InterContinental Qingdao Review 2026: Pool & Ocean View Rooms
Discover affordable luxury at the InterContinental Qingdao! Explore our 2026 review featuring its massive 82-foot pool, 24/7 gym, and stunning ocean views.
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Discover affordable luxury at the InterContinental Qingdao! Explore our 2026 review featuring its massive 82-foot pool, 24/7 gym, and stunning ocean views.
One of the best perks of traveling in China is scoring luxury hotel stays
at incredibly affordable prices.
On my recent trip to Qingdao, I booked the 5-star InterContinental,
complete with breakfast,
for just around $120 a night.
While the pristine rooms and the dazzling views of the Olympic Sailing Center light show were fantastic,
it was the top-notch amenities like the swimming pool
that truly elevated my relaxing getaway.
If you're planning a stay, here is a complete guide to the
gym, pool, and facilities at the InterContinental Qingdao.
1️⃣ Rooms & Surroundings
2️⃣ Room Rates
3️⃣ Fitness Center (Gym)
4️⃣ Swimming Pool
During our stay at the InterContinental Qingdao, we booked a
Classic Ocean View Room.
We had originally booked a standard Classic Room,
but we were generously given a free upgrade to an Ocean View room at check-in.
It definitely felt like true 5-star hospitality—
even though we didn't book directly through their official website,
they still offered us a complimentary room upgrade.
Thanks to the upgrade, throwing open the curtains revealed
a sweeping, unobstructed view of the Olympic Sailing Center's evening light show.
The InterContinental Qingdao is actually
directly connected to the Olympic Sailing Center,
making it incredibly easy to pop out for a breezy evening stroll right from the hotel.
#QingdaoHotel #WhereToStayQingdao
The room rates at the InterContinental Qingdao are
significantly cheaper than InterContinental properties in other global cities,
making it a fantastic value.
However, prices can vary slightly depending on the booking platform.
If you want to maximize your budget, it pays to find the lowest price.
Here is a quick price comparison across major booking sites:
Agoda | Trip.com | Booking.com |
~$127 | ~$122 | ~$127 |
Checking prices for a May weekend in 2026, Trip.com offered the lowest rate.
Since the cheapest platform fluctuates depending on your specific dates,
I highly recommend plugging your travel dates into at least 2-3 sites
to compare prices before booking.
The main wellness facilities at the InterContinental Qingdao,
including the spa, swimming pool, and gym, are all located on the 2nd floor.
🏋🏻 Gym Hours
⏱️ 24/7
The sign says 0:00 - 24:00,
so it's open around the clock.
When we visited at 8:00 AM, the doors were wide open
and a few guests were already getting their morning workout in.
There's an impressive array of cardio equipment,
including treadmills, rowing machines, stationary bikes, and steppers.
The strength training section is equally well-stocked,
and the entire facility is impeccably clean and maintained.
Because we went early, there were only 2 or 3 other people,
making it feel almost like a private gym!
In one corner, they provide yoga mats and blocks,
perfect for a pre- or post-workout stretching session.
#InterContinentalQingdao #LuxuryTravel
🏊🏻♂️ Pool Hours
⏱️ 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Unlike the gym, the pool isn't open 24 hours,
likely due to water quality maintenance and safety concerns late at night.
However, the generous operating hours from early morning to late evening give you plenty of time to swim.
A unique and incredibly convenient feature of the InterContinental Qingdao's pool is that
they sell swimwear and swimming accessories right at the desk.
They stock various brands of swimsuits,
along with floaties, anti-fog spray, swim caps, water guns, and goggles.
The prices are actually quite reasonable, so if you forgot to pack your swimsuit
but still want to take a dip, you can easily buy one here!
The locker room conditions were fantastic.
It was completely empty when I went in, so I managed to snap a few photos.
The hairdryers work great,
and they provide complimentary body lotion, cotton swabs, and combs.
Inside the lockers, you'll find
rubber slippers to wear around the pool area.
The provided towels are large, plush bath sheets,
making it super cozy to dry off after stepping out of the water.
There are several spacious shower booths,
fully stocked with shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
I personally preferred to head back to my room to shower,
so I didn't end up using these, but they looked pristine.
The locker room also features a thermal warming room (sauna),
which is quite roomy and can comfortably fit about 5 people.
The pool at the InterContinental Qingdao is easily
one of the largest indoor hotel pools I've ever visited.
The lanes are about 82 feet (25 meters) long,
and the maximum depth is nearly 5 feet (1.5 meters).
The three center lanes are roped off for lap swimming,
while the spacious areas on either side are open for casual splashing and playing.
Since I had the entire pool to myself,
I alternated between swimming laps and just relaxing on the sides.
There's also a fantastic relaxation area with sunbeds.
Even though the pool is on the 2nd floor,
the expansive windows let in gorgeous natural light, making it highly photogenic.
There's even an open shower right by the poolside,
so you can quickly rinse off the chlorinated water without having to walk back to the locker room.
Overall, this pool complex genuinely lacks nothing—it's a perfect 10/10.
#InterContinentalQingdaoPool
Beyond the pool and gym,
the 2nd floor of the InterContinental Qingdao
also houses a few boutique clothing shops.
If you're enjoying a lazy hotel day,
it's definitely worth taking a leisurely stroll to browse!
The lowest weekend accommodation rate for the InterContinental Qingdao in May was ~$105 on Trip.com. Agoda was ~$109, and Booking.com was ~$109. The site with the lowest price may vary depending on the dates, so we recommend comparing prices on 2-3 different sites.
The gym, located on the 2nd floor of the InterContinental Qingdao, operates 24 hours a day. It is equipped with a variety of cardio machines such as treadmills, rowing machines, and bicycles, as well as strength training equipment. Yoga mats and yoga blocks are also available.
Yes, the InterContinental Qingdao's swimming pool sells a variety of swimming gear at reasonable prices, including swimwear, tubes, anti-fog spray, swimming caps, water guns, and goggles. Therefore, even if you haven't brought your own swimwear, you can purchase it on-site and use the pool.
The swimming lanes at the InterContinental Qingdao appear to be 25m long, and the deepest part of the pool is 1.5m. There are 3 lanes marked in the center, and the side areas can be used without separate lane divisions.
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