Prepaying hotels in Shanghai

Question

hi ..first trip to China and starting to book hotels in Shanghai.

Every hotel I have looked at wants the full price of the stay paid at the time of booking, even those I’ve looked at on booking.com.

I’m used to the booking.com policy of paying when you arrive, or a few days before .

Is this pre payment of the full amount months before a trip (even if fully refundable) how hotels in China work?

Thanks for your help

Answer

In China, it is quite common for hotels, especially in major cities like Shanghai, to require prepayment for the full stay at the time of booking. This applies even when booking through international platforms like Booking.com. The prepayment is often fully refundable up to a certain date before your stay, so it is not unusual or a sign of a scam.

The reason for this practice includes:

Hotels in China often have strict cancellation policies and require guaranteed bookings, particularly for foreign guests.
Domestic payment systems are often designed around prepayment for room reservations, which simplifies check-in processes.
It helps hotels avoid no-shows, which can be more common among international travelers due to visa and flight changes.

Some points to keep in mind:

Check the cancellation and refund policy carefully—many bookings allow free cancellation until a few days before arrival.
Payment is usually made in RMB or via credit card, and your card may be charged immediately or held as a pre-authorization.
If you prefer to pay on arrival, look specifically for “Pay at Hotel” options, but these may be limited and more expensive or require a Chinese ID or local payment method.

In short, prepaying for hotels months in advance—even fully refundable—is standard practice in Shanghai and across China. It is safe and common, and you should not worry about this being unusual.