Beijing, Hong Kong hotels
 

Fellow Travelers - My husband and I will be in China early October 2004. Can anyone offer advice on hotels? In Beijing (3 nights), we're contemplating the International, the Novotel Peace Hotel, and the Wangfujing Grand. We will have a car/driver and guide in Beijing, all booked through a company that offers both group tours and private tours. Given that, we can't decide whether it's better to be walking distance from Forbidden City or from Silk Market area. We plan to do our major shopping in Beijing. In Hong Kong our tour operator is offering the Regal Kowloon, which appears pretty good from its web site. We will be on our own in HK, and plan to see sights more than shop. Also, how difficult is the Jinshanling to Simatai section of Great Wall? We are middle aged, in good shape, but I have a somewhat overpowering fear of heights (Blarney Castle in Ireland nearly did me in). Any suggestions, feedback on size of rooms, cleanliness, attractive decor, service, neighborhoods, and Great Wall experiences would be most welcome! Thanks - Claire

Entering 'Wangfujing Grand' in the search box above will produce several recent threads discussing this hotel, for instance.

A search for 'Jinshanling' will produce several descriptions of this hike, including this one:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34464447

There are several recent discussions which mention the merits (or lack thereof) of the largely silk-free Silk Market, which is likely to be closed when you arrived as it is being relocated indoors. The search box can help you here, too.

Peter N-H
http://members.shaw.ca/pnhpublic/China.html

Peter - Many thanks for the tip on searching threads - the carpel tunnel was starting to set in! Funny - can't find anything here on the hotel called the International Hotel - just the International Hostel. As for the Great Wall, the Jinshanling sounds great but I am definitely not a rock climber, so I wonder how difficult this would be for me. Love your many comments here, Peter, your frank opinions, and your wonderful writing! Claire

The International Hotel should be avoided. If you are staying at the four- or five-star level then to get value for money you should stay at a foreign-run hotel, and if you are staying at a Chinese-run one, some of which are perfectly acceptable if you are not expecting perfection, you should be negotiating for much lower prices than the Western and Asian luxury names are expecting.

The International has been around for quite some time, and is completely Chinese-owned and run. It's generally unimpressive. My best story from there is from a Chinese friend of mature years, long resident overseas, who made his first return visit in 30 years or so as part of a tour group. There wasn't a flask of freshly boiled water in his room (as there should have been), and rather then fetching him one, the staff told him the hot tap water was safe to drink. He needs his head examining for believing them, but he spent the next three days in bed.

As you've seen, the Wangfujing Grand has received better reviews, but I'd choose the Novotel Peace if the prices are the same. I haven't been since Novotel took it over, but there were two wings of quite differing levels of grandeur. Check if they've now refurbishmed the more three-star wing, and which one you'll be in.

NB: In early October most of the hotels will be very full, and most tourist sights packed out, although getting around the city will likely be easier than usual.

Before to search this forum for much commentary on the drawbacks of guided tours, group or private, and cautions about tour guides, especially in connection with shopping.

Peter N-H
http://members.shaw.ca/pnhpublic/China.html

The Regal Kowloon is located in Tsim Sha Tsui East, which is a pretty dead area, with poor transportation. The MTR is quite a walk through very busy streets. And last report I've read, the Tsim Sha Tsui East promenade is still closed for underground rail construction.

I suggest you ask for a different hotel than the Regal Kowloon. See what other hotels your tour operator can get you.

You may like to consider the Park hotel or the Mirimar in Hong Kong. I think they would be in te same price range as the Regal Kowloon and I think would be better choices at this stage.Can I suggest you have a look at the History of Hong Kong Museum (not far from those hotels, especially the Park)...allow a couple of hours as it is very interesting.We have stayed at both and were happy with them..our room at the Mirimar looked over Kowloon Park and we loved watching the people doing their Tai Chi exercises early in the morning. Have fun!

I can only go on my experience, but in Beijing, as long as you are within 15 minutes of the Forbidden City, you are OK as taxis are cheap. I stayed at the Swiss Hotel and it was a short taxi ride to everywhere along with a subway stop right out front. I found Beijing and HK for that fact, it does not matter if you can walk to places as it only costs a $1.20 US to get anywhere you want to go. Beijing drivers like to work off the meter--watch out) For HK, a decent hotel and location is the New Renaissance which is right on the Kowloon side water. A short walk to the ferry and walking distance to the shopping at Kowloon with subway stop near by. My favorite is the Conrad on HK island. Great shopping and great hotel. Also, the Grand Hyatt is also great. Not sure if you will be in Shanghai, I like the Okura Garden Hotel. The location is great and the hotel is nice, although a little old compared to brand new furnished hotels. (still my favorite in Shanghai) The JW Marriott is nice. For size of rooms, if you stay in the European, North American and Japanese hotels of 4-5 stars, they are almost like here in the US. I don't like staying in the fully American Business hotels in Asia since it is like staying in a hotel in the US.-does not give you the feel of being in an exotic land.--(JMHO) The Japanese Hotels are the best in my opinion and then the European hotels. For the Great Wall, for as far as you walk, you have to walk back. And usually, if you are with a guide, they give you a certain amount of time, but depends on the guide.......Have Fun.....

