Four Points by Sheraton Jiaxing

After ten years of trips to Jiaxing, mostly staying at the Double Tree, I tried this hotel because the other place was having a hard time. I was quite happy with the change and would come back. The location worked well for me as a walker. There are places to eat and shop nearby, especially the BBB mall (Jiaxing Babaiban Shopping Centre Jiaxing Babaiban Shopping Centre), with both luxury stores and more casual options. rt mart is a 15 minute walk, and Patty's or McDonalds are 7 minutes away if you want western food. The tourist areas need a taxi or didi, though you can cross the bridge to the big new park across the river. My 12th-floor corner room was spacious and modern, with a comfortable clean bed, a good desk for work, and a roomy shower with strong water pressure. The small fridge didn’t let me adjust the temperature. Being in the corner meant I was away from other guests, but also closer to the highway, so there was some noise. For the price, it still felt luxurious, like many western hotel rooms. The gym was quite nice, well equipped, and open 24 hours. It had a spa-like check-in counter, though I never saw anyone there. There was a sign-in sheet, but I wasn’t sure if guests needed to fill it out. If it was required, a drop box would have made sense. The pool was closed during my stay, so I can’t say much about it. Its position near the dining area, behind large clear windows, seemed a little odd and might feel awkward for people using it. Breakfast had lots of options, both western and Asian, and most of the food was good. It got busy when tour groups were there, but finding a seat wasn’t a major problem. I liked the over-easy eggs, hash browns, and pastries. I don’t drink coffee, but the automated machines weren’t always working. At check-in, the reception staff spoke limited English, though more than I speak Mandarin, and used a translation app a few times. They were mostly friendly, but service with a smile didn’t seem to be their strong suit. They explained the breakfast hours and other timings once I was checked in. My main frustration was that they didn’t keep the queue in order: I ended up behind a group who were together, and nobody at the desk paid attention to me until they moved.