Shangri-La Hotel Hangzhou

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.

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!

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.

They proactively asked us if we wanted to upgrade. Hotel is older, may need a renovation. It’s convenient and the staff was friendly and helpful.

perfect location and good service. Highly recommend to everyone.

Shangri-La Hangzhou is perfectly located. Within a quick walking distance of the lake and the famous Lou Wai Lou Restaurant. And since transportation can be a challenge in Hangzhou, this hotel is also a quick walk to the bus station, which can quickly and cheaply take you to the famous Green Tea Restaurant, Botanical Gardens, etc. The hotel also has numerous restaurants, and Garden Coffee had a great lunch buffet. Helpful, friendly staff!

The location is great if you enjoy sightseeing around Westlake. It might be difficult to call a cap during off hours.

Don't be fooled by the shangri-la branding as this is a very old Chinese hotel recently acquired by shangri-la. The hotel is in much need of a makeover and to my understanding will be happening in the coming year. Rooms were old and not really what I expected from a shangri la hotel. Location was excellent, right by the West Lake, which to be honest is really the only redeeming quality. Maybe wait to stay here after their renovations or stay at the shangri la in downtown hangzhou instead.