KKELAMOMOTraveling to Hangzhou for Chinese New Year, I carefully selected Zhejiang Hotel, primarily drawn by its unbeatable location. It turned out to be a perfect choice for getting around – it's right at the exit of Fengqi Road Station on Metro Line 1, truly 'stepping out the door and onto the subway.' It's about a ten-minute walk to the Broken Bridge at West Lake, a short stroll to Wulin Night Market, and convenient for Kerry Centre and Hangzhou Tower. For tourists looking to efficiently explore West Lake and the city center, this location is almost flawless.
As an established hotel, the overall decor shows its age, but the housekeeping and maintenance level is reassuring. While the room facilities aren't cutting-edge, they are clean and well-kept. Even the legendary toilet, said to be worth ten thousand yuan, reflects the hotel's initial investment in hardware. As for hygiene, the cleaning staff tidied up promptly every day, paying attention to details, truly living up to its four-star standard.
However, what was supposed to be a relaxing holiday was disrupted by toilet issues. In just a few days, the toilet clogged three times. Although the engineering staff explained that its special anti-odor design makes it prone to trapping foreign objects, and previous guests had accidentally dropped things, frankly, frequent non-human-induced malfunctions greatly consumed our time and energy. With an already packed Chinese New Year itinerary, repeated calls for repair and waiting were genuinely frustrating, to the point where I considered claiming compensation or even changing hotels.
Fortunately, the hotel's service response and handling attitude ultimately saved the day. Each time we reported a problem, the engineering staff arrived within 5 minutes, which was commendable for its efficiency. After the third malfunction, I contacted the hotel through Ctrip to express my concerns. Despite being fully booked during a high-demand period, the hotel immediately moved us to an available room and proactively offered complimentary breakfast. It's worth noting that we had initially only booked partial breakfasts to allow for early sightseeing, so this compensation was both precise and thoughtful. From response speed to their sincere effort to resolve the issue, I ultimately accepted the hotel's handling, also understanding the challenges of the Chinese New Year peak season.
The hotel's dining options were an added bonus. The 'Cheers' buffet breakfast on the 12th floor lived up to its reputation, with an incredibly rich selection of dishes. Chinese and Western pastries, freshly squeezed juices, and Hangzhou-specific beancurd soup and glutinous rice balls were all available. Sitting by the window, you could even enjoy a distant view of the street, offering excellent value for money. Even more surprising, on the second floor is Tianxianglou, a century-old Hangzhou cuisine restaurant. Classic Hangzhou dishes like West Lake fish in vinegar sauce, Longjing shrimp, and Beggar's Chicken were all on offer, with authentic flavors. Being able to enjoy genuine old-fashioned tastes without traveling far is incredibly convenient for tourists.
Regarding the price, outside of holidays, at around 400+ yuan, combined with this location and amenities, it offers excellent value. However, my experience during this Chinese New Year stay was significantly affected by the toilet problem, which only represents the situation in my specific room and should not be generalized.
Overall, it was an eventful stay, with a positive outcome. If you value a prime location, convenient transportation, and reliable service, and can accept the aged decor of an established hotel, Zhejiang Hotel remains a quality choice for your trip to Hangzhou. However, if you have very high demands for the perfection of room facilities, I recommend avoiding peak season and confirming the facility status with the hotel in advance for a more secure experience.
Show more