One of the big challenges about travelling to China is finding accommodation when there are so few reviews on popular sites like Booking.com and Expedia.
We stayed in Qingdao, China, a city not renowned for being popular with international tourists. Finding the right accommodation for our family was a top priority, as we also had my sister tagging along with us.
In the end, we went with a brand we knew and had used before Holiday Inn Express. We booked a stay at the Holiday Inn Express Qingdao City Centre. This hotel in China provided us with a familiar feel and look, the location we wanted and extras like breakfast and laundry facilities. In this blog post, we’ll share our experience, highlighting the features that made our stay enjoyable.
First Impressions of Holiday Inn Express in Qingdao
After a long flight from Australia, we arrived at Holiday Inn Express Qingdao City Centre around 1:30 am. We were greeted by smiles from friendly staff who did their best to chat with us in the small amount of English they knew.
As we entered the lobby, we noticed a map of the city. Although the map was not in English, it it was a nice touch for guests looking to navigate their way around. In the coming days, we found this map a useful reference for finding things in the city such as the Haitian Tower and The Qingdao North Train Station.
The check-in process in China can be longer than you are used to because they take copies of your passports and fill in paperwork for the government. All foreign tourists must be registered with the government in China.
What are the rooms like in Qingdao City Centre Holiday Inn Express
We had two different types of rooms, a double and a twin, during our stay. We stayed in the double room while our daughter and my sister stayed in a twin. The rooms were the same except one had a queen bed and the other 2 singles.
The bathroom was a good size with a large shower, toilet, and basin area. I liked that it was a separate area. We have stayed at Holiday Inn Express before where the bathroom is only separated from the sleeping area by a glass screen.
One of the standout features was the availability of universal charging ports and USB outlets next to the bed, which made it easy to charge our devices without the hassle of adapters. The room also included complimentary tea and coffee, which I love, I always have a coffee while waiting for Bec to get ready for the day.
The room was equipped with an iron and ironing board for those who need this type of thing. We visited in the summer, so it was shorts and t-shirts for us most days.
One of the things that is always a mystery in foreign countries, especially countries that do not speak English, is whether the TV has any English channels. Most countries will generally have BBC or CNN, but being in China, I did not expect to find these.
Read our article on the best 4 day itinerary for Qingdao
To our surprise, we found an English channel, which was a surprise given the uncertainty of finding English programming in China.
There was free Wi-Fi provided, but it was not great, to be honest. Accessing the internet for foreigners in China can be somewhat hard with its restrictions on websites that you can and cannot access. I would not rely on Wi-Fi in China, you’re best to grab a data SIM and a VPN to access the internet.
Book a stay at H.I Express City Centre in Qingdao
One quirky find in our room was like a gas/smoke mask, which left us wondering about its purpose. I guess if the place caught fire it could be useful.
One thing I had never seen before anywhere was, in the lobby on a Friday and Saturday night, they set up a free beer keg for people staying at the hotel. It was a nice touch to get a free beer. After all, Qingdao is a beer city and holds a beer festival every year that’s referred to as the Asian Oktoberfest.
Does the free breakfast suit everyone at the Holiday Inn Express?
One of the highlights of our stay was the breakfast offered at the hotel. We were pleasantly surprised by the variety of options available. Bec, Marley and I all enjoy Asian food, but this was a first for my sister, so having a good mix of Asian and Western foods was great.
From traditional bacon and sausages to local delicacies like fried rice, dumplings, and stir-fried dishes, there was something for everyone. The egg station was a hit, allowing guests to customize their omelettes and fried eggs.
The overall breakfast experience at H.I Express Qingdao City Center exceeded our expectations. It was better than many Holiday Inn breakfasts we experienced in Australia, showcasing the local flavours of Qingdao.
The hotel has a laundry you can use for free!
For those travelling for an extended period, the hotel offered a laundry room, equipped with free washing machines and dryer combinations. The quick 32-minute cycles were a lifesaver, allowing us to freshen up our clothes without wasting time. The laundry room even provided detergent, making the process hassle-free.
Laundry can be a hassle when you’re travelling, and one thing Holiday Inn Express does that stands out is its laundries, making it much easier.
The gym, while basic, had essential equipment like treadmills and a rowing machine. Although it lacked weights, it was okay for a quick workout. A far better option I found was to head out walking each morning along the nearby waterfront in Qingdao.
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What can I do near Holiday Inn Express City Centre
The hotel was only 500 meters away from the Qingdao waterfront, where in the summer months they have a free light show every evening. Just across the road is Yunxiao Road Food Street. Qingdao cuisine is heavily seafood-based since it is on the coast and Yunxiao Road is full of seafood restaurants.
For those that want to do some shopping, the Inzone Mall has 6 floors of shops and restaurants to explore just 200 meters away. For fussy eaters looking for a taste of home, there is a nearby McDonald’s and KFC within a 5-minute walk from the hotel.
The extensive Qingdao metro system has a station located just 100 meters from the hotel, Fushansuo station is on Line 2 of the Qingdao Metro which made it easy for us to visit places like The Qingdao Old Town area and the Taidong shopping Area.
Would we stay at this Qingdao hotel again?
The hotel provided a comfortable and convenient base for staying in Qingdao. With its friendly staff, clean rooms, and amenities, we left feeling we had made the right choice for our accommodation in Qingdao. Holiday Inn Express in China has adapted to give that familiar feel but still lets you know it’s in China with its small touches.
If you’re planning a trip to Qingdao, we highly recommend considering the Holiday Inn Express as your home away from home. We enjoyed our stay and would not hesitate to return in the future!
We hope our articles help you plan your Chinese vacation, but if you need help, Wyld Family Travel offers travel planning and consultation services. Just reach out to us at mark.wyld@wyldfamilytravel.com or bec.wyld@wyldfamilytravel.com