NNikenvxiaI had a very satisfying trip. Banyan Tree is my favorite among resort hotels, on par with Aman.
I've admired Banyan Tree ever since I started researching it for a university paper.
After booking the hotel, they proactively created a WeChat group for us, where questions were answered quickly. They even reminded us about the park entrance, provided the QR code, and advised us to bring our own swimsuits for the hot springs.
The hotel is located within the Garden Expo Park, quite far from Nanjing city center, but it's quiet and less crowded.
The entire hotel was designed by the renowned CCD. Every angle is worth savoring; the integration of architecture, environment, and the mine is exquisite. Due to limited space, they tried to ensure every room offers a view of Jinling's sunset.
Upon check-in, we received a cute tortoise, and this time it was a reusable bag, which is more practical than a sandbag.
The manager is also very talented, with excellent calligraphy skills. Banyan Tree truly has hidden gems among its staff.
The hotel has diffusers everywhere, each with a unique scent. The sandalwood on Friday was tranquil, while the 'Night Queen' on Saturday was sweeter and more suitable for a holiday.
Our room was spacious, and the bathtub was huge. The minibar offered a wide variety of soft drinks, and the coffee was also good.
The semi-open balcony was fantastic. Opening the curtains, you could enjoy a private hot spring bath in your swimsuit, watching the sunset and beautiful scenery. However, the weather these days makes it a bit chilly.
The restaurant isn't large, but the breakfast was very abundant. Before coming, I saw many reviews complaining about breakfast, but my actual experience found it to be very rich. Everything you could think of was there, plus Nanjing specialties like noodles and duck blood vermicelli. The stir-fries, freshly made wontons, freshly squeezed juices, various cheeses, and high-quality ice cream were all excellent! The entire restaurant was filled with food. (I don't understand those who criticized the breakfast; perhaps they expected a full Manchu-Han imperial feast after paying a few thousand yuan for the room. But how much can one person eat? It wasn't uncommon to see tables with untouched food after people left... Wasting ten or even a hundred times the amount of food for a little extra for oneself isn't exactly what the hotel advocates for environmental protection, is it? While hotels need to meet customer demands, unconditional compromise is another issue. Even overseas five-star hotels offer a similar range of food. In modern times, who really lacks a bite to eat...?)
The staff's attitude was excellent. Both the front desk and other hotel staff smiled and greeted us (they were perhaps a bit too enthusiastic for an introverted person like me, haha, maybe they'd received negative reviews about their attitude before, I sympathize). When we entered the elevator, a cleaning staff member immediately exited, waited for us to go in, and then we realized she was originally going to another floor but chose not to share the elevator with us. This shows excellent hotel training. For me, an ideal resort hotel appears only when needed to meet customer demands, and otherwise isn't overly enthusiastic. It feels comfortable, just like being at home.
The public hot springs are divided into indoor and outdoor sections. On Friday evening, it was almost like having the place to ourselves, completely empty. I tried every part, inside and out; it was very comfortable and relaxing. The temperature, in the teens (Celsius), wasn't cold, and the starlight combined with the hotel's soft, warm lighting created a very pleasant ambiance.
The next morning, I went downstairs to see the hotel's black swans. As soon as I approached, they all swam over, making 'goo goo goo' sounds, so enthusiastic, haha! Unfortunately, we didn't have food to feed them, so they swam away after a short while.
The stream and the small island opposite, combined with the V-shaped bridge, offer a view of winding architecture and flowing water to the west, with four little cuties below.
Upon checkout, we received a scented stone diffuser as a souvenir; the lemon scent was very refreshing.
I love it here. It's so comfortable when it's not too crowded on weekdays or Fridays.
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