Grand Metro Hotel

I have been travelling across China with parents who are in their 70s. We’ve been having a great trip until we got to this hotel in Nanjing. We arrived at 7:30 pm and were informed that because we didn’t get there by 3pm, they canceled and resold our rooms. This policy was not anywhere on our confirmation documents. My dear parents were exhausted and hungry from a long day of touring. The staff did nothing to help us. We could only contact customer service of our booking agent. What a way to treat foreigners visiting your city for the first time. Disgusting to abandon older people who had confirmed bookings well in advance of our trip.

I was on holiday with family. Chose this hotel again because it was good for value last time I was there a couple of years ago. It did not disappoint me. They are improving. LOCATION I think the hotel's location is great. It's situated right outside the XuanWu park/lake entrance and just 3 minutes away from the metro station (exit 3, turn left). The railway station is just two stops with the metro. There's a giant shopping mall across the main street (Central rd., northwest) and enough shops and restaurants nearby. A second shopping mall (to the southwest) has been closed down due to renovations. For me the main reason to stay is the proximity of the park. One can stroll down the park anytime of the day, or go exercise in the morning or evening. At the same time, with the metro station just around the corner makes it easy to go anywhere in the city. CLEANLINESS The room is as okay, taking into acconut that the hotel is already old and the interior is dated. Carpet is dirty after so many years, really need replacement. Windows and curtains are dirty too. This might be extra dirty since there are renovations being done on the outside of the hotel's building. RENOVATIONS The hotel's building on the outside is undergoing renovations. This will cause serious drilling and hammering sounds during the day between 7.00-20.00h. Also, as the windows are really thin and not soundproof, you can hear the garbage truck early in the morning and around 10pm. SERVICE Service is okay. The staff were friendly and did their best to help us during arrival and departure. On any other moment they did not greet or say hi. However, when asking for information they will take the time and answer accordingly. FACILITIES Hotel has a restaurant which serves great buffet breakfast (CNY 20), lunch and dinner. Compared to three two years back the restaurant definately improved. Even during a weekday the restaurant will be full of people during dinner. The menu is surprisingly large and contains photos of all the dishes. Taste is great and price is good too. Next to the hotel (on the left) is a small shop. On the right around the corner is a convinience store that sells water, drinks as well as buns/breakfast to go. Great if you want to eat light and/or take it to the park. CONCLUSION All in all still great for value. Good to see that the restaurant has improved a lot. Too bad the renovations kept me awake for quite some time everyday. Sure hope that if and when I return, the hotel rooms have improved or renovated as well.

steps to the South Gate of Xuanwu Lake Park, 5 min walking to the Subway Station; free breakfast with assorted local foods, dishes for lunch and dinner tasty. free Wifi works well; average 250RMB per room per night with 2 double beds