China Travel Tips
Medical & Travel Insurance
Do not assume that your medical insurance coverage at home will take care of all your medical expenses abroad. It might only cover a percentage. It certainly will not cover "evacuation" on a private plane with medical staff.
If you pay for your travel through some credit cards, you automatically get travel insurance. Do check the terms. Ask about evacuation insurance if you are going off the well-beaten tourist track. AEA/SOS International has clinics and doctors in Beijing and other cities around China for this and other emergency medical help. Tel.(U.S. and Canada)800/523-8930.
Hotel Reservations
Reservations are recommended during high tourist season, festivals, or trade fairs. Definitely have a hotel booked at least for your first night. Your travel agent or airline can reserve rooms or you can do it yourself on the web or through hotel chains in North America. For example, for the Holiday Inn in Beijing, phone Holiday Inn’s toll-free number or the Holiday Inn nearest you. You can also contact your hotels directly in Chinese if it’s not a four or five-star hotel. The time in Beijing and the rest of China is on the home page of my website, www.china-travel-guide.com. Hotels should give you a confirmation if asked.
You can also use hotel toll-free numbers to get an idea of prices and specials and then compare these with what travel agents have to offer. Cheaper hotels do not usually accept reservations. If you are traveling prepaid, make sure you are carrying the relevant vouchers and the telephone number of your travel agent in case something goes wrong.
Some of the major cities like Beijing and Shanghai have hotel representatives at the international airport who can tell you if a room is available. You can haggle if you want as they might get commissions for snaring you.
Some travel agents in North America or China have booked blocks of rooms in many China hotels at wholesale rates. These are usually cheaper. Only about two percent of guests pay the published hotel rates in China. Save your money for something else.
Do not assume that your medical insurance coverage at home will take care of all your medical expenses abroad. It might only cover a percentage. It certainly will not cover "evacuation" on a private plane with medical staff.
If you pay for your travel through some credit cards, you automatically get travel insurance. Do check the terms. Ask about evacuation insurance if you are going off the well-beaten tourist track. AEA/SOS International has clinics and doctors in Beijing and other cities around China for this and other emergency medical help. Tel.(U.S. and Canada)800/523-8930.
Hotel Reservations
Reservations are recommended during high tourist season, festivals, or trade fairs. Definitely have a hotel booked at least for your first night. Your travel agent or airline can reserve rooms or you can do it yourself on the web or through hotel chains in North America. For example, for the Holiday Inn in Beijing, phone Holiday Inn’s toll-free number or the Holiday Inn nearest you. You can also contact your hotels directly in Chinese if it’s not a four or five-star hotel. The time in Beijing and the rest of China is on the home page of my website, www.china-travel-guide.com. Hotels should give you a confirmation if asked.
You can also use hotel toll-free numbers to get an idea of prices and specials and then compare these with what travel agents have to offer. Cheaper hotels do not usually accept reservations. If you are traveling prepaid, make sure you are carrying the relevant vouchers and the telephone number of your travel agent in case something goes wrong.
Some of the major cities like Beijing and Shanghai have hotel representatives at the international airport who can tell you if a room is available. You can haggle if you want as they might get commissions for snaring you.
Some travel agents in North America or China have booked blocks of rooms in many China hotels at wholesale rates. These are usually cheaper. Only about two percent of guests pay the published hotel rates in China. Save your money for something else.
- What to Read Before your Trip
- What to See in China
- Choosing a Group Tour to China
- Packing for a China Trip
- Touring China On Your Own
- Planning an Independent China Trip
- Individual Travel Through CITS
- Group Land Costs
- Costs for Individual Travel
- Costs for Free-Lance China Travel
- China Tour Airfares
- Best Time Visiting China
- Group Inclusive Tours
- Independent Travel
- Special Needs
- Overseas Chinese
- Prepaid Tours Questions
- Prepaid Tours
- Making Reservations
- Qing Imperial Food
- Leaving China
- Getting to Your Hotel
- Border Formalities
- Getting to China
- Choose a Prepaid Tour
- General Information
- Health Precautions
- China Customs
- China National Tourist Offices
- What to Pack
- When to Go