JIMCHI

You won't be disappointed with the lounge. It's part buffet and part order from a menu. Terrific, very attentive service there. If you want a large breakfast, I'm sure they would be willing to bring you two items from the sitdown menu. It included both Asian and Western items.

365RoadWarrior

Someone upthread suggested Made in China as good vegetarian option; the lounge won't send vegetarians away famished, but it's mostly fruit and dry cereal, maybe a bread or two (I didn't ask what was veg/not). Pickled vegetables.

CIT85

I just spend 2 nights at GH Beijing this past weekend. Flight was delayed 7 hrs from Shenzhen so I checked in at around 3:30 AM. Taxi from PEK was 126 RMB, with I think only 10 RMB surcharge for late night.

I was upgraded to a Grand Club room. Grand Club is one of the nicest Lounge I've been to for a while. Plenty of staff with great service. Menu appetizers on Saturday evening had excellent mini Beef Wellington and Pan Fried Scallops, plus a third item which I didn't try. None alcoholic beverages were high end, San Pelligrino and Acqua Panna plus the usual assortments and my favorite, water melon juice. Wine selection was reasonable with 3 reds, 3 whites and Chandon Champagne. Breakfast in the morning was decent with Chinese and Western made to order items from the menu plus the buffet. The Grand Club really set GH apart from some of the other hotels in Beijing. I thought the GC had a more luxurious feel than the room itself.

Diamond breakfast option include Made in China, which was good, with a wide variety of Chinese breakfast and brunch items. Although I would have preferred Szechuan style noodles (hot with numbing with Szechuan peppercorn) or wontons.

I like the location, easy walk to Tiananmen. It's been a while since I've been to Tiananmen, there was significant security accessing entire Tiananmen area.

talfred

Hey guys,

I'm travelling as a couple arriving 26th Dec 2016 for 6 days for vacation.

How does this property compare with Hilton Wangfujing and Sheraton Dongcheng?

Looking for a nice suite (the Hilton seem to look nicer from photos but slim with upgrade chances due to peak xmas season).

I have a remaining DSU that can be used at this property or may try SNAs with Sheraton

Great if anyone has stayed in the properties mentioned and give some comparison?

365RoadWarrior

I spent nine days divided between the Hilton Wangfujing and the Grand Hyatt. There really isn't any comparison, aside from location, which is roughly equivalent. In terms of service, facilities, fixtures even the "quality" of other guests (families with kids versus experienced travelers), the Grand Hyatt is preferable. If you have status (since you have DSUs, I'm guessing you do), perhaps you'll be upgraded to an over-the-top room. At minimum, you'll have access to the very nice Grand Club. I think I went to the Hilton lounge twice before deciding to skip evening service and take breakfast in the restaurant. The Hilton restaurant breakfast was good. During my GH stay, Made in China was closed, so the Grand Club was the only breakfast option. I also have some very bad memories (small, hot, children's un-official play area) of the Hilton fitness center, if that matters to you. I spent the time at the Hilton only because it was 40% of the GH price during my stay.

(Hilton Beijing is nice, but it's probably not where you want to be.)

talfred

Great info. Definitely sticking to the GH.

New World hotel on the other hand caught my attention. Looks pretty slick and very affordable. Downside is my flight on departure date is past mid night so late checkout from my Diamond status will take precedence.

talfred

Anyone know the difference between a Club Suite King and Granf Suite King?

DSU secured a Club Suite King is this just on a higher floor or different layout?

Couldn't find any photos of it

JIMCHI

The Grand Suite is larger. We had a Club Suite and it was more than adequate with the bedroom separated from the living room by a door.

See photos at http://beijing.grand.hyatt.com/en/ho...oms/suite.html

nologic

Great hotel and management and staff is wonderful. Great Diamond treatment and recognition.

Club lounge is great.

All the managers I met or corresponded with from the GM to the Rooms Manager were over the top trying to be accommodating and helpful.

Wonderful UG to Grand Club 2 bedroom suite! Really made a difference traveling with two kids...also on the same floor of the club lounge lounge really makes things easy!

Excellent club lounge. Staff is wonderful.

Be sure to try the Beijing Duck at the hotel's restaurant, Made in China...we had BJ duck multiple times over three weeks in China and this was universally regarded as the best. Also try the grilled jumbo tiger prawns (size of a lobster tail) from the waters off Vietnam.

reuntriv

Hey guys, have any of you tried guided tour service arranged by the hotel's concierge? I'm visiting BJ in October with my family and it will be our first time. I understand that the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square are within walking distance from the hotel so that's not a problem.

We'd like to visit the Great Wall, Summer Palace, but I think it's better to have a tour guide since we wouldn't know our way around BJ.

I learned that the hotel provides guided tour services, and I believe the concierge acts like a liaison arranges the service from a 3rd party. They have private tours and coach tours, both accompanied by an English speaking guide.

Their routes are:

Private Tours

Tour A

Day Tour to Great Wall Badaling / Ming Tombs - Changling

1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax
1,580 1,700 2,100 2,210 2,320 2,420 2,530 (CNY)

Tour B

Half Day Tour to Great Wall Mutianyu

1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax
1,580 1,700 2,100 2,210 2,320 2,420 2,530

Tour C

Day Tour to Simatai Section

1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax
3,100 3,400 4,500 4,800 5,100 8,000 8,300

Tour D

Day Tour to Forbidden City / Tiananmen Square / Temple of Heaven / Summer Palace

1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax
1,450 1,800 2,200 2,500 2,900 3,400 3,800

Tour E

Half Day Tour to Forbidden City / Tiananmen Square / Badaling or Mutianyu Great wall

1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax
1,900 2,100 2,320 2,530 2,740 2,950 3,160

Tour F

Day Tour to Lama Temple / Temple of Heaven / Hu Tong

1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax
1,450 1,800 2,200 2,500 2,900 3,400 3,800

Do you see any route above that you wouldn't recommend (i.e., cost-to-benefit)? Also, if you took tour services something other than that provided by the hotel, I'd appreciate it if you could share your experience!

nologic

I recommend Joe's car service: full day Great Wall Mutianyu is ¥650 for a sedan and ¥900 for a van +8613301002884.

reuntriv

Thanks for the recommendation. I contacted him a while ago but no response Decided to do the half-day trip to Mutianyu through the hotel.

RTW1

That's typical for how these guys operate.... when I was there I contacted 4 services, only one bothered to reply.

moondog

I helped an FTer link up with Joe's car service recently, and everything went well. The problem with car services these days, is that drivers can often make more money by doing local trips. A taxi to Mutianyu and back (by the meter) isn't a bad option.

luvFclass

When booking thru the hotel, are you permitted to charge the trip to your room, or is payment directly to the tour company? I am interested in the same trip as well.

I will be there in April, and I am thinking of using: www.imperialtours.net for a day trip to the GW, and a private picnic lunch on site, based on a recommendation from a fellow FT'er. They are a full service travel company, which I like.

LFC