- Stats
Suzhou is about less than two hours drive from Shanghai. It is known for its Taihu Lake, a very scenery lake area. There have been a lot of new projects to build this to a tourist zone. Marriott has two area hotels, the Marriott and the Renaissance, back to back. Both hotels are relatively new.
Both the Marriott and Renaissance Taihu are Category 3 hotels, commanding 17,500 points. The cash price is about $120 per night.
We chose Marriott over Renaissance mainly becaue of the decor of the rooms. We like the natural colors, not the fancy bright colors.
Check In
The front staff was very friendly. They took care of the luggage. As Marriott Platinum elite, we were recognized and upgraded to its top suite. We also received daily Marriott reward points.
Front lobby area:
Room
We were upgraded to a very spacious suite. It has a king size bedroom and a living area with sofa bed and a half bath.
The room is new and in very good condition.
Bedroom and bathroom with huge bath tub:
Bath room:
Second bathroom in living area:
Pool
There is a small indoor pool. There is a large outdoor pool at Renaissance.
Gym
The gym is not large, but is adequate.
Service
This is a new hotel. The satff is mostly young people. The service is good enough and we did not have any issue staying there.
Dining
The highlight of our stay is its breakfast. It was very pleasant experience. The chef was very friendly. I actually wish to stay at the hotel all day to enjoy the food. The food tasted so good.
As Marriott elite, we also had club lounge access for evening snack and drink.
Golf Course
Both the Marriott and Renaissance hotels are close to the golf course. I do not know who owns the golf course and how the golf club works. But it looks impressive from the outside.
Location
This hotel is located in the new tourist zone. On the way to the hotel, we could see quite a few construction projects. Most places are new and some are still work in progress.
There are still a lot of activities around the hotel. There is a mountain not far away for hiking. There is bicycle trail. There is also a national park close by.
\
Overall
Suzhou is like a satelitte city of Shanghai. If anyone gets chance to visit Suzhou, this Marriott hotel is a good place to spend a weekend. It is new, nice room, friendly staff. And the rate is just right. You do not have to spend a fortune to have a weekend get-away.
This location also has its drawbacks. The surounding is not fully established. Public transportation is there, but not extensive. So you'll need a car to get around. This can be challenging for expatriates.
I recommend this place if you get a chance to visit.
0 Comments