Travel Tips
Affordable Hotel Alternatives for the Beijing Olympics
If you’re headed to the Olympics in Beijing, you may find that affordable hotel rooms are hard to come by. But here’s how to find a reasonably priced alternative.
Already bought your tickets for the Olympics, but don’t have a room?
Try a homestay with a local family.
Staying with a family in China is often much cheaper than staying in a hotel – and it’s a much more personal experience where you can immerse yourself in the culture.
A site called BeijingHomestayAgency.com can place you with a family in Beijing for about $300 to $400 a month.
The non-profit organization China Homestay Club pairs host families with travelers as part of an educational outreach program, and costs just about $40 a day.
Some of these programs may require you to teach English to the host family, or they may offer you a discount for doing so.
Don’t miss our guide to the Beijing Olympics… Bound for Beijing: A Guide to 2008 Olympic Travel.
What about language immersion vacations for the whole family? Check out this article: Bilingual All the Way: Language Immersion Vacations for the Whole Family.