Howard Johnson Sunshine Plaza Ningbo — Hotel in Ningbo

I recently stayed here for one night as part of a tour group who had visited the Putuoshan (Mount Putuo) Buddhist sacred mountain nearby.|We stayed in this hotel before returning home to Hong Kong, and this was my second visit / stay.||This is a very good 4 star hotel. As I was part of a group 18 in number, plus 1 or 2 tour guides, I don't know how much we paid (my wife handled that side of things) so I cannot comment if this hotel was good value for money.||But we encountered a few glitches which could be eliminated without too much difficulty. Firstly, the buffet breakfast. How difficult would it be to invest in some coffee machines which actually work, i.e. deliver a FULL cup of HOT coffee & not some tepid thimbleful of the brew?||Secondly, the breakfast served cereal and fresh fruits (the latter chopped; sliced, in their own juices - you get the picture).|But NO SPOONS. You had to walk to the other end of the dining room to get a spoon - and even then it was of the Chinese variety.|Why can the staff not provide Western type spoons NEXT to the food where they are needed?||The answer is to employ a WESTERN Food & Beverage Manager - properly trained who can educate the Chinese wait staff.||Also, my room's television did not have channel 0800 on which the EPL football game Liverpool vs. Sunderland was being shown live on the Sat night.|Yet my wife's friend's room next door could receive that channel.|My wife's friend very kindly allowed me to watch the game in her room - but why could my room's television not receive that channel.||Somebody came up from Reception when we made a complaint, but he/she was unable to solve the problem.||These problems need to...

I recently stayed here for one night as part of a tour group who had visited the Putuoshan (Mount Putuo) Buddhist sacred mountain nearby.|We stayed in this hotel before returning home to Hong Kong, and this was my second visit / stay.||This is a very good 4 star hotel. As I was part of a group 18 in number, plus 1 or 2 tour guides, I don't know how much we paid (my wife handled that side of things) so I cannot comment if this hotel was good value for money.||But we encountered a few glitches which could be eliminated without too much difficulty. Firstly, the buffet breakfast. How difficult would it be to invest in some coffee machines which actually work, i.e. deliver a FULL cup of HOT coffee & not some tepid thimbleful of the brew?||Secondly, the breakfast served cereal and fresh fruits (the latter chopped; sliced, in their own juices - you get the picture).|But NO SPOONS. You had to walk to the other end of the dining room to get a spoon - and even then it was of the Chinese variety.|Why can the staff not provide Western type spoons NEXT to the food where they are needed?||The answer is to employ a WESTERN Food & Beverage Manager - properly trained who can educate the Chinese wait staff.||Also, my room's television did not have channel 0800 on which the EPL football game Liverpool vs. Sunderland was being shown live on the Sat night.|Yet my wife's friend's room next door could receive that channel.|My wife's friend very kindly allowed me to watch the game in her room - but why could my room's television not receive that channel.||Somebody came up from Reception when we made a complaint, but he/she was unable to solve the problem.||These problems need to...

The hotel is modern and glitzy. Easy parking and very accessible from the freeway for both airport and downtown. It is not convenient if you do not have transport.||The rooms are well appointed, beds are comfortable and bathrooms are modern. ||Unfortunately a lot of the staff do not speak English and service is thus a little difficult to evaluate.||I was very disappointed that I could not find the bar that offered 'beer fest specials' but was told it was in the tea room who do not serve beer or snack meals only tea.( so they said).||Nice views from the higher elevation rooms.||Probably will not stay here again although the price was good value for...