SSisiluoZhejiang Ningbo welcomed its first autumn holiday, and among numerous destinations, Beijing was our definitive choice – the trip felt like a 'great northern migration of Zhejiang people'! Before departing, flights from Ningbo to Beijing soared to unaffordable prices, and high-speed train tickets sold out instantly. We eventually settled on a plan to transit overnight in Nanjing.
Before the trip, I was stuck in a hotel selection dilemma: aiming for an international brand within an 800-yuan budget, but most started at 1200+ yuan, often without breakfast, which was way over budget. Ordinary local brands didn't appeal, and even slightly better-located ones like Atour or Orange Hotel Crystal were 800+ without breakfast, offering rather poor value for money. Luckily, during the 11.11 sale, I snagged a deal for Wanda Realm on Ctrip. I booked two nights to test the waters, and to my surprise, the stay exceeded expectations.
The night before, we had stayed at a certain international brand hotel in Nanjing, but the experience was quite disappointing. The lobby was on the fourth floor, and the bellhop left us at the elevator entrance. With two kids and a pile of luggage, no one offered a helping hand. The front desk staff, perhaps because we used a discounted rate, grilled us with questions like we were suspects. In stark contrast, upon arriving at Wanda Realm, a doorman immediately helped us with our luggage to the front desk, handing us over to the lobby concierge – a deaf-mute young man who stood ramrod straight the entire time. He patiently waited for us to check-in, then, with a constant smile, delivered our luggage to the room and neatly arranged it. His sincere and enthusiastic attitude was a stark contrast to the previous night's coldness and instantly touched us.
The hotel is indeed a bit old, so the facilities are inevitably dated. As soon as we entered the room, there was a pungent smell of cleaning agents. The housekeeper next door, hearing this, immediately brought several bottles of mineral water and helped open the windows for ventilation. Her warmth melted away all discomfort. However, there was a minor hiccup: returning to the hotel at night, we encountered outdoor construction noise. We called for service to close the window, but the housekeeping lady couldn't manage it and called an engineering staff member. Here's a small suggestion: it would be better if guest rooms provided shoe covers. To reach the window controls, the uncle took off his shoes and stepped on the sofa stool. For families with young children, there's a natural concern about hygiene issues like athlete's foot, especially since kids crawl everywhere.
However, overall, the 4-day, 3-night stay slightly exceeded expectations: the front desk, concierge, and reservations department all provided professional service. You can feel the high staff stability and low turnover. This is the service legacy of a seasoned hotel.
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