Last week I traveled to Singapore though Beijing. Due to inclement weather, my first flight was delayed over six hours, and I arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) after 1 a.m., long after my connecting flight left. The next possible flight was 3 p.m. the following day, so I followed the line of disgruntled and exhausted travelers to the complimentary hotel provided by the airline. By 8 a.m. I was on a bus back to the airport. The fact that I chose to arrive at the airport seven hours before my flight should give you an indication of the type of hotel I checked into.

I spent a wonderful three days in Singapore followed by three days in Hong Kong. As I prepared for my return, we learned of a typhoon headed towards Hong Kong. I knew immediately that my schedule would again be delayed and another night in Beijing was in my future.  But this time, it would be different.

As the airline representative regretfully broke the news to me that the next flight home would not depart for 24 hours, I couldn’t help but smile. I took my new ticket and headed to Doorway Five in Terminal Three. There, a pink bus was waiting to take me to the Langham Place Beijing Capital Airport.

Having visited the Langham Place Hong Kong during my trip, I heard of the property and was eager to see it for myself. Walking into the hotel, it is hard to imagine you are within walking distance of the airport. The lobby exudes the contemporary feel of a new downtown hotel, complete with an art gallery featuring works by local artists. The warm welcome from Langham representatives, even without having a reservation, reconfirmed that I made the right decision.

My spacious room included Langham’s signature Dream Big bed and a bathroom with large bathtub and separate rain shower. I connected to complimentary WiFi and spread my work over the large desk. However, I was continually distracted by my view of the lakeside park and walking path. If only I hadn’t checked my sneakers!

Sadly, I didn’t try the 24-hour cardio studio, taste the cuisine at Portal or Ming Court or check out the DJ at Fuel. I was more than happy for a quiet stay starting with tea upon arrival at Club L, followed by in-room dining and a movie on the large television.

As our Global Traveler readers know all too well, we cannot always control where our journeys take us. But with a little planning, we can turn lemons into lemonade. In this case, pink lemonade! I highly recommend a visit to the Langham Place at the Beijing Airport.   It will not disappoint.

— Danielle Hudena, director of sales and marketing