Originally Posted by
Rami Tamimi
Was that in China? Typically in China, I split my reservations into 1 night ones, so that I can leave as I please. If I extend the stay, we just communicate in wechat directly with the property and most of the time they just proactively ask if I am extending, or failing that I just send them a screenshot of the app. For most properties, you can cancel until 6 PM on the day and some by 8PM and some even by midnight (that is if you are just arriving, if you are extending, you need to make up your mind by 12-2PM or whatever the check out time is).
Big fan of those service apartments here btw, you get a residential feeling and can check in before you arrive, and you can get a good place for 100-150RMB (more like 200RMB in Shanghai/Beijing).
I PMed you details about the specific property (in Shanghai) in case you're interested in the future. It's now a Home Inn (wasn't last year when I first discovered it). It's at the intersection of Huaihai and Wukang, which is super prime. The nightly rate is a around Y350, and this fetches a room with a small kitchen (including washer/dryer), big living space, and oversized bathroom. I know it's a good value because I tried out 7 other places (between Y300 and Y1500) last year before deciding on it, and it's almost as nice as the long term apartments I've rented in Xuhui and JA in the past. I always book it via Ctrip and then WeChat the front desk lady, who makes sure that I get my preferred room. Booking directly with her would cost a lot more.