Beijing Luxury Hotels Going Cheap?

Have you booked for the Olympic Games in Beijing yet? Against all logic your chance of getting a last minute deal in a 5-star hotel is looking pretty good at the moment. After years of luxury hotel building boom the size to rival Dubai’s hotel building frenzy, Beijing will have more than 50 five-star hotels open by the time of the Olympic’s Opening Ceremony. That’s up from 20 less than five years ago.

As the games get closer the prediction of 500,000 overseas visitors to Beijing to attend the Olympics are starting to look more and more optimistic. Possibly the combination of the Tibet problems and the major earthquake in southern China have made people think twice. The Chinese government has been making it increasingly difficult to get visas too, long-term foreign residents are finding that the automatic visa renewals aren’t straight forward anymore and that they are forced to physically leave the country and re-apply. Even those applying from overseas are experiencing more red tape than usual. Overall the Olympics may not be doing a great deal for Beijing tourism. Even the tourist bureau says that only 75% of 5-star hotel rooms are booked for the Olympics and only 50% for 4-star properties.

This week’s headlines have been dramatic of hotels slashing prices up to 50% to get bookings. The reality may be a little different though – the as the prices had already been inflated several 100% for the Olympics. All we may be seeing is a reality check. The reality is that currently you can get a 5-star room in Beijing for around US$300/night.

The people who have missed out are those who paid top dollar, months ago, for Olympic hotels as part of a pre-paid Olympic package from their own country.

So check out some of the top traveler-rated hotels in Beijing – you might just get yourself a luxury hotel deal:

Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing On the Third Ring Road, this property has a solid reputation and has added a 20-story tower for the Olymipics: not as central as some but the garden court and dining options sound appealing.

Intercontinental Beijing Financial Street. This was the first international luxury hotel in the western part of the business district. A contemporary design hotel with an 18-floor atrium and just minutes away from Tienanmen Square, the Capital Museum and Xidan shopping center.

Grand Hyatt Beijing
Only a few minutes walk from Tienanmen Square and the Forbidden City. Located within Beijing Oriental Plaza – the largest shopping mall in Beijing.