Park Hyatt Beijing REVIEW - MASTER THREAD
Mar 1, 2009, 6:10 am
#17
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: Hyatt GP
Posts: 18
Just came back from PH Beijing, our stay there was okay, nothing special.
Transportation from airport is RMB 860.00 for a BMW730 or RMB 70.00 for a taxi. Taxi driver had problems to find the building but he called the hotel so at the end it was okay. Bellboys took our luggage out of the car, but that was it, they didn't escort us to the lobby or helped us with the bags. Check In was very fast and friendly, but the room was disappointing. 1.: I don't like the open room concept, but this is just my opinion and personal taste so nothing to complain about. 2.: The room was really really small (it was a Park Twin Room). We had two suitcases but the closet in the room was built for one suitcase, the other didn't fit in. In a -twin- room! Park Hyatt Shanghai upgraded us (wow...) but at least PH Beijing should have asked us to buy the upgrade (would be okay...). 3.: I was shocked that some parts of the room already look outworn and used. Especially the wood... remember it's brandnew! And our door sometimes didn't close properly. Things like that should not happen in a brandnew 5 star hotel. The organisation of the hotel is sometimes funny: we called shoeshining service and they sent us a bellboy with leather gloves and fur trimmed coat (he came from the street in front of the liftlobby), other Park Hyatts have special staff for that, at PH Beijing the bellboys do the shoeshining. (we asked!) Not that we would care, but it shows the organisation.... 4.: The best thing about the hotel was the staff. Really lovely and friendly and the problems with the room were not their fault. Front Office Manager (Shane Jolly was his name I think) didn't greet us (although we said hello), didn't leave a note in our room and seemed to be a bit arrogant (although I can't understand why, the hotel is not the Vendome and we dressed the part, it was a paid stay and we have spent about 800$ for F&B).
Anyway, the stay was okay, we enjoyed Beijing, the interior design is nice and the staff is great (except FoM). All in all, it is not on one level with PH Tokyo, Shanghai, Paris or Milan.
Transportation from airport is RMB 860.00 for a BMW730 or RMB 70.00 for a taxi. Taxi driver had problems to find the building but he called the hotel so at the end it was okay. Bellboys took our luggage out of the car, but that was it, they didn't escort us to the lobby or helped us with the bags. Check In was very fast and friendly, but the room was disappointing. 1.: I don't like the open room concept, but this is just my opinion and personal taste so nothing to complain about. 2.: The room was really really small (it was a Park Twin Room). We had two suitcases but the closet in the room was built for one suitcase, the other didn't fit in. In a -twin- room! Park Hyatt Shanghai upgraded us (wow...) but at least PH Beijing should have asked us to buy the upgrade (would be okay...). 3.: I was shocked that some parts of the room already look outworn and used. Especially the wood... remember it's brandnew! And our door sometimes didn't close properly. Things like that should not happen in a brandnew 5 star hotel. The organisation of the hotel is sometimes funny: we called shoeshining service and they sent us a bellboy with leather gloves and fur trimmed coat (he came from the street in front of the liftlobby), other Park Hyatts have special staff for that, at PH Beijing the bellboys do the shoeshining. (we asked!) Not that we would care, but it shows the organisation.... 4.: The best thing about the hotel was the staff. Really lovely and friendly and the problems with the room were not their fault. Front Office Manager (Shane Jolly was his name I think) didn't greet us (although we said hello), didn't leave a note in our room and seemed to be a bit arrogant (although I can't understand why, the hotel is not the Vendome and we dressed the part, it was a paid stay and we have spent about 800$ for F&B).
Anyway, the stay was okay, we enjoyed Beijing, the interior design is nice and the staff is great (except FoM). All in all, it is not on one level with PH Tokyo, Shanghai, Paris or Milan.
Apr 6, 2009, 2:21 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jakarta
Programs: Krisflyer PPS, SPG, Hyatt GoldPassport, Shangri-la Golden Circle, British Airways ExecClub
Posts: 1,247
This doesn't sound very appealing to me. I was initially interested to book this hotel as I am planning a holiday to Beijing. Think I will skip this.
