GGuest UserI first went to Panyu Hotel, queued up for check-in, but after several minutes, neither of the two front desk staff acknowledged me. It felt like waiting in line at a bank. So, I turned to my phone, searched for nearby hotels, and found Grand Mercure with good reviews. Here's my experience:
The good parts:
1. They have 4 EV charging stations, and I didn't have to wait to charge (probably because I arrived late), which was one of the reasons I chose Grand Mercure.
2. Plenty of parking. I noticed there was a conference on the 6th floor these past few days, but there were still plenty of empty parking spots, so no worries about finding a space.
3. There's an outdoor swimming pool, and guests can swim for free. The pool hadn't closed when I arrived, but it was raining, so the staff said they'd wait for the rain to stop before opening it. The next morning, it wasn't raining, and I spent some time by the pool (didn't bring swimwear or a cap). Even though it rained the day before, the water was still very clean.
4. Customer service representative Xiao Mai (MAI) told me my room was on the 6th floor and that there was a conference upstairs. Concerned I might not find my way, she personally escorted me to the room and helped me adjust the temperature and lighting. Her service gets a perfect 10.
5. The room was quiet. Willow at the front desk, when I checked in around 6 or 7, offered me choices: a room with a pool view, a bathtub, or a balcony. I picked the one with a balcony. Although it didn't overlook the hotel pool, I could step out to get some fresh air and feel the breeze (thankfully, I had sprayed insect repellent beforehand; Guangdong mosquitoes can fly up to the 6th floor and fly high after a blood meal!). The mattress was soft and comfortable, not lumpy. The carpet looked old and faded but was very clean, probably having been recently cleaned.
6. Good greenery and abundant plants. The fountain turns off at night, so it doesn't disturb sleep.
7. The hotel has three interconnected buildings forming a '凹' shape. There are elevators in the connecting areas. If you're on the 6th floor, taking the scenic elevator down to your car is quite convenient, saving you a trip to the main lobby.
8. The Chinese restaurant on the first floor didn't seem to be open. Guihua recommended nearby Shun Jing Ming Lou, Shui Yun Jian, Da Shu Tou, and Hua Xi Yu (which sounds beautiful, and I ended up going there) for Cantonese cuisine. The prices in the vicinity aren't as high as in Shenzhen, so they're acceptable.
Areas for improvement:
1. Every time I need to exit the parking lot, I have to scan a QR code or call the front desk to enter my license plate number, which is quite inconvenient. The hotel should consider upgrading its parking system, similar to Chimelong's, where you input your car details at check-in, and it's valid until check-out the next day.
2. The cakes at afternoon tea were not very refined; they were too simple.
3. If it's your first time and you're staying on the 6th floor, I'd recommend having someone escort you, as it can be a bit confusing to navigate.
For me, the pros outweighed the cons. It really depends on personal preferences.
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