I stayed two nights in the Beijing Westin, mostly because my room in the Beijing Kempinski Lufthansa Hotel across the street was not immediately available. It was really very nice, but not “exciting” or stimulating. Though excellent in many ways, perhaps it is just not my cup of tea for a Beijing hotel.
This Westin is a 5-Star Hotel, and their rooms are clean, comfortable, and as expensive as Kempinski. It is located near to the Beijing Capital Airport, and within a pleasant 15 minute walk of Lady’s Street shopping area (which every Westerner should experience as it can provide cheap cell phones, souvenirs, flowers, fruit, snacks in a fun, colorful and informal setting). Subway terminals are right outside the hotel entrance, and that is really convenient.
Maybe my only complaint is that Westin seems culturally insipid. As an American, I prefer more of a foreign ambiance when I am traveling outside of the USA, and Westin felt comfortable in the same boring way I find staying in a Westin or Sheraton in the USA.
Their lobby bar was nothing special: decent food but bad ambience; after a lunch there with a Chinese friend, the next day I elected to walk across to the Kempinski Lobby bar to meet another friend for lunch: better atmosphere and good wines and snacks.
If you want a sterile, “American” hotel, then this is your cup of tea. If you are a Western visitor, who wants cozy comfort, you will find that here. If you want local spice and cultural flavor, look elsewhere.
This is an excellent hotel. I will probably stay again. But it is just not favorite taste in the context of so many alternative hotels with more of a flavor of China.
- Westin Beijing Chaoyang
- Beijing Westin
