Reviews of Fly by Knight Courtyard

18 May 2012 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: It is the most clean hostel I have ever stayed at. and it's really nice and quiet. I always get good night sleep here, and all travelers are very friendly and mature. good location, close to subway, nice local hutong. great tastes in decoration and many authentic display of Chinese culture/arts. also, very happy to wake up with full breakfast. also the good coffee machine they have is a nice touch.

Disliked: nothing

18 May 2012 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: The character of the hutong was amazing and the beds were very comfortable for china. Also it was a great hostel to meet many different people. The common areas, the bathrooms and the rooms were modern and new which was really nice to see.

Disliked: No wifi in rooms, but that seems to be pretty common in most hostels. Also the breakfast was rather small and had a lack of variety.

17 May 2012 Nikky would recommend this property

Liked: The staff here were really friendly and extremely helpful. Dorms and common area were clean. no need for a kitchen as there are plenty of food shops close buy offering cheap and tasty food. Really liked that they set you up with other travellers in the hostel to go to the great wall, a section not as touristy as badaling.

Disliked: My bed was really creaky and the person sleeping above was trashing about so it kept me up, but that's hardly the hostels fault. I guess just fix the creaky bed.

16 May 2012 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: It was a very well-maintained, authentic houtong. Staying there turned my hostel experience back into positive after staying at others in China. All the guests were nice and respectful and I think that the place brought about this.

Disliked: no dislikes!

09 May 2012 Dylan would recommend this property

Liked: Amazing property in an authentic chinese hutong house. You have to walk through the hutong which is great. Beds are super soft and comfy, towels are massive and awesome, staff is friendly, breakfast is tasty, wifi is good.

Disliked: Sometimes it can take a bit of time to get to where you're going since you have to walk 5-10 minutes or so to get to the main street and more like 10-15 minutes to get to the subway, but usually it's nice walking through the hutong anyway. Can't really hang out in the evenings since the sounds travels far within the area.

08 May 2012 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: The courtyard is set in a quiet Beijing hutong and provides a uniquely beautiful home to return to after trekking across the giant city. The traditional Chinese architecture is only part of the cultural draw since the hosts have also created and encourage an appreciation for the art of Kungfu with free Kungfu lessons for those interested. One of my favorite parts of my trip to Beijing was sitting in the courtyard enjoying the cool breeze with a good book or fellow travelers. Having come from another large city in China, it was surprisingly quiet at night and the other travelers were respectful and friendly. This was encouraged by the relaxed tone set by the owners and and workers themselves. I enjoyed conversation with both the hosts and other guests and joint travel ventures were encouraged by the hostel. If they don't already know how to get where you want to go they will gladly help you figure it out. The hostel is only a 5 minute walk from the Dongsi subway station (I found this the easiest/most affordable way to get around the city) and has both Chinese and Western food restaurants available around the block. Other positively practical things included how clean the rooms were, as well as the amazing mattresses! I could not have slept better. I was also very glad femal dorms were offered for the privacy aspect. Breakfasts were good, basic and full of protein. It was nice not to have to scavenge for food every morning and were definitely an added value to the price of the stay.

Disliked: Although rather slight, the only suggestion I would have would be to remind/explain to guests upon arrival all of the services offered (or give them a list). There was a lot there that I gradually figured out during my stay. Ex: can book masssages, requesting to have your breakfast made in the morning, etc, etc, etc.

08 May 2012 Patricia would recommend this property

Liked: The house is very beautiful and it is a nice place to meet people.

Disliked: They ask to take our shoes before going into the room but the floor is not that clean. So this is not pratical.

02 May 2012 Hsiao Wei would recommend this property

Liked: This place is beyond excellent!! Location is perfect for us, 10 to 15 min distance to most of sites. Spotless room, and they have so many bathrooms to share (and clean!!!!), I never have to wait to shower again! Both their room and common hall are so stylish, it makes me feel like I was staying in a luxury Chinese house. A perfect soft bed also add to the value, and to wake up with freshly cooked breakfast, only to find out that it's also included. I can not imagine a better place! Book here, the staff will surprise you with their service!!

Disliked: Hsiao Wei left no negative feedback.

01 May 2012 Yuntung would recommend this property

Liked: First impression is beautiful house. really beautiful, nice, and very stylish. and then I see it's very clean as well as friendly. In fact I am surprised to see such a good quality hostel in China. They also have the best beds and common area that I have stayed in. It is not a typical party hostel and all other travelers are very mature and nice to talk to. it has a very easy going vibe. I love it, and I recommend everyone to book early, because they are always full.

Disliked: I originally booked for the hostel for just one night, and hope to stay longer, but when I extended I found out that they were full so I can only extended 2 nights, and moved to a different hostel nearby. I wish that they have more beds for travelers who like to experience first then decide.

26 April 2012

Liked: Having really easy subway access Being in a Hutong was really interesting and there were lots of food options to eat the way the locals eat (although be warned that the Beijingers eat a lot of greasy food) There is a supermarket store with lots of local AND international items close by

Disliked: No shoes in the room - this would be easier if the bathroom floors weren't always wet! The showers are in the bathroom (not in an enclosed part of the bathroom) so the floors to the toilet and sink are almost always wet. They refused to provide an extra towel to dry these areas. Plus "no shoes" is hard when it's COLD in the rooms. All the noise! A lot of the comments about this hostel talked about it being quiet, but when I was there, it was only quiet until about 9 PM and then it was really noisy 9 PM - 2 AM on 3 of the 5 nights I was there. A lot of the staff did NOT speak good English. No one seemed to be able to help with bus routes so I often had 30 minute walks to get back to the hostel or back to the subway when I ended up in places not near the subway (such as Forbidden City exit)

22 April 2012 Jing would recommend this property

Liked: Comfy bed, nice staff!

