Affordable accommodation for Beijing Olympics
The Beijing Olympics are nearly here
Wednesday, 16, Jul 2008 08:59
Are you planning a holiday in China and wanting to take in the excitement of next month's Olympic Games in Beijing but concerned about expensive accommodation and booked-out hotels?
The answer may be to leave the hotels behind and book a Beijing hostel. Here are seven fantastic hostels in Beijing, priced from as little as £16 per night, and all bookable online at www.hostelworld.com.
With comfortable accommodation and loads of character, hostels in Beijing mean your Olympics holiday doesn't have to cost the earth.
Alley Garden Courtyard Hostel
Tucked in a peaceful 'Hu Tong' (narrow historical alley), the Alley Garden Courtyard Hostel is located in the centre of the old city of Beijing. The hostel offers nine traditional Chinese-style guest rooms in a safe, central and quiet location.
Positioned next to two subway stations, and a short stroll away from the Lama Temple and Guijie Chinese food street, the hostel is also ideally located for visits to the Forbidden City, Beihai Park and Ditan Temple.
The Olympic Stadium is only 15 minutes from the hostel on the subway, making it a perfect base for any trip to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Accommodation costs from £36.02 per night.
Houhai Courtyard Guest House
Houhai Courtyard Guest House is a mysterious and charming old-Beijing-style courtyard inn. A relic of history and culture, the guest house is located in Sanbulao Hutong in HouHai, the historical centre of Beijing.
Designed in the ancient Chinese architectural style, the inn is installed with modern, comfortable and secure facilities.
A stay at Houhai Courtyard offers the chance to experience life as a traditional Peking citizen. The rooms look out onto a traditional Chinese garden.
The hostel has an extremely helpful travel information desk, and is able to organise transportation, tours to nearby sights and local information and advice. Accommodation costs from £23.49 per night.
Sitting On The City Walls Courtyard House
Beijing City Walls is a traditional courtyard house only accessible by foot or bicycle. Just a five-minute walk from the Forbidden City and one minute from Beijing Major Street, the hostel is in the heart of ancient Peking.
It has recently undergone a complete restoration, while still maintaining its traditional Chinese feel and comes complete with a large comprehensive functional public hall, free wireless internet access, heating, air conditioning, and large western washrooms.
Guests will get a chance to try writing Chinese characters with a pen brush, singing Beijing Opera songs, flying traditional kites or making and tasting dumplings. Accommodation costs from £23.00 per night.
Sanlitun Hostel
The Sanlitun Hostel is located in the heart of Beijing's bar and nightlife district. A huge variety of restaurants, bars, clubs and pubs are on offer with international cuisines to suit all tastes and budgets.
For shoppers, the famous YaShou shopping market is just two minutes walk from the hostel, with designer clothes at a fraction of western prices.
The hostel claims to offer some of the most comfortable beds in Beijing for weary travellers. Dormitories, doubles and triples are available and there is a restaurant and a travellers' bar.
A laundry service, CD burning, bicycle hire, free internet, airport pick up and travel desk are just some of the other services. Accommodation costs from £15.66 per night.
Wangfujing International Youth Hostel
Opened in 2007, this spacious 47-bed hostel combines comfort and style with a central location in a secure setting.
Each one of the hostel's guest rooms is equipped with comfortable beds and cozy sofas.
The hostel is located in the centre of the flourishing Wanfujing shopping district and just a short walk from the Forbidden City and Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
The hostel's restaurant offers a wide selection of both western and Chinese dishes. Guests can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a cold drink in the evenings in the travellers' bar.
There are single, double and four- and six-bed dormitory rooms available. There is also free car parking. Accommodation costs from £29.75 per night.
The Happy House
Located in the heart of downtown Beijing, the Happy House is a small, comfortable and relaxing place for travellers, with a friendly atmosphere and a range of services on offer.
Easily accessible from Beijing Central railway station, the Happy House is central but serenity can easily be found on the hostel's doorstep at the Ming Dynasty Wall Relic Park.
There is a hostel bar and recreation room for guests to relax in and the Olympic park is a 30-minute subway ride away.
The Happy House also has a 24-hour reception service and English-speaking staff. Accommodation costs from £20.00 per night.
Sleepy Inn Downtown Lakeside Beijing
The Sleepy Inn Hostel is true to its name with a serene lakeside location in the heart of old Beijing. Just a walk away from the subway and bus stations, the hostel is also a great base for which to explore Beijing's endless array of tourist attractions.
Also on the hostel's doorstep is one of the world's largest markets selling an array of fruits, food and commodities.
The Sleepy Inn is only 5km from the Olympic Stadium and the other Olympic venues can be easily reached via the nearby subway station.
The hostel offers a laundry service, WiFi access in all rooms, bicycle hire and free travel information to all guests. Accommodation costs from £31.32 per night.
All these hostels can be booked online at www.hostelworld.com.