Mercure Hohhot Downtown

Check in took 35 mins - explained to us as having to take pics of foreigners. Not sure why as I've stayed at loads of Chinese hotels and this has never happened. Room was large and well designed. We had a two room family suite. We stayed there on 2 separate occasions and they were inconsistent. Eg first time three towels 2 bath robes second time no bath robes three towels. One time conditioner other time little shower gel. Room was not properly cleaned. Found dirty chopsticks on the floor and lots of stains - carpets were not vacuumed. Gym was designed well but when we went they failed to put the ac on and no one could work out up there. Must have been over 40c in the gym. Few English speaking staff so was hard to request anything even room service. Tried to ask for something and thought I'd finally got through but never came. We requested three beds as we are family of 5 and both times the third bed was never made up. Had to do multiple trips to communicate the problem. Doors of other rooms were left open but if they closed some alarm would go off. This happened to the room across from us and no one came to turn it off. Didn't make for a good nights sleep. Breakfast was mainly Chinese fare little western. No issue there but congee for example was very watery. Average for an international branded hotel. Won't go back unless I can't find a family room elsewhere.

This hotel checks all the marks that a foreigner may want to have when looking for a western style hotel at a reasonable price in a "remote" China. Rooms are nice, big and clean. Breakfast has western options. Location is central for an easy stroll in a city or easy walk in a park behind the hotel. It has a free gym, and even a free self-laundry service if you are just coming back from several days of horseback riding. Lunch and dinner don't have many western options, but you can find plenty of options in the city. Service is also nice. All in all, we'd definitely stay here again.