Celebrity International Grand Hotel

“A long stay revealed the best and worst of this hotel”

I stayed for 12 nights in this hotel with my 2 children. We ended up in a very well-appointed executive suite. Most of the staff were friendly and helpful. However, the stay didn't begin well and I almost decided to take our business elsewhere. We began in a 2-bedroom suite on level 11. It ... more

I stayed for 12 nights in this hotel with my 2 children. We ended up in a very well-appointed executive suite. Most of the staff were friendly and helpful. However, the stay didn't begin well and I almost decided to take our business elsewhere. We began in a 2-bedroom suite on level 11. It would have been a perfect room but for the powerful stench of cigarette smoke. This is supposedly a non-smoking hotel. As a non-smoking family we all felt unwell within minutes. It wasn't possible to open the windows. I complained and was told there were no other 2-bedroom suites available, so we could stay where we were, or be moved to 2 separate rooms. We were offered an air purifier, so I decided we'd try it and stay, because surely the smell would clear and we needed to stay for 12 nights so I didn't want to be stuck with 2 separate rooms. On Day 2, we went to check out the recreation facilities (dingy indoor pool, stuffy gym area, no table tennis or billiards despite the signs saying so... this was the low point of our stay!)... and I saw a staff member (in the massage/"health" area) smoking! I put in a complaint to management and we were upgraded to a 2-bedroom executive suite on the 23rd floor. No extra charge :-) From here on, the stay was very nice and I stopped thinking about finding another hotel. The executive suite was large and comfortable. My children (not the most adventurous) enjoyed the room service dinners every night. The breakfast became somewhat monotonous but there wasn't anything to really dislike about it - a good spread of Chinese and Western items. The room was well cleaned every day. We still had a faint whiff of cigarette smoke from time to time, but it was bearable, and not overpowering as it had been on Level 11. Occasionally in the lift, the doors would open at Level 6 (the recreation level) and the smoke smell was always strong there. We did see cigarette butts in the toilets on Level 1, and in the ashtrays in the lobby. It would have been nice to have a usable swimming pool and some recreation facilities for the kids for such a long stay, especially as I was working for some of the time. Because of the lack of these facilities, and the pervasive cigarette smoke, I've marked the hotel as "not suitable for families with children". The concierge staff were helpful in assisting me to track a parcel that I was having delivered to me at the hotel. There had been some mix-up with the delivery company that there was no way I could have understood without speaking Chinese. I was very grateful for their help. The location is not central (4th Ring Road) but the subway is fairly nearby. Also nearby is the Birds Nest Olympic complex, including the lovely "Olympic Forest Park" which is worth checking out for a quiet couple of hours. There's a supermarket across the road and several restaurants in walking distance.

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“Close To Olympic Park”

Nice views from top floor room, "Executive Floor" there was one clear day looking west the mountains were visible. Clean and smart, this used to be a 5-star hotel but is about 20 years old, so I think it is now a 4-star. This means 3 stars for western standards. It's a nice lobby but cold with no... more

Nice views from top floor room, "Executive Floor" there was one clear day looking west the mountains were visible. Clean and smart, this used to be a 5-star hotel but is about 20 years old, so I think it is now a 4-star. This means 3 stars for western standards. It's a nice lobby but cold with no places to sit. The rooms are small but clean enough. I didn't try the breakfast but a cup of coffee in the lounge cost me 125 Yuan! That's about $16 bucks. Ouch. Staff do not speak any English.

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“An average hotel”

This hotel is more than 10 years old, and has lost its original elegance. My room is not bad, but has many little problems. For example, my room was so hot – I could not change the temperature - had to use paper to block the vent; in the meantime. But I heard some rooms were just too cold. Also, ... more

This hotel is more than 10 years old, and has lost its original elegance. My room is not bad, but has many little problems. For example, my room was so hot – I could not change the temperature - had to use paper to block the vent; in the meantime. But I heard some rooms were just too cold. Also, my room has some power sockets, but none in a convenient place. The front entrance/parking is a mess. There is no public transportation nearby.

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“Just Another Hotel”

It might have scored better if not its terrible food. Lobby seems too crowded because of spaces rented out and sitting around becomes impossible. Bell offered some good advice as to getting to the airport. I won't return till the food improves there.