Very nice location, 5 minutes walk from Gushan Park.

Very nice location, 5 minutes walk from Gushan Park.

We had a good stay. The hotel staff were courteous. The room is clean. Somehow my booking didn't include breakfast which was a surprise. The route to the hotel is very busy and constantly congested. So plan 10-15 minutes ahead if leaving for train or flight.

We had a good stay. The hotel staff were courteous. The room is clean. Somehow my booking didn't include breakfast which was a surprise. The route to the hotel is very busy and constantly congested. So plan 10-15 minutes ahead if leaving for train or flight.

It is next to the lake and one of the best parks in Hangzhou.

It is next to the lake and one of the best parks in Hangzhou.

Best location

Best location

Amazing property. Across the street is the path to the lake. Definitely would stay here again.

Amazing property. Across the street is the path to the lake. Definitely would stay here again.

Great

Great

Back again

Back again

Like most said. Outdated and run down. It’s really a pity. The property would probably sell for $1B USD. But because of this the rooms are cheap. I call it a value for the location. $100 here and $500 in others. I would return. But don’t plan 4-5 stars.

Like most said. Outdated and run down. It’s really a pity. The property would probably sell for $1B USD. But because of this the rooms are cheap. I call it a value for the location. $100 here and $500 in others. I would return. But don’t plan 4-5 stars.

excellent location, good breakfast, regular bed. Some birds in small cages, very sad to see it.

excellent location, good breakfast, regular bed. Some birds in small cages, very sad to see it.

Good Lake view, easily access to famous lake walkable path, enjoy the scenery

Good Lake view, easily access to famous lake walkable path, enjoy the scenery

we like two things about this hotel. First, its location is unbeatable. It is right next to the West Lake, 2 minutes walk from Yue Fei Temple, Gushan, Xiling Bridge, five minutes from the Louwailou Restaurant where you can have good food with an unparalleled view of the lake. Second, Shangri-La has an old-world graciousness that no ultra-modern fancy hotels can ever match, and the room is spacious and relaxing (we had the executive suite). It is not something everyone appreciates, but to older, more sophisticated guests with a taste for old-fashioned grace, this is a great virtue. Despite some small imperfections, this is our number one choice in Hangzhou.

Excellent in every way. 5 star traditional resort hotel.

Excellent in every way. 5 star traditional resort hotel.

Amazing. The hotel is full of history. One of the oldest well maintained hotels in China.

Amazing. The hotel is full of history. One of the oldest well maintained hotels in China.

Rude and insulting are two of the words I would use to describe my recent experience checking into the Shangri-La Hotel in Hangzhou. The young man that checked me in wore the golden keys of a professional concierge, a Les Clefs d’O. A professional he was not. He lacked politeness, hospitality and was outright rude. Dirty carpets in the room so bad, you would not dare walk barefoot. A noisy ventilation system made it hard to hear the TV. A TV remote that would not work while sitting on the bed and required me to get up and stand in front of the TV to use it. Coffee and a coffee maker in the room, but no stir sticks (used the handle of our toothbrush for this). And a luggage room attendant that left our bags (with my work laptop) unattended, instead of locking them away. Steven, the hotel front desk agent / concierge seemed irritated to be helping my wife and I check in. Twice he commented in Chinese “American”. Even with anti-American sentiment high in China right now, his deplorable and reprehensible behavior was inexcusable. Ordering me to give him my visa, not acknowledging or apologizing when I told him he should say “please”. What happened to the days when a hotel employee would thank a guest for returning and wish them a nice stay? At a high end hotel we should be able to expect a higher level of hospitality, even friendliness. I’ve been traveling to China for over 20 years and know the difference between being treated with disrespect and indifference.

Rude and insulting are two of the words I would use to describe my recent experience checking into the Shangri-La Hotel in Hangzhou. The young man that checked me in wore the golden keys of a professional concierge, a Les Clefs d’O. A professional he was not. He lacked politeness, hospitality and was outright rude. Dirty carpets in the room so bad, you would not dare walk barefoot. A noisy ventilation system made it hard to hear the TV. A TV remote that would not work while sitting on the bed and required me to get up and stand in front of the TV to use it. Coffee and a coffee maker in the room, but no stir sticks (used the handle of our toothbrush for this). And a luggage room attendant that left our bags (with my work laptop) unattended, instead of locking them away. Steven, the hotel front desk agent / concierge seemed irritated to be helping my wife and I check in. Twice he commented in Chinese “American”. Even with anti-American sentiment high in China right now, his deplorable and reprehensible behavior was inexcusable. Ordering me to give him my visa, not acknowledging or apologizing when I told him he should say “please”. What happened to the days when a hotel employee would thank a guest for returning and wish them a nice stay? At a high end hotel we should be able to expect a higher level of hospitality, even friendliness. I’ve been traveling to China for over 20 years and know the difference between being treated with disrespect and indifference.

Great location! The west lake is just across the street!

Great location! The west lake is just across the street!

The concierge staff are the best, especially a staff with a pair of eyeglasses. He is always very knowledgeable on travel tips, providing prompt golf car rides, and being helpful on taxi, luggages, and English maps, since my wife does not read Chinese.

Have stayed at Shangri-La hotels for decades, and you do generally get what you pay for. A cut above. World-Class service. The feeling that it’s a really special experience. Not here. Very, very disappointed. Worn and stained carpets. Old furnishings. Lackluster employees. Check-in was slow, inefficient, and desk staff spoke poor English (felt like I was back in China in 1992). Concierge was in name only (more like a senior bellboy). Given the storied history of the hotel, was sad to see. On the plus side, the hotel location is perfect, front-and-center of the most scenic and picturesque spot in China. Can’t beat that. FYI, I e-mailed the management, and they did quickly respond-they do seem to have an upgrade plan in place (both facility upgrades and employee training). I’d certainly stay there for the location, but calibrate your expectations. It’s simply not a Shangri-La.

Have stayed at Shangri-La hotels for decades, and you do generally get what you pay for. A cut above. World-Class service. The feeling that it’s a really special experience. Not here. Very, very disappointed. Worn and stained carpets. Old furnishings. Lackluster employees. Check-in was slow, inefficient, and desk staff spoke poor English (felt like I was back in China in 1992). Concierge was in name only (more like a senior bellboy). Given the storied history of the hotel, was sad to see. On the plus side, the hotel location is perfect, front-and-center of the most scenic and picturesque spot in China. Can’t beat that. FYI, I e-mailed the management, and they did quickly respond-they do seem to have an upgrade plan in place (both facility upgrades and employee training). I’d certainly stay there for the location, but calibrate your expectations. It’s simply not a Shangri-La.