How to Book Hotels in Hangzhou

Hangzhou is a popular tourist destination for the Chinese. During weekends, holidays and special events, visitors from neighboring cities flock to Hangzhou to enjoy nature and take a break from hectic city life. This means hotels may be hard to come by, especially if you add to that the increased flux of visitors expected during the Women's World Cup.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Find the Right Hotel in Hangzhou

1. Book a hostel. Hangzhou is one of the few cities in China where hostels abound. Most are of great quality and similar in convenience and quality to two-star hotels. Many hostels offer private rooms (but usually not private bathrooms).
2. Look for a hotel on the water or at least in the West Lake district. The views are amazing and the area is quiet and clean.
3. Stay near the center if you're looking for convenience when it comes to transportation. Hotels near the shopping area will allow you to take buses and taxis to almost every corner of the city.
4. Use Virtual Tourist to review what other visitors are saying about local hotels before you book (see Resources below). From the level of cleanliness to the amount of noise you can expect from the street, reading what former hotel guests have to say may be the best way to locate a good hotel in Hangzhou.
5. Don't book hotels in the outskirts of the city. Pickpockets abound here, and many tourists have reported trouble right in their own hotels. Crowded buses and people carrying large bags or umbrellas are a danger everywhere, especially in busy shopping streets. Keep your bag close to you when walking around, and don't leave valuables in your hotel room if you're going out for the day.
6. Insist on a Western-style bathroom when booking a hotel. Some hostels and low-quality accommodations may have facilities that don't meet your basic expectations.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're coming to Hangzhou with a group, consider sharing accommodations to reduce costs and make the whole process easier and more fun. Renting a hotel room or staying in a hostel is especially easy if you can share it with people you know and trust.
• Don't take a taxi from the airport to your hotel to avoid being overcharged. If you do need to take a taxi, walk out to the street and hail one, rather than hopping into one of the taxis parked inside the airport limits.