Banyan Tree Anji

🏨**Room Type:** We booked a Mountain View King Room this time, and the views were truly spectacular. Our butler, Molly, was a gem! She helped us secure an upgrade with the front desk, which made our stay even better. The 61m² room was incredibly spacious, perfect for families with kids. It featured a huge bathtub and a terrace, where we could soak while enjoying views of the mountains and bamboo forests. **Pro-tip‼️:** Banyan Tree is a must-visit! The current deal, two nights for the price of what one night used to cost, is incredibly surprising and excellent value. The facilities are brand new, and there are plenty of evening activities! 💡**Kid-Friendly Surprises & Stress-Free Stay** We weren't fond of the room initially assigned during check-in, so we called our butler. Molly promptly rearranged everything for us, and we were very satisfied with her service. She even set up a bed guard for the little one. The breakfast buffet was fantastic, offering a wide array of choices, including local specialties. The daily recommendations kept things fresh, and the sandwiches were especially delicious! Freshly baked breads, sweets 🍬, and various drinks 🥤 were also available, much to the delight of the little ones. 📒**Additional Notes:** 🧺The bedding was super comfortable. We stayed two nights, and they proactively changed the linens. 🩴Slippers came in men's L, women's M, and children's sizes. They were incredibly soft, like walking on clouds – instant relaxation the moment you put them on. 🏊‍♀️The pool was uncrowded and clean. It offered stunning views at different times of day – whether for a sunrise swim, a sunset dip, or an evening splash. All perfect for capturing beautiful photos. Open until 9 PM, it was great for a late swim with the kids, followed by a relaxing shower 🚿 that guaranteed a comfortable night's rest. 🔮**Summary:** Check-in is on the 8th floor via elevator 🗗. The moment the elevator doors open, you're greeted by a breathtaking bamboo forest, reminiscent of 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. The unbeatable mountain views, coupled with the hotel's sunrises and sunsets, create a truly healing and unforgettable experience. Overall, it was an incredibly comfortable and relaxing stay with the kids, enjoying the water facilities, dining, and getting truly amazing value for money.

Choosing this hotel was absolutely the best decision for my trip to Anji. Even before check-in, the butler provided detailed introductions to various activities. (A huge shout-out to Butler Ida! Her explanations were incredibly thorough, and her service throughout our stay was exceptionally thoughtful.) Hotel Ambiance: The setting was perfect for lounging, whether it was sunny or overcast. On clear days, you could simply gaze at the azure sky while enjoying a cup of tea. The complimentary travel photoshoot offered by the hotel was also a lovely bonus. My mom had an absolute blast taking photos, and I was perfectly content just relaxing nearby. I'll definitely be back to unwind here again!

Service: The check-in process was quick, and they offered a great selection of amenities for kids. Our butler, Luna, was incredibly thoughtful and attentive. Room: The room was very spacious and featured a lovely terrace. Waking up to a view of blue skies, white clouds, and mountains was incredibly refreshing. It even had a large bathtub where you could soak while enjoying the mountain scenery. The mosquito control in the room was also very effective. Breakfast: We went for breakfast at 9:30 AM, which was peak time, so it was quite busy. While the selection wasn't huge, the quality was consistently high. The Shengjianbao (pan-fried buns) were especially delicious! Pools: The outdoor infinity pool is a definite highlight and a must-try! There's also a smaller pool next to it, perfect for children. Going in the late afternoon/early evening means it's not too hot. Our kids absolutely loved the pool and played endlessly! Dad kept the kids entertained in the water, allowing Mom to completely unwind on a lounge chair – pure family bliss! The indoor pool is great for those who prefer a quiet swim, while the outdoor pool is much livelier.

Overall, the experience was comfortable and relaxing. The environment, service, and views were all excellent. Every staff member, from the concierge to the kindly elderly driver, was incredibly gentle, always ready to help, and proactive in finding solutions to any request. I slept wonderfully! Our butler, IDA, was also extremely accommodating and attentive. We ordered a BBQ set, which was meant for 4-5 people, but our group of 8 couldn't even finish it – the portions were incredibly generous. Moving on to the drawbacks: Having to wear a swim cap in the pool? For a 5-star hotel, this feels like such a cheap and out-of-place requirement, more suited for a 3-star establishment. While the hygiene was generally good, some of the facilities felt a bit dated. For instance, the sofa in our villa was quite worn and discolored. For a hotel costing over 10,000 RMB a night, you'd expect them to have professional sofa cleaners and maintain them weekly. This is definitely an area where the hotel falls short. The complimentary toiletries were also surprisingly cheap; most 5-star hotels provide branded, higher-quality products. It seems they're cutting corners even on these small amenities. A hotel's ability to attract repeat guests really boils down to these crucial details, and the management here seems quite indifferent. Furthermore, our villa was only about 30 meters from the lake, yet direct access was prohibited. We were required to buy a ticket, then go to the front desk, and wait for a car to pick us up. Why couldn't they simply open a short, direct path to the lake? The water park costs around 150 RMB for access to five activities. It's an absolute rip-off and completely unnecessary; I strongly advise against it unless you've truly never experienced a water park before and are just curious. Despite these significant shortcomings, I would still rate the overall experience a 5 out of 5.

Everything else was quite satisfactory, but the service was truly subpar. The young man who checked us in had a poker face throughout and seemed unwilling to answer any questions. It was already past 2 PM, and when I asked him how much longer we'd have to wait for the room, his only reply was, 'Check-in is stated as 3 PM.' I really wanted to retort, 'And do you check out at 3 PM as well?' The butler service also felt very perfunctory, merely going through the motions. Compared to other hotels of the same caliber, the service was significantly lacking.

The room was very spacious, featuring a long sofa that was perfect for a child to sleep on. It also had a large balcony with space to dry clothes. The balcony kept the room feeling airy and not stuffy, and the air conditioning was easily adjustable, maintaining a comfortable coolness. The outdoor pool was clean, and in the evenings, the bar had live music without any pressure for minimum spending. The staff were friendly and always helpful with our questions, yet never made us feel controlled or bothered. Taking a walk with our child in the courtyard in the evening felt a bit like a mini-adventure.