The Gran Meliá Xi'an is a true testament to the luxury of the Spanish top-tier brand

Gran Meliá is the luxury brand of the Spanish Meliá Hotels Group, and the two establishments in China have adapted to local tastes with their Tang Dynasty architectural style, which fits well with the city's character when placed in Xi'an. The hotel's location is excellent, right next to Qujiang Pond, with some rooms offering views of the Qujiang landscape. The hotel lobby is lofty and spacious, with a grand scale and a mountain-shaped roof featuring a glass dome design, allowing for excellent light transmission. Therefore, the lobby is very bright and transparent during the day, offering a different style from the night, and it's also very photogenic. The hotel provides a pre-arrival phone call, and the concierge service is excellent. Overall, the service level is superior to that of the Gran Meliá in Chengdu, and even better than the somewhat similarly styled Qujiang Hyatt, which was a pleasant surprise to me. Since the Meliá Hotels Group doesn't have a strong membership system, I booked the Grand Premium Red Level Suite directly for this stay. The suite is officially 103 square meters, located on the highest 5th floor of the hotel, close to the executive lounge. This floor is considered the executive level of the hotel. The room has a very high ceiling, making it feel spacious and comfortable. If there's one downside, it's that this suite is the second-highest room category in the hotel, but there's not much of a view outside the window. The suite has a square layout with one bedroom, one living room, two bathrooms, and a cloakroom. There's a balcony, but it's small and only suitable for getting some fresh air. To the left of the entrance is a side cabinet for placing miscellaneous items, and to the right is a spacious guest bathroom. Although the hotel has been open for 10 years, the maintenance of the guest rooms is quite good. The overall style is a dark, senior official vibe. The reception area is centrally located, and a welcome gift included a large fruit plate, luggage tags, terracotta warrior souvenirs, and a handwritten welcome card. Additionally, there's a detailed turndown service with a shadow play set as a gift, which is superior to the nearby Hyatt. The mini-bar is quite hidden, located in a large cabinet in the living room. It includes a capsule coffee machine with 6 capsules, TG tea bags, and complimentary Kunlun Mountain water, which is rare. The small refrigerator is full of chargeable drinks and snacks. The mini-bar setup is in line with luxury brand standards and slightly better than the Hyatt. The bedroom and living room are connected by two sliding doors, and the space is generous. There's a bench at the end of the bed and a sofa by the window with green plants. The bedding is comfortable and clean, matching the luxury brand positioning. Further in is the main bathroom, fully enclosed in glass, very transparent, and opposite is a large independent cloakroom. The shower room includes a bathtub, which I don't particularly like, but fortunately, the space is large enough. The bathtub is from Villeroy & Boch, large and deep, providing a comfortable experience. The shower system is from Hansgrohe, and the amenities from Bvlgari are 50ml and quite nice. The washbasin area isn't very spacious, but the basin is interesting with a double faucet sharing one large basin. The main bathroom uses the same Villeroy & Boch wall-hung toilet as the guest bathroom, without an intelligent toilet seat, but considering the hotel was built in 2014, it's understandable. The room service is excellent, with a response time that could be described as lightning-fast. Almost as soon as the phone is put down, the requested items are delivered. This hotel's concierge, front desk, lounge, and room service levels are all top-notch. Overall, the high ceilings, large space, high-quality furnishings, and great value for money make staying in such a suite at the price of a basic room at the Hyatt very satisfying.