The hotels they actually stayed in.
Ten recorded stays from Beijing to Hong Kong, with the details and the videos behind them.
Travelshorts’ 2024 trip · Actual overnight stays · Historical costs and personal observations. About the sources.
All 10 overnight stays
Location: Beijing
The Universal Studios Grand Hotel
Actually stayed · 2 nights · Day 1 · Day 2
Room recorded: Hollywood Boulevard View Room.
Travelshorts’ account: Booked 2 nights at the end of March for £390 via Trip.com; 7th floor room has an amazing direct view straight into Universal Studios Beijing. Staying at the hotel allows entrance 1 hour before general park opening, with a direct view of Hollywood Boulevard from the room. Comfortable room with long desk area, though note it only had one chair for dining.
Observed during this stay: Desk, Early theme park entrance, Facial recognition integration, Large TV, Long desk, Room service, Theme park view, Two double beds. These are historical observations, not a current amenities guarantee.
Video evidence (3)
- CHINA TRAVEL DAY - UK To Beijing with British Airways · 32:34Caption timestamp checked
and the total cost for two nights in the end of March, so a Sunday night and a Monday night, came to £390.
- UNIVERSAL STUDIOS BEIJING - Full day at this Amazing Theme Park in China · 0:35Caption timestamp checked
And this is the view out of our bedroom window here at the hotel, straight down Hollywood Boulevard and into the theme park.
- Universal Studios Beijing - Our First Day in China · 45:21Caption timestamp checked
Got a really big desk area, but there's only one chair. An extra chair would have been nice, I think.
Location: Beijing
Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing Hotel
Actually stayed · 2 nights · Day 3 · Day 4
Room recorded: Club Room.
Travelshorts’ account: Convenient hotel with Club Lounge breakfast before early morning tours. Paid extra for a room on the 16th floor with a view overlooking the Forbidden City.
Observed during this stay: Club Lounge, Club Lounge access, Floor 16 view. These are historical observations, not a current amenities guarantee.
Video evidence (2)
- THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA is NOT what we expected (BEST Day Trip from Beijing)Video description
having breakfast at the Club Lounge at our hotel, the Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing Hotel
- BEIJING CHINA is NOT what we expected - Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square · 7:46Caption timestamp checked
I said, this is floor 16, and I paid extra for a forbidden City view.
Location: Xi'an
Holiday Inn Express Xi'an Bell Tower
Actually stayed · 2 nights · Day 5 · Day 6
Room recorded: Family Room.
Travelshorts’ account: Conveniently located within a short walk of the Bell Tower and Muslim Street. Great central location a few minutes walk from Xi'an Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter; family room has two double beds plus sofa and handy USB ports in every socket. Had breakfast at the hotel early before taking a DiDi taxi to the Terracotta Army.
Observed during this stay: Breakfast, Safe, Shower, Sofa, Tea making facilities, Two double beds, USB wall sockets. These are historical observations, not a current amenities guarantee.
Video evidence (3)
- XIAN CHINA STREET FOOD is NOT What We Expected (The Best Chinese Street Food in China?) · 0:32Caption timestamp checked
All we've got to do is turn left out of the hotel, head towards the bell tower,
- Riding the WORLDS FASTEST Bullet Train from Beijing to Xian in China · 34:30Caption timestamp checked
Then this is a family room, so we've got two double beds plus a sofa. There's Matthew and Holly relaxing after our long train journey to come here.
- TERRACOTTA WARRIORS In XI'AN is it the BEST Attraction in CHINA?Video description
We start the day very early, have breakfast at our hotel the Holiday Inn Express Xian Bell Tower then get a taxi (DiDi) from outside to take us to the Terracotta Warriors.
Location: Shanghai
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund
Actually stayed · 1 night · Day 8
Travelshorts’ account: Arrived at the Waldorf Astoria on the Bund via taxi from the railway station. Stunning luxury hotel located directly on the Bund with views across to Pudong.
Observed during this stay: River view room, Swimming pool. These are historical observations, not a current amenities guarantee.
Video evidence (2)
- CHINA HIGH SPEED SLEEPER TRAIN in a PRIVATE ROOM from Xi'an to ShanghaiVideo description
When we finally arrived into Shanghai we got a taxi to our hotel, the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund.
- FIRST TIME in SHANGHAI CHINA - NOT what we Expected - Yu Gardens, Shanghai Tower, the BundVideo description
After a quick taxi ride to our luxurious hotel, the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, we were greeted with breathtaking views of the famous Pudong Skyline.
Location: Shanghai
Toy Story Hotel
Actually stayed · 2 nights · Day 9 · Day 10
Travelshorts’ account: Fun, heavily themed Disney hotel with convenient complimentary shuttle bus running directly to Disneytown and park entrance. Great perk of getting one hour early theme park access, though shuttle bus queue in the morning was 35 minutes.
Observed during this stay: Disneyland shuttle bus, Food court, Sunnyside Cafe, Themed elevators, courtesy shuttle bus to Shanghai Disneyland, early park entry. These are historical observations, not a current amenities guarantee.
