We are planning a short trip, about 6 days in Beijing. We are experience travelers but first time to China. We decided to visit Beijing for iur first visit. I have gone to several hotel web sites and have bought the Fodors Beijing book. I am stuck between several hotels. The Hotel Kapok, Park Plaza Beijing. Someone my wife knows stayed at the Crown Plaza and said it was a good hotel. Please help me with your comments on these hotels, if you stayed there. I am leaning toward to Kapok but can be influenced. Thanks

www.otel.com/hotels/swissotel_beijing.htm

Usually stay at this 5 star from $80/nt

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Crowne Plazas are always good

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Good luck!

Park Plaza, the location is the best among the 3 you mentioned.

We stayed at the Park Plaza during our recent trip to Beijing. We loved the hotel. Very nice tastefully decorated rooms, great location, yummy breakfasts, and a nice outdoor "beer garden" (well--it's not exactly a garden) where we could relax for awhile at the end of a busy day. We could also pick up wi-fi signals there from the Starbucks just across the street.

As there are many hotels in Beijing, especially since the Olympics... I can't but help but recommend something boutique and well.. worth it. Opposite House. I'm not affiliated but they are my neighbor as I live in Beijing. You have tapas down the side, nightclubs to the right, shopping to the south (and now north). The rooms are like you're in... well... a boutique hotel.

My other recommendations are something around wangfujing or Hohai.

Enjoy!

I,m still undecide but am leaning toward the Hotel Kapok because of its location and fodors recommendation. Has anyone stayed there? I am still considering the Park plaza too.

Has anyone stayed at the HOTEL kAPOK?

Thanks for your replies
alan

I second the Swissotel. Just returned from a trip to Beijing and liked it very much as you literally walk out the front door to the subway station. Location is great!

Well, the Hotel Kapok is in a great location: a ten-minute walk to the Southern gate of the Forbidden City, a five-minute walk to an upscale shopping area, and about a 40-minute taxi ride to the airport.

The staff is friendly and helpful! They will help you arrange reservations for restaurants, tours, and they'll be sure to write out where you're going in Chinese so that the taxis know where to take you. If you don't speak Chinese be sure you have everything written out so that you don't get lost.

We were in Beijing 3 weeks ago at the Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing, great location and good hotel.
We used a local english speaking guide as it was our first trip and he made the trip so easy that we will go back again.
He is KongLin, contact by e mail - [email protected]

we are Kong Lin fans since '07 also...was wife Violet along with him? He'll take you to the uncrowded wall at Mutianyu and wait for you or join you while there. Same for several other sites around the city, including Temple of Heaven

We liked the low key Crowne Plaza on Wangfujing...

First time to China in 1984, the Great Wall was the top hotel in town..probably has changed a lot for better or worse since then. Crowne Plaza is across the street from the famous night market, and a rather long but doable walk to Tiananmen and Forbidden City.
stu

Hi
We finally made a decision and booked the Park Plaza Wangfujing. Thanks for all the assistance.