Hangzhou's Hidden Gem: Xixi Haven Awaits at Hi Inn!
Hangzhou's Xixi Haven: Did Hi Inn REALLY Deliver the Dream? (Spoiler: Sort Of…)
Okay, alright, buckle up buttercups. You've stumbled upon, hopefully, the most REAL review of the Hi Inn near Xixi National Wetland Park you're gonna find. Forget the slick marketing fluff. This is real traveler talk, warts and all. And trust me, there were a few.
First Impressions (and the Cranky Desk Clerk):
Getting there was a breeze! Airport transfer was on point (thank GOD after a 14-hour flight - Getting Around: Airport Transfer – check!). Straight to the hotel, ready for that oasis I'd been dreaming of. The lobby…well, it was…fine? Clean enough, definitely. But that first interaction with the front desk? Let's just say, the smile was…a bit strained. The guy seemed less like a concierge of hospitality and more like a gatekeeper of sleep. (Services and conveniences: Doorman, Front desk [24-hour] – check, but maybe with a side of "meh".)
Accessibility - A Mixed Bag of Blessings and Brick Walls:
Look, I'm not personally in a wheelchair, but I'm always hyper-aware of accessibility. This is where things got… complicated. (Accessibility, Facilities for disabled guests, Elevator) – They had an elevator, which is HUGE. But the hallways felt a tad cramped, and I wasn't sure how easy it would be to navigate if you were using a wheelchair. The website claimed "accessible rooms," which I didn't see, but it should have had it (Services and conveniences: Facilities for disabled guests – this is something to confirm directly with the hotel). This area really needs improvement.
The Room: Sanctuary or… a Slightly Nice Box?
Alright, the actual room. (Available in all rooms: Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens) It was… decent. Clean, thankfully. The bed was comfy, actually, and the blackout curtains were a godsend after fighting jet lag. Wi-Fi [free] – Check! The mini-bar was stocked (and pricey), and the bathroom was functional. I'm a sucker for nice bathrobes (Bathrobes - check!) Though, the view… wasn’t exactly the stunning wetland panorama I'd imagined. More like… another building. But hey, at least it wasn't a bad view! The room was soundproofed, which made things a bit zen.
Internet - Oh, the Joys of Trying to Work Abroad (and the Occasional Crash):
Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!, Wi-Fi in public areas – Check, check, check, mostly check. The free Wi-Fi was… well, it was FREE. And sometimes, you get what you pay for. It was pretty reliable, especially in the room. Trying to upload those photos to my Instagram? Forget about it during peak hours. Internet access – LAN was available but not utilized. The public area Wi-Fi was good, but maybe a little slow.
Food Glorious Food (and the Quest for Vegetarian Bliss):
This is where things got interesting. (Dining, drinking, and snacking: A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant)
So, I'm a vegetarian. Cue dramatic sigh. Finding good vegetarian food in China? A quest. The hotel claimed to have a vegetarian restaurant. (Vegetarian restaurant – check, but with a big asterisk.) The breakfast buffet (Breakfast [buffet] – check) was… passable. Lots of options, but the vegetarian stuff felt a bit… bland. I ended up living on plain rice porridge and fruit. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't exactly a culinary adventure. (The coffee? Let's just say I invested heavily in instant coffee.) One day, I managed to find a place with great soup (Soup in restaurant – Check).
The Pool: A Glimmer of Paradise? (Well, Almost)
(Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor], Pool with view) Okay, the outdoor pool. This was the main reason I booked this place. I imagined myself, lounging by the pool, sipping a cocktail, staring into the distance, completely zen. And it almost happened. The pool itself was lovely, clean, and the water was perfect. The view, however, was more "adjacent buildings" than "lush wetland." Not the end of the world, but not the postcard-perfect vista I'd fantasized about. The pool-side bar (Poolside bar – check) offered overpriced drinks, but hey, you're on vacation, right?
Things to Do, Ways to Relax (and the Elusive Spa):
(Things to do, ways to relax: Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom) I didn't indulge in all the wellness features. It had a gym, but it wasn't exactly state-of-the-art. The spa… Well, let's just say it was mentioned more than experienced. The staff did their best, but I had difficulty communicating in my limited Chinese. Perhaps it was my fault! I did not want to waste a valuable afternoon at the spa if it wasn't the best available.
