Visited the Marco Polo during my visit to Xiamen; its pretty dated and bet the rooms aren’t great either. General area is nice with views over looking a lake with a row of cafés and restaurants right beside the hotel. Did not visit the Sofitel but understand that Pan Pacific runs it now.

Stayed at the Sheraton for 2 nights in April, was upgraded to an exec floor deluxe room with full lounge access and complimentary internet. Service in the lounge was great with a decent western breakfast selection, compared to the awful breakfast offered on the second floor venue packed with messy guests and un-attentive station cooks or assistants whom don’t bother re-arranging the displays at all. The lounge would be the only place in the hotel to get a decent breakfast, I would have been very sore if I had to eat at the canteen on the second floor as I opted and paid for a breakfast inclusive rate.

Exec lounge had a happy hour from 5pm to 730pm, offering okay finger food and a good selection of alcohol and wines. Point worth mentioning, ordered a café latte and a cappuccino on separate occasions, both were just regular very week coffee with milk & some foam or a lot of foam with chocolate powder. Some one needs to teach them how to make a decent cup of coffee.

Location is good, views not comparable to other hotels with sea facing locations on the island of Xiamen. Hard to miss the gold glass façade of the hotel, it has above average contemporary looking rooms with clean large shower cubicles. Sound insulation between rooms were good but the doors or seals has got to be worked on; came back one night walking past a room next to mine, heard moans and groans, walked on, closed my door, past my bathroom, heard nothing more.

Service was average in general but the staffs at the lounge and reception were very attentive and exceed expectations. Expect crowds during check in and out, smallish lobby makes experience chaotic.