To all 4 of you - thanks - this is great info. I have been searching the hotel threads for hours. It is a bit overwhelming (and addicting), but time well invested into planning a great trip! Between New Renaissance and Miramar in HK, anyone with an opinion on which would have a larger room, preferably with a double/qeen bed and a twin (or 2 doubles) to make return home packing easier? In Beijing, Marco Polo, as a smaller, boutique hotel, sounds good, but our tour operator says it's a bit out of the way. Any feedback on that? Not sure why that would affect us given that we'll have a car and driver and guide. Thanks - Claire

Yet another reason not to use a tour operator if another reason were needed.

The Marco Polo (too large to be a boutique hotel but with well-designed an intimate public areas that make you think of boutique hotels) is only as far west of the Forbidden City as Wangfujing is east of it: one metro stop, or 20 minutes or so on foot. It's hard to get more central.

Peter N-H
http://members.shaw.ca/pnhpublic/China.html

Don't know the Renaissance but our room at the Mirimar had two double beds.

Just back from Asia and stayed at the Peninsula Palace, great breakfast, room, and airport transportation, check asiahotels.com for reasonable prices. Within walking distance to Forbidden City (about 20 min walk). Great shopping and restaurants nearby. Go to Porcelain Alley and bargain, very low prices.

Also did Jinshanling to Simatei and found it to be very challenging. Heat, high elevation, steep inclines and declines, and many parts of the wall were in poor condition. Caved in and hired a guide to show us the easier way down. Nevertheless an awesome experience, amazing views, definitely worth it.

Was just in Hong Kong in June and stayed at the New World Renaissance Hotel. I have not stayed at the Miramar Hotel.
One disadvantage to the New World Renaissance is that to cross the main street to get to TST, you have to navigate by construction underground on the new train station. The Miramar, on the other hand, has only a little area of construction on Nathan road, a little south of the hotel, which is not as inconvenient as for the New World Renaissance.
A plus for the New World Renaissance is that it is connected to a shopping mall which includes (can be either thought of as good or bad) a McDonalds and a supermarket. Another plus is its proximity to the Star Ferry, while the Miramar is closer and easier to the subway and the small shops in TST as well as the main shops on Nathan Rd.
I think you will probably be pleased with either hotel, though.
Have a great trip, October is a much better month to be in Hong Kong than June was for us!

Stayed at Miramar in Hong Kong a couple of years ago. Good hotel and good location. Ask for club level room..they are very very nice. Inexpensive, too.

Hello all - This web site is just incredible. Read most postings 3 or 4 times and now have totally revised my thinking! Will book Marco Polo in Beijing. For Hong Kong, I'm biting the bullet and upgrading our plans. We're torn between Intercontinental, Shangri-La Kowloon (latter is slightly more $$ for either harbor view or city view) and Sheraton IF we can get a harbor view room. Anyone know what floor in Sheraton gives a clear harbor view, given that there are buildings in front of it? Thanks again! Claire

I've been wondering the same thing re the Sheraton as it is in such a good position as well. The Shangri Hotel is beautiful but I don't particularly like the area.I doubt you will ever get a better view than you can get from the Intercontinental!Enjoy my favourite city!

Have stayed at New Renaissance in HK nad the rooms were fairly big, not different than any large american hotel. In fact, larger. Plus great coffee shop out front. Nice walk to the ferry. Yes, contruction in front but you can find your way to Kowloon shopping. Once of the nicest things about it is if you walk out the backdoor, you are right on the Harbor and you can sit on the boardwalk and watch the boats go buy and see the HK island side with all the lights.

In Beijing, we like the Peninsula Palace best due to its central location and close proximity to the Forbidden City and Wangfujing area. It is more expensive than other hotels - we pay US$165/nt inc. breakfast - though well worth it. In HK, we like Marco Polo hotels (Hong Kong, Prince or Gateway)...again because of their ideal location near Star Ferry and Harbour City. Prices range from US$100-$150/nt depending on which hotel you choose. Early Oct might be tricky as hotels sell out fast or charge more during the holiday week. Room size, decor, cleanliness, service and neighborhoods are all excellent for any of these hotels.

Have stayed at Prince which was fine but of the three the Hong Kong is supposed to be the best.

Thanks once again to all for this helpful info. Early October is the only time all year we can travel, but it sure does have an impact on prices and availability, esp. in HK. Prices seem to be rising daily now. But it will be worth it! Claire