Sauna Center and Spa Club

Budget Accommodation for US$15 per Night during Canton Fair in Guangzhou？

Do you think it impossible?  Maybe you have already spent some time to search on internet and the cheapest hotel you can find is asking for US$100 per night, so you may ask how come there is accommodation for US$15 per night?

The secret is to stay in the sauna center or spa club, which offer series of entertainment service, ranges from sauna, steam bath, and buffet, to table tennis, surfing the internet, etc. The entrance ticket ranges from US$15-25, which would include all the service above, with no extra charges and you can stay there for 24 hours. That means you can stay there overnight, no need to rent a room in hotel.

It is one of the emerging scenes in China, especially, in Guangzhou it is quite common for the Cantonese to go to the spa clubs for entertainment, where they can comfortably enjoy massage (with extra charges, usually around US$10 per hour) and have buffet or even spend the whole night there.

Resting sofa in Jin Yi Spa Club

In some of the spa clubs there are lounges, or even cozily dedicated sleeping rooms. Usually, when you spend the minimum charge, say US$15 for 24 hours, you may sleep in the resting hall where there are sections divided just by curtains. In each section, there are one or two sofas for rest or even with the mini-TV beside.

 There you can have a rest after enjoying spa or other
entertainments, even spending the night.Anyway, resting in the hall, you cannot totally enjoy the privacy and quietness even if there are curtains between each section. If you would like to have more privacy, you may book a suite which includes the bedroom, bath room and entertainment room.

Internet access in Jin Yi Spa Club

Some of the spa clubs provide a few suites like this, whose room rates are around US$120, equaling to the standard twin’s in a 3-star hotel in Guangzhou during Canton Fair. However, there are just a few suites in these clubs, and for assurance, you may call them in advance asking whether there’s still vacancy. While few local people book the suite since they just come for entertainment, you may get the suite without booking when you arrive.

Suite in Jin Yi Spa Club

For the reservation of the suites, you can just call them in advance, without paying any deposit, and arrive on time at the spa. Usually, there are two or three staffs can communicate in simple English.

Some of the spas will have their staffs to pick you up at the airport or railway station according to your need. They would also provide the free shuttle bus to the Canton Fair complexes.

Suite in Jin Yi Spa Club

When you come in group, you can get a VIP room for about 10 people, and have entertainment or rest in it. You may get the group rate for 15-20% discount. Some Chinese or foreign businessman who attend the Canton Fair would even especially assign the room for business negotiation, as if this is their temporary office. There are cabins for storing your luggage, and you may keep your valuables in the safe.

Actually, it’s a place for entertainment more than living. When you would like to enjoy the spa or message for relax after a long trip, and then have a rest, you can choose such spa clubs. You can walk in any time and need not reserve for the entertainment service except for the particular service such as “Tai Ji” message in Jin Yi Spa Club, which is in a way of traditional Chinese medical treatment. It’s also a way for you to experience the Chinese culture in keeping healthy.

Suite in Jin Yi Spa Club

Usually, the series of the service for the least consume include sauna, buffet, internet access, snooker, table tennis, movie,books, etc. If you’d like to enjoy other entertainmentssuch as playing bridge or mahjong, KTV,back rub, Gua Sha(Chinese medical treatment), etc, youwould pay the extra charge. Some sauna would also provide toothbrush, towel and quilt.

Is ittoo good to be true? Of course, we have to admit that there are shortcomings of staying in this kind of club. The most basic one is: the lack of privacy. In many of the clubs, you need to sleep in an open space, on a long sofa, which of course, is not as comfortable as in a hotel. Second, the standard of the

VIP room in Jin Yi Spa Club

sauna varies, some of which would offer other “informal” services, such as arranging girls to accompany man. Third, the availability of sleeping space in these club houses would vary.

Overall speaking, for the budget conscious visitors, these spa clubs or sauna centers, would offer the most economical accommodation you can find during Canton Fair.There are some contacts of the sauna centers and spa clubs in Guangzhou:

PDF file for the Chinese --- English name and address of these clubs: click here

Jin Yi Spa Club
Tel: 86-20-36639130   or   86-20-36639471
Add: No.783, Bai Yun Nan Lu, Guangzhou (Near Guangzhou Gymnasium)
Minimum charge: US$ 14

The Recal Club
Tel: 86-20- 38371988
Add: 1st--5th floor, Twin Tower Block, Hua Cheng Avenue, Pearl River New Estate, Guangzhou
Minimum charge: US$ 18

Tian Quan Leisure & Recreation Club
Tel: 86-20- 83585448
Add: 117, Heng Fu Road, Guangzhou
Minimum charge: US$ 19

Da Lang Tao Sha
Tel: 86-20- 22382828
Add: 11 Huapu Square, Hua Ming Road, Pearl River New Estate, Guangzhou
Minimum charge: US$ 21