N30°15'42.4" E120°09'16.8" (WGS-84) We booked the Crystal Orange Hotel in Hangzhou through their website, but strangely, our request was not accepted: room prices were not released for the booking period. Our second choice was the much more expensive Lakeview Hotel in the northeast corner of the West Lake. Only bookable through internet booking websites. Their fee explains the higher hotel price partly. We paid in August 2017 (holiday season) €80 per night including breakfast.
The appearance and room facilities of our superior room number 288 on the second floor were on par with the well-known big business hotels. This room has no view on the lake. It has streaming Wi-Fi reception, fridge with minibar, small sitting area, desk, security save, television and air conditioning. Instruction for operating the air conditioning was in Chinese. Translation did not help to make the air conditioning cool the room. After randomly pressing buttons, the air conditioning switched on cooling the room.
Many reviewers on TripAdvisor noted the opaque window between the bathroom and bedroom as a privacy issue. For some travellers, this can be an issue of concern. Bath and shower were excellent, but the bathroom itself does not have a discharge for humid air. The double bed slept more than excellent: premium night rest for Westerners.
The hotel offers the usual hotel facilities with four restaurants inside. Room service only offers Western dinner, but Chinese food options would have been a nice addition. The breakfast buffet is where the hotel really shines: abundant choice of delicious Chinese, Western and Japanese food options. The nice croissants, slices of good bread, yogurts and fruits, surprised us. Even dumplings and dim sum are offered. Excellent. Very good coffee too.
With its location on the shoreline of the West Lake and the quality of the room, facilities and services, the Lake View Hotel is excellent, although a bit expensive. Recommended.
