Country Garden Phoenix Hotel Tianjin

My wife organised this Hotel and frankly, I wish she hadn't. She based her booking on price and appearances (photos). Wrong. First and foremost, it's miles from anywhere of significance, certainly if you are a tourist as opposed to a business person visiting industry in the area.

Secondly, the rooms, although large, the general aesthetic being quite spectacular and the many facilities available, tend to lull one into thinking that for the price they have got into something quite special. Thing is, it only take a few minutes bore you realise this place is not what it seems. The room is large, likewise the bed. However the bed is rock hard, the TV small, the furniture old and in some case, decrepit. Very little is in good condition, just like the minibar fridge which just doesn't get cold (we booked 2 rooms and neither fridge kept anything cold).

The bathroom is actually quite okay, however the general cleanliness of the place is way below par. It's as if the cleaning staff just can't be bothered.

Local eateries; forget it if you are a westerner. Sure, there's a Maccas (but of course when all else fails you can find a Maccas. I even ate there once (which I never do in Australia), because the local restaurants are an absolute bust.

There is a new railroad coming through the area in a few months, which is desperately needed. To get anywhere near the city you have to spend around an hour on a bus.

Point; Pay more money and get something closer to town.

My wife organised this Hotel and frankly, I wish she hadn't. She based her booking on price and appearances (photos). Wrong! First and foremost, it's miles from anywhere of significance, certainly if you are a tourist as opposed to a business person visiting industry in the area.

Secondly, the rooms, although large, the general aesthetic being quite spectacular and the many facilities available, tend to lull one into thinking that for the price they've got themselves a bargain. Thing is, it only take a few minutes before you realise this place is not what it seems. The rooms are large, likewise the bed. However the bed is rock hard, the TV small, the furniture old and in some cases, decrepit. Very little is in good condition, just like the minibar fridge which just doesn't get cold (we booked 2 rooms and neither fridge kept anything cold).

The bathroom is actually quite okay, however the general cleanliness of the place is way below par. It's as if the cleaning staff just can't be bothered.

Local eateries; forget it if you are a westerner. Sure, there's a Maccas (of course, when all else fails you can find a Maccas. I even ate there once (which I never do in Australia), because the local restaurants are an absolute bust).

There is a new railroad coming through the area in a few months, which is desperately needed. To get anywhere near the city you have to spend around an hour on a bus.

Point; Pay more money and get something closer to town.