FOGGY VALLEY

Facilities: The hotel boasts well-maintained and beautifully designed rooms, often described as spacious and comfortable, featuring modern amenities such as Dyson hair dryers and private saunas. The picturesque grounds add to the overall charm of the property.(based on 163 reviews)

We stayed here for 5 days (4 nights). The natural surroundings are truly beautiful and the facilities look nice at first sight – but overall the experience did not match the “luxury” image, the high price, or the expectations of Western travelers. What’s good • The area and views are lovely and peaceful. • The room itself is pleasant and nicely decorated (we stayed in the 68㎡ room for 3 people). • Breakfast can be tasty when everything is available. • The hotel arranged a complimentary ride to the train station at checkout, which we appreciated. Where it really falls short 1. Not adapted to Western guests Small details that are standard in international hotels were simply missing: • No coffee in the room, only tea. For a hotel that charges luxury rates, this feels very basic. • No body lotion or moisturizer, even though the air here is extremely dry. I didn’t bring my own because in hotels at this price level it’s usually provided – I really felt it every day. • Very limited storage: no real place to put suitcases or clothes, just a small hanger. Overall, the hardware is “nice”, but the software – service mindset, amenities, attention to guest comfort – is not at the level Western travelers usually expect from a hotel in this price range. 2. Promises vs. reality At check-in we were promised a few things that simply never happened, such as: • fruit in the room every day • A bus/van tour and a few other “extras” that were mentioned but not delivered. Individually these are small things, but together they create a feeling that the marketing is stronger than the actual service. 3. Room & maintenance issues • On the first and last nights the air conditioner did not work at all – I ended up sleeping in a coat. It was fixed only the following day. • The air in the room is very dry, which together with the lack of moisturizer made it uncomfortable. 4. Breakfast management • Breakfast quality is generally good. • However, one morning we arrived around 9:00 and almost everything was already gone. We had to specifically ask for basic items like hard-boiled eggs, bread, tomatoes, etc., and wait for them to be prepared. For a hotel at this price level, proper replenishment should be standard. 5. Location & transportation • Access is not convenient. • You need to budget over 100 RMB each way to go to the city. • If you go to the National Park it’s about 50 RMB each way. • In the evenings it’s quite difficult to get back – the turn-off to the hotel is tricky, many drivers miss it, and you end up paying extra for the extra distance. 6. Price vs. value This is probably the biggest issue. We paid 6,200 RMB for 4 nights, booked several months in advance. Nearby, well-known international brands such as Hilton, Sheraton and Radisson often charge significantly less per night in the Zhangjiajie area. Considering: • the missing basic amenities for Western guests, • the service gaps, • the transportation hassle, and • the problems we had with the room and breakfast, the hotel feels heavily overpriced for what it actually delivers. Throughout our stay, nobody asked what we actually wanted or needed. Instead, the staff simply dictated a rushed ‘checklist’ itinerary, pushing us from place to place just to tick boxes, with little patience and almost no room for questions. Part of this seemed to come from limited English and a lack of understanding of what Western travelers expect. Bottom line Foggy Valley is in a beautiful place and the facilities look nice, but it is not truly adapted to Western standards and does not provide value for the price it charges. If you are a Western traveler looking for comfort, reliable service and good value for money, I would think very carefully before booking here – especially when international chain hotels in the area offer better prices and a more consistent experience.

Wonderful hotel that feels like a homestay in between both Wulingyuan and Zhangjiajie so that it’s convenient to both Tianmen Mountain and each Gate of Zhangjiajie National Park! First of all you will be captivated by the sheer beauty of the Foggy Valley building with its epicenter allowing for views of the mountain. But after you return to earth you are welcomed and charmed by the service of the entire staff! Mr. Hu, Mr. Sheng and the wonderful reception ladies and restaurant aunty helped make sure we were prepared for the booking/planning of our days at both Tianmen mountain and ZJJ National Park. Through Weixin/Wechat the whole team works to coordinate your bfast, lunch or dinner as needed, and smooth checkin and checkout process almost like having a personal travel concierge! Finally you will be charmed by the small details (very cute dogs and cats, delicious homestyle cooking, beautiful rooms, waterfall shower, smart toilet, afternoon tea). Only 10mins to the East Gate by car, 15 mins to South Gate, 30mins to Tianmen Cableway and they offered pickup/dropoff to airport. Thank you again!