This hotel is still good. Rooms are midsized, with very nice, large bathrooms.

Since my last trip, they removed the ashtrays from the breakfast room, although smoking is still allowed in most of it, with the result that the air is much better.

They charge for internet, but the connections are good.

This time my room faced the back of the hotel and was quite quiet.

The room tended to be too warm, and I had to open the windows quite a bit. The thermostat had very limited effect -- the only choices were warm and hot.

Great pool.

The best nearby restaurants are in Ritan Park: Xiao Wang Fu and Xi He Ya Ju, both highly recommended. This being Beijing, there are several hundred other restaurants in the vicinity. Across the street there are a Starbucks and a Subway, if you crave Western fare (nothing fancier than that, though).

Comfortable bed, good service in room and restaurant .
Swmming Pool best!

Good, well equipped rooms in an otherwise bland hotel. Breakfast had a good mix of Chinese and Western dishes. Within walking distance of a number of bazaars and some good local restaurants.

This is my second stay at the Kuntai, again for an extended business trip.

The biggest change from two years ago is the internet: it is no longer free; however it was part of the package purchased by my employer. The performance of the internet connection is enormously better. Sites in the Eastern US worked at DSL-like speeds (i.e. not great, but very usable). That's pretty good considering the distance.

My room seemed smaller than last time; it faced onto a larger street, and there was some traffic noise, but not enough to be bothersome. The only appreciable noise is when nearby guests struggle with the window latches. The bed was very comfortable. The room seemed a bit cold at times, and a bit warm at others; the thermostat did not seem to have any effect. English TV choices are very slim.

The desk/work area in the room could be better laid out.

The bathroom is large, clean, and attractive, with a separate large shower stall and large tub. But, as before, there were many minor annoyances in the bathroom: the tub drain would not stay open, the sink drain would not stay closed, water tends to leak out of the shower no matter how carefully you close the door, and the sink had a large chip/crack.

My employer also paid for the breakfast buffet, which is OK. The breakfast room was crowded at times, and a bit smoky (most guests seem to be Chinese or Russian). Look for the nonsmoking room in the back on the right (with a sign saying "Noble Western Restaurant"). If it's your own money, try Starbucks, or "GL Cafe" for an omelet. Both are within a few minutes' walk, although GL is harder to find.

The 25-meter pool is great. Bring a bathing cap.