Relais & Chateaux Chaptel Hangzhou

“Nice boutique hotel, but some improvements needed”

During my first trip to Hangzhou years ago with my wife, we walked past this intriguing hotel while visiting West Lake, and my wife vowed to try a stay there when we return to Hangzhou. So this time, with two teenage children in tow, the four of us spent one night at Chaptel. The setting is defin… more

During my first trip to Hangzhou years ago with my wife, we walked past this intriguing hotel while visiting West Lake, and my wife vowed to try a stay there when we return to Hangzhou. So this time, with two teenage children in tow, the four of us spent one night at Chaptel. The setting is definitely charming. Old row houses next to West Lake remodelled to become a small hotel with few rooms in art deco style. The management tried to give a full experience, from the decor of the room to the type of soap used in bathrooms. Just looking at the design was a delight. But a few glitches here and there: - The bathroom was very odd. A large shower stall with barely any partitioning and an old style bathtub. But water ran everywhere and there was no place/table to put towels and clothes. Just very bizarre. - Breakfast was rather limited and service was not up to par. We arrived late (it was a Sunday, so we slept in) and there was no other guest, just a few staff who were obviously eager to wrap up and clean out the place. I couldn’t help feeling I was intruding into their break or something. Food was not refilled and we just quickly took a bite of some bread and a sip of some juice and left. - The small reception area was... small. Actually cramped would be a better description. We had to store our luggage after check out and before departing for airport, and they kindly offered to do so in the already very small reception/office. I thought such simple frequent requests should probably have some more appropriate solutions. All in all, if you want to do away with big chain hotels and try something quaint and unique, this is the place for you. But be prepared as it is small and is not as professionally managed.

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“A boutique hotel ”

A historic hotel. The location is quiet close to the West Lake, no more than five minutes walk. The beds are very comfortable, the toothbrush works well, and the restaurant is pretty good too. Breakfast is lacking options. The front desk staff and butler are quiet friendly, others not so much.

“Nice boutique hotel, but some improvements needed”

During my first trip to Hangzhou years ago with my wife, we walked past this intriguing hotel while visiting West Lake, and my wife vowed to try a stay there when we return to Hangzhou. So this time, with two teenage children in tow, the four of us spent one night at Chaptel. The setting is defin… more

During my first trip to Hangzhou years ago with my wife, we walked past this intriguing hotel while visiting West Lake, and my wife vowed to try a stay there when we return to Hangzhou. So this time, with two teenage children in tow, the four of us spent one night at Chaptel. The setting is definitely charming. Old row houses next to West Lake remodelled to become a small hotel with few rooms in art deco style. The management tried to give a full experience, from the decor of the room to the type of soap used in bathrooms. Just looking at the design was a delight. But a few glitches here and there: - The bathroom was very odd. A large shower stall with barely any partitioning and an old style bathtub. But water ran everywhere and there was no place/table to put towels and clothes. Just very bizarre. - Breakfast was rather limited and service was not up to par. We arrived late (it was a Sunday, so we slept in) and there was no other guest, just a few staff who were obviously eager to wrap up and clean out the place. I couldn’t help feeling I was intruding into their break or something. Food was not refilled and we just quickly took a bite of some bread and a sip of some juice and left. - The small reception area was... small. Actually cramped would be a better description. We had to store our luggage after check out and before departing for airport, and they kindly offered to do so in the already very small reception/office. I thought such simple frequent requests should probably have some more appropriate solutions. All in all, if you want to do away with big chain hotels and try something quaint and unique, this is the place for you. But be prepared as it is small and is not as professionally managed.

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“First stay in a Relais & Chateaux property in China”

Hotel was charming but not up to Relais & Chateaux usual standard. Choice of Asian or Western breakfast was very limited. Information on tourist attractions in the immediate surroundings was not available or if available, only very limited and in Chinese. The Western restaurant that was availabl… more

Hotel was charming but not up to Relais & Chateaux usual standard. Choice of Asian or Western breakfast was very limited. Information on tourist attractions in the immediate surroundings was not available or if available, only very limited and in Chinese. The Western restaurant that was available also had very limited menu items. The hotel tries byt obviously have a lot of room for improvement.

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