Hotel Dengan spa di Guangdong, China

My friend and I traveled from HK to Futian Mandarin Oriental to celebrate a birthday. I'd researched several hotels online beforehand and ultimately chose MO, a hotel I hadn't stayed at before. My main reasons were the hotel's reputation for quality and excellent service, as well as its convenient location for shopping, with a mall and many dining options right downstairs. From the moment we stepped out of the car and into the hotel, we could immediately tell it was different from other five-star establishments. The experience, from being greeted upon arrival, having our luggage promptly taken, being escorted to the 78th floor for check-in, and finally shown to our room, was incredibly smooth and warm. By the time we left, at least eight hotel staff members had interacted with us, and every single one was genuinely friendly and kind. This 100% positive interaction rate is something I've rarely encountered over the years. For me, the air conditioning's coolness and quietness, as well as absolute cleanliness and a modern feel, are paramount in a hotel room, and they scored full marks on all counts. (I learned that this hotel has only been open for four years, and I truly hope they can maintain this excellent standard, as it's crucial for guests like us). I'd like to thank the gentleman who checked us in – I've forgotten his name, but he was incredibly thoughtful and proactive in anticipating our needs, making arrangements for us to attend a concert on June 26th. I also want to thank the lovely Victor, who showed us to our room, gave us a detailed introduction to the hotel, and took photos for us. And a special thank you to Brian, the 'Chef Concierge' (Golden Key member), who satisfied our curiosity by explaining the origin and role of the Chinese Golden Key concierges. Besides having a wonderful birthday trip, we also gained a rich experience in human connection. Thank you to everyone at Futian MO. We'll definitely be staying here again! ^.^

I drove to the hotel, and from the moment I entered the underground parking garage, the signs were unclear. I circled around a few times and finally asked someone for directions to the elevator entrance. However, the elevator entrance had no Chinese signage, only an English hotel indicator. First-time guests would 100% not be able to find it! That door was a hidden, automatic door with no markings, just like a solid bronze wall. No one would know it was an elevator entrance; I also spent a long time searching and asking people before I found out, as shown in Figure 1. In the room's bathroom, the shower system had no hot and cold water labels. I didn't know which way to turn to get hot or cold water, nor did I know if the control switch for the overhead shower and the handheld shower was up or down. I had to figure it out by trial and error! When I turned on the switch, because there were no hot/cold or overhead/handheld shower labels, cold water poured down from above, giving me a chilling surprise! As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3. Breakfast was inconvenient due to the small dining area and too many guests, which meant long queues. The staff's attitude wasn't very good either! Many online reviews are seriously inconsistent with the reality. This hotel definitely needs significant improvement!

A truly satisfying stay! The JW Marriott Hotel Shenzhen is indeed a top-tier hotel. The lobby exudes a light luxury and grand atmosphere, and the public areas are spotlessly clean. The staff at check-in were very professional and explained everything meticulously. The room layout was well-designed, the furnishings were exquisite, and the cleanliness was meticulously maintained—even the corners were sparkling clean. The mattress had just the right firmness, ensuring a sound sleep until morning. During my leisure time, strolling around the hotel was very pleasant, offering a tranquil and comfortable environment. The guest relations team proactively checked on our experience, and any issues were addressed promptly. The hotel restaurants offered a wide variety of dishes with fresh ingredients. Overall, the experience was comfortable and relaxing, making it perfectly suitable for both short stays and longer trips. I genuinely recommend it to anyone traveling.

Service: Special thanks to Bella and her team! The Ritz's service attitude was satisfying, but due to objective renovation issues, construction noise could be heard on every floor (starting at 8:30 AM, even on weekends). Bella was very considerate in trying to resolve the issue, and I'm very grateful. I believe this also perfectly embodies the Ritz's 'Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen' philosophy. Facilities: The current Ritz-Carlton Shenzhen is definitely not in its best state. Even in the newly renovated rooms (renovation completed six months ago), there was still a faint smell of renovation. Running an air purifier made it tolerable. The new rooms are indeed spacious and well-maintained, with very new facilities. Pool: It's very small and the water is extremely shallow. Many people just walk across the pool, and there's no staff to stop them. The 'fire cloud' evening view is beautiful, but I wouldn't recommend it for serious swimmers. If you're just looking for a photo op, it's fine. Cigar Bar: The staff were very patient, but the quality of the cigars varied, and the cocktails were just average. Overall, as a first-time guest at the Ritz-Carlton Shenzhen, I found their service to be the best among hotels in the Futian district. However, objectively speaking, the renovation definitely detracted a few points from their 100-point service. I look forward to a better experience on my next stay at the Ritz! 🥂

