On my way to Tokyo via Beijing, I had a 15-hour overnight layover in the Chinese capital. I hesitated a long time, wondering if the cheaper flight was worth the overnight stay. Finally, I’ve decided that sleeping in Beijing and arriving by early flight to Tokyo would alleviate somewhat the jet lag that I would no doubt be experiencing.
Many flights into Asia require a lengthy layover in Beijing. To confirm that, you’ll see a counter near the landing gate where you can apply for a short (24h-72h) temporary transit visa to leave the airport premises. The application is straight-forward, requiring you to fill out a form and have your picture taken at the border control office.
Cordis vies to be an upscale business establishment, focusing on impeccable service to its guests, and it did not fail my expectations. During such transit time, most travellers are simply looking for a comfortable place to recuperate from a long trans-oceanic trip. For that, quick access to the hotel is primordial. You can walk (10 minutes) to the hotel from the terminal or wait for the free shuttle (7 minutes) which passes about thrice an hour, 24h a day. I decided to get to the hotel by foot despite the cold since I had nothing but a backpack and small carry-on suitcase. Just walk to your right as you exit the lower level of PEK, it looks like you’re heading nowhere but the building is right after the curve.
Check-in was pleasant and efficient, warm hand towels ready at your disposal. The decor in the lobby and hallways felt refined and had good taste. The room I had felt huge! Maybe I was comparing it to most hotel rooms in asian capitals where the struggle for square footage is always an issue. The king size bed stood in the center of the vast room, with a separate sitting area and desk. And the bathroom! Across the glass wall from the bedroom is a stand-alone bathtub and separate rain shower.
Needless to say that I enjoyed my layover quite a bit. The only drawback is the limited dining options nearby. The hotel itself had a western restaurant and a buffet. Maybe it was the low season, but even the buffet looked lacking in terms of choices, so we opted for a mediocre burger and lacklustre fried rice plate.
Overall, if you’re making a quick stopover around PEK international airport, I would definitely recommend Cordis Beijing Airport Hotel for a relaxed stay, setting the tempo right for a good start for the rest of your trip!
Cordis Beijing Airport Hotel [8.5/10]
No.1,Yijing Road, Terminal 3, Capital Airport,
Shunyi District, 100621
Shunyi, China
TEL: 86 (10) 6457 5555
FAX: 86 (10) 6450 4210