Ibis Hotel (Harbin Central Street Railway Station)

The hotel is not very welcoming towards foreigners. When I checked in the male staff member refused to speak to me in English and turned his back on me. On Sunday morning 5am there was a lot of noise in the passage and I couldn’t sleep again. The hotel is far from everything and the area is very dirty and smelling of urine. I don’t recommend this hotel if you want good service because you’ll regret it very much.

Staff was very kind and gladly accommodated to our late check out request. Room had a cigarette smell but was inevitable. Room was clean and cosy. Shower had cold water coming out at times but other than that pressure was good and strong. Overall a very good experience as hotel was near many eateries and a 10 minute drive away from the Main Street.

It's okay for a little bit though the rooms are very small. It's about a 15min walk to the main pedestrian st or a quick bike ride. In the streets nearby there's a bunch of outdoor BBQ restos and some shops selling water/beer.

The room appears much smaller than on the website but is adequate for solo travelling. Although water bottles was replaced daily, dirty tea cups were never removed or washed during my 4 day stay and I had to rinse them in the bathroom. The trash can was emptied every day but they do not make your bed. The shower head was broken and difficult to handle and the mattress topper was too big for the bed and kept slipping off. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The location was difficult in the sense that the hotel is situated in a very busy main road, with one way direction and few in between passes, meaning taxis must first drive quite far past the hotel before making a u-turn to turn back to drop you. The downside of using Didi's or taxi's are the rude and impatient drivers. They charged extra high fares during Christmas. We were often gridlocked in traffic, ending up walking back 2-4km to the hotel. Overall I was disappointed in the city itself. Many buildings were rundown and neglected with broken windos and peeled paint, that reminded me of a third world country. Streets were very dirty and a nearby school did not make traffic congestion any easier when commuting forth and back to the hotel. Rumours that Christmas is not so busy and a better time to be visiting Harbin, is not true. The crowds spoiled the experience at Saint Sophia Church, especially the influencers who dressed up in ridiculous outfits posing in freezing temperatures at the church staircases and corners, spoiling any photography opportunities. Stalls and shops around the Church were very expensive. I visited a few other churches like St Aleksyev and Jile Temple which was far worth the effort. The highlight of my trip was Volga Manor, Baroque Street and the Songhua Railroad Bridge. Sun Island snow sculptures were very enjoyable, easy to navigate and not congested with people. Plenty of space to walk through the park, play in the snow and take the cable car over the river. The ques are not long from the Sun Island side, but crossing over to Harbin's side, the ques were very long to get a cable car. Danny's Beer in the Baroques Street area is a must visit and offered welcoming, warm and delicious food and hospitality. It's a 4,7km hike from the Songhua River bridge and offered good food at very reasonable prices. I did not visit the Ice sculpture park or light shows because of the three hour waiting cues, too many people and slippery conditions. The Tiger park was a so-so experience and mostly annoying due to people teasing the tigers with meat strips they cannot reach; all for the sake of a photo opportunity. If you are an animal lover, rather skip the tiger Park. Lastly, a big plus was the public toilets near the Songhua River that were impressively clean.

I recently had the opportunity to stay at a hotel in Harbin, and I must say that overall, my experience was quite positive. The hotel's location was convenient. The staff members were friendly and accommodating, providing efficient service throughout my stay. The hotel's rooms were clean and well-maintained, offering a comfortable environment for relaxation. The bedding was cozy, ensuring a good night's sleep after a tiring day of exploring the city.

Nice affordable place for short stay. Ibis doesn't disappoint you in most cases