My Whirlwind Tour of Shanghai, Suzhou, and Beyond: Hotel Highlights
Just got back from an amazing trip through Shanghai, Suzhou, Ô Trấn, Nam Tầm, and Hangzhou! I stayed in six different hotels along the way, and overall, I was pleased with the cleanliness and central locations. Most had ratings above 9.5 on Trip.com. I'm starting with a review of my Hangzhou stays. Keep in mind, this is all based on my personal experience!
Hangzhou Hotel Reviews: Zety Hotel vs. JI Hotel
1. Zety Hotel (Hubin Xihu Longxiangqiao Subway Station Branch Hangzhou) (臻庭酒店（杭州西湖湖滨龙翔桥地铁站店）
I'm putting my favorite first! This small, 4-star hotel just opened earlier this year, and I highly recommend it for anyone visiting Hangzhou.
Price: Weekdays around 2,400,000 VND (Vietnamese Dong), weekends closer to 3,100,000 VND.
Pros:
- Exceptional Staff: The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, especially one of the male receptionists who even walked with me to my previous hotel to help carry my luggage.
- Prime Location: Only 400 meters to Hubin Yintai (a major shopping center) and 600 meters to West Lake. Tons of restaurants and shops nearby.
- Cozy Yet Spacious Rooms: The hotel is small and charming, but the standard rooms are quite large (around 26-30 square meters).
- Modern Amenities: Clean, modern facilities and even a Dyson hairdryer!
- Excellent Service: Welcome fruit, bedtime soup, and free laundry service.
- Scenic Views: There's a viewing area on the 6th floor, but I didn't get to see it because of the rain.
Cons:
- Breakfast Variety: The breakfast buffet wasn't super diverse, but it had all the basics.
- Breakfast Quality: Food was just okay.
- Noisy Staff: The staff clearing tables at breakfast were a bit loud, which was slightly annoying.
- Elevator Wait: Only two elevators, so you might have to wait during peak times.
2. JI Hotel (Hangzhou West Lake Hubin Pedestrian Street) (全季酒店(杭州西湖湖滨步行街店)
This one...not so much. I chose this hotel for my first night in Hangzhou because of its location near West Lake and because I had seen it recommended by other travelers. Even though I knew it was only a 3-star hotel, I thought it would be decent, especially considering the price I paid. However, due to the reasons below, I called Trip.com at 7 am the next morning to cancel my second night and switch to the Zety Hotel.
Price: 1,500,000 VND on weekdays, around 1,800,000 VND on weekends. I traveled during the Dragon Boat Festival weekend, so I paid 2,700,000 VND.
Pros:
- Good Location: About 600-700 meters from West Lake and Hubin Yintai. It's near the Zety Hotel, so both are conveniently located.
- Okay Staff: The staff weren't overly enthusiastic, but they were helpful when I asked questions.
- Affordable Breakfast: Breakfast was relatively cheap at 49 tệ for two people and had basic options, although not the most delicious.
Cons:
- Tiny Rooms: The Queen room with a window was shockingly small. It looked bigger in the photos, but in reality, there was barely enough space to open two small suitcases.
- Small Bed: The bed was only 1.5 meters wide, which felt cramped for two people.
- Uncomfortable Mattress: The mattress was too soft and caused back pain.
- Cleanliness and Facilities: The room didn't feel particularly clean, and the facilities were just okay.
