The Azure Qiantang, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hangzhou

The buffet breakfast is good, and the staff are really nice 🥂 The hotel is quite nice, though the rooms feel a bit old-fashioned. It's in a pleasant area by the river, but a little out of the way. Didi works fine.

They switch off the AC in winter and run the central heating at 28 degrees Celsius in every room, so the room was far too hot. When I complained, they suggested opening the window. Really disappointing for a five star luxury hotel.

The rooftop restaurant was a highlight, and breakfast had a great spread each morning. I also made good use of the gym, where I could keep up my routine. The staff even went out of their way to help with my protein shake, which made me feel looked after. At The Azure Qiantang, a Luxury Collection Hotel, I was upgraded to a room with a luxurious bathroom and a lovely river view to wake up to. The warm welcome carried through the whole stay. I only wish I’d had a few more days to enjoy Hangzhou and the hotel. I’m already looking forward to coming back.

Lan Ting, the Chinese restaurant, is well worth trying, and the fresh juices at breakfast were nice. The rest of the breakfast was an average spread. Staff were generally decent, though I had a couple of problems at the front desk. My room was roomy with a fantastic view, a comfortable mattress, and working AC. Check-in was fine and I got upgraded to a specialty room, but there wasn’t a coffee cup for some reason. The gym had plenty of equipment, though it’s in the basement without a view, and having a kids' area right next to it felt odd. The area around the hotel still seems underdeveloped, with not many malls or sights nearby. You can walk along the river toward Raffles City, but there was roadwork around the hotel. Also, the Starpoints for ancillary charges didn’t seem to post properly.