Booking Hotels in China as a Foreigner

I arrived at a hotel in a smaller Chinese city at 10 PM. I'd booked on a popular app. Good reviews. Reasonable price.

The receptionist looked at my passport, frowned, made a phone call, and shook her head.

"Sorry. We don't accept foreigners."

That's when I learned: not every hotel in China can check in foreign passport holders. Even if you have a valid booking. Even if their policy says they should.

Here's how to avoid that situation.

The "Foreigner Acceptance" Problem

Officially, licensed hotels should accept foreign guests. In practice, many don't.

Why hotels refuse foreigners:

• Staff unfamiliar with foreign passport scanning
• Fear of fines for registration errors
• Missing equipment to process non-Chinese IDs
• Language barrier concerns
• Simply never done it before

This happens more often in:

• Smaller cities (tier-3 and below)
• Budget guesthouses and hostels
• "Homestay" or apartment-style listings
• Very new or very old properties

Where you'll rarely have issues:

• International chains (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG)
• Chinese business chains (Home Inn, Hanting, JI Hotel, Atour)
• Tourist districts in major cities
• Hotels near train stations and airports

---

The Best Booking Platform: Trip.com

After testing multiple platforms, Trip.com is the most reliable for foreigners.

Why Trip.com works:

• English interface with accurate translations
• Accepts international credit cards
• Customer support can call the hotel directly
• Often 20-30% cheaper than Booking.com for the same room
• Better selection of China-specific properties

Also acceptable: Booking.com, Agoda

Avoid for hotels: Airbnb (unless you want to handle police registration yourself)

---

How to Find Foreigner-Friendly Hotels

Step 1: Filter Smart

On Trip.com:

1. Search your city and dates
2. Filter by 4.5+ stars rating
3. Filter by 200+ reviews
4. Sort by "Traveler Ranked"

Step 2: Read Recent Foreigner Reviews

Look for reviews from non-Chinese names within the last 6 months.

Good signs in reviews:

• "Check-in was smooth with my US passport"
• "Staff spoke some English"
• "Registration took 5 minutes"
• "Great for international travelers"

Warning signs:

• No reviews from foreign-sounding names
• Comments like "had trouble at check-in"
• Mentions of "confusion with my passport"

Step 3: Check Location

Book hotels near:

• Metro stations (makes daily travel easier)
• Major train stations (if arriving by rail)
• Tourist districts (staff more experienced with foreigners)

Step 4: Prefer Known Chains

International chains (always safe):

• Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG (Holiday Inn/Crowne Plaza), Accor (Ibis/Novotel)

Chinese chains (generally reliable):

• Home Inn (如家)
• Hanting (汉庭)
• JI Hotel (全季)
• Atour (亚朵)
• Orange Hotel (桔子酒店)

These chains process foreign passports regularly. Their staff know the system.

---

Red Flags to Avoid

Immediate skip:

• "Homestay" or "Apartment" in the listing name
• Prices significantly below market (¥50-80/night in major cities)
• Fewer than 50 reviews
• No photos of the reception desk
• Unclear check-in policies

Ask first:

• Hotels in tier-3 or smaller cities
• Properties with mixed reviews about check-in
• Anywhere you have doubts

On Trip.com, you can message the hotel before booking. Ask directly: "Do you accept foreign passports?"

---

The Booking Process

Step-by-Step on Trip.com

1. Search your city and dates
2. Filter 4.5+, 200+ reviews
3. Read recent foreigner reviews
4. Check metro proximity on the map
5. Verify cancellation policy (prefer flexible)
6. Book and pay in-app
7. Screenshot your confirmation

Save 2-3 Backups

For smaller cities or first-time destinations, have backup options ready. If Hotel A refuses you, you can immediately book Hotel B.

---

What Happens at Check-In

The Process

1. Show passport + booking confirmation
2. Staff scans your passport
3. Police registration is submitted automatically
4. You receive key cards
5. Total time: 2-5 minutes

About Police Registration

All foreigners must be registered with local police within 24 hours of arrival in each city.

Good news: Hotels do this for you automatically when you check in.

If staying with friends/family: You must go to the local police station within 24 hours to register. Bring your passport and proof of where you're staying.

Key Card for Electricity

Chinese hotels use a card-in-slot system. Insert your room key card in a wall slot to activate electricity. Remove it when you leave, and everything turns off.

---

If You're Refused at Check-In

It happens. Here's what to do:

Option 1: Call Trip.com Support

In the Trip.com app, go to your booking and tap "Contact Support." They can:

• Call the hotel and mediate
• Explain registration procedures to staff
• Rebook you at a nearby property

Option 2: Show Your Confirmation

Sometimes staff confusion resolves when you show the official booking with your name and payment confirmation.

Option 3: Book Backup Hotel

If the hotel genuinely can't process foreign passports, move to your backup. Ask Trip.com for a refund on the original booking.

---

Budget Expectations (2026)

| City Type | Budget Hotel | Mid-Range | International Chain | |-----------|--------------|-----------|---------------------| | Beijing/Shanghai | ¥200-350 | ¥400-700 | ¥800-1500 | | Xi'an/Chengdu | ¥150-250 | ¥300-500 | ¥600-1000 | | Smaller Cities | ¥100-200 | ¥200-400 | ¥400-800 |

Chinese chains (Home Inn, Hanting) offer excellent value at ¥150-250/night.

---

Our Experience (Verified Hotels)

We stayed at four hotels across Beijing, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, and Shanghai. All booked through Trip.com. Zero rejections.

What worked:

• All were mid-range (¥200-420/night)
• All had 4.5+ ratings with 200+ reviews
• All were near metro stations
• Registration took 2-5 minutes everywhere

Minor issues:

• Limited English at reception (translation app solved it)
• One price confusion (resolved by showing Trip.com confirmation)
• Glass bathroom walls are common—manage expectations

---

Booking Checklist

Before booking:

• [ ] Trip.com installed and logged in
• [ ] Filter: 4.5+ rating, 200+ reviews
• [ ] Read recent foreigner reviews
• [ ] Check metro proximity
• [ ] Verify cancellation policy

After booking:

• [ ] Screenshot confirmation
• [ ] Save hotel address in Chinese
• [ ] Pin location in Amap
• [ ] Have 2-3 backup options saved

At check-in:

• [ ] Passport ready
• [ ] Booking confirmation accessible
• [ ] Ask for business cards (5-6 copies)
• [ ] Confirm WiFi password

---

Need Help with Bookings?

If you'd rather have someone verify hotels accept foreigners, or help if you're refused at check-in, our Guardian package includes accommodation support for $19.

---

Related Guides:

• First 24 Hours in China
• How to Use Alipay for Foreigners
• China Travel Tech Setup