Hilton Fuzhou

The staff were nice, and the hotel is well located, with a park by the river just a few minutes’ walk away. From the higher floors there’s a very beautiful view, and breakfast had good food and plenty of variety. But the rooms, sheets, and bathroom weren’t clean, and there were bad smells in the room and on the way to it. For me, that cleanliness just wasn’t good enough for a five-star hotel.

The 40th-floor sky lobby is a rare feature for a Hilton. The staff were welcoming and well trained, and the property is above the average Hilton in the country.

The hotel looks elegant, with upscale decor and great amenities, but there was a noticeable cigarette smell in the hallways. At the swimming club, I was told I had to wear a swim cap. I asked to have it charged to my room, then staff said the payment system was down and I needed to pay right away. I didn’t have my phone with me, so I insisted they bill it to the room. Later, while I was asleep because of jet lag, I was woken abruptly by a call asking me to sign for the cap purchase. Disappointing to have that happen at a five-star hotel.

The rooms are quiet, spacious, comfortable, and decently equipped, with two bottles of still water supplied each day. The bathroom tap water isn’t drinkable. The hotel is centrally located in Fuzhou, with its lobby on the 40th floor and breakfast served on the 39th. Breakfast is in a large restaurant with a good range of local and Western food, though plain cold water was sorely missing. Also, don’t be surprised if Christmas carols are blaring from the speakers at any time of year.