Beijing Tour Knowledge

Water
Unless announced, the tap water can not be drunk before boiling.   Traveler are suggested to buy bottle water from supermarket.  Beijingservice provides free bottle water on the vehicle.

Hotel
Hotel in Beijing is never a problem.  There are all kinds of hotel from budget hostel to super-deluxe hotel.
The point is how to find a hotel to cater your need, your travel need, such as, in downtown area, not very expensive, with positive feedback...
Perhaps you may look at these hotels selected by Beijingservice team:  Beijing Hotel


Weather and climate

Beijing have four typical season.

\_ Spring is warm and comfortable, a little dry.
\_ Summer is very hot, up to 40 degree, rainy.
\_ Autumn is cool, dry.

\_ Winter is cold, the lowest climate is around -20 degree.


Best Season to visit Beijing
Beijing is charming in each season.  If you prefer to travel in comfortable climate, Spring and Autumn is suggested.  But the city in rain or in while snow is memorable.


The period to avoid
Please avoid the period: May 1 to May 7, October 1 to October 7.   This is public holiday of China.
All attractions and hotel are busy. The price are higher than the usual one.

Vehicle in Beijing
Travelers to Beijing will touch two kinds of vehicle: 
\_ public vehicle;
\_ private vehicle arranged by travel company / travel agent;

Subway and taxi are not so convenient for a foreign travelers, unless you are a student or backpacker and would like to discover the city on your own with a book named China Guide. The public vehicle will make you waste too much time on waiting and vehicle and finding the correct way.

Private vehicle arranged by travel company covers from 4 seat car to 55 seats coach. Equipped with experienced driver, you never got lost in this huge city.  Just sit back to enjoy the scenery or feel the culture of this city. Please look at the vehicle team of Beijingservice.com


Tour Guide
Travelers may ask travel company to arrange a tour guide for your trip to Beijing. English and Chinese guide is easy to find. Please reserve at least one week before tour date if you need a guide in other language.
All tour guide arranged by tour company have license.  Tour guide will take care of the itinerary,  make introduction of the attractions, arrange the lunch...  Don't expect the language is smooth as you, because English is not their mother language,  but it is enough to communicate on the itinerary and explaining on the attractions and culture.


Payment
The following payment method are accepted by most tour operator in Beijing:
\_ Credit Card, via online form or POS machine;
\_ Bank account, Such as Bank of China;
\_ Paypal, although they charge a steep handling fee;
\_ Western Union, via post office.

The Credit Card and Bank Account are two safe and official method for a licensed company.      The Bank need to verify the information of the tour company before issuing the POS machine or online payment system.  If the agent said they only accept payment via Paypal, then they are not a licensed company, or failed in the verification of Bank. Travelers may consider if they are table agent,  just rent a table in a travel company.


Credit Card
Is credit care accepted in Beijing and China.
Yes, most hotel, restaurant and market accept credit card via POS machine.
But only part of licensed travel company accept Credit Card before tour date.
Some company said they can accept Credit Card via Paypal, but it is quite different with a real Credit Card acceptation. A company is more secured and liable when they accept Credit Card online or via POS machine.


Bank And ATM Machine
It is easy to find a Bank or ATM machine in Beijing.    It is no mean that you can draw cash and pay tour guide on tour date.  Because the bank is crowded, some travelers have to stand in line for 2 hours to get cash.   To save your time and efforts, please manage payment in advance. We are sure no travelers want to waste time in Bank.