My child loved it and wants to stay here again next time. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom has several hotels: Penguin Hotel, Spaceship Hotel, and Hengqin Bay. Each has its unique features. Hengqin Bay's main draws are its water park and dolphins. The water park opens at 9:30 AM, and that's when the dolphins are fed, allowing for close-up viewing. The package ticket offers unlimited entry to Ocean Kingdom for two days, which is incredibly good value. Especially in the hot summer, you can get tired after half a day of playing, so it's great for kids to return to the hotel to rest and then come back the next day to finish exploring. Plus, you get one-hour early entry, avoiding the 10 AM queues at the main Chimelong entrance by using the hotel's exclusive通道. Breakfast at the hotel is also very extensive, with a wide variety of steamed dim sum, noodles, and more. Everything is of excellent quality! My child had a blast eating and playing. Hengqin Bay is absolutely massive, divided into Dolphin and Seahorse sections. Upon entering, you're almost shocked to see about a dozen counters with staff checking people in – it gets incredibly crowded! Naturally, during breakfast, two large restaurants serve food simultaneously. There was a minor hiccup during check-in, but the concierge discreetly delivered four picture books and puzzles to the children, which was a very nice touch! We also had an experience ordering takeout. Everyone waited at the takeout handover point, and we were all assigned four-digit codes, making it feel like a secret agent rendezvous – quite amusing.

First off, a big thank you to Flora for arranging everything! We stayed at Wanghailou and MGM before this, and while those were satisfactory, Angsana's service truly surprised us. They upgraded our original sea view room to a 'Premium Sea View,' which was fantastic. The elevator goes directly down to the pool, and the way the pool blends with the trees here creates a wonderful, Bali-like atmosphere. Plus, the sunshine in Zhuhai isn't as intense as in Sanya, making it feel very relaxing – a much more laid-back vibe than the scenic pool at Wanghailou. The only minor point was on the other side of the pool, it seemed like it needed a good clean, as there was a bit of plastic trash. Since it wasn't a holiday, they also kindly arranged an early check-in and an extra hour for check-out, which I genuinely appreciated. At MGM, despite many empty rooms, they insisted on a 3 PM check-in, so comparisons are inevitable. The room facilities aren't brand new, but for the price point, they're perfectly fine, especially considering the neighboring hotels are over 3K. The Thai restaurant, 'Miyan,' was delicious; every dish was excellent, even better than most Thai restaurants. Irene also helped us secure the only private room, making for a relaxed and enjoyable meal. My only suggestion: the price of the Coke was unnecessarily high. The food prices were reasonable, but the Coke felt really out of place. Also, I'd suggest considering packages that include the minibar. For a resort hotel, a small investment there could greatly enhance the guest experience. Overall, this was the best part of our trip, and we'll definitely be back!

The overall decor is simple yet luxurious, elegant and grand without being over-the-top. The soothing scent in the lobby and at the front desk immediately made me feel relaxed upon entering. The bedding in the guest room was soft and comfortable against the skin. Check-in and check-out at the front desk were quick, and the staff member, housekeeper Season, was polite and professional, responding promptly to any requests. Overall, the stay experience was quite good.

