Almost all international chains or 5-star hotels allow cancellation at no charge if done at least 24 hours prior to expected arrival date. Just go to the Holiday Inn web site and you will see this when you book as part of their conditions.

Where have you read that hotels are preferred over hostels when making a visa application?

I booked at Days Inn www.daysinn.cn for my hotels in Beijing and Shanghai and I will be cancelling them. I successfully got a visa staying at hostels in all other places.

Em

wow, this seriously put the brakes for my day trip plan to Shenzhen from Hong Kong.

Anyway, I can confirm for you that booking on any Accor chain hotel can be cancelled without any penalty if you book through their official website. I've done this in Singapore, where I switch my booking by first cancelling my booking on Novotel, and then making a new one on Mercure.

But you have to book through their official website.

Hi Aries. Are you just going to LoWu or going to ShenZhen city? I suggest if going to Shenzhen to allow an overnight there at least.

Most hotels will take cancellations, just read the fine print and try & book direct.

I seriously can't see how Chinese embassies are going to check every ones reservations. All the visa restrictions seems to vary from country to country. It's like the Tibet entry permit ruse. I feel sorry for all the smaller hotels trying to survive & then getting hit with cancellations - i wonder if the powers that be realized this when making the new rules.

Aries, you were lucky being able to cancel your Accor reservations with no problems. I am trying to make a small change to my reservation at the Sofitel in Chongqing. I have emailed them 4 times with no reply - very frustrating!

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