Apr 6, 2009, 10:02 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 46
The opposite house
This seems like a much better hotel than the Park Hyatt:
www.theoppositehouse.com
There is a third night free promotion on going now.^
www.theoppositehouse.com
There is a third night free promotion on going now.^
Apr 6, 2009, 10:24 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jakarta
Programs: Krisflyer PPS, SPG, Hyatt GoldPassport, Shangri-la Golden Circle, British Airways ExecClub
Posts: 1,247
This seems like a much better hotel than the Park Hyatt:
www.theoppositehouse.com
There is a third night free promotion on going now.^
www.theoppositehouse.com
There is a third night free promotion on going now.^
Apr 11, 2009, 4:53 am
#22
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,960
Note that I judge this hotel by the standards of a luxury hotel since that is what it purports to be.
Preliminary comments, having just spent the first night of five here:
Staff English skills are lacking but still considerably better than the PH Shanghai.
Diamond breakfast is the full buffet in the restaurant or room service. The posted price in the restaurant is Y240. I would have been very unhappy if I had paid it, but it's OK for a Diamond breakfast. They delivered eggs cooked differently than I had ordered and waffles that were burned (I sent the latter back and soldiered through the former).
The restaurant has a fabulous view of the (currently burned) pants building. It would have been even better if (a) the Beijing smog wasn't back in its full glory and (b) they washed the windows on the restaurant level.
Lighting in the room is in the confusing digital button category. There is a nightlight in the bathroom that so far I have not figured how to turn off. I was upgraded to a suite and the closets are weird. There is a lot of door moving, you have to cover one part of the closet to expose another.
The shower water got warm but not hot. I asked them to fix it, will see if they did tomorrow.
Did not have a problem with towels as reported by an earlier poster, there were plenty.
Amenities are Acca Kappa.
The hotel provides an excellent foldout pocket map and subway map to guests.
Edited to add: The hotel runs an excellent, casual, moderately priced restaurant in the basement of the building. Ask them to show you how to find it. This is great value for money and very pleasant. Much better than the (independently owned) Y's kitchen in the basement of the building the PH Shanghai is in.
Initial impression is that there are still too many service lapses, but the hotel has possibilities. Will follow up at the end of my stay if there is something new to add.
P.S. The taxi ride from PEK was Y140 including toll and there wasn't much traffic. I don't see how it could be done for Y70-100 as some earlier posters noted.
Preliminary comments, having just spent the first night of five here:
Staff English skills are lacking but still considerably better than the PH Shanghai.
Diamond breakfast is the full buffet in the restaurant or room service. The posted price in the restaurant is Y240. I would have been very unhappy if I had paid it, but it's OK for a Diamond breakfast. They delivered eggs cooked differently than I had ordered and waffles that were burned (I sent the latter back and soldiered through the former).
The restaurant has a fabulous view of the (currently burned) pants building. It would have been even better if (a) the Beijing smog wasn't back in its full glory and (b) they washed the windows on the restaurant level.
Lighting in the room is in the confusing digital button category. There is a nightlight in the bathroom that so far I have not figured how to turn off. I was upgraded to a suite and the closets are weird. There is a lot of door moving, you have to cover one part of the closet to expose another.
The shower water got warm but not hot. I asked them to fix it, will see if they did tomorrow.
Did not have a problem with towels as reported by an earlier poster, there were plenty.
Amenities are Acca Kappa.
The hotel provides an excellent foldout pocket map and subway map to guests.
Edited to add: The hotel runs an excellent, casual, moderately priced restaurant in the basement of the building. Ask them to show you how to find it. This is great value for money and very pleasant. Much better than the (independently owned) Y's kitchen in the basement of the building the PH Shanghai is in.
Initial impression is that there are still too many service lapses, but the hotel has possibilities. Will follow up at the end of my stay if there is something new to add.
P.S. The taxi ride from PEK was Y140 including toll and there wasn't much traffic. I don't see how it could be done for Y70-100 as some earlier posters noted.
Last edited by RichardInSF; Apr 11, 2009 at 6:16 am
Apr 11, 2009, 3:50 pm
#23
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Beijing, China
Programs: BA/A3 Gold/SPG Plat
Posts: 500
Additional one roundtrip is, I forgot my cellphone in the hotel room and asked concierge staff send it to me by taxi. Concierge staff asked CNY$160 for roundtrip fare, I paid him CNY$300 included tips.
