By Elle McLaughlin
The living room at The Opposite House
Beijing's The Opposite House is a completely different kind of hotel. There is no traditional lobby or reception desk. Instead, guests enter the hotel through the "living room" and registration happens in-room on tablet computers. The effect is like staying with wealthy friends--if your friends had a stainless steel swimming pool, two award-winning restaurants and a nightclub in the basement. Each of the 99 over-sized rooms are spare in design but luxe in amenities like flat-screen televisions and high-thread-count sheets on the king-sized beds, glass rainfall showers and separate white oak soaking tubs.
Wows and Woes
Oak soaking tub
Wows:
The rooms are all equipped with iPod docks and free Wi-Fi.
The mini-bar is free.
Woes:
The built-in cabinets are so sleek, they are sometimes hard to find.
The lack of a central desk can be confusing. But just stop any of the chicly uniformed employees with any question.
Insider Tips
A room at The Opposite House
* The rack rates can be high, but check for one of the hotel's frequent specials, which can save you up to 65 percent on your stay.
* At the nearby Yashow Clothing Market in Sanlitun Village there are a number of tailoring shops that can custom make clothing quickly and cheaply. Ask a staff member at The Opposite House for recommendations and directions.
Author's Most Memorable Moment
The lobby bar, Mesh, is a popular hangout for trendy locals and ex-pats. Every night I met someone new who gave me insider advice and insight on what I should be doing next on my trip.
Bottom Line
The luxurious amenities and central location make this a great place from which to explore Beijing.
About the Author:
Author and journalist Elle McLaughlin has been writing about travel and lifestyle topics for magazines since 1994. Always in pursuit of a good story, she has harvested agave in Mexico, made cheese in Vermont and picked grapes in New Zealand. McLaughlin attended the City University of New York, majoring in history and minoring in international relations.
Photo Credits:
L.A. McLaughlin
L.A. McLaughlin
L.A. McLaughlin
