In the last post, we took a look at the alternative ways of getting to Beijing. As you saw, it is not necessary for you to go straight there – you can take detours that may actually save you some money or at the very least, enhance your experience. This time, let us look at the accommodations.
For sure, the accommodations will be quite expensive around the time of the Olympics. This is actually one of my biggest concerns. I might not be able to afford decent accommodations at that time. Based on my research, I have narrowed down my choices to two options – one is to stay in a hutong and the other is to arrange a homestay.
A hutong is traditional community wherein some guest houses are located. The best word to describe a hutong would be homey – at least from what I have been reading. More than that, staying in a hutong would really give me a “real Chinese” experience – in contrast to the more commercial hotels in the midst of the city. Similarly, if a host family can be found, it would present a more affordable and authentic experience. I am just not sure how easy this would be to arrange – I still need to look around for more details. Another thing, if you are not feeling particularly adventurous, you may want to opt for the more conventional hotels. Then again, where’s the fun in that? 🙂
If any of you have any ideas as to how to go about this, let me know!