Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the Internet than by going to reception. Sites such as
www.sinohotel.com
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and
www.asia-hotels.com don't usually have a booking fee but do require
that you pay a percentage of the fee up front by credit card.
Reception staff will always speak passable English except at the cheap business
hotels, which don't see much foreign custom. Checking in involves filling in
a form and paying a deposit. Remember to grab a few hotel business cards -
these are vital when you want to let taxi drivers know where you're staying. And
don't just show them the matchbox from the hotel bar - an apocryphal
American tourist did that and found himself taken to a suburban match factory.
Whatever type of place you are staying, you can rely on the plastic slippers and
thermos of hot water that the attendant will refill for you any time.
Note that it's common practice for prostitutes to phone around hotel rooms
at all hours of the night, so disconnect the phone. Even the cheapest places
generally offer free wireless or free Internet and will book train and plane
tickets for a small commission.
For information on finding long-term accommodation, see p.38.
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Youth hostels and budget hotels
Many travellers arrive in Shanghai assuming there is only one real budget
option in the entire city: the Pujiang . Well, ll, not any more - it's gone upmarket.
In its place a host of good options have opened up. In the youth hostels you
can expect free Internet, a self-service kitchen, air-conditioning in the room
and a cheap bar. Though you might find some aspects of your stay a little rough
around the edges, standards are higher than anywhere else in China and if the
staff aren't always completely professional they usually make up for it with
friendliness. Anywhere calling itself a hostel will offer a discount (¥10 or so)
with a Hostelling International card; you can also pick up a card on the premises
(¥50). The hostels we list offer more rooms than dorms so even if you do not
identify with the backpacking hordes they're still worth considering. All hostels
can be booked in advance on W www.hostelbookers.com.
An alternative budget option is the new motel-style chains such as 24K or
K
Motel 168 which are presently blasting the much loathed dingy two-star
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Chinese hotel into deserved oblivion - at last, you don't have to tolerate
cigarette burns on the carpets and mould on the walls. The hotel restaurant
won't be up to much and there are no extras such as health centres or pools,
but rooms are clean and spacious and very good value at less than ¥200 a night.
Not all the staff will speak English but they'll point to you to others who do.
24K Hotel
24K国际连锁酒店
24k guó jì lián su ji
and there's even a machine that dispenses
medicines in the lobby. You should go out
to eat, but if you're just looking for
somewhere comfortable to crash, this is one
to consider. 3
Captain Hostel
船长青年酒店
chuán zh ng qīng nián jii diàn
37 Fuzhou Lu
diàn
155 Weihai Lu
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51181222 & 555 Fuzhou Lu
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www.24khotels.com. See maps,
pp.80-81 & p.48. This chain of new business
hotels has a winning formula that's making it
very popular: chirpy design, spacious and
clean rooms, and it's much cheaper than
the competition. Most are a little too far out
to be convenient but these two branches
are very central, both located on busy roads
not far from People's Square, and walkable
from the metro. Some English is spoken
51503588;
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63235053,
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www
.captainhostel.com.cn. See map, p.51. Doubles
at this place just off the Bund are pricey,
and it's most of interest for its clean, cheap
dorms. The hostel has a nautical theme,
which is carried through with admirable
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