Sofitel Legend People's Grand Hotel Xian

This is a great hotel. The room was lovely and big. Decent size pool. Excellent food choice & quality - we had the buffet dinner since arriving late and breakfast. Really too much to choose from. The service was excellent. Very friendly and when we found that there were road works outside our room they found a fast und unfussy solution.

Was quite disappointed by this place as it was old, worn out, mould & moisture damage, plumbing and electrics were on the fritz & Infested with mosquitos. Location is pretty good and staff and 11/10, so friendly and helpful. The hotel grounds are picturesque with lovely gardens, but this hotel was due for renovations 15 years ago. Definitely not luxury, more like the dank flats I lived in while I was a uni student.

From the moment our Didi pulled up, staff were checking we'd booked at the right Sofitel - a nice touch showing they care about getting guests to the correct location. We booked two rooms during an Accor special - a junior suite with club access for my wife and me, and a luxury suite for our daughter. As Platinum Accor Plus members, our status was recognised before our arrival, and the hotel proactively emailed asking about our room view preferences. They also kindly upgraded our daughter's room to the Club floor, and we received lovely fruit platters upon arrival. Service Excellence Check-in staff were wonderful and patient when we had a minor issue with our Australian debit card for the deposit (it worked fine throughout the rest of China and at checkout, so likely just a technical glitch). We have to give special mention to Andy, the concierge - he's everything other reviewers say and more. He enthusiastically showed us how everything worked in our rooms and even added himself to our WeChat so he could send directions to places to sightsee (and the hotel's location) using WeChat maps. Outstanding service! The Club lounge staff were equally impressive - super friendly and welcoming. The lounge offered different dinner dishes each evening, and I particularly enjoyed the house white wine. Rooms Our junior suite had quirky, eclectic character - a mix of art deco and classic Chinese and Western elegance. It was spacious with comfortable beds and quality linens. The bathroom was excellent - good hot water, reliable plumbing, and effective blackout blinds. The only negatives were a tiny wardrobe with a broken sliding door. Our daughter's suite was even more impressive - much larger and more modern with a huge walk-in wardrobe. Temperature Note Both rooms were extremely warm (30°C+) due to central heating that can't be individually controlled. Andy helpfully explained to turn off the AC unit completely and open the windows. Even with minus 5°C outside temperatures, rooms settled comfortably around 20°C. We chose city view rooms, so there was some traffic noise with windows open - garden view would likely be quieter. Facilities The breakfast buffet was excellent with plenty of Asian options and Western choices to keep everyone happy. The hotel has saunas that are free to use, but require booking. Unfortunately, the women's sauna wasn't pre-heated for my wife's appointment, which was disappointing. The men's sauna in the change rooms worked well enough. Location Great location - easy Didi pickups/drop-offs via WeChat, and only a 15-minute walk to the city wall where we had a fantastic time hiring bikes and riding around the top. Overall This hotel has real character with its eclectic rooms, which we really enjoyed. If you're looking for a more luxurious, boutique experience, Xi'an also has the Sofitel Legend People's Grand Hotel, but we appreciated the personality and warmth of this property. Every staff member we encountered - from Andy and the club lounge team, to the lady in the heavy overcoat who opens the doors - all genuinely went out of their way to smile and make us feel welcome and ensure we had a good time in Xian. We would definitely return if we're ever back in Xi'an.

Never allow hotel staff to change your pre-booked room under the pretext of an “upgrade.” In many cases, this simply means your original room has been sold to someone else, and you’re being pushed into a substandard alternative. I had reserved a "Luxury King Room with City View", but was instead placed in a so-called “upgraded suite.” I could have refused, but given the late hour, cold weather, and my busy schedule, I reluctantly accepted. The suite was larger, but that was its only merit. It was run-down, had no view, and was marred by stains throughout. The bathroom design was both impractical and unsafe—glass panels and awkwardly placed doors made it nearly impossible to use without bumping your head or knees. On the positive side, breakfast was excellent and the staff were attentive, deserving five stars. Sadly, the poor room experience overshadowed these positives.