I’m probably one of the biggest critics out there when it comes to W Hotels in the US. I find they’re overpriced, cheaply decorated, and 110% style over substance. So while I thought I had written off the brand earlier this year, I’ve been nothing short of delighted by my non-US stays at W Hotels the past six months or so.
Over the summer I stayed at the W Taipei, which was simply a gorgeous property with incredible SPG Platinum treatment.
W Taipei
Then a month later I stayed at the brand new W Sentosa Cove Singapore, which was once again stunning.
W Sentosa Cove Singapore
Now I just wrapped up a stay at the W Guangzhou, which might just be my favorite W property of all.
W Guangzhou exterior
Physically it’s a stunning property. I mean, my usual complaint with US W properties is that they seem to get all their furniture from IKEA. There’s nothing wrong with that at Aloft properties, which I love, but when I’m paying $200+ per night some non-college dorm furniture would be nice.
W Guangzhou lobby
I received a “Fantastic Suite” at the W, and it’s simply stunning. It’s decorated much more like a St. Regis or modern Ritz-Carlton than a W.
W Guangzhou Fantastic Suite living room
W Guangzhou Fantastic Suite bedroom
W Guangzhou Fantastic Suite bathroom
The awesomeness continued with the hotel’s public facilities. I mean, check out the hotel’s 29th floor pool. Is that one of the coolest hotel pools, or what?
W Guangzhou pool
As is the norm in Asia, the breakfast buffet is sinfully good. I mean, as much as I love breakfast buffets in Asia, at the same time I really, really hate them, since I end up eating about ten times as much as I otherwise would.
W Guangzhou Kitchen Table restaurant
And the other thing that makes this W awesome is that it’s the only one in the world with a club lounge. The club lounge doesn’t serve breakfast (since guests that are eligible for access receive restaurant breakfast anyway), but is open throughout the day and has an evening happy hour.
W Guangzhou lounge
But more than anything else, service at this hotel is amazing. I’ve come to realize that very few people in Guangzhou speak English, and that even applies at the W.
However, that doesn’t bother me one bit because of how hard the employees try. I’m only here for two days, and when I went to breakfast the second morning the lovely server said “did you want the same table as yesterday? And an iced coffee to drink again?” Amazing to remember that after just one day!
Then I went to the club lounge the second afternoon to get some work done, and as soon as I sat down the lady working the lounge said “and did you want a cappuccino again?”
I know it sounds simple, but the more hotels I stay at, the more I appreciate the little touches touches. Remembering a drink order or table shouldn’t be a big deal, but it really makes me smile.
Similarly, the concierge couldn’t have been more helpful in making recommendations about what I should do. The second day he had remembered my name and without my prompting written down some more recommendations for things for me to do.
And the last example of the amazing service — I checked out of the hotel at 6AM, before the restaurant even opened for breakfast. There were no taxis available, so it took about 10 minutes for a taxi to arrive, and they had me sit in the lobby to wait. By the time the taxi arrived the associate that had checked me out came up to me with a bag and said “I realize you have not had breakfast yet, so we packed you some breakfast. Please enjoy.” AMAZING!
Anyway, this is simply an awesome W, inside and out. Not only is it physically stunning, but it has service to match.
A full trip report will follow early next week!
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