Maison New Century Hotel (Xi'an Tibet Mansion)

The view was a highlight: I opened the automatic curtains to see the airport and mountains in the distance, then enjoyed it with a smoke in the morning. We were given a large room on an upper floor, and for a free stay it seemed like a good deal at a listed price of probably over 300 RMB, or over 60 SGD a night. The air conditioning took a while to cool the room, though, and the walk there was a bit of a hassle. The location can send you in circles, especially at night. We arrived at about 1:30am. The lobby looked grand, and a receptionist greeted us at the counter. It's an airline hotel where arrival crews rest. The room had a king-sized bed, complimentary bottled water, a rocking sofa that felt like I might fall off the first time I sat down, a widescreen TV, towels for the body, feet and face, toiletries, an advanced toilet, and a shower with shampoo, body wash and a ceiling rain-style head. There was an ashtray on the table, but we moved it to the bathroom because we didn't want smoke in our sleeping space. For a layover, look for the helpdesk in the airport transfer area, where there may be a lone agent, and ask about accommodation. Request breakfast too. The airport has only a few shops. The only food we found after check-in was an expensive beef noodle restaurant, plus a shop selling drinks. The hotel is about a 15-minute walk away. At night, after crossing the traffic light, turn left. My fiancee and I went right and ended up on a path to a temple, which cost us about 30 minutes. I only wish our layover had been 24 hours, since there were shops and food across the street that we could have explored. My photos don't do the hotel justice, so if you get the chance to stay here, enjoy it.