Beijing National Stadium Hotel: Unbelievable Views & Luxury Await!
Beijing National Stadium Hotel: Views That Will Literally Knock Your Socks Off (And Maybe Your Wallet Too!) - A Totally Honest Review
Okay, buckle up folks, because I'm about to spill the tea on the Beijing National Stadium Hotel. This isn't your average hotel review; this is a diary entry, therapy session, and a desperate plea to anyone who’s actually been there to validate my experience. Before I even get started, just picture this: I’m still recovering from jet lag, and the only thing fueling me is black coffee and the lingering memory of those EPIC views.
SEO & Metadata (Before I Forget!)
- Keywords: Beijing National Stadium Hotel, Bird's Nest, Luxury Hotel Beijing, Accessible Hotel Beijing, Spa Beijing, Pool with a View, Beijing Olympics Hotel, Family-Friendly Hotel, Business Hotel Beijing, 5-Star Hotel Beijing
- Meta Description: A brutally honest review of the Beijing National Stadium Hotel! Get ready for stunning views, luxurious amenities (and maybe a few hiccups along the way). Read my insights on accessibility, food, cleanliness, and the overall experience.
(Okay, Now We Can Start. Deep Breath…)
First off, the VIEWS. Seriously, the reason to go. They are bonkers. I mean, the Bird's Nest (that iconic stadium, if you've been living under a rock) is practically in your face. I spent a solid hour just staring out the window in my room, drooling. (More on the room itself later, because, well, there’s a story.)
Accessibility:
I need to give them serious props here. They actually seem to get it. Wheelchair accessible? Yes! Ramps, elevators everywhere, you name it. I'm not a wheelchair user, but I could tell that they've put genuine effort into making this place accessible. Facilities for disabled guests? Absolutely. This wasn't just a token gesture. It felt…thoughtful. Now that deserves a round of applause.
Getting There & Getting Around:
Getting from the airport? Airport transfer was smooth as silk. The car park [free of charge] is a definite win. Plus, taxi service is readily available if you’re feeling adventurous. I'm a big fan of the valet parking, because let’s face it, after a long flight, walking a mile to find your car is a crime against humanity. They even had car power charging stations, which, hey, eco-friendly bonus points!
The Room (And The Great Toilet Paper Catastrophe)
Here's where things get…interesting. My room, on a high floor, was all sleek lines and modern design. Air conditioning? Check. Blackout curtains? Double check. These are crucial for conquering jet lag, which I was fighting hard. Extra long bed? Sigh of relief. I’m tall, and I appreciate that. The Wi-Fi [free] worked like a charm (crucial for an internet addict like me!), and I had a laptop workspace - a must for those emails you put off for weeks!
BUT. AND IT’S A BIG BUT.
I’m pretty sure they forgot to replenish the toilet paper. I mean, I'm not demanding, but I had to call housekeeping three times before someone FINALLY came. And the look on the cleaner's face? Priceless. A mixture of 'Oh, that' and 'Why didn't you just…?' It was a moment. A bonding moment, in a weird way.
(Side note: The slippers were divine.)
Internet & Connectivity:
Free Wi-Fi in All Rooms! – Yes! This is a godsend, particularly after the toilet paper drama. Internet access – LAN was also available. Hey, some people still roll that way. Internet services, you can also buy the Internet access – wireless.
Dining, Drinking & Snacking (Or, My Love Affair with Asian Breakfast)
Okay, food. This is where the hotel really shines. The Asian breakfast was a revelation. I’m talking noodles, dim sum, the works. I think I gained five pounds just from breakfast alone. The Breakfast [buffet] was lavish, bordering on obscene. They cater to all tastes, with both Western breakfast and an International cuisine in restaurant. There are multiple Restaurants, including a Vegetarian restaurant.
I also indulged at the Poolside bar. Cocktails with that view? Yes, please. They even had a happy hour. My credit card didn't thank me, but my soul did. The coffee/tea in restaurant was decent, but the bottle of water in my room was a life-saver on more than one occasion. The room service [24-hour] was a lifesaver, especially after I’d had too much of that "happy hour." I appreciated that alternative meal arrangement were offered. I didn’t try the snack bar or coffee shop, but I’ve heard that their desserts in restaurant are amazing.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax (Because, Let's Face It, You Need To)
Fitness center? Yep. Gym/fitness? Also, yep. If you're feeling guilty about all the amazing food, this is where you can redeem yourself.
