If you unexpectedly have a few weeks of free time in early August and are looking for something a little different to do, you may want to consider the Olympics.

That’s right, hop on a plane and come to Beijing to enjoy perhaps the most watched Games ever.

At least you won’t have to worry about room availability says one hotelier, even if you decide to come to China’s capital just days before the Olympic flame arrives.

“There will be rooms,” said Roland Jegge, vice president in Asia Pacific for WORLDHOTELS, a group of 500 independent hotels, three of which are in Beijing.

“But probably no tickets,” he said. Well, you can’t have everything and besides the Olympics are about much more than mere sports events.

“It’s about the experience and atmosphere,” said Jegge.

Oh, and besides no tickets for the events, expect to pay the highest published rates for the rooms, he said.

People are more spontaneous nowadays, explained Jegge. For the Olympics 10-15 years ago people would make plans two years in advance, but now hotels are saving some rooms for last-minute availability, he said.

But with the International Olympic Committee, corporate sponsors and big travel agents buying big blocks of hotel rooms, prices will be high.

While the well-known international hotels and chains will not dare to gouge customers for a quick buck, rooms will be pricey.

“Ethically this will backfire on hotels,” he said.

But new or smaller hotels that are desperate for market share, the short-term payoff may be worth it, he said.

Kirby Chien is Senior Equities Correspondent, China.

Photo of the foyer of the five star Sofitel in Beijing by David Gray.