Mercure on Renmin Square Xian

The Renmin Square area / complex of hotels is really quiet and still within the city walls of Xi'an. Although we had not booked breakfast a free coffee was provided to us. Breakfast at the Sofitel (for extra charge) was nice and looked like better value than the breakfast at the Grand Mercure. All in all the combination of hotels seems to bring some benefits when it comes to amenities and choice of restaurants/bars. All in all it is a solid opzion at a decent rate, but expect nothing fancy or even "Grand".

We were "upgraded" from Mercure to Grand Mercure (right next building) a day before our arrival. So we do not know how the Mercure actually looks like from inside. Checkin was rather difficult with them trying to charge us (about + 50% on the room rate) for an extra bed for our child which we had previously confirmed to be free of charge with the Mercure. The Grand Mercure seems rather antiquated and in need for modernization. For the pool you have to change building and go into the Sofitel. The staff at the pool was not welcoming at all and solely focused on policing the proper usage of bathing caps (or rather their sale at absolutely exorbitant rates). Still, when at the pool, half of the people there were not using them.In front of the hotel are a big group of taxi-touts waiting for you to overcharge you on trips to local tourist destinations. do not use them unless you know the going rates and are prepared to haggle!