Hutongren Courtyard Hotel

Only positive thing : the location, as it is next to the metro (10-15min walk) and next to a very nice street. I am not a negative person but when you pay this much for one night, you expect some kind of service and at least a clean room. From booking to checking out, our experience was bad. We tried to send emails (4!) before coming as my boyfriend is allergic to cats and I saw they had an allergy free room, just to see if it was available. No answer. When we came in, we were welcomed by a lady (very limited English) that seemed annoyed to have to do her job (we apparently woke here up from a nap at 6.00 pm) and who questioned if my boyfriend’s visa was valid (???) (visa is written in Chinese and was valid for 2 more months...). She then « pointed » to the room and we walked into the « standard double room » : mold everywhere in the shower joints, hairs everywhere (not mine) in the sink, shower, toilet seat and floor, a window on the street (open or closed you can hear perfectly the people spitting, screaming and the music from the store across the street...), the mosquito net on the window is impossible to close when said window is open (please tell me what’s the use of a mosquito net on a closed window ?), the room and bathroom are separated by a curtain (great for privacy), there isn’t any space to store your stuff, the wifi struggles, the « cute » rooftop is completely uncared for, there are no blackout curtains so you’re bound to be waken up by the light (either hallway or the street). On top of that, people were talking very loudly in the corridors and we had a staff member opening the door while we were inside the room. But of course the room was not made/cleaned/refurnished in toilet paper in the 4 nights we were staying there. We were also asked to pay by cash and reminded by the woman at the entrance to pay the night before we left at 11pm. What difference does it make if I pay when I check out ? Do not rely on the staff to help you book local tours : their « kindness » and « willingness » to help showed us we could do better on our own. Overall an appalling experience for a very expensive price (50-60€ a night) : if you want an hostel, there are cheaper and better options. If you are looking for a cute small hotel, this is not it : avoid it.

Small hostel, in good location, quiet hutong off touristy 南锣鼓巷 Nan Luo Gu Xiang. Staff are friendly, furnishings are nice, good rooftop to chill out on. Old hutong house. Only complaint was the bed sheet had a few stains on, and some older local tourists who arrived late at night and left early in the morning were loud snorers and one used their mobile phone loudly, but this was not the hostel's fault. So on the whole, highly recommended. Good value.

We were arriving at Beijing, 3.00 in the morning. We struggling to find Taxi cause the subway isn't open yet. So we go to the Information Centre. When we asking about the hostel that we gonna stay, the girls who helping us said "This hostel was closed". I mean, what? I was so nervous cause I bring 8 people with no hotel. My mom remember that the hostel changed its name became ' CU Youth Hostel '. I was sooo happy. So we waited the Taxi about 40 minutes. When the taxi has arrived, the driver with no-english drove the car and stopped at Nanlugoxiang rd. dark road, no lamp, and CLOSED. I thought the driver choose the wrong road. But he yelled at us and he told us to follow him. We bring so many bag and its heavy. And finally after the scary road, we found the Hostel! I was so glad cause i found it. We saying thanks to the driver. And its so cold outside. When we pressed the bell, nobody noticed. We struggling in the foggy night. After 5 minutes, the girl open the door for us. I look around at the hotel, and its SUPER CUTE AND NICE. 3 am and girls welcoming us, soo kind. The bed was perfect, the bathroom was clean, its PERFECT. And I look for my first snow is in the CU Hostel. I would comeback again, and will stay in this hotel. I wish I can stay in this hotel forever. Its so nice :)