shonamac

Could someone please recommend a hotel (preferably a Holiday Inn / Hilton / Marriott group hotel) which is easily accessible by public transport (subway?) from both the airport and the Forbidden City area?

I am really looking for a value-for-money hotel and am not on an expense account

joe19924

Peking

They still keep the airport code PEK, too. I'd have thought it would have been changed by now

moondog

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...9-onwards.html

There's also a fairly monstrous thread in the Marriott forum on Beijing hotels, and a few other smaller hotel threads here.

JPDM

As you already know which ones you may want to stay at, just check their websites for their current prices.

moondog

Actually, based on his stated preferences, I don't think either of his brand choices will be of much use, so he probably has a bit more research ahead of him apart from checking prices on websites. Hopefully, he'll read through that main hotel thread and throw out some ideas that we can fine tune.

I'll offer up the Emperor right now. It's a very cool hotel that overlooks the Forbidden City and isn't expensive. Its main drawback, however, is the lack of elevators (i.e. need to climb stairs to get to the nice rooftop bar, as well as most guestrooms).

KopiKosong

Thanks for the pointers - I will go through those threads on the weekend. However, being enslaved to the miles / points etc., those chain hotels appear attractive, prima facie.

In the relative anonymity of FT, I think I can refuse to kow tow to the imparted wisdom, or can I not? Besides, what is wrong with Bombay, Calcutta & Leningrad?

moondog

Why the two user names? Don't you know that this against FT terms of service?

I don't have a big problem with the "Peking" thing apart from the fact that most people who try to impress others with this tidbit don't have a clue about history.

In brief, Mandarin IS the common language throughout the country, and there is no dispute about this (go to Wulumuqi and turn on a TV if you don't believe me).

The practice of naming cities based on transliterations of their Cantonese names began during the opium wars, and was well documented in maps during that era. This is because 广东 was the base of operations for the British (and East India Company).

But, after the PRC got rolling in 1949, it decided that calling its capital by its spoken name would be more appropriate. The proper transliteration for 北京 in Mandarin is "Beijing".

This isn't some sort of strange political stunt; it's actually what everyone (regardless of native dialect) uses.

joe19924

Nothing. It was light hearted humour. However, it is not called Peking (any more) and that is the fact we're dealing with.

Call it Peking and expect people to raise an eyebrow in 2014.

moondog

...unless you are a native Cantonese speaker.

travelinmanS

I'd recommend the Marriott by the Beijing Train Station. I think it's called Marriott city wall or something like that. Close to the forbidden city and close to subway lines 1 and 2. If you're a walker it is an easy trek to Tiananmen and the Forbidden City from this hotel and usually they have decent rates.

moondog

I don't like that place at all.

jerseygirl

We stayed at Marriott city wall and liked it very much, especially since we could walk to some areas we wanted to visit, upgraded to huge room, great breakfast, pool and pleasant people
Subway was short walk, liked the idea of being able to see part of the old city wall
Maybe others with more experience might recommend other hotels but we were quite happy with city wall