Beijing's Top Sights - Beijing - page 382

Service Charge & Tips
A 15% service charge is levied at midrange and top-end hotels. Tipping is only ex-
pected in top-end hotels.
Homestays & Long-Term Rentals
Homestays are a great way to experience Chinese culture (and to improve your language
skills). Try www.chinahomestay.org . Běijīng also has a large, fast-expanding couchsurfing
community ( www.couchsurfing.org ).
The rental market is good value, starting at around ¥4000 for a two-bed apartment. If
you speak Chinese, ask at any estate agent in your chosen part of town. If you don't,
check the websites of Běijīng's expat magazines. Try The Beijinger ( www.thebeijinger.com ) or
City Weekend ( www.cityweekend.com.cn ) .
Websites
» ctrip.com Hotel reservations.
» booking.com Hotel reservations.
» chinahomestay.org Homestays.
» couchsurfing.org Free homestays.
» airbnb.com Short-term rentals.
» thebeijinger.com Long-term rentals.
» hotels.lonelyplanet.com Hotel reviews and reservations.
Lonely Planet's Top Choices
Aman at Summer Palace ( CLICK HERE ) Běijīng's stand-out luxury hotel.
Peking Youth Hostel ( CLICK HERE ) Top youth hostel; top hútòng location.
Courtyard 7 ( CLICK HERE ) Beautiful courtyard hotel, oozing Qingdynasty charm.
Red Capital Residence ( CLICK HERE ) Compact courtyard hotel with furnishings fit for a museum.
Opposite House Hotel ( CLICK HERE ) So trendy it hurts; the city's swankiest boutique hotel by a long way.