Holiday Inn Express Beijing Downtown by IHG

We liked the staff’s attention, the breakfast, and the room was comfortable and very clean

We didn’t like the intense smoking smell in the room and the hallways

Location, cleaning

None

Clean and comfortable, breakfast was good and staff were friendly. They helped us with laundry washing for free , much appreciated.

A bit far from metro and shopping, but was okay . Staff didn’t speak English or Arabic but through translation apps, were able to understand each other .

Comfortable and safe. Breakfast had lots of options although most were still heavily oiled/salted, there's plenty that I think most people could find something to be satisfied. Presentation is nice.

Despite that this is a Holiday Inn Express, the English abilities of the staff are pretty limited. I don't expect English in a foreign country, but at a typically English speaking chain, it is a bit surprising. Staff wouldn't help us order food by using their number or calling in for us. When we had food delivery arrive (after getting a sim card at China mobile the next day), staff was confused and I had to come down after waiting and found the driver trying to figure out my translated instructions (I thought the room number would be enough if the translation was bad. I was wrong). There are 2-4 washers for the entire hotel and they are confusing to use, so unless you nail the timing, you will likely not be able to use them. The Holiday Inn Express in Shanghai was a much better experience. Not a bad experience, but important for travelers to understand what they should expect.