Cleanliness and Safety - The COVID Factor:
(Cleanliness and safety: Anti-viral cleaning products, Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment) Okay, this is where Hi Inn shined. They were taking COVID seriously. Everything felt clean, and they had a lot of precautions in place. Everywhere you looked, there was hand sanitizer. The staff wore masks, and everything seemed to be sanitized regularly. And though I may have been a little more relaxed, the high number of cautions gave me some peace of mind.
The Verdict:
Look, Hi Inn near Xixi wasn't perfect. It had its flaws. The communication wasn't exactly ideal for those of us who don't speak Chinese. But it was CLEAN, the room was comfortable, and the pool was a definite plus. The price point was reasonable, and the staff tried their best. It's a solid choice for a stay near Xixi. Just manage your expectations and bring your own coffee.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. Could have been great!
Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Duplex Awaits in Trouville-sur-Mer!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the messy, glorious chaos that is my "trip" (and I use that word loosely) to Hangzhou, China, specifically around the Hi Inn Hangzhou Xixi Wuchang Avenue. Prepare for a schedule so loose it'll probably fall apart like a cheap chopstick!
Hangzhou Hijinks - Or, How I Learned to Love (and Occasionally Curse) the City (and Myself)
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Noodle Debacle (and Existential Dread)
Morning (Like, REALLY morning, 7 AM): Land at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. The airport itself? Surprisingly clean. But the hordes of people? Oh, dear God. Finding a taxi felt like auditioning for the Hunger Games. I swear, I nearly tripped over a toddler AND lost my phone in the scramble. Managed to grab a cab after what felt like an eternity and a silent prayer to the gods of public transportation.
Mid-Morning (9:30 AMish): Arrive at the Hi Inn. Honestly, for the price, it's a decent spot. Room's small, but clean, and the aircon actually works. Score! Unpack, collapse onto the bed, and fight the jet lag. The existential dread of being in a new country in a room half my size hits. Is this really my life? This hotel room is the physical manifestation of my life choices.
Lunch (Noon): Okay, this is where things get…interesting. Armed with Google Translate (which, let's be honest, mostly just generates gibberish), I ventured out for food. Found a tiny noodle shop nearby. This, friends, is where the Great Noodle Debacle began. I pointed, I smiled, I used hand gestures that probably meant, "I require sustenance and possibly a small emotional breakdown." What arrived were…noodles. But, oh, the sauce! It was a glorious, fiery, chili-oil-infused masterpiece that simultaneously set my mouth on fire and brought me to a level of culinary bliss I didn't think existed. I ate it all, even though my face was probably the color of a fire engine. Tears streamed down my face. Are these tears of joy, or is it the chili oil? It's beautiful in every way imaginable.
Afternoon (2 PM - 5 PM): A total write-off. The chili oil, the jet lag, the sheer newness of everything…I napped. Hard. Woke up feeling vaguely guilty about wasting a perfectly good afternoon sleeping. But hey, at least I wasn't actively embarrassing myself in public, right?
Evening (6 PM - Bedtime): Attempt to find dinner again. This time, I managed to navigate to a small restaurant that specializes in local dishes. Ordered something that looked vaguely like a folded omelette (again, relying heavily on pointing). Actually pretty good! I saw an old Chinese woman watching me. I was probably a sight. I spent the rest of the evening scrolling through Instagram, feeling inadequate and homesick but also strangely exhilarated.
Day 2: West Lake Wanderings (and a Near-Miss with a Pedicab)
Morning (8 AM - 1 PM): Decide to be a "cultured traveler" (read: feel less guilty about my previous day of sleeping.) Head to West Lake. Wow. Just…wow. The lake itself is stunning. The gardens are meticulously manicured. The pagodas are picturesque. I took a million photos, but none of them, not one, can truly capture the beauty. It's all a little too perfect. This might be the prettiest thing I've ever seen.
- The Boat Ride: Okay, the boat ride was… fine. A little slow. A little crowded. A little boring. But still, being on the lake, surrounded by such beauty… It was almost enough to make me forget about the existential dread. Almost.
Lunch (1 PM - 2 PM): Found a small restaurant near the lake for lunch. Ordered some kind of rice and vegetables. It’s not the most amazing food, but at least it feels less aggressive than the noodle bomb from yesterday.
