Peninsula Hotel – Beijing, China: Located in the heart of Beijing, the Peninsula Hotel opened in 1989 and just recently completed a $35 million renovation. With this in mind, we knew we had to check out all that the Peninsula Hotel Beijing had to offer during our short trip to Beijing.

First Impression/Lobby: We arrived at the Peninsula Hotel Beijing via taxi from the Marco Polo Parkside Hotel, another five-star hotel in Beijing we visited and wrote a luxury hotel review about (Click here to read the full hotel review of Marco Polo Parkside).

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As the taxi pulled to the curb we were quickly, warmly and professional greeted at the car and whisked into the Peninsula by a sharply dressed young man. He escorted us to the front desk and insured us our bags would be attended to and brought to our room shortly. This is what I called service!

The entrance, while not as grandiose as most of the other Peninsula Hotels I have visited, was still elegant and easily conveyed the fact we were in a five-star hotel.

Reception: At the front desk, we were attended to in pure five-star fashion, quickly welcoming us, retrieving our reservation information and then escorting us to our suite for in-suite check-in. Simple, fast and efficient; this is how it’s supposed to be!

The Suite: Our suite was decorated with an Asian flair, very fitting since it was called the Beijing Suite. It consisted of a living room, a dining room with seating for four, a half-bath, a well stocked work desk and a small master bedroom and bathroom. The master bedroom and bath were tucked away in one corner of the suite separated by its own door, making the suite perfect for entertaining friends or business meetings.

Adorned in hues of tan, brown and gold, the suite had a a rich, warm feeling. The big windows made the large suite feel even larger, that is, except for the bedroom.

The bedroom had enough room for the bed, a couple nightstands and not much else. Luckily the suite provided a built in luggage rack and ample closet space. The master bath was the typical Peninsula Suite bathroom; reddish and tan marble, dual sinks, deep soaking tub with built in TV, separate shower and toilet stalls. If you have ever seen a Peninsula bathroom, you could easily pick this one out of a lineup.

Room Service: The Peninsula Hotel’s room service menu was well-rounded with a small selection of both Western and Asian dishes. Ordering was a breeze, much different than our experiences at Amanfayun Resort and Marco Polo Hotel, where we struggled with the language barrier. Delivery was within their stated 30 minutes and the order was accurate and set-up in full five-star fashion on our dining room table. It is refreshing when the service matches the properties standards.

Housekeeping: Housekeeping service was consistent in many ways. They serviced the room appropriately, but both days we were there, they ignored the do not disturb sign and came to service the room. In light of those two inconveniences, they did a superb job.

Concierge: The concierge staff at the Peninsula Hotel Beijing did an outstanding job in arranging our day tour and suggesting amazing restaurants. Of all the hotels I visited in China, only the Peninsula Hotels in Beijing and Shanghai had such highly trained and professional concierges. It’s no wonder that Peninsula Hotels continue to be leaders in the luxury hotel realm.

Restaurant: The Peninsula Hotel Beijing has two restaurants, Jing for International and Asian dishes, and Huang Ting for traditional Cantonese. Plus, for a before dinner cocktail or a glass of wine at the end of your busy day, the Peninsula Hotel Beijing has The Lobby Lounge located on the first floor.

Buffet breakfast is served in Jing’s elegant and beautiful atmosphere; the food does nothing to minimize the décor. I cannot think of many better ways to start a day in Beijing.

Pool/Spa/Activities: No Peninsula Hotel would be complete without a spa and Beijing’s Peninsula Hotel is no different. The Peninsula’s spa by ESPA offers a full range of treatments in a laid-back, relaxing environment. Just a walk through their spa made my heart slow and blood pressure drop.

In addition to their spa, the Peninsula offers a well stocked gym and indoor pool, as well as a trained staff to help, regardless of what your training needs or goals are.

Check-Out: As we would expect from a five-star, luxury hotel like the Peninsula Hotel, our check-out was fast and efficient. There were no random charges or questionable items on our bill; just a quick signature and we were on our way. If all luxury hotels could manage this simple task it would save many a headache.

Overall Impression Can we call the Peninsula Hotel in Beijing the best hotel in Beijing? Yes! Regardless of its renovated interiors and high-tech offerings, it is the consistently flawless service that sets the Peninsula Hotel apart from other hotels. Five-star, luxurious and bombastic; that is what I call the Peninsula Hotel Beijing.

Click on the links below to read other five-star and luxury hotel reviews.
Aman at Summer Palace – Beijing, China
Marco Polo Parkside Hotel – Beijing, China
Amanfayun Resort – Hangzhou, China
Peninsula Hotel – Shanghai, China

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