Orange Hotel Beijing Asian Games Village Bird's Nest

A strange place. Having seen the Olympics on TV, I was incredibly excited to go. It is something special; but the stadium is strangely anticlimactic. The monuments around the stadium are nice and the medal table is off interest to those that remember watching the games.

Couldn't get into the Olympic Park, seems it's shut quite a lot unless an event on. Shame really especially when you can get into the QE Olympic Park anytime in London. Ended up taking the view from a nearby bridge which just insnt the same. None the less impressive although looked a bit jaded.

I've stayed at Hanting Express (Hanting Kuaijie) hotels at other cities, so I thought I would give this one a try. It's about 10 minutes from the subway, and there is a coffee shop and a Pizza Hut a block away if you need some Western cuisine. It's on a small street that's pretty quiet at night. The couple in the room next door were not so subdued, however, if you know what I mean. The walls are not thin, so they must have been pretty loud. The staff was very friendly and helpful, but spoke no English. I don't think they get many foreign guests. They seemed quite perplexed about what information to copy from my passport onto the guest register. But don't let that stop you. When I discovered I needed to print something out to take to the US Embassy, I went down to the lobby to use the guest computer and printer there. The printer was out of order, so the night manager (who knew a little English) graciously allowed me to use the hotel printer. Hanting Express rooms are smaller than a Westerner may be used to, but they are always clean and neat. Internet access is free in the rooms. You can also use the guest computer in the lobby for free. The location is east of the Birds Nest and Olympic Park, so you can walk there if you like. The subway will take you almost anywhere else you want to go, though.