Beijing Friendship Hotel

Comfortable and well located hotel. Opulent in a retro, Communist type of way. Enjoyed my stay very much, as also the lovely Beijing breakfasts. Staff were great as well. Pity that the gym isn't open to all hotel guests, and has to be paid for separately. It is underused, and massive. Hotel might want to make it available to all guests?

We booked a suite room at the Yingbin Building, this is a newly renovated building, everything is new. Most of the things are ok, except some areas below my expectation (for being a 5-star standard): 1. Toilet WC: this WC is not compatible to a 5-style hotel. 2. Coffee maker in Friendship Palace (友谊宫）: though there are different buttons for you to select different types of coffee, ie. Americano, espresso, normal coffee, BUT coffee that disposed from the coffee maker are ALL ESPRESSO. 3. Egg station in Friendship Palace (友谊宫）: the staff not adequately trained. We ordered an omelette, but were served a fried egg. In general, this hotel is strategically well located in Beijing, the gardening is No. 1 and very outstanding among all 5-star hotels in the world, but there is still room to improve for service standard of the staff. I may try to stay here again if I happen to visit Beijing in near future.

I have stayed in this hotel at least 4 times previously and so I know it meets my needs. I stayed in room 10420 for 6 nights. This is in the main building, number 1. I arrived at midday on a Saturday, after an overnight flight from the UK. Thankfully I could get into my room immediately. It was spacious with a separate lounge, bedroom and bathroom, separated by sliding doors. It was a sort of corner room with windows on two sides. The lounge had a sofa, desk, large TV and wardrobes. In one was a safe. Cupboards contained a minibar and tea, coffee. The bedroom had a large bed, two bedside cupboards, a TV and a space to put a suitcase. The bathroom comprised separate WC and shower rooms, plus a bath and washbasin. Toiletries were conditioner, shampoo and shower gel. Surprisingly, no body lotion which usually is provided in good class Chinese hotels. Hot water was always plentiful. The bath had a washing line that could be pulled out which was very useful. Lighting was good in all rooms. The air conditioning worked effectively and efficiently. The WiFi also worked well, though sometimes seemed a little slower in the evenings. I had the buffet breakfast on the 6th floor which had a good selection of hot, cold, Chinese, western foods. The room was always serviced quickly each morning. All the chambermaids were polite and friendly. Hotel staff seemed to speak English well enough to get by, no problems. The hotel is near Renmin University subway station, about 300m. The subway system is very easy to use and cheap. TGI Fridays is also part of the hotel and has always provided a good range of food with quick and friendly service. I would not hesitate to stay at this hotel again and highly praise it.