Zhangjiajie Destination Youth Hostel

Value: For the price and what you get, it can't be beat! Room: My mother and I stayed in a 2nd floor twin room with a private bathroom comfortably. The room has a TV (Chinese channels only), a kettle and cups, an electronic safe for valuables, an open closet to hang clothes, a nightstand between the two beds, and a big window. The bathroom is a rainfall shower, and there are large containers of shampoo and body soap. The sink had a great modern design, like one of those procelain bowls, but I found it was not stabilized to the counter and accidentally moved it... So please be careful. Maybe it was the time of the year where travel is not high to the area, but noise was not a problem at all. It was so quiet, I wondered if there were even other guests! But this is no problem at all :) Staff: Ralph and Shao were on duty when we were there, and they were incredibly kind and helpful! From restaurant recommendations, hiking advice, and how to get to places by public transportation... My mom and I really appreciated it, thank you both so much! Airport pickup was seamlessly arranged in advance for our late night arrival. Location: When I stepped out the cab, I was blown away by how beautiful the entrance is with the wood and greenery. I loved the entire vibe of the area: a quiet neighborhood full of other small guesthouses and businesses. It's not a far walk from the bus station and most famously, the entry to the national park. Shops for snacks, toiletries, gifts etc are very nearby as well. Near the entrance to the national park, I saw that a huge shopping center with Starbucks, Adidas, etc would be opening soon. There are no chain restaurants or anything in the area, so I found it a bit sad, but inevitable. No Elevator: There are stairs only, so be careful if you have a lot of luggage, or heavy luggage. (My mom is older and not so strong, so I took charge!) The steps also were quite steep, though there is a handlebar, so this might not be a good option for those with trouble. My mother (in her late 60s) could climb the steps only very slowly, especially as her feet were exhausted from the days we went walking through national parks. Housekeeping: Cleaning could be improved for the guest room. It bother me most that there was water left in the electric kettle from who knows when, so I didn't use it. The beds were made everyday by housekeeping and towels exchanged. Towels were not always perfect condition, like a small stain or rip, but certainly clean. I say this because I saw for myself the staff doing the laundry on the ground floor. Cups do not get exchanged by housekeeping, so be sure to take care of cleaning it yourself if you stay a few days :) I felt the room was perhaps a little musty, though maybe it can't be helped because of the climate and the design of the building. I wish so much that we stayed longer! There is so much to explore in this area, and 3 days did not do it justice. I will be back when I can!