I don't see how it have to be done in CNY$140... maybe I am Taiwanese (no language issue)
Apr 11, 2009, 9:55 pm
#24
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,960
Looks like I went the long way then, sigh! Welcome to China, foreigner!!
Edited to add: Someone here in Beijing mentioned that cab prices go up late at night, and I did arrive late, could that be the reason?
Edited to add: Someone here in Beijing mentioned that cab prices go up late at night, and I did arrive late, could that be the reason?
Last edited by RichardInSF; Apr 13, 2009 at 4:19 am
Apr 11, 2009, 10:51 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 6,403
Last time I went to St Regis Beijing (and Grand Hyatt Beijing) it cost about CNY80-90. I remember distinctly cuz once I told the cabbie I was going to St Regis and couldn't speak Chinese I could tell he was ready to rip me off so I was watching for it. I'd been to Beijing several times before so I knew the exact route that he SHOULD have taken (not difficult as it's straight down the highway to a Ring Road and then straight West on the main road thru Beijing). I was somewhat surprised that he took me the proper way, but I was watching the meter and right before we turned into St Regis he zeroed out the meter and gave me a old receipt for CNY97, when the meter was really about CNY75. I turned him into the front desk and I think they called the taxi bureau on him and got him in trouble, but I guess he's back on the streets and he must have driven you this time. 
And PH Beijing is about 1-2 miles East of St Regis/GH, thus closer to the airport so it definitely should be cheaper.
One reason why your cab MAY have been more expensive it that the different cab types have different rates. In China they have CNY1.2, CNY1.6, and CNY2.0 cabs. Those are the rates per kilometer. They got rid of the 1.2 small junky cabs before the Olympics. Not sure if they upped some of the rates or not since I haven't been there in over a year. But if you got one of the nicer black sedan cabs then it will cost ~25% more than a smaller cab. Also if a cabbie grabbed you in the PEK arrivals lobby, then they will charge/stiff you more than if you wait in the taxi queue outside the arrivals lobby. At least that's how it was last time I was there. ^ You gotta watch out for the Beijing cabbies though, they are always looking to screw a foreigner out of a few bucks. Granted, that's all it is, is a few bucks. The cabbie that ripped me off only ripped me out of ~CNY20, which is about $3. Not a big deal, it was just the principle of him ripping me off which is why I turned him in. Hopefully he thought twice when taking his next foreinger from PEK to the City Center. ^
Apr 12, 2009, 7:18 pm
#26
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,960
The only cab type I have seen on this trip are the old 1.6 type, but they are all branded 2.0 now. I haven't seen the nicer type at all. And of course I have been to China enough to know to go to the taxi line.
I went to the art district yesterday, which is on the way to the airport, and confirmed to my satisfaction that the driver from the airport did take the correct route. So he must have "fixed" his meter, in which case he is cheating all his customers! Every other taxi I have taken so far here has played it straight.
Edited to add: see my note a few posts above, this could have been a late night supplement.
I went to the art district yesterday, which is on the way to the airport, and confirmed to my satisfaction that the driver from the airport did take the correct route. So he must have "fixed" his meter, in which case he is cheating all his customers! Every other taxi I have taken so far here has played it straight.
Edited to add: see my note a few posts above, this could have been a late night supplement.
Last edited by RichardInSF; Apr 13, 2009 at 4:20 am
Apr 14, 2009, 3:51 am
#27
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,960
One last note summarizing my stay after 4 nights: Overall, I would rate the rooms in this hotel as up to the PH standard. The service and room maintenance are not. The thermostats in my suite seem to be placebos, and one of them stopped working entirely last night. The water in the bathroom at best gets quite wam, but never hot.
No one in the hotel has tried to learn my name. Hotel management has been totally invisible.
None if this should be happening in a new, small luxury hotel.
A small, but indicative, example:
Last night, the PM of New Zealand was visiting the hotel. The hotel reserved 2 of the 3 lifts from the ground floor to the lobby for his party for about an hour, telling the rest of us to queue for the remaining one (I became an 'ugly American' and refused). I doubt this was at the PM's request or the request of the security staff, as they are usually not so formal in NZ.
This could be a fine hotel but significant additional attention to maintenance and staff training is still required.
No one in the hotel has tried to learn my name. Hotel management has been totally invisible.
