Home Inn Xinghai Square - Dalian

This hotel was booked for me and my boyfriend by our employer for the time we spent in Dalian for training. Very nice location, close to the bus stop from where you can go to the different places in the city. On foot you can go to the nearby Xinghai square or to the beach. We didn't explore the city much, as we didn't have time for it, so I focus on the place itself. Definitely clean, the cleaning ladies came every day, changed towels, toothbrushes and room slippers. Quite big, clean bathroom with western-style toilet, we suspected there was a floor-heating system, as it was always very warm and pleasant. No problems with hot water, there was also a hair drayer available in the bathroom. The bed was big and comfortable. In the room there was also a TV, but I don't think it would be of any use for anyone, unless you are a fan of a Chinese TV programmes ;) The staff was kind and willing to help, although spoke almost no English. You will need some basic Mandarin Chinese and a phone with a dictionary. Free Wifi available. Breakfast was served every day from 8 am until something around 10 am, paid 15 RMB for a person. You pay for it at the lobby and show a coupon in the cafeteria. Very nice and big range of meals, but typically Chinese. There was bread available but sweet and soft. There were also few other types of Chinese bread, eggs, rice, many vegetables, one kind of ham, fruit, coffee, tea and milk. Cons? We had a room on the ground floor, and we had no window... So we wake up around 8 am and the room is still a pitch black. Also, sometimes it was a little noisy, I don't know whether it was a problem of the thin walls and doors or just typical for other Chinese guests to be this noisy and not care about other people in the hotel. The last bad thing about the place, the smell. When we came to our pretty nice and clean room there was very bad smell of cigarettes, which was impossible to get rid of, as there was no window in the room. We got used to it, but it was very, very unpleasant. But overall, we think very positive about this place.