PALACE CENTURY

After spending weeks going through English and Chinese reviews on trip advisor, ctrip and couple of other websites of hotels in Harbin, we had very low expectations of Harbin hotels after reading numerous reviews of poor service and facilities. We finally decided on 2-3 hotels based on location (we did not want to be dependent on taxis yet the hotel cannot be too far to walk to in the freezing cold), price and amenities. We were a family of 5, so were also limited to hotels with triple rooms or those hotels which could add an extra bed. The (Hong Kong) Palace Century Hotel was our top choice. Upon our arrival, staff acceded to our request of checking out our rooms. The rooms looked acceptable, were warm enough and there was warm water, hence we did not bother to check out our other choices. Bathrooms were small but adequate with shower and bathtubs. Our standard room had a flexible shower head that could be pulled down but that in the triple room was fixed to the wall. The mixing of hot and cold water was very unstable, it was either too hot or too cold, esp in the triple room. So we ended up all showering in the standard room. The ventilation vent was located directly above the shower / bath area in the bathroom, thus you would feel cold after you shower and do not dry quickly enough. Towels provided were big enough and clean. The standard room was rather dimly lit up but the triple room was brighter. The triple room, which costs almost twice that of the standard room, was spacious enough. Beds were comfortable but the bedsheets did not adequately cover the mattresses, leaving an inch or so gap at the head end of the mattresses. Mattresses did not look very new but the bedsheets were okay. Kettles in both rooms were clean. There were cigarette burn marks on the carpets and the toilet seat covers, as well as the faint smell of cigarette smoke in the rooms. Breakfast is served from 7 to 9 am only. We were pleasantly surprised that it was a buffet breakfast but the food was not topped up and you would only get a good selection if you go early. Not much Western selection and there was not even coffee one morning. The food was thankfully not salty or oily and there was a sunny side up egg station daily. Not much variation in the food served over the 4 mornings we were there. Location was excellent, it would only take you a minute or two to walk to Central Street. Zhaolin park is just across the road and from our rooms, we had a very good view of the park and the ice sculptures there. The bus terminal (near Jingu hotel and Russian Cafe) where you can catch public buses to Sun Island (for 1 yuan a person) is also within walking distance. We had no problems with catching taxis from the front of the hotel. We could hear traffic noises every morning but I suspect that you will hear incessant honking from any hotel that faces a road in Harbin. Staff were polite but not very helpful / accurate with providing information (like how to take public buses to Sun Island). We can speak Chinese so we are not sure about their proficiency in English. There were calls every night asking if the gentleman would like to have "massage" services. However, if a lady or child picks up the phone, she would discreetly hang up the phone without speaking. Our rooms were made up daily and there was adequate toilet paper provided, but no facial tissue papers. In general, this is a 3 star hotel acceptable to those who are not too fussy. Just do not expect too much ;)