Novotel Beijing Peace

Rooms and decor

Reviewers describe the Superior King at 30 square metres, done in the clean modern Novotel style. The king bed is a Live N Dream by the brand, with a thick duvet in crisp white cotton, and a long desk by the window carries both Chinese and international power sockets. The 43-inch flat-screen TV runs international channels, and the free Wi-Fi is fast enough to stream 4K video without a stutter. The bathroom is finished in dark grey tile with the shower split from the toilet, and there is a kettle with free Chinese tea and Nescafé. It is a dependable, no-surprises room rather than a showpiece, and that is exactly the point.

Food and amenities

The standout is the heated indoor pool on the 4th floor, kept at 28-30°C and open until 22:00, with a staff member on hand and canvas loungers around the edge. The fitness room next door runs 24 hours with a full Technogym setup. The amenity reviewers like most is the free hotel bikes, and many describe grabbing one to ride along Wangfujing in the cool morning air, looping the hutong lanes around Dengshikou where new Beijing meets the old city. Two restaurants on-site handle meals when you do not feel like heading out.

Location and getting there

It is a 6-minute walk along Suichang Street to Dengshikou station on subway Line 5, and you can change to Line 1 at Dongdan to reach the rest of the city. On foot, the Forbidden City is about 15-20 minutes away, and the walk takes you past Jingshan Park, the man-made hill behind the palace. Climb to the top and the whole Forbidden City spreads out below as a sea of yellow roof tiles, and entry runs only about $0.30. The bright red hotel sign makes it easy to find on the way back.

Things to know before booking

Guest scores land around 8.6-8.8, a step below the 5-star hotels higher on this list, so set expectations to solid value rather than luxury. Wangfujing is one of the busiest shopping streets in Beijing, so the area stays loud and crowded all day. Rooms are a compact 30 square metres and clean rather than lavish. None of this is a deal-breaker at this price, but go in knowing it is a smart 4-star base, not a splurge.

Our take

Novotel Beijing Peace fits best for families with young kids, working couples who want a brand they can trust, and business travellers who need a fairly priced room with meeting space. If you want dependable 4-star international standards in a prime location without paying 5-star rates, this is the most sensible pick on the list, from about $80 a night.