My family and I stayed in this apartment hotel for 6 nights over winter. We wanted somewhere quiet (away from the noise of tour groups), clean, convenient yet cheap. We took a suite (=1 bedroom with 1 living room with fridge and water boiling facilities plus an adjacent twin room.) Cost us about RMB 630 a day.
The apartment - This apartment facility was set up mainly to accommodate medium and long term stay by local researchers and scholars working in the research centre opposite the service apartment. Ambience was quiet and peaceful. No screaming children or loud talking noted throughout our stay. The trees and plants surrounding the apartment offered a good degree of privacy. Every apartment had its own balcony which was a nice touch. Place was very clean as cleaners came into each room to tidy up every day. Facilities and furniture were basic but I liked the neutral tranquil colour scheme. Although there was no cutlery or microwave available ensuite, it was possible to borrow the use of these items from the 24H concierge on level 1. As the apartment block catered mainly for local Chinese there were some unconventional features which was the norm for the locals - like the very HARD mattress, soap which did not lather well, paucity of signs and instructions in English, rather coarse toilet paper and a small hot water boiler in the bathroom.
The way to overcome the hardness of the beds was to place the extra duvet over the mattress!
Internet was fast and accessible from every room 24 hours and free of charge. Even local IDD calls were free.
Overall, the decor and rooms facilities were acceptable and good value for the price charged.
Location - This apartment hotel was located about 150 metres from the main road. We chose to walk through the quiet residential streets from the apartment to the main road to catch taxis ( or buses for the budget conscious ) The nearest metro station was Tiyu Xilu, about 10-15 min taxi drive. Cost about RMB 11-13 for the taxi ride. This metro station was very convenient because it was right in the centre of Tianhe where shopping malls and restaurants thrived. We thought it would be a real hassle getting from Saibao to this commercial hub but we were pleasantly surprised on how easy it was to wave down a taxi from the roadside. Catching a taxi back from Tianhe shopping district was also very easy.
Service - staff on duty at the concierge desk was generally helpful but communication could be difficult if one could not speak a few words of Cantonese or Mandarin. The manager in charge called Sam, was helpful and could speak some English. The best way to be understood was to whip out a guidebook which had a Chinese name written next to the tourist attraction and point to the place one was interested in and the staff would direct one to the nearest metro station. Local maps offered at the apartment were all in Chinese. As this was a service apartment we did not expect any 5- star hotel niceties and pampering and thus were not disappointed by the basic service provided.
Nearby shops and eateries - just by the main road were medium sized shops including a supermarket, eateries serving noodles and congee till very late at night, banks, a mobile phone store, a milk /yoghurt shop and a tea shop.
What I liked most: The cheap room rates, quiet and tranquil location, cleanliness, free internet and easy access to cheap taxis.
What I disliked most: Very hard mattress and small water heater.
Overall - very good value for money.
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