Xana Hotelle (Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street Zhongxin)

Getting around was easy from Milky Way Way Hotel, about a three-minute walk from the Line 2 MRT. Didi drivers know it well, so pickups and drop-offs weren't a problem. We rode Line 2 straight to Chongqing Zoo to see the pandas. The travel agency beside the hotel counter arranged a private car for three days to Fairy Mountain, Jinfo Mountain, and the Dazu Rock Carvings at a reasonable price. The driver didn't speak English, so you'll need to research the places in advance and use WeChat for translation and communication. It was a great trip, with some preparation. I can't handle much spicy Chongqing food, so the nearby Cantonese places Xunweiji Shunde Cuisine (Jiefangbei Branch) and Cheng Yuan Ji were a welcome change. Both were excellent. Hong Kong-Yu Plaza is worth a look for budget-friendly shopping. Our room was quiet, with no road noise, and cleaned very well each day. We got a free upgrade on arrival, which was a nice surprise. The bathtub drained slowly and jammed after a bath, but that wasn't a big issue for our short stay. We also appreciated the two free bottles of mineral water and yogurts each day. Breakfast had plenty to choose from, mostly Chinese dishes. I usually had two fried eggs, milk, local mee and wanton, fruit, and tea. The location, clean rooms, and thoughtful extras made Milky Way Way Hotel very good value. I'd stay again on my next visit to Chongqing.