Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake

I chose the Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake for our summer vacation with my baby, and the overall experience was incredibly comfortable and relaxing. The hotel facilities are excellent, with a handicraft area perfect for kids and a clean, comfortable swimming pool – just right for some leisurely fun with the little one. Wandering through the hotel's back garden, every step reveals elegant Jiangnan garden scenery. I found out the hotel also offers a complimentary travel photoshoot service, so I booked a session. The photographer was excellent at capturing the garden's beauty and skilled at catching my baby's lively, natural moments. The final photos were incredibly atmospheric and far exceeded my expectations. Staying here for a family trip allows for a quiet and pleasant vacation atmosphere, plus you get a whole set of beautiful travel photos for free. It's hassle-free and creates lasting memories, making it ideal for a short getaway with kids.

The hotel room was very comfortable, offered great value for money, and had excellent service. The room smelled fresh and clean. The pillows were just right – not too soft, not too hard. Everything was very hygienic. The service was thoughtful and attentive, and the facility signs were clear and easy to understand.

I'm not sure if it's because the facilities are old now, but the power outlet in the bathroom wasn't working very well. I've always had great experiences staying at Four Seasons before, so this time was a bit of a letdown.

Starts with looks, stays for service – A thank you letter to Four Seasons Hangzhou at West Lake. Five stars is the highest rating, but it’s still not enough to describe the Four Seasons Hangzhou at West Lake. If top-notch facilities are the entry-level requirement for a five-star hotel, then what truly amazed me about the Four Seasons Hangzhou at West Lake was its unparalleled, 'ceiling-level' service. Here, every time our eyes met, we were greeted with genuine smiles and greetings from the staff. But what touched me most were the subtle moments of thoughtfulness hidden in the details: Before check-in, just one phone call revealed the front desk lady's meticulousness. She not only perfectly arranged our Jin Sha restaurant reservation but also proactively asked if we needed any elder-friendly equipment, showing incredible consideration for my parents. On the day of check-in, Hangzhou was experiencing continuous rain. Since my parents are elderly, our original plans had to be put on hold. I tried my luck by talking to the front desk, and to my surprise, Ms. Jasmine showed exceptional empathy and efficiency. She quickly coordinated and arranged an early check-in for us, making my whole family feel incredibly warm in the rain. The complimentary services included in our package were also a pleasant surprise. The hotel's travel photoshoot, in particular, was absolutely fantastic! The photographer captured the misty beauty of Jiangnan in the rain, leaving me with the most beautiful memories of this trip. After dinner, the rain stopped, and we borrowed the hotel's bicycles for a ride. The doorman was incredibly attentive, thinking ahead for us at every step, from our departure to our return. I’ve written so much, yet I still feel like words can’t fully express my gratitude. Thank you, Four Seasons Hangzhou at West Lake, for giving us a perfect dream of misty Jiangnan.

This hotel is located by West Lake, making it very convenient to get to various attractions. Lingyin Temple is right outside, just a left turn away. The hotel itself is a bit older, but the room facilities don't feel dated at all. The hotel bikes are great, and the staff are all very enthusiastic. Plus, Jinsha Restaurant is really good! My only complaint is the TV in the room – it's placed right in the middle, and it's easy to get startled by it when you're half-asleep walking out of the bathroom. So, I'm docking a small point for that.

I hastily booked a room the week before the Qingming holiday. With basic Four Seasons room rates soaring to an outrageous 8k-10k, yet still maintaining almost full occupancy, I couldn't help but wonder how such an old hotel manages it. After experiencing it, it indeed made me, someone not particularly fond of the Four Seasons, reconsider the brand. Room (p1-p3): Before checking in, I was worried that a hotel opened in 2010 might be too outdated. However, I found that it wasn't at all; it's extremely well-maintained. The fixtures are gleaming, there's a smart toilet, a TV with screen mirroring, and a Dyson hairdryer. Most thoughtfully, the issue of limited outlets in older hotels isn't a concern here, as the hotel provides multi-port sockets by the bed, and even wireless charging. West Lake boat breakfast (p4-p6): During the Qingming holiday, being able to enjoy a private boat tour with a guide without queuing speaks volumes about its value. Aside from the price of over three thousand being a bit steep, there are no other downsides. Jin Sha restaurant (p7): Guests get priority seating, and the complimentary sauce left the deepest impression (it's a shame it's not for sale to the public). The crispy chicken was delicious and reasonably priced. Hotel public areas (p8-p16): Few people and beautiful scenery. After stepping out of the hotel once and experiencing the terrifying crowds by West Lake, I truly appreciated how good the hotel was. Of course, there are also minor drawbacks ❌ 1️⃣ The semi-buffet breakfast had relatively limited choices, but thankfully the taste was decent. 2️⃣ The biggest problem! During holidays, there's traffic control around the hotel, so ride-hailing services can't pinpoint the location. The hotel also doesn't provide any shuttle arrangements. The only thing you can do is call a car with the guest and ask the driver to drive further (but this doesn't work during control, as drivers will be stopped). Finally, I ended up paying an exorbitant 1,100 to take the hotel car to MixC. This charge was also strange; a private car for an hour in the city is 500, and to Hangzhou East Station is 1,100. The hotel staff insisted that going to MixC should be charged at the Hangzhou East Station rate, even though it was only a 40-minute drive within the city.

Overall, the experience was truly beyond five stars. The hotel is located in the Xin'an district, offering a peaceful, comfortable, and serene environment. The hotel's decor, overall construction planning, and garden maintenance are all top-notch. The ambiance exudes a strong, calming energy that makes you feel incredibly relaxed. The environment alone definitely earns more than five stars. The front desk service was meticulous, but that's standard for any Four Seasons hotel. The Jin Sha restaurant within the hotel was absolutely superb; the food was truly delicious and offered incredible value for money. Their Western restaurant was equally excellent, and the cocktails at the lobby lounge were also high quality. Even a simple Gin & Tonic showed attention to detail in both the gin and tonic water. Ordering a drink also came with homemade snacks and olives. Breakfast was absolutely divine. Enjoying breakfast while overlooking the beautiful garden was a pure delight! The hotel's in-house professional photography service was also top-tier. The makeup, costumes, and professionalism of the shoot were all first-rate. The room was the only slight drawback. It wasn't an issue of being old; although it has some years on it, it's clearly well-maintained with tasteful materials, giving it a distinctive character. However, room 106, which I was assigned, was completely different from the Garden View King Room advertised on Ctrip's pictures. Being a corner room, it had poor lighting and a restricted view. The scenery and environment of the small outdoor pavilion were also very mediocre. One side was against a wall and a corridor, which felt very unpleasant. Had I known this, I wouldn't have spent an extra 2,000 yuan to choose this room (7,700+ per night). If this room is an anomaly, I suggest not assigning it to direct booking guests in the future. Wouldn't it be better to reserve it for VIP upgrades? (You can see details of the garden view in pictures 2-5). Oh, and the private boat tour, while expensive, was worth it. I recommend gathering 6 people; it's very comfortable and offers decent value for money. I still gave a full five-star rating because other aspects surpassed a five-star level, thus compensating for the room's shortcomings. Future guests booking the Deluxe Garden View King Room should be cautious. I recommend choosing other room types.

The hotel itself has great views, and the Chinese restaurant is also quite good. I had a pleasant stay, and the photography style for the travel shoot was excellent. I'm very satisfied!