Afternoon (2 PM - 5 PM): THE PEDICAB INCIDENT. I attempted to hail a pedicab. Bad idea. The driver quoted me a price that was, let’s just say, more than I'd pay for a week's worth of groceries. I tried to haggle. He started yelling. I started panicking. Almost got run over by a scooter while trying to escape. Lesson learned: walk everywhere. Or, you know, take a bus.
Late Afternoon/Evening (5 PM onward): I found a decent little tea house for a few hours of respite, and I also tried the longjing tea. Surprisingly, it was enjoyable. I felt like I deserved some time to contemplate life.
Day 3: The Xixi Wetland (and a Deep Dive into My Own Mediocrity)
Morning (9 AM - 12 PM): Xixi Wetland! I took the bus. I felt very proud of myself. The wetland itself is beautiful. The air smells fresh. The scenery is calming. Did I take 300 pictures? Absolutely. Did I spend 10 minutes trying to find a good angle of a bird? Also yes.
The Boat: I got on a small boat and drifted down the canals. This was the best part. So peaceful. So lovely. I kept feeling like the lead character in an old Chinese movie.
The Tea Ceremony: I decided I was finally ready for a traditional tea ceremony. It was more complicated than I thought it would be. I spilled tea. I burnt my tongue. I felt like a total idiot. But the tea was pretty good. And the whole experience was pretty fun and also very embarrassing.
Lunch (12 PM - 1 PM): Found a little restaurant near the wetlands for some local fare. Everything was a little fried and also a little greasy. I ate it all anyway.
Afternoon (1 PM - 5 PM): Back at the hotel. Feeling a strange combination of fatigue and anxiety. I decided to just stay in my hotel room because I had a real existential crisis to attend to. I took a few deep breaths and tried to process everything. I also booked myself a massage for tomorrow.
Evening (5 PM onward): Eat some takeout. Scroll through my camera roll, filled with photos of beautiful places and my increasingly awkward attempts to navigate a foreign culture. Wonder about whether I should learn Mandarin. Immediately decide against it because it seems hard. Bed.
Day 4: Massage Magic and Departure (or, The Day I Almost Became Zen)
Morning (9 AM - 11 AM): The massage! Oh, sweet, glorious massage. It was intense, it was awkward (I'm always awkward in those situations), but it was pure bliss. I felt my shoulders finally relax. I was almost convinced I was going to become a Zen master.
Lunch (11 AM - 12 PM): Quick lunch near the hotel. Attempt to order food without setting anything on fire. Success!
Afternoon (12 PM - 3 PM): Last-minute souvenir shopping. Buy a bunch of cheap trinkets that I’ll probably never use. Feel the familiar pang of "tourist impulse purchase regret" wash over me.
Late Afternoon/Evening (3 PM - onward): Pack. Check out of the Hi Inn. Head to the airport. The flight is delayed. I contemplate my life, my mistakes, and the sheer, untidy beauty of the world. I am leaving with a sore stomach, a pile of laundry, and a heart full of memories.
Post-Trip: I get home and immediately order takeout noodles. Definitely not the same. Immediately start planning my next trip. Probably won't go to Hangzhou again, but I will never forget the chaos and the chili oil. Or the existential dread. Goodbye, Hangzhou. You were something.
Escape to Paradise: GuardaVal Scuol's Unforgettable Swiss Alps Retreat
Xixi Haven & Hi Inn: Your Questions Answered (and My Ramblings Included!)
Okay, Xixi Wetland... Sounds Beautiful. But is it Actually Worth the Hype?
Ugh, let me tell you. I *hate* hype. It sets you up for disappointment, right? But Xixi? Okay, fine, it’s actually... pretty damn breathtaking. And here's where it got me. I, Ms. Cynical Travel Writer, found myself on a little boat, gliding through these lily-pad-covered canals, and I almost... *almost* shed a single tear. (Don't tell anyone!) It's like, imagine a painting, but it breathes. The light, the reflections, the stillness broken only by the occasional duck quacking judgmental comments at you... yeah, it's worth the hype. Especially if you're coming from the crazy concrete jungle. I mean, seriously, the change of pace itself is therapy.
Pro Tip: Go first thing in the morning. The light is magical. And, bonus! The crowds are a bit smaller. Because trust me, it's not a secret anymore.
What's Hi Inn Like? Is it Actually “Haven-Adjacent” and a Good Base for Exploring Xixi?
