When we arrived at the hotel around 3pm, we were informed that the rooms were not available. However, the check in time was at 2 PM. They informed us that we needed to wait another two hours possibly, which would’ve made our check in time at 5 PM. That was the first stumbling block, coupling on top of that the receptionist at the front desk was not very helpful or professional in apologizing or suggesting a room upgrade at a discount price. It almost seems as if it was our fault for arriving at the hotel and booking them, and not as a proper guest of the hotel.
For a five-star facility, I was expecting great customer service and professionalism. Unfortunately some of these for fell short, I do not know if this is the result of Hangzhou culture, or the greater demographic of China, I was expecting the service to not be subpar, but of very high standards. Perhaps, it is because I am bilingual in Chinese and English, that they treated me as if I was from China, which I’m not as I showed them my passport abroad. In any case, as a frequent traveler, and as a gold member of hotels.com, this stay was not to my understanding of our five-star hotel should be run.
The room also had a stale and smoking smell, even though we requested a non-smoking room. The stay was barely satisfactory.