The swimming pool [outdoor] is stunning, and the pool with view…well, you get the picture. I didn’t try the sauna, steamroom or spa (I'm a simple girl), but the fact that they have them is a big bonus for the discerning traveler. The prospect of a Body scrub or Body wrap was tempting, but you know, jet lag and all.
Cleanliness & Safety:
And here's the kicker - I felt safe. The hygiene protocol was on point, even if that toilet paper incident made me question everything for a moment. Daily disinfection in common areas was a constant thing. Anti-viral cleaning products were used (thank goodness!). Staff trained in safety protocol – I saw it in action. And they had hand sanitizer everywhere, even in the elevators. They also have CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property, so no worries about safety if you’re traveling at night. They even have a fire extinguisher and smoke alarms.
Services & Conveniences:
Concierge? Super helpful. Doorman? Always there with a smile. Daily housekeeping? (minus the toilet paper incident, of course). They even had a convenience store, which is perfect for midnight snack runs. The currency exchange was convenient.
For the Kids & Family:
I didn’t have kids with me, but the hotel seemed genuinely family-friendly. They had Kids facilities, including a Babysitting service.
Amenities in All Rooms:
So, let's go over all the goods: Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free].
Business Facilities & More:
They have a business center with xerox/fax in business center, and plenty of meeting/banquet facilities. They had facilities for Audio-visual equipment for special events. if you need it.
Check-in/Check-out:
They had Check-in/out [express] and Check-in/out [private].
(The Verdict: Would I Go Back?)
Absolutely. Despite the minor toilet paper trauma, the Beijing National Stadium Hotel is a winner. The views alone are worth the price of admission. Yes, it's luxurious, and yes, it’s probably a splurge, but if you're looking for a memorable experience – with a view that’ll make you go "wow" every single time – then book it. Just…maybe bring your own toilet paper. You'll thank me later.
Unbelievable Perks Await! Perkasa Hotel Keningau: Your Kota Kinabalu Getaway
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this itinerary is about to get REAL. We're not talking Instagram perfection here, folks. We're talking sweat, jet lag, and questionable street food choices, all rolled into one glorious, chaotic ball of Hi Inn Beijing National Stadium (and maybe some other places, who knows?!).
The "Are We There Yet?" Guide to Beijing (and Surviving Hi Inn)
Day 1: Arrival & Existential Airport Dread (Plus a Dodgy Dumpling)
- 6:00 AM (Maybe? Who knows?): Wake up in… well, not Beijing yet. The flight. The endless flight. Honestly, the plane food probably peaked about 10 years ago. Already feeling that post-travel existential dread creeping in. Is this all there is? Am I REALLY going to spend my life smelling airplane upholstery?
- Around 2:00 PM (Beijing Time,ish): Land at the Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Okay, deep breaths. Currency exchange… check. Finding the right exit… check. The sheer scale of this airport is terrifying. It's like the entire city of Beijing decided to build a giant, grey, metallic version of itself.
- 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM (give or take a minor panic attack): Struggle through immigration. Smile awkwardly at the stern-faced officer who definitely thinks you're up to something. Maybe I just look guilty? Anyway, Success! You are in Beijing!
- 4:00 PM - 4:15 PM: Get to Hi Inn Beijing National Stadium. Wow, it's…clean. And brightly lit. And… definitely not the Ritz. But hey, it's a bed! And a shower! Priorities. Try not to spend too long questioning your life choices in the tiny bathroom.
- 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Dump my stuff and change…then I look at the city, feel the air and just start a little more.
- 5:00 PM: Wander around and get a bit lost. It's inevitable. Embrace the chaos. Find a street vendor selling… something. It looks like dumplings. Decide, against all my better judgment, to try them. They're… interesting. The sauce could be described as "tangy with a hint of mystery meat." But hey, I'm alive! And in Beijing!
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Stumble around, attempt to decipher a menu (Google Translate is my new best friend), and marvel at the sheer bustle of the city. So many people! So many neon lights! My senses are overloaded, and I love it.
