Orange Hotel (Dalian Zhongshan Square, Renmin Road)

I stayed in an AirBnb apartment and had an awesome experience.

The location made the price reasonable: the subway is about a five-minute walk away, there’s a Lawson behind the hotel, and McDonald's and Yoshinoya are across the street. Tiantian Fishing Port, known for its seafood restaurants, is nearby too. On the second floor there’s a Japanese restaurant called "Oedo". My room was comfortable but not very spacious, and it had no view. It cost 420 RMB per night without breakfast, which seemed reasonable for the area. Check-in, though, took a long time. There were plenty of staff, but the process felt disorganized and they were unfriendly. It really felt like I was in China. I was put on the 3rd floor.

The bamboo throughout the hotel gives it a lovely, calming feel, and there’s a gym open around the clock. What really made our stay, though, was the breakfast server. She greeted us warmly every morning and checked if we needed anything else. Her smile and attentiveness made us feel at home. Highly recommend it.

Friendliness at the front desk seems to depend on which staff member you get. They don’t seem fully trained to treat customers warmly and consistently.