BackHome Beijing Guest House

Part of the great year-of-horse family vacation. I was in a 3-person room; it's tight quarters, but I recognize that it's a hostel and that's part of the deal. If it weren’t dead of winter, we’d use the common space more, but that’s not practical right now. Many things are fine: location, cleanliness, more-or-less stable wifi, mostly reliable doorbell system. The upkeep could be much improved. The kitchen has a stove but no fuel. Every hostel I’ve stayed at provides some means of cooking for its guests. The water heater drips, wetting the bathroom floor (the receptionist was forthcoming with a bucket). The information given in-room states breakfast, but the receptionist (i.e. poor solo boy trying to run the place himself) regretfully informed us that it’s no longer provided. The room heating is weaker than desirable and the reception is not 24 hour.

Backhome does not feel like home, unless you are used to living in filth. The room we stayed in was dirty and dusty and smelled of stale cigarette smoke. The management didn't seem to care about much and almost forgot to ask for the keys back when we left. The location was also not very good. It is in a kind of no-mans-land in the city and there are not many food options nearby. They did not serve breakfast and the internet connection was patchy. For the moderately high price they charge, the facilities should be much better. I would not recommend staying here.

In this Hotel I spent 5 days in the beginning of March.I had no luck with weather, because it is always a little rain and fog, and ewen snow one day. Room smelled of moisture, and this is probably the reason of bad weather throughout the winter. Maybe in the spring and summer is better, because it looks nice ambience. Internet sometimes good, but sometimes very weak. Not far metro station ( 5-10 min) , and some restaurants.