Arrival/Check-In: In no traffic, Hangzhou is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Shanghai or about 45 minutes on the high-speed train. Following my flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai, I arrived late in the evening to Hangzhou and made my way to the lobby of the Zheijiang Grand Hotel, located on the building’s 25th floor. Check-in was quick, and I was in my room within minutes.

Guest Quarters: My spacious room on the 14th floor was perfect for my long stay in Hangzhou. The king-sized bed featured a wonderfully soft comforter and a variety of pillows. Outlets were easily accessible throughout the room, including an American outlet at the desk — a feature I greatly appreciate while traveling abroad. My room utilized a keycard operating system for the lights. While I don’t prefer this style of lighting, I found this property’s system easy to operate.

A section of the bathroom mirror was heated, preventing steam from the shower fogging up the mirror. This feature came to good use when I was getting ready for the day. Instead of individual-sized shower amenities, the hotel uses large containers of shampoo and shower gel. I value the environmentally conscious practice, but unfortunately the products had an overpoweringly strong floral fragrance. I wondered if the same products were in all guestrooms.

Since I stayed multiple nights, the cleaning attendant began to learn my habits, remembering the side of the bed I slept on and which pillows I used. They also noticed my eyeglasses and hair accessories in the bathroom — a hair tie, bobby pin kit and eyeglass wipe kit were left on my vanity one afternoon. I appreciated this personal touch.

The hotel isn’t smoke-free, and some mornings an odor of cigarettes wafted into my room when I opened the window. My room faced an adjacent building undergoing construction that started quite early in the morning; thankfully, I was already awake most mornings before hammering began.

Services/Amenities: I dined in the hotel’s fifth-floor restaurant for breakfast each morning during my stay. The expansive buffet offered a wide variety of Chinese and other cuisines. I selected more of the Western menu items, though some of the soups and noodle dishes were tempting. The hotel’s gym opens rather late at 10 a.m. A nightclub, popular with locals, is located on the third floor; and there is a lobby bar, ideal for a nightcap. The Zhejiang Grand Hotel is a short drive from Hangzhou’s West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A mall with a Starbucks is located directly across the street. Many other stores are within a brief walk of the property. Keep in mind: Most of the hotel staff speak little English, so be prepared for potential language difficulties.

The Experience: Overall I enjoyed my stay at the Zheijiang Grand Hotel. The property is close to a variety of Hangzhou’s popular landmarks but still slightly tucked away from the more crowded areas.

GT CHECKLIST

[checklist]
[item check=yes]Doorman/valet[/item]
[item check=yes]Less than 10 minutes for check-in[/item]
[item]Separate tub and shower[/item]
[item check=yes]Large vanity[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality towels[/item]
[item check=yes]Powerful, unattached hair dryer[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality bed linens[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, flat-screen television[/item]
[item check=yes]Large desk with convenient outlets[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, complimentary laptop safe[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary in-room WiFi[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary bottled water[/item]
[item check=yes]Stocked minibar[/item]
[item check=yes]Ample lighting[/item]
[item]In-room coffeemaker[/item]
[item]Iron and ironing board[/item]
[item check=yes]On-site restaurant[/item]
[item]24-hour room service[/item]
[item check=yes]24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center[/item]
[item check=yes]Turn-down service[/item]
[/checklist]

Zhejiang Grand Hotel

595 Yan’an Road, Xiacheng
Hangzhou, Zhejiang
China 310006
tel 86 564 571 8505 6666
www.zjghotel.com