I really, really hate to give away my finds and you are probably thinking, “Days Inn, is she nuts? Who would go to Beijing and stay at a Days Inn!” ex-Marine (husband, Steve) and I were walking through a park and down a small street on our last Beijing visit, spitting distance from the Forbidden City, and there was a Days Inn in this unexpected location. It looked nice, the location was incredible, and I tucked this hotel into what’s left of my memory bank for a possible stay in the future.

Time for Beijing again and I vacillated back and forth on what hotel to choose. Five-star luxury hotels were out and I remembered the Days Inn Forbidden City. It didn’t look like a dump, had reasonable rates that included breakfast, cable television, Internet access and air conditioning (Beijing summers are brutally hot). What kind of breakfast? Not quite sure and I dearly love Asia’s huge buffet breakfasts with everything on it from American to Chinese foods. Took the leap of faith and booked. After all, it did a have a fabulous location, was owned by a warlord inside the Imperial City over 100 years ago and the rate was approximately $80 U.S. a night including everything. Such a deal….

The taxi driver did have to call the Days Inn for directions from Capital Airport. TIP: Always carry your hotel telephone number for the driver. With thousands of hotels in Beijing, most of them only know the really big hotels — Hilton, Sheraton, etc., – and even then, there may be more than one property.

Days Inn Forbidden City, Beijing
Entering the Days Inn Forbidden City courtyard-style hotel, the first surprise. Many, many Westerners (and Chinese tourists) checking in! Shown to our “smallish” bedroom that overlooked a courtyard with trees, unpacked and collapsed in bed.

The Days Inn Forbidden City is only a few minutes walk to Tiananmen Square if you turned right, Wangfujing Street (the big pedestrian-only shopping street) was a left and right, the Forbidden City, two left turns away, and subway locations in either direction. It has location…location…location! Days Inn is part of the Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company with approximately 7,000 hotels and 11 brands…bet you didn’t know that…

Days Inn Forbidden City Beijing map 

A great night’s sleep in the comfy bed and breakfast time. A extravagant buffet breakfast with everything but the kitchen sink on it. Eggs made to order, Chinese food, fruits, yogurt, juices, danish and more than enough other selections to clog the arteries. What more could a person ask for?

Oh yes, a knowledgeable and helpful staff. No problem. The obligatory little business cards printed in Chinese and English for taxi driver use, two complimentary bottles of water every day (you cannot drink the water in China), immaculately clean rooms, hot water and even two free beers as a welcome. Again, such a deal!