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I've narrowed my choices down to those 3 hotels. For location and value for my money and given that I will have 2 kids below the age of 10 with me, which do you suggest should I go for? Thanks.

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Also see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/budge...s-beijing.html about budget hotels in Beijing.
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SQ4000

In my view, Hilton Wangfujing is the best for location and convenience, and the breakfast is something quite special, I am sure your kids would love that. Wangfujing walking Street is a very short distance away with a short cut through a new shopping mall (200 yards of A/C). The night food market (good for entertainment and some of the food on sale are not bad either) is just a few minutes away.

Both Peninsula and Hyatt are just a little further away from Wangfujing walking street and other attractions, but not by much.

If you do decide on Hilton Wangfujing, from airport, ask your taxi driver take you to Jin Yu Hu Tong (Goldfish Lane). Just before Wangfujing walking street (the end of Goldfish Lane) look out for a new office complex called the Macau Centre on your left, the hotel is to the rear of that, its the same building. Most taxi drivers don't know how to get to that hotel, it is still too new. There are two Hilton hotels in Beijing, make sure to tell the driver its the Wangfujing Hilton.

I just like Hilton WFJ, especially the bathroom!

Enjoy your trip!

RichardInSF

Hyatt has an amazing swimming pool and sits on top of a huge mall, one end of which is on Wangfujing -- so it isn't that far away. It's a fine hotel, I used to stay there before the Park Hyatt got completed.

moondog

Yeah, if was a 10 year-old kid, I'd be a strong supporter of the GH. Speaking of that, we took a family vacation to NYC when I was around 10, stayed in the Waldorf, and I can vividly recall the disappointment my sister and I felt wrt the lack of a cool swimming pool, game room, etc.

RichardInSF

I reallly liked that swimming pool too, meaning I am reverting back in age. Too much time spent on FT, obviously.

The restaurant in the hotel called "Made In China" is great as well, although you don't have to be a hotel guest to eat there -- IF you can get a booking. That is easier to do if you are staying on the club floor.

Peter_N-H

Peninsula: Better service, but older property with rooms smaller than the other two mentioned. Has pool at rear. Convenient for both Dong Dan and Wangfu Jing ('further away' than Hilton to the tune of perhaps 100m, although why anyone wanting a Chinese experience would spend time on Wangfu Jing is a bit of a mystery--Dong Dan/Dong Si is rather more stimulating, has more variety, and is cheaper). Very convenient for Deng Shi Kou metro station.

Hilton Wangfu Jing: Newest, although not in a 'new' building, as suggested, but conversion of original apartments some years old into a hotel. Rooms large. This time last year still with minor teething troubles probably sorted out by now. Small, cosy lobby, with library-like atmosphere and log fire in winter. Close to both Wangfu Jing and Dong Dan. Perhaps not first choice if children are considered, however.

Grand Hyatt: Originally planned to be Harbour Plaza but became Hyatt at last minute, so pool as un-Hyatt as you can imagine, and verging on Disneyesque with giant palm-tree-like pillars, etc. If children are interested in pool, then this would be top choice. Sits conveniently above metro Wangfu Jing, in mall that stretches between Wangfu Jing and Dong Dan. Chocolate shop. Is nearer to main sights (e.g. Tian'an Men Square, Forbidden City) than other two: walkable (passing other museums, rebuilt hutong areas, revived canal-side park) or one metro stop. Also has small two-room suites designed for families (by knocking two rooms together). Overall, given children angle, would probably be the winner.

Hope that helps.

Peter N-H
China

jiejie

For your situation, Grand Hyatt.

bossCJ

I'd agree (somewhat) for kids, the grand hyatt is one of the better choices. Although the peninsula can also be very good. Hyatt has a bit of the "wow cool" factor with their pool, but otherwise I'd prefer the peninsula. Its one of the true 5-star places in beijing. Service is top, the place is truly just classic. And their staff do love kids there very much. Recommended it for visiting family, they loved it. The only thing the hyatt has going for it is the pool (for the kids). Peninsula has one too, but its more classic/elegant than the extreme of the hyatt. Only downside is the smaller size of the rooms at peninsula in comparison. But honestly if you have money to stay there, than just pay for a bigger room, which you'd be doing anyways i assume if you're bringing 2 kids with you. Hilton rooms are nice, nothing wrong with the place, but for kids, or anyone, it doesn't have anything "special," and isn't in the same league of the hyatt, let alone the peninsula. I'd recommend the Peninsula. Plus do the limo service to/from the airport.