- 8:00 PM - Bedtime (whenever that happens): Collapse. Into bed. Read something silly. Think about my life decisions. Try to sleep. Probably fail. Jet lag is a cruel mistress.
Day 2: Forbidden City Fever Dream & Tiananmen Square Trauma
- 7:00 AM (Maybe??): Wake up feeling like I’ve been run over by a bus. (Probably just the jet lag.) Force down some hotel instant coffee.
- 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: The Forbidden City. Oh. My. God. The scale of this place… it's mind-boggling. You can practically feel the history seeping from the walls. It's beautiful, opulent, and utterly overwhelming. I spend way too long trying to take a good picture of the Hall of Supreme Harmony (and failing miserably). I'm pretty sure I walked the entire perimeter… twice. Seriously, wear comfortable shoes. You'll need them.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch near the Forbidden City. Found a little noodle place. Spicy. Delicious. Probably going to regret this later.
- 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Tiananmen Square. Okay, feeling a bit… small. It's vast. Powerful. And a bit… sterile? It's hard not to feel a certain weight of history here. I get a weird urge to buy a souvenir… but then remember I am poor and the trinkets were over-priced.
- 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Spend an hour wandering the streets near the square, getting a feel for what the city really feels like. The street style is fantastic, even for the people who are clearly there to take pictures.
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Start the long journey back to the hotel.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant Google Maps said was good. Definitely wasn't. But, I'm alive.
- 8:00 PM - Bedtime: Back to the room. Get some sleep, read before the sleep.
Day 3: A Temple, a Temple, My Kingdom for a Temple! (And Maybe Some Real Duck)
- 9:00 AM (ish): Head to the Temple of Heaven. Okay, this is more like it. Serene. Beautiful. The perfect place to find some peace and actually breathe. Spent far, far too long staring at the architecture. The colors are vibrant. The smells are amazing.
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Lunch: Peking Duck. Finally! The real deal! This is a MUST. The crispy skin. The juicy meat. The pancakes and the little dollops of sauces… it's heaven. Seriously, find a good place and eat it slowly. Savor every bite. This is a travel highlight.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: The Silk Market! Brace yourselves. It’s an assault on the senses… in the best way possible. Bargain! Bargain hard! And then maybe bargain even harder. I got a purse. I probably overpaid. I don't care. It's the experience that counts, right?
- 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM: Stroll around the Olympic Park. Get a new perspective of the stadium. Contemplate the meaning of life for a bit.
- 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner at a local place that I found using a lot of pointing and gesturing. Hopefully, it's going to go well.
- 8:30 PM - Bedtime: Watch a movie on my phone. Try to avoid thinking about the plane ride home.
Day 4: The Great Wall & Goodbye, Beijing!
- 7:00 AM: Wake up with a jolt. Great Wall day! Woohoo! (Okay, maybe I'm not that enthusiastic.)
- 8:00 AM: Get to the Great Wall. It's early. It's crowded. And it's… breathtaking. The sheer scale of this thing… it's incredible. Climbing it is exhausting. This is one of the best travel experiences.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch near the Great Wall. Enjoy the moment, and eat.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Final exploration of the Great Wall. Take photos. Try not to slip and fall. Consider how much I hate steps.
- 4:00 PM: Back to the hotel to pack. Cry a little.
- 6:00 PM: Say goodbye to everything, and head to the airport.
- 8:00 PM: Last-minute souvenir shopping at the airport (because of course). Eat another questionable meal.
- 10:00 PM: Board the plane. Wave goodbye to China as the city lights start to fade away.
Final Thoughts:
Beijing is a city of contrasts. It's beautiful and ugly. Thrilling and exhausting. Confusing and inspiring. It’s a place that will challenge you, surprise you, and maybe even leave you a little bit changed. Go with an open mind, embrace the chaos, and accept that you will get lost. And for God's sake, don't forget to try the Peking duck! (And maybe pack some Pepto-Bismol.)
P.S. Hi Inn wasn't so bad, actually. The free Wi-Fi was a lifesaver.
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Beijing National Stadium Hotel FAQs - Because, Honestly, It's a Bit... Much.
