Element Guangzhou Baiyun

After a long day, the calm, fresh feel of Element Guangzhou made it a comfortable place to unwind. The room was modern, clean, and well cared for, with a practical layout and a comfy bed. A clean, cosy, hassle-free choice in Guangzhou, and I'd recommend it.

The lawns and surroundings were well maintained, and there are four other hotels in the same area. The rooms were spacious and very clean, breakfast was good, and I thought the hotel was awesome.

The rooms were okay, but I found the whole place frustrating. The staff seemed rude and incompetent, and even simple payments turned into confusing calculations, multiple charges, and refunds that didn't add up. I paid 6000 on arrival for a room costing 5500, so I expected 500 back at checkout. Instead, they refunded 3000 and asked me to pay the remaining 2500, with a very high card fee. The refund could take up to 3 working days. I was there with a friend, and they split the 3000 refund between us, sending me 700 and my friend 2300. I work in healthcare, and many challenged individuals could work out 6000 minus 5500 quickly. They asked for payment again when refunding the deposit. Even after the refund came through, there were exchange fees, and then more when they asked me to pay the balance. My 12-year-old son could do the maths better than Cynthia, if that's her real name. At dinner, splitting the bill was another ordeal. They needed a calculator, while I didn't, and then looked at me as if I were trying to rob them. Their maths ability was my biggest pet peeve. The spa was difficult to use because you need a swimming cap to swim. The internet was completely unusable. When I asked whether I could upgrade it, they laughed as if I had no work to do and blamed everyone else using it, though I found it hard to imagine anyone was. There's no room service, even though robots deliver takeaway food. They can't deliver food from their own kitchen. Coffee costs more than a taxi or takeaway meal, and the coffee machine is always broken. The English ability at this hotel was inferior to that of the lovely McDonald's worker I met near Baimar market. They proclaim themselves a five-star establishment, but I've had better service at premier inn. Come here if you love riddles and maths equations.

For a short stay, the room size and price make this good value. It's in a complex with three other Bonvoy hotels, and as a Marriott Bonvoy member, I think it's one of the better ones. It's a bit far from the city center, but ordering deliveries worked fine for us.