Video evidence (2)
- SHANGHAI DISNEYLAND - Our FIRST VISIT to this DISNEY THEME PARK in CHINAVideo description
where we check in to our new hotel for two nights the Disney Toy Story Hotel at Shanghai Disneyland. We then get the shuttle bus to Disneytown and enter the Shanghai Disneyland Theme Park.
- The BEST DAY at SHANGHAI DISNEYLAND | We Rode TRON 4 TIMES! · 0:26Caption timestamp checked
We've just spent the night at Toy Story Hotel, which is right behind me there.
Location: Chengdu
Crowne Plaza Chengdu City Centre
Actually stayed · 3 nights · Day 11 · Day 12 · Day 13
Room recorded: Twin Room with rollaway bed added.
Travelshorts’ account: Base room rate was very cheap (£60 a night), but charged an additional 398 RMB per night for an extra rollaway bed for Holly, which almost doubled the room cost.
Observed during this stay: Plaza Cafe restaurant, executive lounge, swimming pool. These are historical observations, not a current amenities guarantee.
Video evidence (3)
- CHINA TRAVEL DAY - SHANGHAI TO CHENGDU by MAGLEV and FLYING China Southern Airlines · 38:00Caption timestamp checked
So for three nights I'm paying 1600 rmb for the, for the hotel room.
- We visited the CHENGDU PANDA BASE the BEST place to see PANDAS in CHINA · 0:25Caption timestamp checked
After getting up at 6:00 AM this morning, having breakfast at the hotel,
- LESHAN GIANT BUDDHA in CHINA - The Worlds LARGEST Buddha · 60:07Caption timestamp checked
We're back at the hotel, so I think we're going to end this video for tonight here.
Location: Guilin
Holiday Inn Express Guilin City Centre
Actually stayed · 1 night · Day 14
Room recorded: Standard Room.
Travelshorts’ account: Good convenient overnight base before departing early the next morning for the Li River cruise to Yangshuo.
Video evidence (1)
- CHINA HIGH SPEED BUSINESS CLASS TRAIN From Chengdu to Guilin · 31:29Caption timestamp checked
The hotel we're going to be staying in today is the Holiday Inn Express, Guilin City Centre.
Location: Yangshuo
Yangshuo Mountain Retreat
Actually stayed · 2 nights · Day 15 · Day 16
Room recorded: River view room with balcony.
Travelshorts’ account: Spectacular tranquil location by the river, much more peaceful than the big cities, and great value at £144 for two nights.
Observed during this stay: balcony, gardens, riverside restaurant. These are historical observations, not a current amenities guarantee.
Video evidence (2)
- CHINA'S BEST RIVER CRUISE Li River Cruise From Guilin To Yangshuo on a 4 STAR BOAT · 44:54Caption timestamp checked
Total cost for two nights came to, I think, £144,
- YANGSHUO in CHINA is so BEAUTIFUL but THINGS GO VERY WRONG! · 0:55Caption timestamp checked
We've come down for our breakfast. We're sitting here on a table overlooking the river and
Location: Hong Kong
The Salisbury - YMCA of Hong Kong
Actually stayed · 1 night · Day 17
Room recorded: Harbour View King Suite.
Travelshorts’ account: Prime location in Tsim Sha Tsui next to The Peninsula, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering one of the best views of the Victoria Harbour skyline.
Observed during this stay: living room, separate bedroom, two bathrooms. These are historical observations, not a current amenities guarantee.
Video evidence (1)
- Riding the WORLDS FASTEST Bullet Train from Guilin to Hong Kong in CHINAVideo description
Tonight we were staying at The Salisbury - YMCA Hong Kong, the hotel is in a perfect location in Tsim Sha Tsui next to the Peninsula with perfect views over Victoria harbour and the Hong Kong Skyline. Our room was a Harbour View King Suite so we had two rooms and a huge floor to ceiling window to admire the view.
Location: Hong Kong
Disney's Explorers Lodge
Actually stayed · 3 nights · Day 18 · Day 19 · Day 20
Room recorded: Standard Two Queen Room.
Travelshorts’ account: Lovely 4-star Disney resort with adventurous explorer theme and direct resort shuttle access to Disneyland park.
Observed during this stay: courtesy shuttle bus to Disneyland park, outdoor swimming pool, resort courtesy shuttle bus, swimming pool, themed hotel lobby. These are historical observations, not a current amenities guarantee.
Video evidence (3)
- HONG KONG DISNEYLAND Didn't Go As Planned · 0:32Caption timestamp checked
So to get to the park, we just got the courtesy shuttle bus from our hotel, which is Disney's Explorers Lodge.
- HONG KONG DISNEYLAND - THE BEST DAY EVER!Video description
After leaving our hotel, Disney's Explorers Lodge Hotel, we get the shuttle bus to Hong Kong Disneyland.
- FIRST DAY IN HONG KONG SURPRISED US - First Impressions of HONG KONG · 41:43Caption timestamp checked
Okay, we've just checked into the Hong Kong Disneyland Explorers Lodge Hotel.
Put each stay in context
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