Soviva
Hi Rachael,
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I'd rank the Soviva resort as one of the worst in PEK (even the locals know of its reputation). I stayed there because it was cheap....obviously for a reason. The place smells of drains and, all in all, it's dirty. The worst part is the food and I wouldn't dare eat there - we saw cockroaches in the dining area, kitchen and bar. The rooms are ok but could do with a bit of decorating. The rooms facing the main road are really noisy. It's ok as a 'base' to sleep but nothing more. It's practically empty at winter time (it's not as popular as some other hotels further down toward the marina) which means that it's poorly staffed. I gather that you know the area well so it may be, like me, that you're just needing a basic hotel and this really is a no-frills option. Houria Palace is also quite cheap and basic, but cleaner and more pleasant all round. The best I've ever stayed in is the El Mouradi Palace (a good choice if you want to eat in - but it's not cheap) and the Marhaba Palace. If you stick with the Soviva eat out at all times - Cafe Terrasse across the road does lovely coffee, cakes and snacks.
Hope that helps!
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