Even “budget” hotels will be raising their rates during the Olympics. With most of their four and five star brethren near capacity already, sleeping venues at the lower end of the hotel price spectrum are set for an influx of visitors.

As anyone who has traveled on a budget knows, finding accommodation that is both good and cheap can be tricky, even if your standards aren’t very high.

Here are a few hotels/guesthouses that earn high marks for quality and service despite their reasonable prices.

1. Youth Hostels are scattered throughout the city. Leo’s Hostel (Tie Shu Xie Jie) is known for its lively scene. The rooms are Spartan, to be sure, but the bar is lively, and any place that has a Playstation in the lobby can’t be all that bad. Beijing City Central Youth Hostel is the cleanest, most convenient (in terms of location and sevice), and most popular hostel in town. There is a 24-hour convenience store, internet access, and an English speaking staff.

2. Experience life in Beijing’s famous Hutong (networks of alleyways) at Beijing Houhai Courtyard (Sanbulao Hutong). Single rooms only cost 15 bucks (non-Olympic rates), with shared rooms going even more cheaply. The guesthouse offers tea in the courtyard, tours of the surrounding area, and bicycle rental.

3. Another hutong hotel is Beijing Join Inn (Qinmao Hutong, just off Zhaodengyu Ave). It is a rarity in Beijing for more than its clever name. Located in the hutong, but near a main road and a subway station, it offers proximity to both old and new Beijing. Where else can you find both a McDonald’s and a hutong noodle stall within walking distance?
Even though many budget travelers prefer to shoot from the hip and not book in advance, booking before the Olympics is a must. Beijing City Central Youth Hostel is the most coveted spot. It will undoubtedly be filled to capacity for the duration of the games. So booking early is a necessity.

Head to a traditional internet ticket broker and you’ll find airfare between the U.S. and Beijing at double or triple usual prices. With hundreds of thousands of visitors on the way to China’s capital city for the Olympics, airlines and travel companies are doing their best to turn a strong profit.

Luckily, for those who balk at throwing down $5,000 for airfare, there are alternatives.

1. Take advantage of multiple destination specials to get in through Beijing’s back door. Cathay Pacific, for example, offers a special called The All Asia Pass. It features airfare from LAX or SFO to Hong Kong, followed by flights to as many as four more “major” destinations, including Beijing. The cost is around $1,500, a fair amount below the price tag of a flight directly to Beijing.

2. Some companies offer Round the World Packages. Again, these are usually unnecessary for people heading to a single destination, but the price beats the inflated Olympic airfares hands down. A four-destination ticket, say from JFK to Beijing to Dubai to London and back to JFK will run about $1,800. Some companies specialize in this kind of ticket and offer regional options similar to Cathay Pacific (in #1) for $1,200 -$1,500. These packages can be marginally pricier during the summer season.

3. Tickets to other Chinese cities remain reasonable. Flying into Hong Kong, Shanghai, or Guangzhou can be accomplished for under $1,000. Once inside the country, trains or domestic flights will lead to an overall savings over a direct flight from the US to Beijing.

4. Plan a cruise during the Olympics. Shanghai has a brand new cruise port and high-speed rail connects China’s richest city with Beijing. This is probably not the most convenient approach, but might allow you to get into Beijing without spending your life savings.

As its economy has risen to prominence, Beijing has become the home for nearly a quarter of a million foreigners. The country responded to this influx by easing visa restrictions. Those who work or do business in Beijing are usually able to attain long-term, multiple entry visas. However, as the Games get closer, China is changing the rules. Those coming to the country or seeking to renew their visas will have to settle for the one-month, single entry variety.

The reasons: a recent crackdown on foreign run drug operations has led to the arrests of French and British nationals. Beijing wants to clean up the narcotics mess so that it can put its best foot forward for the games. Also, authorities are worried about protests like the ones that marred the early legs of the Olympic torch relay.

However, the new rules, even if they are only temporary, will hurt business people and tourists alike. Many expats are heading back home from now until the end of the Games. The Chinese government has issued no formal statement about the visas, but most believe that visa situation will return to normal after the closing ceremonies.

Tourists seeking to combine their Olympic trip with a tour of China might also feel the pinch. China is a vast country, and one month is hardly enough time to see it, especially if half of the time is consumed with Olympic related activities. Artists, heading to Beijing for the art related events that will coincide with the Olympics, will also be hampered by these new rules, unless their trip is strictly an in and out run.

Travel agencies have advised tourists to put the Games first on their itinerary, or to include Hong Kong on the trip. No visa is required to enter Hong Kong and visitors can then re-enter China on a fresh visa.

It’s almost as if Beijing’s transportation system has received an injection of steroids prior to the Games. That’s just as well. Things are going to get mighty crowded in August, and the traditional means of getting around China’s capital, by bicycle, just won’t cut it for most of visitors.

But getting around should be a breeze. Here’s why.

Beijing’s 5-line subway system is a convenient way to get around the city. One can reach any major site and can find their way to anywhere in the central districts of the city with ease. By August, there will be seven more lines in operation, some built specifically to shuttle spectators in between venues. The pricing system will be based on distance. Visitors can act like old China hands by buying a prepaid card and casually swiping it upon entering and leaving the stations. Prepaid cards also earn riders reduced bus fares.

Forget about renting a car during the Games. It is nearly impossible to do so under normal circumstances. With the influx of visitors and increase in road congestion, it would probably actually be better to walk everywhere than to try getting behind the wheel.

Leave the driving to the pros. Beijing’s taxi fleet offers a cheap alternative to pedaling or riding the rails. Traffic might be heavy at times, but drivers are generally adept at getting you to where you want to go reasonably quickly. Those who favor this means of transport should be aware of the taxi’s meter. First of all, that the car has one, and second that it is turned on. The driver should not start the meter until the customers have entered the vehicle. The meter can also print out a receipt. Get one before you exit just to assure that the entire transaction is legit.