We pre-paid at time of check in for 3 nights at this hotel. I travel internationally extensively and stay at several hotels every month all over Asia, Europe and the Americas. I do not write a bad review unless one is really deserved. One is needed for our recent stay at this property. The name and the website for this hotel are very deceiving.

Problems:
1. Hotel is almost impossible to find. There is no indication on the exterior of the building that a hotel is inside. There is a small sign impossible to read from the entry door that indicates Beijing Dream Castle. There is a company name outside of the reception but has nothing to do with the Beijing Dream Castle

2. Front desk clerk tried to sell us on an overpriced trip to The Great Wall as we were checking in. Not comforting to have a clerk try to take advantage of us while we are checking in...

3. On the day we were scheduled to check out, the reception called and woke us up at at 8:15 a.m. to confirm our prompt departure. We verbally confirmed we would leave by 12:00 p.m. However, this confirmation was not enough, the front desk clerk knocked on our door at 10:30 a.m. to make sure we knew we had to be out promptly at 12:00 p.m. Rude...

4. The air conditioning was weak and did not cool.

5. The hot water took 6 minutes to heat up.

6. Pillows are made fava beans or some similar substance.

7. We requested a non-smoking room via the hotel's website reservation system, however, the room smelled smoke drenched and but the front desk clerk insisted it was a non-smoking room.

8. We requested a quiet room via the hotel's website reservation system, however, the front desk clerk put us in a room facing the busy freeway instead of the back of the hotel.

9. Breakfast is only served for ONE HOUR from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. What a joke...

10. Bathrooms were dirty.

11. Dirty bed sheets were not changed.

12. Hotel website indicates WIFI is available but there is no WIFI, just eithernet cable.

Positive: The hotel location is good for access to local food, shopping, and western restaurant chains. The hotel location is not too far from subway station and very close to bus stop.

We arrived at about 11.30pm, it was dark and the hotel was difficult to find which meant that we were walking around, wearing backpacks and wheeling our sleeping 2 year old around trying to find it. When we did find it we were pleased that the staff on reception could speak English and that there was no problem with the reservation and were taken straight to our room.

The room was on the 3rd floor, directly opposite the bar/cafe but it was very quiet as there weren't many people eating or drinking there.

The room was filthy, the tiled floor was dirty with stains, hair and other dirt all over it. There was dried food on the table and leftover nut shells on the tea tray. The last occupants hair was still in the shower and starting to block the drain and the sink was very grimey. The toilet had urine and excrement in and around the bowl and the seat didn't fit properly.

Ordinarily we would have moved to another room but we'd already put our daughter to bed and resolved to sort it out in the morning.

Breakfast was pitiful. 1 cold fried egg, 1 cold rasher of bacon, toast, a glass of orange cordial and tea. There is an extra charge if you would like coffee instead of tea. We decided to skip breakfast on the 2nd morning.

When we went to sort out the room issue the only member of staff on the front desk spoke no English at all and kept making phone calls when we tried to speak to him. Hoping the room would be cleaned properly we left for the morning and returned later to find the room still dirty (including the toilet bowl). The beds hadn't even been made, only the duvets taken of and folded for us to then make the bed that evening.

We complained and were promised the room would be cleaned for us so went out again and returned in the evening and it was still dirty.

We found the staff to be unhelpful.

The location was good, close to the centre, Olympic Park, metro etc.

We are nearing the end of a 16month world trip and have stayed in some very 'Characterful' places, mainly on a tight budget, so we are used to less than luxurious accomodation. This is easily one of the worst places we have stayed.

There are many hotels to choose from in Beijing, I recommend you give this one a miss.

Beijing Dream Castle is in a great location. It is chinese 3 star hotel used by the chinese. Its rooms are not big but are cleam and have all you need. Make sure you get rooms with showers.
Staff are helpfull with at least one always on hand with a good undertanding of English. Breakfast is very simple. It is close to the new subway, about a 10 minute walk or just a cab as they are so cheap. Western style food outlets just across the road but be brave and eat the local food. Fantastic local restuarant nearby. Cross the ring road via the bridge and walk to Puppet Theatre, walk past theatre to the first resturant. I ate there 3 times. Peking Duck, green vegies and rice with drinks cost about $8 each. Good price post Olympics, would stay there again

Dream Castle 3 was in an excellent location, close to shops, restaurants, subway and a taxi rank. Sophie, Jackie and Billy are very friendly and helpful. With varying degrees of english spoken!
The rooms are basic but clean. All you need when you are out and about exploring every day. Just watch the slippy floor in the bathroom after a shower!
Breakfast was easy, just egg, bacon, toast and a drink but it got you started.
We were here for the Olympics and the whole city couldn't have been friendlier or more helpful to visitors.
Would definately stay again!