None if this should be happening in a new, small luxury hotel.
A small, but indicative, example:
Last night, the PM of New Zealand was visiting the hotel. The hotel reserved 2 of the 3 lifts from the ground floor to the lobby for his party for about an hour, telling the rest of us to queue for the remaining one (I became an 'ugly American' and refused). I doubt this was at the PM's request or the request of the security staff, as they are usually not so formal in NZ.
This could be a fine hotel but significant additional attention to maintenance and staff training is still required.
Last edited by RichardInSF; Apr 14, 2009 at 5:55 am Reason: factual error
Apr 20, 2009, 9:17 am
#28
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: MKE
Programs: DL Platinum; Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,119
Checked in this afternoon. So here goes so far. Cab driver had trouble finding it -- the entrance truly is "hidden" from the street, no signage that I could tell. Check in was quick, efficient. I am a diamond staying on points -- was given a corner king, two walls of windows, plenty of room; so far I like the open concept. I agree that the blond wood appears worn, but I think it's just imperfections in the wood/stone??. I have no problems with the electrics. Plenty of towels, note from magager. Pool/steam/sauna are fine -- great views from the 59th floor, but the "whirlpools" are not heated, just regular water that flows into the big Eager staff.
Dinner in China Grill: seems to be a work in progress. It's a lovely room, but they give out flashflights to read the menus! mood lighting, but really. It appears that they are imitating the NY Grill at the PH Tokyo -- menu has similarities, live jazz, look of room, etc. Now all they need is a staff that is half as well trained as the PH NY Grill. "Over eager" might be the best discription. I was asked the same question by different servers several times. They are trying but certainly have a long way to go to be anywhere as classy as the staff at NY Grill. The food was priced as top of the line -- again similar to the PHT. Food was good, but certainly not great. One dinner here was more than enough with these prices and services.
more to come.
Dinner in China Grill: seems to be a work in progress. It's a lovely room, but they give out flashflights to read the menus! mood lighting, but really. It appears that they are imitating the NY Grill at the PH Tokyo -- menu has similarities, live jazz, look of room, etc. Now all they need is a staff that is half as well trained as the PH NY Grill. "Over eager" might be the best discription. I was asked the same question by different servers several times. They are trying but certainly have a long way to go to be anywhere as classy as the staff at NY Grill. The food was priced as top of the line -- again similar to the PHT. Food was good, but certainly not great. One dinner here was more than enough with these prices and services.
more to come.
Last edited by trd; Apr 20, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Apr 20, 2009, 1:15 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: Hyatt GP
Posts: 18
Checked in this afternoon. So here goes so far. Cab driver had trouble finding it -- the entrance truly is "hidden" from the street, no signage that I could tell. Check in was quick, efficient. I am a diamond staying on points -- was given a corner king, two walls of windows, plenty of room; so far I like the open concept. I agree that the blond wood appears worn, but I think it's just imperfections in the wood??. I have no problems with the electrics. Plenty of towels, note from magager. Pool/steam/sauna are fine -- great views from the 59th floor, but the "whirlpools" are not heated, just regular water that flows into the big Eager staff.
Dinner in China Grill: seems to be a work in progress. It's a lovely room, but they give out flashflights to read the menus! mood lighting, but really. It appears that they are imitating the NY Grill at the PH Tokyo -- menu has similarities, live jazz, look of room, etc. Now all they need is a staff that is half as well trained as the PH NY Grill. "Over eager" might be the best discription. I was asked the same question by different servers several times. They are trying but certainly have a long way to go to be anywhere as classy as the staff at NY Grill. The food was priced as top of the line -- again similar to the PHT. Food was good, but certainly not great.
more to come.
Dinner in China Grill: seems to be a work in progress. It's a lovely room, but they give out flashflights to read the menus! mood lighting, but really. It appears that they are imitating the NY Grill at the PH Tokyo -- menu has similarities, live jazz, look of room, etc. Now all they need is a staff that is half as well trained as the PH NY Grill. "Over eager" might be the best discription. I was asked the same question by different servers several times. They are trying but certainly have a long way to go to be anywhere as classy as the staff at NY Grill. The food was priced as top of the line -- again similar to the PHT. Food was good, but certainly not great.
more to come.