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Prime Hotel
See its website for room type and search online reservation service for discount rates.
We booked a superior room (according to the photos on hotel's own website, it seems that a duluxe room has 2 full size bed instead while the superior, a king-size) with RMB 548 for late August (rates increases gradually in September).
The reservation was made via www.elong.com (all in Chinese). For those of you who do not read Chinese, www.ctrip.com with an English version page, offers the same rates.
When we checked in, they were out of the type, so we were upgraded to the Executive Floor ('Royal Executive'? Isn't everything in Beijing called 'royal' if not 'imperial'?). The room was large, and comfortable, with a street view. When it is not too hazy, one can also see the Forbidden City to its west. However, it is kind of worn, the carpet has stains (travelers and/or staff do not take good care of the property). The bathroom is of a fair size.
The breakfast and dinner buffet were okay, about average. Later we found out, it actually provides more varieties than few other hotels we stayed. One morning, we had to walk a bit from other hotel (i.e., Wangfujing Grand Hotel) to Prime for breakfast. We were once too tired to dine out so we tried its Italian dinner once, the food was so-so, we were the only customers there.
The staff of the Prime is definitely better trained than their peer at the Wangfujing Grand, though still not sufficient. Comparing to the staff at the St.Regis/Shanghai, both 5-star hotels, the standard is much different. If one rates St.Regis as 5-star, Prime could be only maximumly 4- - regardless its 'luxury' classification.
This is apparently a 'tourist' hotel. We ran into many German tourist groups there. One of Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts (SHR) First-Class hotel.
Its location.
Was told it has the largest standard room size among all Beijing hotels. We will see later.
The Chinese name means 'Overseas Chinese Mansion', one could tell that originally, before all the western hotels built, this was a main place where overseas Chinese stay when they go to China for a visit. Now this may have been changed.
I would not mind returning to this hotel at all, being at its location. To many, the location means its closeness to Wangfujing pedestrian street, one of the major shopping areas in Beijing. To me, location means close to friends' places.
Another location convenience. If you do not have much luggage, the Airport shuttle is right accross the street for you to take. It is RMB 16 (was told) one-way instead of a taxi of around RMB 100+RMB 10 toll (the toll is just reduced from RMB 15).
More details later.
