The Regent Beijing is a modern, sleek, well-toned hotel and a wonderful oasis in a fascinating city which is a threshold to an ancient and now modern civilization. Personnel, young and well dressed, are on duty constantly in the porte-cochere, lobby, registration counter and elevator area. They are reserved, polite and eager to help, if language proves no obstacle (see below).
The premium room is emanates comfort and class. Flowers just inside the door in a mini-foyer and more flowers on a shelf in the bathroom, both lit with indirect lighting. The bathroom has one mirrored wall and another of glass with drawn mini-blinds which faces the bed. There is a stand up separate bathtub, a patterned glass-enclosed toilet and separately enclosed shower and a basin with granite counter, drawers and indirect lighting below. Spacious and elegant. Best of all, great water pressure and two shower heads, one large round directly overhead fixture and another usual type on a sliding pole. Not one, but two bathmats for the floor are a nice touch. Good, large cotton towels. Everything was spic and span.
The bed area has a round drop-down circular ceiling with indirect lighting and a round large light fixture in the middle of the circle. Apples were distributed daily. The bed was firm, but comfortable and the linen crisp. The air-conditioning with thermostat worked well and quietly. A glass desk with comfortable chair and free internet connection. A nice sofa-bench sat in front of the window. We requested and had a small view of the Forbidden City.
And yes, the room was very quiet.
The breakfast was first rate. American, European, Japanese and Chinese food were slightly varied daily.
I awoke before the group daily and walked around the city which was clean and safe. Just off of the hotel's main streets are hutongs to explore. A 15 minute walks brings you to the east side of the Forbidden City where I mingled with the fishermen trying their luck in the surrounding moat, saw a gate (not for entrance) and an impressive corner tower. At night the same route to the west bring you to the pedestrian walk of Wanfujing where you can find outdoor food stands abutting red lanterns, many people and a same grid of alleyways with food stands and little outdoor shops. Still alive scorpions on sticks are to be found here. The location, which I was uncertain of before the trip, was excellent for sightseers.
My wife had glasses made which were to be delivered just prior to our departure. He concierge shared our concerned as the delivery was overdue but looked for us when they finally arrived.
We did have mix up in our reservations as I made one online and our tour company was to have made us another and cancel ours as their rate was cheaper and included breakfast (a great plus). We did not try to resolve this when checking in late at night as the clerk could not understand the situation and probably couldn't have done anything about it anyway. The following day the tour company booked us under their rate for the next 4 days, but we still had to pay the higher rate for the first night ourselves as again the clerks couldn't change this. The tour company did, however, reimburse us for presumably the amount we prepaid for the room. None of this upset us in the least especially since we had such a comfortable stay at the hotel.
We should always have it so good in every other city of the world, but seldom will.
P.S. China Tours booked us a room for $184/night service fee and breakfast inclusive.
