We were a family of 5 from India -visited Hangzhou to appeciate the beauty of its lake and hilly location [ reminds one of Kashmir- but much much more sophisticated ]. Room size is good as it could accomodate an extra bed very comfotably.Location is par excellence-very neat surroundings- early morning one could watch from the 8th flr almost whole of Hangzou doing Tai-Chi exercices- coffee shop is very reasonably priced and good menu cum fast service. People coming from Shanghai and returning there are strongly adviesd to book in the air conditioned Bullet train cost around USD 8 (one way) and takes just 1.15 hrs for 200 kms journey through the villages of China-enough tourist buses available at Lake side to take you around all visiting spots

After our hotel in Shanghai, it was nice to be back in a hotel right in the middle of a bustling city. Everything you could require was within easy walking distance. For us Brits, there is the biggest Tesco hypermarket you have ever seen.
Although most of the sold goods were Chinese, they stocked just about anything you may have run out of by this stage of a long tour.
The hotel was up to the good four star standard provided by Jules Verne throughout the tour. That said, two couples in our party were initially given small rooms with low ceings and tiny windows.
Our room was a standard Holiday Inn room of reasonable size and quality.
Good food and service.

When I arrived, I requested an elite-level upgrade, and I got one to the room I was paying for. Ok, a mixup. So then the upgrade was to the Executive Level for a two-bed room, but Catch 22 as that we got none of the Executive Level (EL) benefits, just the fancier room with nicer amenities, not a square inch larger. I declined the upgrade in benefits which were to cost over $20 a night.

Several hours later, the assistant manager called me back with a reduced, but still not nominal, price for the benefit package. Only then did i realize the benefits were well worth the price, including free soft drinks in minibar, 60 Yuan cumulative allowance each day on laundry, free internet (otherwise, 40 yuan), happy hour and personal service with all arrangements and check in/out.

The benefits are really tempting at the full-price upgrade, so the reduced level was a bargain, and we were very happy. Being booked on a breakfast-included rate, we did not find the "free" breakfast at the EL room a real benefit. During the stay, we had breakfast at both the second floor dining room and the EL club room. The selection was considerably less on the EL, but still very good. The big benefit was the peace and quiet of the club room.

The upgraded room was decorated in warm medium-tone woods with mirrors and certainly the best room lighting I can remember in a hotel. The in-bed individually controlled ceiling reader lamps were effective. The bath was standard size and, like the room, very clean. The room was quiet, even with guests in neighboring rooms. Taxi service from the hotel was fairly quick, even in rush hour. The public areas were overly glitzy, a very common hotel look in China. The EL decor was notably more subdued.

On the downside were the filthy windows, which I imagine are hard to keep clean 24 floors up. But the combination of the special (energy-efficient?) window coating and the dirt made it impossible to appreciate the high-rise view.

Overall, this hotel just misses five bullets. Maybe without the mixup at check-in, clean windows and a better explanation of the EL benefits it would have been the top rating.

This hotel is as reliable as the Holiday Inn can be. The facilities are very adequate but not 5-stars (some holiday Inns in China are more high end than this one). The room is clean and of good quality, The buffet breakfast had a good selection and the location is very good. Good value for the money.