Novotel Xi an The Bell Tower Hotel

First, the good points: The hotel's location is excellent, right by the Bell and Drum Towers, which is very lively and convenient, especially being near the H exit of the subway. The service is definitely the highlight; everyone is incredibly polite, enthusiastic, and attentive to every request. The daily mini-bar drinks and afternoon tea are lovely touches that deserve high praise. Now for the room: it's advertised as 35 square meters, but it honestly doesn't feel that big; it's a bit small, typical for a Huazhu property. The bathroom and toilet doors are semi-transparent, which could be a bit awkward if you're staying for a business trip. The toilet flush is incredibly loud, even more so at night. As for breakfast, the variety is decent, but many of the dishes and bowls were not clean – I even took photos, and this really shouldn't be happening every day. The restaurant service was good, but the staff tend to speak quite loudly, which feels a bit inappropriate. I won't comment on the airport pick-up service as there were many restrictions. Overall, if you don't have high expectations for the facilities, it's definitely a place worth staying, because the location and service are genuinely excellent. I would still recommend it.