Where to Stay in Jinan

A budget option, since they don't have a hostel in Jinan, is the Home Inn, a chain with locations throughout China. When I stayed it cost $180 rmb a night and required a 300 rmb deposit. The staff was put off when I showed up. They don't get many foreigners. But I assured them we could do this and we did. All the staff knew a little English and between everyone behind the desk and myself, we managed.

I got a clean room with free wifi. The only drawback was noisy neighbors.

Review: Udee Hostel, Bangkok

Udee Hostel, part of the International Hostel group, is a sleek, modern, friendly place in a residential neighborhood. The rooms are the best I've stayed in for a hostel. Both the single rooms and the dorms are spotless and this hostel won a cleanliness award. Downstairs by reception is an open air terrace where you can watch cable TV, read one of the many English books or magazines, eat or drink. A simple breakfast is free: tea, juice, cereal, toast and fruit. It's not far from the Skytrain. I'm going back next week for Chinese New Year. There are coin laundry machines and a rooftop patio.

During my first visit I shared a room with an interesting woman from Indonesia who'd just quit her job as a reporter for the Jakarta Post and was studying Thai for a month. She already spoke English and Chinese well.

Prices: Dorm bed - 350 Baht (so $12) Single room 1100 Baht (so $37ish).

Members get a 10% discount and you can charge your lodgings, but there's a 3% surcharge.

Bangkok has several beautiful looking hostels with high ratings (90% and up).