When we moved to Qingdao nearly two years ago, we spent our first five weeks in an apartment suite in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Qingdao. Our three daughters loved the experience: the pool, bowling alley and attentive staff who soon knew each of our girls by name helped our time there become extra special. Over the course of our tenure in this city we continue to enjoy dining at Cafe Asia on the second floor, and recommend this hotel to any one coming to Qingdao.

The decor is now getting a bit dated, but the service of their well trained and well mannered staff, coupled with good management personel, makes the Crowne Plaza the place to meet in the Sailing City.

I stayed at the Crown Plaza on 2 business trips. It's my favorite place to stay in Qingdao mainly because of its fabulous location right in the center of town and next door to a shopping center with a great Japanese supermarket. Good rooms and service...a keeper.

Not uncomfortable, but considering the festive nature of the city, it is not the best reflection. Service is as expected, somewhat slow and occasionally misunderstood. Rooms are comfortable but dated. Beds feel like little more then plywood with a couple of sheets. Breakfast was good, but the opening time of 6:30 am is too late. Overall, I would suggest this hotel receive 3-1/2 stars out of 5.

Don't know, what the lady from New York experienced here, but she sounds somewhat paranoic. I wasn't in the bar (BTW not operated by Crown Plaza, Nevertheless, I was in the lounge, and also there, the very nice servers where wearing nice kimonos and only wanted to serve a drink and nothing else), but I took the massage service.
Yes, I had some problems with my back from carrying around my computer. Nothing sexual, only medical massage. I ordered the simple massage for 260 RMB / 45 min. The lady always tried to sell me additional Oil-Massage for 360 RMB / 45 min. Hey, you can't use litres of oil worth 100 RMB... The masseuse asked me if I want then 60 min or 90 min, but here massage was so bad and painful, I prefered to stop the torture after 30 min. Not recommendable at all and much too expensive.

For the rest, the hotel is really nice, service is ok, breakfast in the executive lounge very good. Only problem (as every where in China), english knowledge even from hotel staff only basic and sometomes difficult to make you understand or understand what they want from you.

If you are tourist and like souvenirs like shells or so, don't buy at the beach, nice shells start at 100 RMB. Close to the main railway-Station there is a building with a KFC in the groud floor. This is the department store were the average local shops. Go to the top floor, there they have a small corner with some souvenirs, but at local prices. Same nice shell at 15RBM instead of 120RMB.