Okay, spill. Is the view *really* as insane as they say?
Alright, let's be honest. The view? Yeah, it's up there. Pun intended. You're *inside* the Bird's Nest! I mean, picture this: You're sprawled on a ridiculously comfy king-sized bed, sipping lukewarm (because I took too long to get ready) coffee, and BAM – the entire stadium stretches out before you. It's less "a view" and more "a statement." There's this… this *overwhelmingness* of it all. Like, I literally just sat there staring at it for a good half hour, drooling on the pillow. Not glamorous. Definitely worth the photo. But, hey, the coffee was the truly remarkable thing! The coffee was horrible.
Is it truly *luxury* luxury, you know? Like, actual, "I feel like royalty" luxury?
Ah, "luxury". It depends. The room itself? Yes, very nice. Plush carpets, a ridiculously large bathroom (seriously, I could do laps in the shower). BUT… and there's always a but, isn't there? The service? Okay. Attentive, sure, but also a tad... formal. It lacked that genuine warmth, you know? Like, when you ask for an extra towel and they suddenly look at you like you've requested to borrow their kidneys. I felt slightly self-conscious just existing. I ended up ordering room service through the app, because I couldn't face speaking to anyone. The food was... adequate. Definitely not "royal" food. More like... "slightly overpriced takeout." The coffee was, again, vile.
What about the food? Any killer restaurants?
Killer? Hmmm. Okay, one restaurant was decent. The one with the… the… (brain freeze) with the *dim sum*! But it was so dimly lit in there, I felt like I was eating in a crypt. Seriously, I needed a flashlight app just to see what I was putting in my mouth. The dim sum was good, though. But then, the next morning I decided to brave the buffet and… let's just say, I found myself very confused. They had everything! Western, Chinese, pastries that looked suspiciously like they'd been sitting out since the Olympics. I played it safe with toast. And the coffee, well, we've discussed the tragic coffee.
Is it noisy? I'm a light sleeper!
That depends. Are there events happening at the stadium? During my stay the stadium was eerily silent. But I imagine a sporting event or concert could be a problem. It's not *constant* noise, but the hotel is, well, *in* a stadium. Duh! Construction, general hustle and bustle. I'd recommend earplugs, just in case. I didn't use them, of course, and woke up at 3 am anyway. But that's my problem. The problem was the coffee. Why was the coffee so bad?
What about getting around? Is it easy to get to other attractions?
Getting *to* the hotel is easy – right next to the subway. Getting *out* and about is a bit more of a mission. The area around the stadium is… well, it’s the Olympic Park. Touristy. It's not a particularly *vibrant* area. Walking anywhere feels a bit artificial. You probably won’t accidentally stumble upon a hidden dumpling shop, which made me profoundly sad. You're kinda stuck with planned excursions. Still, the subway is your friend. Except when it's rush hour. Oh, and I had to wander aimlessly for an hour until I found the subway, so I'm sure it's easy to find if you're paying attention.
The little things – are they worth it?
Ah, the little things. Let me tell you a story. I got terribly lost. I'd just checked in, all bright-eyed with glee to see the stadium. I wanted to buy a bottle of water, and I spent a good hour meandering through the Olympic Park looking for a shop. Turns out, there was a vending machine *right outside* the front door. I'm terrible with directions. I'm *that* person. But the little things? They're what make a trip though. A comfy bed, a nice view, the sense of being inside the stadium. Even if the tiny details drive you mad! It's worth it for the bragging rights, for the experience, and because... well, where else can you sleep *inside* an Olympic stadium? (Don't answer that.)
Would you recommend it? Honest opinion time!
Okay, the truth? It's complicated. It's not a *perfect* hotel. There are quirks, and the coffee situation needs immediate attention. But… that view! And the sheer *novelty* of it all! If you want a unique experience, if you're willing to overlook a few hiccups, and if you are, like me, obsessed with the Olympics (or just really like giant steel nests), then I say, *yes*. Go for it. Just, you know, BYOB – bring your own (good) coffee. And earplugs. And maybe a sense of humor. Because you're going to need it. I definitely don't regret it, even if I'm still slightly traumatized by the buffet. And wow, that view!
