Hotel Stay Experience: The Westin Ningbo

After the Dragon Boat Festival, I took an off-peak trip and checked into The Westin Ningbo, starting a week-long vacation shuttling between the guest room and the executive lounge. This hotel has a bit of an old-school vibe, but it's well-maintained. If you don't look too closely, it still appears upscale. Since I chose to stay in the hotel most of the time, I could only judge the service in broad strokes—and everything seemed wonderful. As a Marriott Platinum member, I immediately received a room upgrade and access to the executive lounge. Ningbo is a coastal city with abundant seafood, so the hotel's executive lounge served seafood dishes daily during happy hour. During happy hour, I enjoyed plating different dishes separately, pouring a glass of red wine🍷, and gazing at the confluence of Ningbo's three rivers (Yong River, Fenghua River, and Yuyao River). The view was quite lovely, making each "dining hall" moment feel leisurely. Some business travelers hurried into the lounge, piling various dishes onto one plate. Most drank soft drinks or beer while eating, scrolling through their phones or taking work calls, then quickly leaving after their meal. Indeed, the mindset of a vacationer and a business traveler is different. As for afternoon tea, it was decent—what more could a Platinum member ask for?! 😂 For breakfast, I had seafood congee every day, paired with noodles or small wontons. Freshly squeezed vegetable and fruit juices were also a daily must.