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Reader Review :: The Raffles Beijing is Beautiful But Concierge is Lost in Translation

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 33 East Chang Avenue Block B, E,, Beijing, China, 100004
July 28, 2008 at 4:25 PM | by | Comments (0)

Every so often we feature a hotel review from one of our readers that we feel should be shared with the rest of you dear hotel guests. These reviews are highlighted because they are timely, about cool hotels in cool places and are relatively level-headed. Think you can submit one just like this? Send it in. Now, we present you with reader P's review of the Raffles Hotel in Beijing. Enjoy.

With the Olympics fast approaching, Beijing is changing by the minute. There has been an enormous amount of development during recent years leading up to next week's games.

Nearly every major luxury hotel chain has an option in this bustling Chinese city - Peninsula, Grand Hyatt, Ritz Carlton, Intercontinental, St. Regis and so on.

On a recent visit to the city, we opted to stay at the newly opened Raffles Beijing Hotel.

Reopened in 2007, the hotel is located in the city center on Chang An Avenue, one of the city's main streets. Nearby to major cultural attractions like the Forbidden City and Tienanmen Square, the hotel boasts one of the most convenient addresses for tourists and business visitors alike.

Our personal experience with this beautifully renovated hotel was superb. Upon check-in we were kindly greeted with excellent English at the front desk and notified that our room had been upgraded to a beautiful "Landmark Suite" facing Chang An Avenue's bright city lights.

The room was very well appointed with a canopy bed, two separate sitting areas and one and a half bathrooms. The hotel's common spaces have an intimate feel with only 171 rooms spread throughout two wings: the Landmark wing in the front of the hotel and the Executive wing towards the rear.

A continental breakfast served at "East 33", one of three restaurants in the hotel, helps you get your day of touring or meetings started with a variety of both Eastern and Western options (from noodles and sushi to omelets).

While the hotel was voted to last year's "Hot List" by Conde Nast Traveler magazine, the hotel can certainly work on its concierge services as we found this to be the one weakness. Only moderately good English was spoken and we found them to be helpful but not overly so.

Rates at the Raffles Beijing begin at $300 a night.

[Photo: yohanes.budiyanto]

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