China Travel Forum

[Wilbur]

Just curious if anyone can recommend a hotel that isn't part of a Western Chain, or 5 star price range. We will need two rooms and I am trying to keep it cost effective. We are not big fans of super fancy hotels anyway. Never feels like you left home sometimes. Thanks in advance!

[Darren]

We stayed at the Ping An Fu, which was fine, and not badly located (a Y15-20 or US$2-3 cab ride to the city centre).

If I'd had my druthers, though, I'd have picked the Bamboo Garden, which is in a nice location near the Drum Tower and Back Lakes. However, I'm not in a position to recommend it (we were there at a busy time and they were booked out).

Another more traditional-appearing place that I'd have been prepared to try is the LuSongYuan (try a search).

The Chinese-owned hotels we stayed at were quite adequate, and there was always someone around who could speak enough English to get by. My advice is to get hold of a Beijing city map and choose a hotel in a reasonably central position. From what I could see the Western chain hotels are mostly very central, but way overpriced if you take into account Chinese cost structures. At most times of the year you should be able to simply front up and negotiate a discounted rate.