I had a sudden business trip to Guangzhou and, after it was over, I decided to visit Zhuhai. I've always heard that St. Regis is known for its service, and Zhuhai St. Regis is supposedly the pinnacle of St. Regis in China. So, I specifically booked it. This was my first time staying at a St. Regis hotel (I usually stay at other luxury hotels like Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, and Rosewood). Let me start with the conclusion: it's beautiful, but the service is just a facade. When checking in, the greeter at the door was very enthusiastic, taking our luggage and escorting us to the lobby for check-in. The staff member was very beautiful (no other meaning intended) and kept a smile on her face the whole time, speaking softly and gently. This was definitely a big plus for the service, something they do better than most luxury hotels (frankly, they don't seem to have that 'work fatigue' vibe). The hotel has an extremely European style, a stark contrast to the Rosewood I stayed at in Guangzhou yesterday. The entire hotel exudes a gilded-age beauty, reminiscent of an economic boom, and it echoes the Macau across the river. The hollowed-out atrium is a stunning design. I've stayed in countless hotels, but only a handful have a similar design (like Tomson InterContinental Shanghai, InterContinental Hangzhou, etc.). St. Regis is bolder in its use of lighting and color, opting for this golden-brown hue, which made me feel like I traveled back to 1990s Europe. It truly embodies 'old money' in its bones. Entering the room, the same European style continued. My name was displayed on the TV (a nice touch). I was very happy that the TV came with two Bose speakers (reportedly a six-figure set online). The sound quality was mind-blowing, much better than any other hotel speakers I've encountered 😆. I had booked a bubble bath that day, which is a signature St. Regis feature. After a day of exploring, a bubble bath is truly a chill experience. The thing I was most, most, most happy about was that during check-in, the front desk asked if we smoked. St. Regis has special smoking floors, something I haven't seen in most luxury hotels. St. Regis thoughtfully considered this 🥰. Now for the downsides. First, the inefficiency. The hotel only had two (or three?) front desk agents for check-in. The staff led me to the lobby, where I sat for twenty minutes before it was 'my turn' to check in, even though the lobby was empty at the time, with at most five people checking in. This level of inefficiency is unacceptable! Second, St. Regis's renowned 'butler service.' Before check-in, there was no phone call, no prior inquiry about room preferences, and no one added me on WeChat. During check-in, no one offered water; I even had to ask, 'Don't you have water here?' and 'Doesn't your butler service add guests on WeChat?' before they brought out water and the hotel's WeChat QR code. I even had to get the water myself and add WeChat myself. Everything felt so 'improvised,' which made me quite unhappy. It reminded me of an online joke: 'She's like Siri, answers every question but never initiates a conversation.' For St. Regis, a brand specializing in butler service, this aspect was completely subpar. Third, I'm not one of those 'Marriott members begging for upgrades' as some online suggest. However, I've stayed at so many Marriott properties—Ritz-Carlton Nanjing, Suzhou, Xi'an, Haikou; W Suzhou—and depending on room availability, they've always proactively upgraded my room without me even asking. Even a standard Marriott property like Shenzhen Kaisa Marriott, which isn't considered luxury, would upgrade me to a suite if available. But St. Regis? Nothing. No suite, no little rabbit amenity, no welcome gift. Nothing. From what I know, it was off-peak season, and many rooms were vacant. And the cost of a welcome gift and a little rabbit should be very, very low, right? They simply didn't prepare anything, leaving me feeling unvalued. At the price I paid for my stay, around 1,000 RMB (during peak season it's about 1,500-2,000 RMB), Zhuhai St. Regis isn't expensive, but it's above a typical Marriott five-star. Price-wise, it barely touches the threshold of luxury hotels. However, the St. Regis brand itself is definitely positioned as luxury. If we talk about value for money, Zhuhai St. Regis is undoubtedly perfect. Its exquisite European aesthetics, combined with decent service and top-tier hardware, make it almost unrivaled among five-star hotels in the 1,000 RMB range. The problem, however, lies in the name 'St. Regis.' Luxury hotels don't talk about value for money; they talk about service attitude and standards. By luxury hotel service standards, Zhuhai St. Regis doesn't live up to the St. Regis brand. (As an aside, my studio is in Suzhou, and I often staycation at Niccolo Suzhou. Like Zhuhai St. Regis, it's a high-rise hotel, and the price is also around 1,000 RMB. The reason I go often is simple: the service attitude is excellent, far exceeding what you'd expect for that price point. Their Director of Rooms once said something that struck me: 'In mainland China, there's no shortage of luxury hotels—Marriott, InterContinental, various GHA luxury hotels. These luxury hotels simply have different styles, and their hardware has pretty much reached its peak. In such a situation, it all comes down to service attitude.') And the service at Zhuhai St. Regis undoubtedly left me unsatisfied. Overall, the hardware, style, and design of Zhuhai St. Regis are undoubtedly top-notch. However, the service level (especially for a brand that emphasizes service) wasn't good enough. The butler service I had so eagerly anticipated fell short. If the hotel happens to see my review, I hope you'll strengthen staff training and strive to solidify the golden reputation of St. Regis. I hope my next stay brings an even greater surprise and shows me more meticulous and amazing improvements.

The room is new and clean. The Republic of China-era design makes you feel like you've stepped back in time the moment you enter. The front desk staff, both young ladies and gentlemen, are polite and have a refined demeanor! There's a dim sum restaurant on the fifth floor, a favorite among stylish seniors. It's bustling with activity, and the aroma of food fills the air. However, the hotel breakfast on the fifth floor is also very rich, truly proving the saying, ”Eat in Guangzhou.” There are so many snacks in the entire building right outside the door, you'd need ten stomachs to try them all. ”Bingsheng” is just a 10-minute walk away and it's incredibly delicious! But it's very popular, so expect to wait in line.

This hotel was my choice for a summer family trip, booked in advance with a 'stay + play' package. We arrived around 4 PM and I was still surprised by how massive it is. The penguin theme is really distinct, and it was packed with people – clearly a popular place! There were staff members everywhere. We took their advice and went to the Ocean Kingdom first, entering in minutes through the hotel's exclusive pass. When we returned after 6 PM, it was indeed less crowded, and check-in was smooth. The room was clean and odor-free, with child-friendly toiletries. The air conditioning worked great, the bedding was comfortable, and we had a view of the Ocean Kingdom from the window. We even discovered we could see the fireworks show at night, though unfortunately, a heavy rain that evening meant we had to miss Lang Lang's performance. Our dedicated butler was fantastic, explaining everything we needed to know about our stay and the park. For breakfast, they sent a QR code via WeChat, so no need to check at the front desk. Breakfast offered a huge variety, both Chinese and Western, and even though there were many people, it didn't feel chaotic. There was plenty of seating, and after a satisfying meal, we headed back into the park, full of good cheer. It was a very satisfying travel experience.