Grand Mercure Qingdao Qinglong 5 Sterne

We were welcome warmly and helpful. Allthough the situation is difficult these days the team did their best to make the stay unforgetable. Everyone was very helpful and supportive in any case. The view on the seaside is nice and relaxing. Unfortunately we did not have the chance to visit the private beach, but it looks promising.

The Hotel is huge, at my arrival the hall was a desert, quite impressive. Three attendants took care of my check-in only one was able to speak a few English word. I used the restaurant where nobody was speaking in english and to make them understanding that I wanted some wine I had to make a design. The quality of the food... better no comment (Mc Donalds is in comparison a 3 Michelin stars) Breakfast typical Chinese, juices were pure sugar. Rooms quiet and clean, comfortable pillows. Check out a bit better, there was a lady with a good English

If you are here for business at the Expo then this hotel will be fine for me. But I am actually visiting Qingdao and it takes a whole hour and more to get here. Our night activities also has to be cancelled as it would be hell to get to town and back. For a 5 Star hotel, it is very unremarkable as it is not fully furnished. it looks very sparse and spartan. The hotel amenities are also not fully opened. The swimming pool is actually locked and you have to find the guy to open it. I have never seen a 5 Star hotel like this. Rooms are nice and comfortable and I like the balcony in every room. Breakfast is almost 5 Star standard but I don't eat much nowadays.

I stayed there for 3 days 2 nights mainly for an exhibition in Qingdao International Expo. It is very convenient and good place to stay if you need to attend the expo, within walking distance and there is a short route that leads there. However felt that the reception needs to be improved on. It is messy check-in and the staff are not friendly with a slight annoyance attitude. As I was checking out this morning, there was a staff on the most right counter with no queue. Checking out was usually easy as the room has already been paid and I just need to leave my key. But she replied with an annoyed look that I should pass to the counter beside her, and continued on her work without looking up. Other than that, rest of the staff are pretty good and friendly. Reception is most important as they are usually the first hotel staff guests encounter when they arrive! The check-in and check-out efficiency and the queueing also needs to be imporved on, as guests tend to crowd around and cut queues.

We had booked the Grand Mercure for a one night to celebrate my wife’s birthday. The hotel’s impressive trio of high rise buildings stands opposite Qingdao Expo on the Binhai Highway, a good distance from Qingdao’s CBD. Entering through the curved glass frontage into a large marbled atrium we were welcomed and assisted immediately by very helpful staff, notably Bonnie and Brook. The scale and design of the hotel certainly impresses on arrival. We were allowed a late check out the following day. Our room was upgraded from a double room to a suite overlooking a lagoon at the back of the hotel and, as yet, undeveloped bird shaped peninsula beyond. The usual toiletries and tea/coffee making facilities were there, along with a plate of fruit. The furniture and bed were very comfortable. A cake made especially for my wife was brought to the room and we posed for photos with staff before being left to eat it! Our evening meal in the Chinese Restaurant was excellent, the choice of food comprehensive and enough to suit our Western palates. Food options for breakfast were also good in the ground floor restaurant. The spa was closed on Sunday but Bonnie found a nearby hot spring spa for us and organised a taxi to get us there. It was a good choice. On our return (late afternoon) we were able to have a three course meal before leaving. We can not recommend the staff of the hotel highly enough for their customer care. We look forward to a return visit and seeing the island behind fully developed.