Crowne Plaza QINGDAO OCEAN SPRING RESORT by IHG

The hotel boasts a grand architectural design and numerous rooms, reflecting the style of an established star-rated hotel. Upon entering the room, there was a noticeable musty smell. However, the mattress was very thick and incredibly comfortable to sleep on. We ran out of tissues in the room, but the housekeeper promptly brought some when we requested them. There were no disposable bath liners for the bathtub, and they weren't available for purchase, which is an area where service could definitely be improved. Given its large scale, the hotel could consider offering childcare services similar to Club Med. A kids' play area with soft play structures, slides, and a ball pit would be a great addition, allowing parents to relax. There was no buffet available. With such a large property, inter-departmental communication seems to be an issue. The information provided by the housekeeper for the 1928 Beer Bar's dining options was incorrect. After checking out, the housekeeper asked for a good review. I provided some suggestions, but the housekeeper, 'Dabaitu' (Big White Rabbit), never replied. It feels like the service in northern China is often a 'do-it-because-my-boss-told-me-to' mentality, and any extra requests from guests are seen as an inconvenience. I really liked the breakfast buffet where many of the attendants were older, creating a very harmonious atmosphere, like being cared for by parents while away from home. The breakfast selection was extensive. There are two swimming pools, one indoor and one outdoor. Cat petting costs 19.9 for children and 29.9 for adults, with single entry and unlimited time. Feeding animals costs 10 yuan, which includes one portion of feed. **However, if you write a good review for 1 yuan, you get fewer carrots than the 10 yuan portion. The animals seemed a bit pathetic, with the little horse constantly kicking the wire fence.** There are two swimming pools, both indoor and outdoor. The buffet at the 1928 Beer Bar is more Western-style. Many people might not be used to it. We tried it, and the quality of the desserts was excellent! There's a beach right behind the hotel, with some rocks, but not too many. You can go tide pooling in the early morning and at night. It's too hot during the day due to strong sun, and there isn't much seafood to find then either. The package included access to the Haiquanwan Hot Springs, but I must mention: it was dirty. There were no tissues or disposable combs in the hair-drying area (only a few scattered combs for everyone to share). With this level of service, I won't be returning. The hotel's location is indeed a bit remote, making it suitable for self-driving. There's a Shandong University cafeteria and museum nearby, which I'd give five stars!

Traveling with my family on a road trip, I was looking for spacious rooms that weren't too expensive, considering we had a lot of luggage. I booked two rooms for two nights. The hotel has its own hot spring and a swimming pool, so you can spend a lot of time just enjoying the facilities. The only downside is that it's a bit far from the city's main attractions, but it's perfect for a relaxing getaway.

Before our arrival, Xiao Zhang from the hotel proactively called to ask about our needs. Our two room requests (adjoining rooms and a high floor) were both fulfilled. The room service was incredibly responsive, which deserves praise! There's an onsen for rainy evenings, and a beach and pool for sunny days. I heard they also have a pet park and a cat cafe (didn't get a chance to visit), so as a family-friendly hotel, the facilities are quite comprehensive. I was quite worried after seeing many negative reviews before our trip. While it's true that there are signs of age and some humidity issues, overall, it exceeded my expectations. I have two suggestions: 1. The welcome fruit could be improved. The current quality is quite average. Perhaps replace it with local specialties like Qing Shi calcium milk biscuits or shell-shaped pastries, which would offer more consistent quality. 2. There were few bed rails, and they didn't seem very sturdy. An upgrade would be appreciated.

The room is very spacious and the hotel facilities are excellent. It's close to the beach and also has an outdoor pool, making it great for families with children. Plus, the gym on the first floor is fully equipped; kids can play billiards while adults use the exercise machines.

My kids absolutely loved it! The environment is great, the service is excellent, and the rooms are spacious. It's close to the beach and has a pool. Both the sea view and mountain view rooms have their own unique charm, and it's perfect for taking photos. It's a fantastic choice if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle.

I booked two rooms, and the hotel was old and run-down with no service to speak of. There were cigarette butts in the bedroom, the TV was broken, and the carpet looked like it could grow moss. The iron bars outside the window were rusty and dilapidated. The pet park next to the pool stank, and the so-called 'beach' in the basement was just a landfill full of trash. The restaurant carpet was greasy, and the breakfast selection was very limited. The location is super remote; if you don't eat at the hotel, you have to drive several kilometers to a secluded town. I absolutely do not recommend it. All the reviews online are misleading 👎

Just checked out of the Crowne Plaza Qingdao Ocean Spring Resort, and this 3-day, 2-night 'lie-flat' vacation was truly therapeutic. We didn't have to rush to any attractions, making it perfect for families with kids or those looking for a quiet escape. The hotel has a European castle style, and the high-ceilinged lobby with a crystal chandelier immediately sets a holiday mood upon entry. We were lucky enough to get a complimentary upgrade to a sea-view room. The room itself was generously sized, but the real highlight was the large balcony. Stepping out, you're greeted by an unobstructed view of Aoshan Bay. We enjoyed watching the sunrise from bed in the morning and the sunset over the sea in the evening – simply an amazing view. While some areas of the facilities showed a bit of age, the overall cleanliness and tidiness were quite good. Downstairs, there's a beach where you can wade in the water or dig in the sand – the kids absolutely loved it. There's also an outdoor children's swimming pool, and hotel guests have unlimited access. Next to it, there's a small petting zoo, where feeding the animals easily fills up a whole day.

Overall, a 2-star experience. One star goes to the holiday atmosphere created by the lobby music and mascots upon check-in, and another star for the staff's service attitude. However, these can't overshadow the numerous drawbacks. I'm deducting one star because the facilities are run-down. Old is acceptable, but lack of maintenance is not. For example, in the bathroom, out of the three cleaning liquid bottles, the leftmost shower gel was empty, and the button on the rightmost shampoo bottle was broken. When cleaning the room before check-in, couldn't they have replaced them with new ones? Also, the showerhead is a pain. You set it to a certain angle, but as soon as you turn on the water, the force of the stream changes the angle, and instead of spraying your body, the water moves up to spray your neck, then your face, and then your hair, leaving you utterly bewildered. Another star deduction for poor hygiene. Take the outdoor pool, for instance. A few leaves are normal since there are trees nearby, but the bottom of the pool was filled with numerous dead caterpillars, curled up in balls. It wasn't just one or two; there were many. How long had it been since the water was changed for so many to accumulate? Finally, another star off for a terrible, borderline stingy experience. To save a few bucks on electricity, the old air conditioning unit was terrible at cooling. During the day, I had to set the old AC to 24℃ to feel even slightly cool. At night, the system would force the AC to 26℃ to save on electricity, but my partner and I were both woken up by the heat – it was unbearable. To avoid waking our child, we didn't call the front desk in the middle of the night and just endured it without blankets. Our child kicked off their blanket directly, but thankfully didn't wake up. Out of 5 stars, I'd give it 2, deducting 3, so it's a 2-star level.

Xiao Guo was exceptionally good; she helped us prepare children's amenities in advance, which was very thoughtful.