Which hotel style will you choose?---a 2 star 100 year old ex-City bank of NY or brand new 5 star hotel?I took a trip to Shanghai and checked in an 100 year old hotel on the bund, it was former city bank of New York, the elevator is over 80 years old...made some strange noise, I saw a security guard in Japanese train uniform, he escorted us on the second floor, the floors are all wooden, The hotel is pretty... | |
The older and the cheaper, the better. I have several reasons:
1. A brand new 5 star hotel is totally uninteresting. They look virtually the same every in the world, and if I'm travelling, I want to have a feeling of where I am. i want the looks of China, not the neutral look of a luxury hotel. I want the smells of China, not the smell of newly-built house. I want the sounds of China, not the silence and antiseptic sounds of a luxury hotel. I want the true people of China, not the international and business-minded élite.
2. The rich tourists and greedy businessmen you meet in a 5 star hotel are totally uninteresting - I want to meet the common man of China when I travel. And occasionally the curious travellers seeking the marrow of China, not just seeking leisure and luxury.
3. It's cheaper - I could use my money much better than wasting it on useless luxury.
4. I don't want to stimulate the senseless destruction of old Chinese buildings and the replacement with modern, unhistorical tourist complexes and impersonal luxury edifices. My country did the same mistake, destroying great parts of the historical buildings around 30-40 years ago, and now most people regret that strongly, although too late.
5. I don't want to feed the abundantly rich owners of the luxury hotels. Using a smaller and cheaper hotel is also much more likely to benefit the local people of the place, maybe the local minorities, not just the Rich Men of Big Business.
That said, coming from a cold country, I still often choose to pay for air condition when travelling in hot summer in China. Sleeplessness doesn't add to the pleasures.
I won't personally check into a 2 star 100 years old hotel.
First of all, it's dangerous, there might be unseen structural damage to the building or other problems.
Secondly, i believe a old hotel isn't the only place we can receive history from, there are plenty other spots to "fell" the old days.
I see hotel as a place to rest, to prepare for whatever i am planning to do the next day.
A bedroom that was lived by countless guests and a bed that's been slept on countless times doesn't interest me that much.
With that being said, i'd rather choose a more comfortable five star hotel than a 2 star 100 year old hotel.
I'm greedy... can I have both??? So far it is fun to experience different things, but the 2 star 100 years old hotel should be clean, air-conditioned and not haunted!!! I once stayed in another more than 100 years old hotel near Nanjing Road (YMCA?) I forget the name now, a hotel where 魯迅 stayed.
Image....橫眉冷對千夫指, ....
I envy you! I love old hotels. Back in the days, the Peace Hotel in Shanghai had dorms on the second floor for a few RMBs. High ceilings, old wooden floors and walls, a feeling of a glorious time gone by. The girls dorm had long tall drapes around each bed, like in harems. It was cool and incredible. In Canada, there is a chain of old Canadian Pacific Hotels, some of which are over 100 years old, they look like old English castles...I love staying there...well, I used to when I was a dandy...
Now I'm broke, so I couch surf!
Personally, I would pick the 2 start 100 year old hotel...I like the antique feel of things...it defines China...I'm so sick of those 5 start new hotels...the result of globalisation pfft
I went to stay in siheyuan in beijing in the old hutong...a totally different feel....i don't care how expensive or how new a hotel is..they will never outweigh the traditional and historically rich relics of a chinese city
Wow..I envy you. I wanna try that hotel next time. I have to try Shanghai Xiaolongbao, too.
BTW, tonight there were strong earthquake twice in Japan and President Hu must felt it was fearful. I wonder if his comment about this experience would be released in China.
I agree with you, 夏子。There are brand new 5 star hotels everywhere, but not a 100-year-old. What you can experience living in an old building is sure a lot more than in a modern one.:)
I prefer a brand new hotel. It doesn't have to be 5 star. Even 3 star is good enough for me!
As long as the building is in good condition and my door lock isn't malfunction, then it is ok.
However, I do prefer the a brand new 5 star hotel, it gives me a safe feeling!
Depends
Business trip - 5star
Leisure travel - 100yrs antique hotel
