The idea of stopping at a hutong seemed different and, yes, it was. We had decided on another hutong venue but when I spotted bear paw and shark fin on their menu I decided to give them a big miss. The hotel is reasonably well located in respect of the main attractions, within easy walking distance of Wangfugian Street and even the Forbidden City and the Square. Shops are close by for water, beer and heaps of maternity gear for some reason. The Bank of China is around the corner along with a couple of supermarkets and that last link with home - McDonalds.
Check in was completed quickly and then to the room. We had a small suite and the emphasis was on small. A tiny entrance housing a wardrobe, small table, 2 hard chairs and a small cupboard with mini bar. The bathroom was adequate with a shower in bath. The bedroom contained 2 single beds, a side table with safe, a bench with a thin, hard cover and a table for the TV (remote and over 50 channels but only one English which played the same garbage over and over and over again). Heating was steam and very cosy, but also stuffy. Lights were so dim it was impossible to read inside except under the fluorescent in the bathroom. Beds were exceptionally hard, being just a thin mattress over a solid wooden base. Hot water was terrible - virtually none in the morning as it seemed to be turned off at night. We often had to run the tap for several minutes to get some warmth and, mostly, only just.
The breakfast was well presented and the dining area was always clean and tidy. Only one girl spoke English but all were very helpful. However, the food was plain and unappetising. For us, the same every day with no variety - muesli, yoghurt, fried eggs (pre-cooked), toast and something vaguely tasting like coffee. We decided to dine in a couple of nights due to the cold but the small dining room was booked out for the Spring Festival celebrations. The girls were great and room service was provided as an option and much appreciated.
Unfortunately it was winter with no flowers or leaves and the yards looked bare. In the warmer months I have no doubt that the outlook would be much improved. The rooms were serviced regularly but, with bare boards and the constant cold winds, the floors quickly got gritty and grotty.
The front desk tried at times to help and at other times seemed not to care. It was difficult to find out anything about Beijing apart from a few major attractions and it seemed that they strayed little from their place of work. Cards were available with directions to the hotel, however many taxi drivers either couldn't or wouldn't admit to knowing where to go. On the back of the cards reception would write the Chinese and English names of the places we wanted to visit and were very helpful in this regard. Taxis, incidentally, are extremely cheap but don't get caught by crooks - demand the driver use the meter. We found Beijing Taxi Service to have the best and most honest drivers.
Many guests stayed for only one or two days, whereas we stayed for just over a week and I think that was a mistake. I would not recommend the Hotel for a long stay as it has too many defects. For a day or so you tend not to notice or to overlook these problems. Maintenance was sadly lacking - mould in the bathroom, doors not closing without slamming, wire doors creaking and catching, window shutters loose and rattling in the wind, and the list goes on.