on October 7, 2006
I had a friend in Beijing drop off a package at the hotel and the front desk did not notify me. It was not until my friend called late at night that I learned the package was still downstairs and so I criticized the hotel staff for not even leaving a note that a package for me had arrived.
The public telephone in the hotel lobby has a small round speaker on the ceiling directly above it which blares loud "lobby music" over your attempts at telecommunication. I informed the management that this speaker should be removed or disconnected.
Despite those two complaints, I have no problem recommending this hotel to tourists seeking a centrally located base from which to explore Beijing.
The hotel has a tennis court that appears to be in good condition.
The hotel's bakery has a "buy one, get one free" discount in the late afternoon.
There is a "Mondo Gelato" shop located on the second floor of Henderson Center shopping mall and another larger branch is located by the Starbucks across the street. (You must have mango sorbetto as a last taste of civilization before taking the train into the countryside.) Also across the street in the basement is a "Park N' Shop" Hong Kong style supermarket.
HSBC bank account holders will be pleased to know that one of Beijing's two HSBC ATM's is just a short walk away at Jianguomen outside the COFCO Center. (The other HSBC ATM is at Wangfujing's Oriental Plaza.)
on August 24, 2002
on August 22, 2007
on June 11, 2006
on June 16, 2008
