Xianning Shuijinghu Hotel (Jihua Ice and Snow)

This guesthouse was the perfect place to stay for our ski trip to Xianning. Ordering some BBQ for a late-night snack here really topped off the experience!

The room facilities weren't great. The bathroom in the large second-floor room had a noticeable odor, and the entrance courtyard looked quite run-down, definitely not matching the pictures. On the plus side, the skiing and water park were excellent – couldn't fault them. However, staying in the area was extremely inconvenient, as it was impossible to buy anything nearby.

Great! Both the kids and the elderly were very comfortable. The air was fresh and the view was fantastic.

**Facilities:** The room was tiny and had a leak right by the bed, constantly dripping. When I asked the staff for a solution and if a room change was possible, they informed me there were no other rooms, as the last available one had been taken by their manager. They then showed us a room that had just been vacated but not yet cleaned, claiming it was only used to store luggage and offering to change the sheets for us to move in. However, the bathroom in that room showed obvious signs of prior use, making it completely unsuitable for occupancy. We were forced to stay in the leaky room, using a hand towel to soak up the water. The room was extremely humid and damp; after just one night, even my clean clothes felt clammy to the touch the next morning. The bedding wasn't very clean, and I felt itchy trying to sleep. The shower pressure was very weak. **Cleanliness:** The cleanliness was appalling. There were cigarette butts next to the toilet bin. The entire room felt damp, and the sheets and duvet covers had a musty smell. **Breakfast:** Breakfast hours were from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM. We arrived at 9:10 AM, and there was absolutely no food left, only beef noodles, which didn't taste good at all. Beyond the hotel's included buffet, there were no breakfast options available at the ski resort itself. The local supermarket only sold instant noodles, no bread, and the one coffee and sandwich shop was closed in the mornings, leaving us no choice but to go hungry. **Service:** The service was passable, I suppose, but they were severely understaffed, with only one person at the front desk. When addressing the leaky room, they suggested moving us to a recently vacated room after it was cleaned by housekeeping. However, they then claimed housekeeping wasn't available at 9:30 PM. Most hotels usually have on-duty staff, so it's unacceptable that no one was available for cleaning. This hotel literally only had one person at the front desk.

Facilities: The basic amenities were all there. I'd suggest adding a bathmat outside the bathroom door. Cleanliness: The only slight flaw was some unwashed stains on the duvet, but it wasn't a major issue as disposable sheets and duvet covers were thoughtfully provided. Otherwise, everything else was quite clean. Ambiance: I was very pleased with the private courtyard and small balcony. Service: There was only one staff member handling a multitude of tasks. While she appeared busy, she was incredibly dedicated and responsible. Overall: We came here for skiing. It's a good place for an occasional visit, and the price is reasonable. For frequent trips, though, it might be a bit expensive, haha.

Facilities: The 'space capsule' theme was quite interesting, and having a private patio was a nice touch. The Dyson air purifier in the room was also a plus. These aspects were quite satisfactory. However, the room itself was really cramped; there was barely any space apart from the bed. It was too hot to sit outside in the scorching weather, and keeping the curtains open during the day would instantly make the room uncomfortably warm. Thankfully, I booked the 'space capsule' with a separate living area, which at least gave us a place to sit and enjoy some tea. Cleanliness: The cleanliness, however, was truly dismal. I usually stay in guesthouses and always bring my own sleeping bag liner and toiletries, so typically, even if the hygiene isn't perfect, it doesn't bother me much. But this time, I was definitely affected. Firstly, the shower drain was clogged, so the water wouldn't go down. Secondly, there was a leak in the breakfast buffet area, with some mold on the ceiling, and water was directly dripping onto the food. If I hadn't happened to be standing there when a drop fell, I wouldn't have even looked up. It was absolutely disgusting, so I just bypassed those dishes and had a bowl of noodles instead. Thirdly, I later found out that the tea set in the room still had water in it when we checked in, meaning it hadn't been cleaned at all. Environment: The general environment was okay. There's a ski resort and a water park nearby, and the natural surroundings were quite pleasant; I didn't notice any insects. However, the commercial area next door seemed to have mostly failed, making it very inconvenient to find food or buy water. In the evening, wanting to maximize our time at the water park, we ate at the only operating restaurant. It was evident that it had once been a very refined establishment with enthusiastic service. However, due to the lack of customer traffic and high operating costs, it was difficult to maintain quality. The ingredients weren't very fresh, and the portion sizes were quite small. Even with a guest discount, the prices were still high. For instance, three small dishes and a bowl of rice, without any substantial main course, cost 200 RMB. The next day, for the same amount of money at Yong'an Mansion in Xianning city center, we had four dishes, a soup, a main course, and a fruit platter. Even then, the restaurant was probably operating at a loss, as we were the only table dining there that evening. Service: It felt like they were trying very hard, but perhaps their capabilities weren't quite there. After checking out, I received a call saying that two pieces of the tea set in the room were chipped, implying they would deduct from my deposit. I clearly stated that we hadn't damaged the tea set, after which they asked if we had used it and claimed they inspect the rooms after every guest. Upon double-checking with my partner, I found out that when we checked in, there was still residual tea water in the tea set, and it was already chipped. It seemed the tea set had been dropped before, and the tea strainer was broken, which is why it was missing. We had only used the 'fair cup' (which we washed ourselves); for other purposes, we used our own items. Later, they told me not to misunderstand, that they were just verifying. But then why did they ask if we had used it and claim they inspect every room? Don't they even keep track of their own tea sets, especially when parts are missing? How could they even claim to inspect every room when the tea set wasn't even properly cleaned? Honestly, after all those issues, I wasn't even planning on writing a review. Traveling often has its imperfections. I wasn't very interested in skiing, and we went primarily for the water park, but the water quality there seemed like it was never changed, so we don't plan on returning. However, getting a call accusing us unfairly like that was truly off-putting. Although the deposit was eventually refunded, what if they had tried this with someone less assertive?