17- 24 December 2012
Beijing
Because my brother was having his exchange in Beijing, our family decided to pay him a visit as well as bring some of his stuff back. We were not sure how much stuff he wants us to bring home so we brought 3 pretty huge luggages. Air tickets were on promotion via Singapore airlines. I always look forward to food onboard but there was nothing interesting about this meal. I really love their bread and butter though :D
As my dad snores REALLY LOUDLY in his sleep, I refused to stay in the same room as him so before we left for Beijing, We book 161 hotel (more to the budget side) as the price was reasonable for 2 rooms. Reviews for that hotel was not bad. Before we arrived in Beijing, we have already notified the hotel beforehand that we will be checking in late due to our flight. However, when we arrived at the hotel, we were told that the rooms are not ready as usual check in time is 12 noon. They decided to put us at their sister hotel (Super 8) until our rooms were ready the next day. The stay at Super 8 was horrible. The rooms smelled bad, floor and toilet were dirty too. I got so paranoid that I feel that their bed/ bedsheets/pillow/ towels were dirty. Thinking that we will only be there for 1 night, we decided to just ignore the state of the room.
We did not have wifi or china number for my brother to contact us, so we told him to meet us at 161 hotel after his class. Instead of waiting around at Super 8 for a phone all to go back to 161 hotel, we decided that we will just go ahead back to the hotel even if it was way before 12 noon (offical check in time). We were told by the reception of Super 8 that our rooms are still not ready. As we were really insistent on going over, they had to call 161 hotel. As Super 8 could not explain the situation to us, they handed the phone over to us to 161 hotel could speak to us. We explained what we wanted to do and to our horror, they told us that we might have to wait till 5-6pm before we know if we can return to 161 hotel. OH WAIT, not only that. They were not even sure if we could even return to 161 hotel throughout the whole duration of our stay. It will be really ridiculous for us to be sitting around just to wait for their phone call. We asked them why can't we know if the room will be ready, they could not answer us. If they could not get the room ready for us, tell us beforehand so we can make other arrangements. We were pretty angry then so we went out, got a local number to contact my brother. Updated him of our situation and decided that we will not go ahead with the booking. As the reservation was make via Agoda, I made a phone call to Singapore's office. I am thankful that I managed to get a full refund for this.
We went off to Holiday Inn and we settled for 1 room. I have to endure my dad's snores for 4 nights and the thought of it was torturous.
After we have settled accommodation issue, we could finally relax. PHEW.
The room at Holiday Inn was not bad!
The 2 beds in the room can sleep 4 people.
Beijing
Because my brother was having his exchange in Beijing, our family decided to pay him a visit as well as bring some of his stuff back. We were not sure how much stuff he wants us to bring home so we brought 3 pretty huge luggages. Air tickets were on promotion via Singapore airlines. I always look forward to food onboard but there was nothing interesting about this meal. I really love their bread and butter though :D
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| Food on board SQ flight to Beijing |
As my dad snores REALLY LOUDLY in his sleep, I refused to stay in the same room as him so before we left for Beijing, We book 161 hotel (more to the budget side) as the price was reasonable for 2 rooms. Reviews for that hotel was not bad. Before we arrived in Beijing, we have already notified the hotel beforehand that we will be checking in late due to our flight. However, when we arrived at the hotel, we were told that the rooms are not ready as usual check in time is 12 noon. They decided to put us at their sister hotel (Super 8) until our rooms were ready the next day. The stay at Super 8 was horrible. The rooms smelled bad, floor and toilet were dirty too. I got so paranoid that I feel that their bed/ bedsheets/pillow/ towels were dirty. Thinking that we will only be there for 1 night, we decided to just ignore the state of the room.
We did not have wifi or china number for my brother to contact us, so we told him to meet us at 161 hotel after his class. Instead of waiting around at Super 8 for a phone all to go back to 161 hotel, we decided that we will just go ahead back to the hotel even if it was way before 12 noon (offical check in time). We were told by the reception of Super 8 that our rooms are still not ready. As we were really insistent on going over, they had to call 161 hotel. As Super 8 could not explain the situation to us, they handed the phone over to us to 161 hotel could speak to us. We explained what we wanted to do and to our horror, they told us that we might have to wait till 5-6pm before we know if we can return to 161 hotel. OH WAIT, not only that. They were not even sure if we could even return to 161 hotel throughout the whole duration of our stay. It will be really ridiculous for us to be sitting around just to wait for their phone call. We asked them why can't we know if the room will be ready, they could not answer us. If they could not get the room ready for us, tell us beforehand so we can make other arrangements. We were pretty angry then so we went out, got a local number to contact my brother. Updated him of our situation and decided that we will not go ahead with the booking. As the reservation was make via Agoda, I made a phone call to Singapore's office. I am thankful that I managed to get a full refund for this.
We went off to Holiday Inn and we settled for 1 room. I have to endure my dad's snores for 4 nights and the thought of it was torturous.
After we have settled accommodation issue, we could finally relax. PHEW.
The room at Holiday Inn was not bad!
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| Along the streets of Beijing |
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| Food on the first day! |
海底捞
http://www.haidilao.com/
They have many branches in Beijing which you can find on their website.
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