Location is always a factor, but in Beijing taxi's are dirt cheap. We found taking a taxi easy enough (had cards with hotel address on one side and on separate cards the locations we were interested in going (with English note for us)) and if driver did not understand us (usually even if he did), we'd hand him a card. Rarely cost more than $1.50 to $2.00 and we never paid more than $3.00 for what seemed like long rides.
So pick a hotel you will enjoy and taxi as needed.