Disliked: Should get a T V in the room

19 April 2012 Ada would recommend this property

Liked: Great vibe, friendly and very helpful staff.

Disliked: None

18 April 2012 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: The morning after booking this hostel I had a friendly and personal email from Daniel, the owner. This was reassuring. Throughout my stay Daniel and his staff were friendly, helpful and professional. Fly by Knight is the perfect balance between the special atmosphere of a more up-market hutong-style hotel but with the friendliness and informality of a hostel. This suited me very well and I'm sure would suit others. It's a beautiful small, traditional courtyard property with character and atmosphere. As good as I'd hoped in every respect. It was reassuring that the reviews I read did indeed describe well the very good experience of staying at this place.

Disliked: The room was smallish with not much room for hanging clothes, but this is to be expected from such a traditional property. There is also a rather public feel because all the rooms face into the courtyard, but again this is part of the hutong experience (but perhaps not the place for a romantic hide-away!). It made me think of what traditional life was like living this way!

16 April 2012 Ade Ary would recommend this property

Liked: It's really clean.

Disliked: I was told by Garret that if we want to shower, we could use the shower inside, although, it is a bit weird as the shower and the toilet are in the same small area with glass partition separating them from the washbasin and the mirror. Moreover, there was no hot water from the shower outside. So, we used the one inside. But, on our last night, there was this guest (new roommate) complaining about how the tissues were all wet because we used the inside shower. I was gone when she complained but my cousin was there. And Garret just turned off the heater of the shower inside. It became very inconvenient for us as we need the hot water to shower. And, no one in the hostel had the courtesy to inform us about it. That is why we left really early in the morning as we felt uncomfortable with the situation.

15 April 2012 Kristy would recommend this property

Liked: Its charm of its historic Chinese architecture and style.

Disliked: Nothing to complain about except that it is not easy to find the first time visiting at night due to the lack of street lighting in the area.

13 April 2012 Keith would recommend this property

Liked: Although I have stayed in hostels all over the world, this is my first experience of hostels in China and I can't praise this place too highly. The six-unit dormitory was spotlessly clean with its own en-suite shower and toilet facility. The linen was as crisp and as clean as I have had anywhere and the staff are quite simply outstanding. This has really set the bar for the other hostels I will be staying in on this trip. I believe I have quite possibly already stayed at the best . . .

Disliked: No negative comments at all.

09 April 2012 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: The staff was very helpfull and kind!

Disliked: Customer left no negative feedback.

08 April 2012 PRAPHAT would recommend this property

Liked: the great to stay here with helpful staff. and environment quite good with unique place. another services are good

Disliked: quite far from the subway. i walked along with tried i throught this is a quite bad point for this hope more than 15 mins to arrive

07 April 2012 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: This is a wonderful place to stay. The siheyuan (old Chinese house) is beautiful and the surrounding hutongs are a great insight into life in Beijing. The staff are the most patient and helpful hotel staff I have ever come across and they even anticipated our needs (eg. they gave us a free mobikle phone to use during our stay which made a HUGE difference). The rooms are very clean and the bed is more comfortable than my bed at home. One of the best hotels I have stayed at

Disliked: I hate to say anything bad but the bathroom can be a bit whiffy because it is in an old hutong with old plumbing. But if you make sure you plug up the basin and bath sinks and close the toilet lid it is not a problem.

02 April 2012 Mark would recommend this property

Liked: Everything. As soon as you walk in you're a friend. The hutong location is amazing, real Chinese life happening around you. Rooms are clean and spacious. How much do I write, it was just a pleasure to stay there.

Disliked: Nothing

18 March 2012 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: I picked this hostel because of its rating and introduction, and I am happy about my choice. I can not imagine a better hostel in Beijing, or in CHINA. it is easy to find, staff are friendly, and really, really clean rooms. I want to bring their comforter home because it's the MOST comfortable one I have ever seen. the free breakfast definitely added their value, I am glad to have some real breakfast in Beijing. and oh my god their coffee, I am so glad to have good coffee again. I can not wait to go back.

Disliked: Customer left no negative feedback.

14 March 2012 Anna would recommend this property

Liked: The staff were a great help, and the communal area, especially at the free breakfast was a great spot for catching tips from other travellers. The hostel also has an old world charm.

Disliked: Just a warning to other travellers, it is hard to find but we had organised a pick up through the hostel from the airport so the taxi driver dropped us at the right spot. Once you find it once you should be okay.

09 March 2012 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: This place is so clean! I've never seen a hostel so clean as this before. located just a short walk from the subway this is an authentic courtyard in a traditional hutong neighborhood - great setting for their FREE kung fu classes. really comfortable beds and quiet neighborhood make for a great nights sleep. 24/7 hot water is a plus. also free breakfast in the morning is a great way to start the day. Cannot say enough about this place

Disliked: Customer left no negative feedback.

06 March 2012 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Great traditional courtyard in great location at the center of Beijing, with lots of character. Dorm room was nice and warm at night to sleep, and the beds are so soft and comfortable! Super clean as well. The breakfast is included and is very filling. The staff are so friendly and will help you with anything, I tell all my friends about this place!

Disliked: Nothing

18 February 2012 Tony would recommend this property

Liked: Great central location 5 minutes from Dongsi subway station. Traditional hutong courtyard house with character. A roof to dry clothes in the winter sunshine! Unusually good cooked breakfast and proper coffee included.

Disliked: Very cold rooms, everyone wearing coats even in the only public space (breakfast room). There are radiators but they were not in use; a tiny electric heater didn't cut it when it was -10℃ outside and bedroom doors open to the outside with 1cm gaps in the door.