RichardInSF

I don't know about the Pen Beijing, but every other luxury hotel I've stayed at in either Beijing or Shanghai charges a HUGE premium over cab fare for their limo service, like 5x or 6x as much.

moondog

I think you forgot:

-attached to enormous shopping mall with tons of restaurants, food court, movie theater
-on top of subway station
-closer to tourist attractions (not a big factor for me, at all, but still worth mentioning)

asianmom

From the original post, I'm not sure if the OP meant they are just one adult travelling with two kids or two adults with two kids.If it is the latter, I would strongly suggest staying with Hyatt for they have a 2 bedroom set up that is just right for family of this size; it comes with a kitchenette and a mini dining area too.And then of course the pool is a winner and location swell, just on top of a mall and food court and the Made in China restaurant serves the best Beijing roast duck ever, highly recommended.Make sure you call in advance for a reservation though, it is wildly popular, we only managed to eat there 3 times out of the 8 days we were there.

bossCJ

There is a huge premium for airport limo service, but it's different when there is a hotel person waiting for you at the gate, to escort you through customs/terminal/get bags/etc... who radios for the car to pull up, plus once in the car having cold bottled drinks, today's paper, etc. Plus the upkeep on a 7-series, S-class, or the aforementioned Peninsula Rolls Royce Phantom has to be a lot more than the 15-20 year old VW "Santana 2000" taxis that are found, with a wannabe F1 driver, in july, and no AC because it "wastes fuel."

No, I didn't forget that the hyatt is on top of the mall, but the two are a 5 minute walking distance away. So the hyatt's not "closer" to tourist attractions, any attraction you're going to go see you're going to take a taxi anyways. BTW by the time you walk from the subway stop at wangfujing, than through the mall, to the hotel, and up to the room, is only about 1 minute quicker than going to the Pen. Plus daddy won't be asked by his kids what a "sexy massagee" is after being asked by some local looking for clients in the evening at the basement of oriental plaza if they're at the pen (or hilton), along with all the other "English & art students" and the rest. Plus the pen has its own (albeit it more expensive) shopping. Any "location advantage" anyone feels the hyatt has over the other two must be REALLY lazy. Chinese people like it because of the address of being on "Chang'An Avenue." Plus, the peninsula also has really great restaurants, but if you want duck don't go to either. Go to one of the Quanjude, best with a group of Chinese friends/colleagues/clients. The whole menu, which is not small, is based on duck and different preparations of duck, using all different parts of the duck. Its all about the duck there. Separately, I think Anthony Bourdain (if they're any fans out there) went to a back-alley hutong duck place and was absolutely amazed. Don't feel the need for 500 yuan hotel duck. If the concierge is any good they should be able to direct you to a few different places other than their own restaurant.

Me personally, if there was a choice of any hotel in the city, it'd be between the St. Regis (the best), Park Hyatt ("hip/chic" at jianwai soho+highest in beijing), Westin Chaoyang (for work in Dongsanhuan/Chaoyang+airport convenience), and the Opposite House (room design+true botique hotel). if you want more suggestions just ask, sometimes it depends on the area of the city you want/need to be in. All of the OP's choices aren't bad, just these are my preferences.

RichardInSF

I walked from the GH to Wangfujing, Tienanmen Square, and the Forbidden city several times when staying there, never once took a taxi to those destinations. Guess that means I haven't spent enough time in Beijing by the above poster's standards!

That doesn't mean the GH is an ideal hotel, I have had service problems there which hopefully, by now, are fixed. I don't know as I switched to the Park Hyatt when it opened.

bossCJ

I don't consider Wangfujing a tourist sight to "go see" when all of these hotels are IN Wangfujing. And all are an equal walk to the Forbidden city, "cha bu duo." But in relation to sights such as Summer palace, Temple of Heaven, Olympic Stadiums, or markets such as panjiayuan, yashou, hongqiao, or even silk market, let alone the great wall, all will be via taxi (2 or 3 can be via subway if you wish) , and all will cost you the same taxi price, because they're all practically next to each other.

moondog

I think you've overstated this point. Most taxis in BJ are recent models (cuz there are strong incentives in place to send the old ones to other parts). Moreover, there's nothing wrong with waiting at the head of the queue for a Sonota or Hongqi to pop up.

Again, I think most kids would see an advantage in having spots such as DQ and the movie theater in the same building.

Sure it is. Setting aside the fact that I consider Wangfujing to be about as touristy as attractions come (a point upon which we disagree), the straight shot along Chang'an Jie to Tiananmen is twice as fast as from the Pen or the Hilton. Then, once you get there, simply head north through the Forbidden City and move onward to Beihai/Jingshan and Houhaui/Nanluoguxiang.

Personally, I'm one of those people that doesn't see much value in staying downtown in the first place (I'm a Chaoyang guy). However, of the choices offered, the GH is my favorite (with or without kids in tow).

Anyone who wants Quanjude can simply hit the Los Angeles branch and save themselves the bother of a trek across the ocean. While I'm not as wowed by Made in China as some, it's a pretty nice restaurant IMO and I certainly prefer its duck to Quanjude's. We have a few other threads around here on duck, so I won't comment further.