China World Hotel
Since mid-June, the hotel has offered a “School’s Out, Fun’s In” staycation package designed for students and teachers to make the most out of the summer break. The promotion includes daily breakfast for three (two adults and one student), movie tickets to Cinema Palace, ice skating tickets, an extra bed for the third person, and a room upgrade for teachers. A valid student or teacher ID card is required at check-in.
Good for: Students, teachers, and their families
Valid period: Until August 31
Prices: From RMB 1,850 per night
Local attractions: If it’s a clear day, check out the spectacular views from Atmosphere Bar on the 80th floor of China World Summit Wing. (You can even spot beijingkids’ offices at Wanda Plaza!) The hotel is located just south of China World Mall, which home to the popular Le Cool ice skating rink. Central Park is also a stone’s throw away, so drop by The Wellness Spa by Hummingbird for some mother-daughter nail pampering, or leave the kids behind and get a well-deserved couples massage. West of Guomao, you can also visit Ritan Park and have Russian food for dinner.
Kerry Hotel Beijing
Kerry Hotel Beijing has two staycation packages: the Weekend Experience and the Ultimate Staycation. The former includes a buffet breakfast at Kerry’s Kitchen, free mini-bar upon arrival (excluding hard liquor and wine), free in-room Internet and Wi-Fi, and late checkout until 4pm.
The latter includes a food and beverage credit of RMB 1,000 net per day (which can be used at all four of Kerry’s properties), late checkout until 4pm, free Internet and Wi-Fi access, a complimentary extra bed for a child under age 12, access to the Club Lounge and facilities, free ice skating for two people per stay, and free movie tickets at Cinema Palace for two people per stay. In addition, guests can upgrade to the next room category starting from RMB 300.
Good for: Families with kids under 12
Valid period: Until December 31 (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays only) for both packages
Price: RMB 1,350 per night (Weekend Experience); RMB 2,188 per night (Ultimate Staycation)
Local attractions: Kerry Hotel Beijing is located near Central Park and The Place. Central Park has a large green space for kids to play in and lots of family-friendly restaurants, while The Place offers mid-range and high-end shopping next to the largest LCD screen in the world. China World Shopping Mall lies to the south, but expect to pay much higher prices for some retail therapy. Further west lies Ritan Park, a popular hangout for families who want a quiet escape from the CBD gridlock.
Shan Li Retreats
Located about 100km away from Beijing, Shan Li Retreats offers serene countryside stays in beautifully-renovated traditional houses. There are five properties in total, all located near each other in Huangyankou Village: Poshang, Banpo, Qianjia, Shanjiaoxi, and Stone House.
The houses range in size from one to three bedrooms and feature courtyards, modern amenities, lots of natural light, and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. The flagship house, Po Shang, has not one, but two gardens from which to admire nature. Except for the Stone House, all of the properties have a living room, fireplace, coffee press or espresso maker, oven, stove, microwave, and barbecue.
Good for: Multi-family groups
Prices: RMB 4,500 per night (Poshang); RMB 1,500 per night (Banpo); RMB 3,500 per night (Qianjia); RMB 2,800 per night (Shanjiaoxi); RMB 900 per night per room (Stone House)
Local attractions: It’s all about exploring nature at Shan Li; a 20-minute hike from the Stone House will take you to a set of Great Wall watchtowers, while Qianjia is located right next to a reservoir. There are several hiking trails around the properties, which are marked on Shan Li’s website.
The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing
Until the end of the year, The Ritz-Carlton Beijing has a Discover with You promotion with daily American breakfast for two, a USD 50 hotel credit per night, and a Today Art
Museum tour good for four hours. All rooms include Ritz-Carlton linens, feather beds, high-speed Internet access, iPod docking stations, and 42-inch flat screen LCD televisions. We’ve been told that Jackie Chan and other Chinese stars are regulars at the hotel’s Club Lounge.
Good for: Art fans
Valid period: Until December 31 (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays only)
Price: From RMB 3,100 per night
Local attractions: The staycation package includes a visit to Today Art Museum, which is located on 22 Art Street in Shuangjing. The area can be seen as a commercial response to 798 Art District; where 798 has old factories, 22 Art Street has slick architecture. Shaungjing is also home to Viva Plaza and Panjiayuan Market; the latter is a great place to pick up faux antiques and kitschy souvenirs, while the former has a cinema. In addition, Shuangjing has family-friendly restaurants like Lily’s American Diner, Iki, and Bang Bang Pizza.
Photos Courtesy of China World Hotel, Shan Li Retreats, Ritz-Carlton Beijing, and Kerry Hotel Beijing.
This article originally appeared on p44-45 of the beijingkids August 2013 issue.
Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com
