The Gem Hotel is located at the upper end of Zhong Shan Road pedestrian street in the China coastal city of Xiamen, which goes down to the seacoast. It is a great location for walking, sightseeing, shoping and informal dining. The staff at the reception desk are very friendly and helpful. I was with friends who speak Madarin Chinese, so I do not know if the staff are fluent in English or not. The room was rather small and shows its age. There is a tiny sink in the bedroom, a tiny shower and a tiny water closet. The TV and cable box are old and were complicated to operate. The walls are thin and we were awakened by two guests arguing loudly in the hallway late at night. Breakfast was included, and was a variety of Chinese dishes. Most of the eating available in the vicinity of the hotel is small dishes in very informal dining facilities. We did eat dinner at a buffet restaurant at an adjacent hotel, but the food was not so good and the price was high. We enjoyed the city of Xiamen and visiting the old round homes in Tu Lo about 3 hours away, and the island of Gulangyu in Xiamen. Since we did not spend much time in our room, it served the purpose. If I were to visit there again on my own, I would likely stay at a higher star value hotel, because that is what I am used to.
- Gem Hotel Xiamen