Okay, Hi Inn. Now, this is where things get a little… *less* perfect. Let's be honest, it's not the Ritz. But! It is, thankfully, a perfectly decent and super affordable option, and YES, it IS conveniently located near Xixi's entrance. Seriously, you can practically roll out of bed and into the wetlands. (Though, please, shower first. For the sake of others.)
My Room? Small. Functional. Clean (mostly!). The usual hotel-room imperfections, some paint chips, a slightly suspicious stain on the carpet that I chose not to dwell on. But let's be real. You're not going to Xixi to spend your days in a luxurious hotel room. You're there for the nature, baby!
And the staff? Friendly enough, though their English was a bit… ahem… *limited.* But with a bit of pointing and a lot of patience, we managed to get by. They also really tried! I remember, I attempted to order a very specific type of green tea, using a series of hand gestures and what I'm pretty sure was broken Mandarin. The guy just looked at me like I was speaking Martian, but he just shrugged and, bless him, produced a steaming cup. I appreciated the effort. That's the thing about travel, right? The little imperfections make the memories.
Best Way to Experience Xixi Wetland? Boat Tour or Walking Around?
Listen, you NEED to do both. Seriously. The boat tour is the quintessential Xixi experience. You get to see the whole expanse, glide past the stunning scenery, and soak up the atmosphere. The boats are pretty swanky, for the majority of the tour they are silent and electric! But, and this is a BIG but... you need a good hiking shoe. Without one the whole trip will come crashing down if you don't bring one.
My Epic Fail Anecdote Alert! I, in my infinite wisdom, wore sandals. Sandals! I thought, "Oh, it's a leisurely boat ride, what could go wrong?" Let me tell you, what *could* go wrong, *did* go wrong. I ended up having to do almost the entire hike barefoot because my sandals were getting ruined, and my feet got so sore from the uneven ground. I am not one to complain, but as a matter of fact, I DID. And let me tell you it was a pain, so BRING. GOOD. SHOES!
The walking paths are amazing, too. Get lost. Explore the smaller trails. Discover hidden gems. That's where the real magic happens. Bring a bottle of water, because, like with my feet, you'll need it!
What Should I Pack for a Trip to Xixi and Hangzhou in General?
Okay, packing. This is crucial, because trust me, you don't want to be caught unprepared. Here's the essentials:
- Good Walking Shoes: Seriously, I cannot emphasize this enough, and trust me the lesson with the sandals above really hit home.
- Bug Spray: Mosquitoes. They are ruthless. You've been warned.
- Sunscreen: The sun can be surprisingly strong, especially on the water.
- Reusable Water Bottle: Stay hydrated!
- Comfortable Clothes: Layers are your friend. The weather can change, a lot!
- A Camera: Duh. You'll want to capture the beauty.
- Google Translate App (Or a Phrasebook that's still cool): Communication can be a struggle.
- And now the most important of them all, a sense of adventure: Because sometimes you HAVE to be flexible, a little out of the box. And sometimes? You end up having a story for the ages (like my sandal fiasco!)
Are There Any Good Restaurants Near Hi Inn? Or Recommendations for Hangzhou Food in General?
Restaurant options right *around* Hi Inn are… okay. Nothing mind-blowing. But walk a little and explore! Find some local places. Wander. Get slightly lost. That’s part of the fun, isn’t it?
Food Recommendations for Hangzhou:
- West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce: A Hangzhou classic. Tangy, flavorful, and worth the wait (and potentially some translation issues!).
- Longjing Tea (Dragon Well Tea): Absolutely MUST try! (even better if you find it made from local leaves)
- Beggar's Chicken: A dish for sharing! (Maybe try not asking about how its made, the story is a bit… graphic.)
- Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings): Because, well, soup dumplings! Yum!
Basically, be adventurous. Try everything. And don’t be afraid to point and smile. Food is a universal language, even if the menu *is* entirely in Chinese.
I'm A Solo Traveler. Will Xixi and Hi Inn Be a Good Experience?
Absolutely! Xixi is perfect for solo travelers, in fact, it's made for them! You can set your own pace, explore at your leisure, and soak in the tranquility without the demands of a travel companion. I mean, it's the perfect trip for your own pace and time.
Sure other travellers would be a nice option as well, but the freedom of a solo trip is amazing here.
