DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chongqing North

Starlight 68 plaza is attached to this hotel by an external lift. The mall’s main draw is its central aquarium, though compared with the Dubai Aquarium, it’s nothing special. I’d only go if you’re already in the area.

We really enjoyed Chongqing’s hot pot, it was delicious. The hotel is right in the city center, with plenty of places to eat nearby, and the staff were warm and helped us put together travel plans. Our whole family was very happy with the stay.

The friendly attitude from the staff was a bright spot, even though communication was difficult because very few seemed comfortable speaking English. We also had a bad first impression of the room: it smelled strongly of smoke. They moved us when we mentioned it, but that shouldn’t have happened in the first place, especially for Diamond members. Staff also seemed unfamiliar with Diamond status and its benefits, which points to a training gap. As a Hilton property, it met some basic standards, but recognition for loyalty members, room assignment, and language support all need work.

We stayed one night on June 19, 2024, in a room with two twin beds for two people. It was clean and had nearly everything we needed, and the staff were friendly and ready to help. The location is great too, within walking distance of Jiu Jie market and Hao Chi Jie market, both well known in Chong Qing. The pickup area needs better management in bad weather. We checked out on a rainy morning to catch an international flight, but cars had to collect guests one at a time because only one pickup space was free. Two other cars occupied the remaining spaces for at least ten minutes while waiting for someone. The front door should be kept clear for pickups and drop-offs.