I booked here for three nights in May 2009. Several years earlier, I had stayed here and had an enjoyable time. I thought it would be the same this time.

However, the atrium smells awful. Every morning, at about 5 am to 6am as the kitchen staff began setting up for the buffet breakfast, there would be an awful smell pervading the entire 8-story atrium. It was a fast food odor and a burned cooking oil smell. The odor stayed in the atrium for hours at a time.

I was disappointed that the management didn't aerate the area, or at least have the common sense to release a pleasant fragrance to cover up the cooking odors.

We had the pleasure of staying at this facility when we were recently in Beijing. We booked 5 days and could have stayed longer. The staff were excellent - spoke English very well, rooms were very comfortable and nicely decorated. We did upgrade to the Executive CLub and epecially enjoyed the private lounge for breakfast and meeting other interesting people from different parts of the world.
There are upscale shops with in 1/2 block, the famous "out door market place" is 2 blocks away and there are ample opportunities to just walk and enjoy the sites.
While we were staying at the Crowne Plaza I felt very comfortable out side walking by myself (female) and did not feel the least bit worried about my personal safety (just be a smart traveler) . Beijing is beautiful and the there was absolutely no smog there and the streets are extremely clean as well as the public places everywhere. Would we stay here again certainly

Last October we stayed at the Embassy Suites for 4 nights as a base to explore Beijing. There is a lot to like about this hotel! The rooms are American style with all the standard amenities, including queen size beds. We thoroughly enjoyed the very large breakfast buffet with multiple choices, fresh squeeze oj, and hand made omlettes (for us, it was included in our room rate). So overall, an excellent choice.

We agree too, with some of the watch-outs of previous posters. First, be leary of the scantily clad women wandering the halls and elevators offering massage on the top floor. It didn't scare us as it is not the really bad thing we heard about in other hotels -- we just said 'no' and were left alone -- we only saw this on one night, Friday night. Also, the bellmen offer tourist services, but everything is marked up. You are better off using your guidebooks and booking on your own as English is spoken in Beijing and is not that bad (the rural areas, it can be more difficult). Also since the location is right in the middle of the Wafjung district, be prepared to be approached at night by a few shady characters offering prostitution. Again, it wasn't bad and cops were out -- we never felt not safe in this area of town.

The location is the best in the city, with Tianamen and everything else in walking distance. Book here with the confidence of American luxury in a foreign local.

Husband and I stayed here for a one-day stop in Beijing en route to a conference. Location was convenient to the night market, Forbidden City, Tianamen Square - all an easy walk. (Ignore the constant pestering for people to give you a lift there ... it's a quick and easy walk.) Price (about $140 on Travelocity) seemed fair given the location - could have found cheaper but would have been less convenient to the sights. Breakfast was pricey ... we didn't purchase a room package that included breakfast - maybe that would have been cheaper. Just walking in and paying was $50 for two of us - OUCH. It was a standard buffet with lots of options, but no buffet breakfast is worth $25 a pop! Room itself was fine ... not huge, but I think that's the norm. Room was clean and had everything we needed.