tourism Passenger Transport Centre) which is the Chengdu’s main bus station with services to many long distance destinations like Emei, Leshan, Jiuzhaigou and many more places in Sichuan Province.

The Traffic Hotel/Inn (previously the Communications Hotel?) sits somewhere between being a hotel and a backpackers hostel. Some rooms feature shower and toilet and other rooms just have a toilet. Common use showers are available on each floor. The rooms are basic but clean. read more

The Shudu Mansion Hotel Chengdu

The Shudu Mansion Hotel Chengdu

Last Updated: Rodney

Booking over the phone with Ctrip
I hadn’t sighted the hotel prior to booking but at the time there wasn’t much choice as there was a major conference on in town and accommodation was hard to find. That’s where Ctrip, the China-based travel booking service, saved the day once again.

You can book accommodation, flights and more travel services with Ctrip either via the Internet or via phone. As I found out later they do have an English booking service over the phone too, but in this case, my kind new friend Ran had done the hard work and saved the day by arranging a place to stay. read more

Accommodation in Lijiang: Sleepy Inn Lijiang

Accommodation in Lijiang: Sleepy Inn Lijiang

Last Updated: Rodney

The Sleepy Inn is located in Shuhe Ancient Town which is a short taxi ride away from the more famous part of Lijiang being the ‘Old Town’. Don’t let this put you off though, as Shuhe Ancient Town feels much more authentic than the Old Town and it’s much more relaxed.

The Sleepy Inn is in a traditional ancient style Chinese building featuring two levels and a courtyard. It doesn’t feel like you are staying in a backpackers or a hostel, or a hotel for that matter, this place feels like a home.  It has real warmth and charm.  read more