One night staycation as I’ve always wanted to try this out and see how the Platinum happy hour compares to some of this city’s excellent hotel lounges. The hotel is on the top floors of a skyscraper. Reception is on Floor 96 and my room was on the 88th. Great views over Shenzhen and the New Territories towards Sheung Shui.

Check in was efficient but I wasn’t welcomed as a Titanium, told about any of the Platinum benefits, invited to the happy hour, or asked whether I wanted welcome points or breakfast. I do prefer to clarify these things at check in so there are no misunderstandings so I confirmed the happy hour location and timings and said I’d want breakfast as my welcome gift. I noticed they upgraded me to a corner Fortune City View room which was like a half-suite room with a separate working area and walk-in wardrobe. Quality hardware.

Before I arrived, I’d received an email from the Butler service with a QR code to link to them on WeChat. As soon as I arrived in my room, the doorbell went and I was greeted by the butler who invited me to call them for anything on the phone or WeChat. I rarely need anything on a staycation but the service was proactive.

At 17.30 I headed back to the 96th floor for three hours of Platinum happy hour. There’s a drinks menu with beer, wine, and spirits alongside a small selection of food that would make a meal if it had to but nothing compared to many of the lounges in this city. This included three types of dim sum, pasta and red sauce, fish goujons, pork, rice, vegetable, fruit, cakes, and a soup. I drank the white wine all night and they were reasonably proactive topping up but as they brought the drinks from the distant bar it limited consumption over the three hours and I felt that I wasn’t expected to spend the entire three hours there.

Overall, there’s a kind of startled, erratic, random, feel to the service here that I’ve not experienced at the various Sheraton, Westin, Marriott, W, or Renaissance hotels I’ve stayed at in Shenzhen or Guangzhou up the road. I went to breakfast early and was seated at a table overlooking the city. When I returned with my food, they’d sat somebody else right at the table next to me despite the place being deserted and strict Covid behaviours being enforced. At the same breakfast, I was told the eggs Benedict would take five minutes but I had to go collect it myself while the chefs and staff stood around rather than bringing it over. Breakfast spread was good quality but not as extensive as other hotels like the Sheraton Futian. After breakfast, I headed to the lifts to go back down to my room but the staff member who rushed to assist pressed the up button which takes you only to reception and she expected me to get in despite the fact I was clearly holding my room key in my hand. Not a complaint (because I don’t speak Chinese) but the level of English here was quite poor compared to other Bonvoy hotels in the city which I think results in some of the slightly unsettled interactions I had but it doesn’t make an entirely relaxing experience for a St. Regis brand hotel.

There’s an indoor infinity pool along with the gym and steam room. On Saturday night the pool appeared popular with families.

I’ve been meaning to do a staycation here for ages and finally got around to it. That itch is now scratched and while there was nothing particularly bad here I see no reason to come back. I’d say the Marriott Nanshan is a better overall experience in a similar quality hotel.