A classical Chinese aesthetic with great effort, Jinan Raffles Hyatt Hotel
Jinan's mainstream international chain hotel in the old city center, in addition to Intercontinental, there is also Hyatt located on the side of Baotu Spring. The two are priced similarly and compete with each other, and both have been in operation for many years. Hyatt's advantage is that it is more friendly to members and generous with room upgrades.
The room I stayed in this time is an executive suite with double doors, a one-bedroom, two-hall, and two-bathroom layout. The area is not small, but there are only two small windows. Coupled with traditional Chinese-style decoration, dark solid wood furniture, dark gold calligraphy screens, and silk palace lanterns, the overall space is rather dim and slightly oppressive. Perhaps it's my personal bias, but I feel that the Chinese classical decoration style cannot escape the atmosphere of a deep, large courtyard with poetry and propriety. Modern hotels, as places for leisure and rest, should prioritize comfort. Choosing a simple national style like the St. Regis Changsha seems more appropriate to me.
The Chinese aesthetic that is out of place and slightly weird pervades the details of the room, where the care of the management team and the marks of time wear are competing against each other, and can all be seen with one's own eyes. When the morning light penetrates through the window screen and the screen, climbs up the curio cabinets, and slowly illuminates each porcelain, the unique temperament of this place is also sublimated.
The executive lounge is located on the top floor of the hotel, with a clear view, offering simple afternoon tea and a fairly rich happy hour in the evening, with a fixed four dishes and two soups every day, as well as freshly prepared special main dishes. Of course, the best part is being able to drink four kinds of freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices at any time.
The fitness center and swimming pool are located on the fifth floor of the hotel, both of which are not large in scale but are very practical. The swimming lanes are narrow and unadorned, and the afternoon sun can shine directly into the water through the glass windows, making the water look clearer. The water temperature is suitable, and on weekdays it is almost like having a private pool. In the changing room, there is also a hot water soaking pool and a sauna.
The next day's breakfast is arranged in the restaurant on the first floor. Although there are not many types, there are surprises in the details. There is a self-service salad bar where you can make Caesar salad on the spot. There are also many local Shandong specialties, such as Bazirou, Jinan sweet foam, tofu brain, fried cake, etc.
As for the service level, there is room for improvement. Not to mention the lack of a courtesy call in advance, even when arriving at the hotel entrance, no reception was seen. The same goes for the breakfast period, where no one cares, and everything depends on oneself. Only in the executive lounge did I occasionally meet the newcomer Yoki, who maintained a welcoming smile with an original heart.
Room related:
Room number: 2318
Official website name: Hyatt Executive Suite
Area: 88 square meters
Mattress: Simmons
Bedding, fabric, and bathrobe: St. Regis
Bedroom TV: Philips
Living room TV: Philips
Shower and metal parts: Hansgrohe
Basin and bathtub: Duravit
Main bathroom toilet: Manual Duravit
Guest bathroom toilet: Manual Duravit
Hairdryer: WIK
Amenities: Large bottle Pharmacopla nut oil series
Electric kettle: WIK
Coffee machine: Nespresso
Capsule coffee: 2 capsules of Nespresso
Instant coffee: Nestle
Tea bags: Twining
Bottled water: Nongfu Spring
Mini bar: Chargeable