DoubleTree by Hilton Jiaxing

As a frequent guest of this corporate hotel, Jim and Angel always assist with the arrangements whenever I stay. This time, they assigned me a garden view room with a balcony. It's the closest near 5-star hotel to my company and features an internal park that's also open to the public. The price offers incredible value for money, the breakfast spread is extensive, there are two gyms, and the pool is quite lively. I also received two complimentary cookies, and they kindly packed one of my two breakfasts for takeaway.

Staying here was very convenient for attending Er Gou's stand-up comedy show at Xiuhu Concert Hall. The facilities are a bit dated, but the breakfast was decent. I turned down the free upgrade and complimentary breakfast, and the room phone was out of order.

Very happy with our stay! On the day we checked in, there was even afternoon tea and a buffet dinner included, which made it fantastic value for money. We brought the kids here to escape the summer heat, and they got to swim twice. The pool seemed to be open to non-guests, as it was quite busy. The water in the two smaller pools was a bit cloudy, but the main pool was okay.

The hotel boasts park-like beauty and is very peaceful. The rooms were spotless, and Richard provided excellent service.

It's already a significant plus that a star-rated hotel allows dogs, so while there are understandably some limitations on freedom, they are acceptable. Check-in requires pet vaccination records and a pet cleaning fee (which was already included in the room rate, so I'm not sure of the exact amount). **Bringing Dogs Indoors:** Dogs are not allowed to walk on the floors inside the hotel (a rule I've never encountered before, but I can understand it, given the high maintenance cost of carpets – it's a 'live and let live' approach for peaceful human-dog coexistence). However, the front desk provides trolleys at check-in. Dogs are not permitted in public areas like restaurants. **Bringing Dogs Outdoors:** The outdoor areas boast several small gardens and a large lawn. During off-peak walking times (not early morning or evening), there aren't too many people around, allowing dogs to run freely (as long as they don't disturb others). A dedicated pet access lane near the pet-friendly rooms leads directly outside, making dog walks very convenient. **Dog-Friendly Rooms:** The pet-friendly rooms are located in a corner and aren't particularly spacious. They come equipped with a crate, dog bed, food/water bowls, pee pads, and even doggie diapers. (A minor hiccup: upon check-in, none of the pet supplies were in the room, but the front desk promptly delivered them after I called). When a pet is in the room, a 'Pet Inside' sign must be displayed on the door. Overall, it's probably best suited for dogs that are comfortable being left alone in the room. **Human-Friendliness:** Even with its pet-friendly focus, the hotel largely maintains Hilton's basic quality standards for human guests. Upon check-in, guests receive Hilton cookies (another minor issue: they weren't offered initially, but I got them after requesting at the front desk). The cookies were warm, large, and delicious. Breakfast offers a wide variety of choices with good flavor, and the availability of takeaway cups for coffee was a huge plus for a coffee lover like me. The hotel features a Chinese restaurant, Western restaurant, seafood hotpot, and a lobby bar that serves coffee by day and drinks by night. I didn't get a chance to try them all, but the seafood hotpot was decent, and the evening drinks at the bar were also good. There's a swimming pool, though it seems to be independently operated. During peak hours, it gets very crowded. The water quality was average, and the facilities and service didn't quite live up to a star-rated hotel's standard. It was fine for a quick dip. There are plenty of parking spaces, both above ground and in the underground garage. A particularly great feature is that parking is also available right next to the pet-friendly access lane, which effectively separates human and pet traffic and makes getting your dog into and out of the car very convenient. They offer fast, slow, and Tesla supercharging stations, but I found the fast chargers weren't working properly. The room facilities are a bit dated. There's no complimentary minibar, but room service is available. The TV only allowed channel surfing (no screen casting), and the toilet wasn't smart. The cleanliness of the pet-friendly room was just average, which is understandable. It wasn't sparkling clean, but it wasn't terrible either. Overall, it's a Hilton property that offers good value for money.

Hilton Yilin. Honestly, there's not much to add – it simply is what it is, a top-tier luxury establishment. Its size and standard are truly opulent. Yes, the decor might be a little dated, but as the saying goes, 'an old Ferrari is still a Ferrari'.

The hotel is quite luxurious, and the overall ambiance is lovely. The swimming pool was good, and there's also a kids' play area (though it is quite small). Dining options are available within the hotel, and there are plenty of choices in the surrounding area too. The rooms are spacious and equipped with a bathtub, which the children really enjoyed. Overall, we had a very pleasant stay, making it a great option for a family vacation.