Guangzhou Haoyin Gloria Plaza Hotel

China Southern provided this hotel for my 18-hour Guangzhou layover on the way back from Europe. It was much better than the hotel on my outbound trip and surpassed what I expected. My room was clean and well equipped, with a very comfortable bed and soft, nice linen and pillows. The bathroom had a separate bath and shower, plus the accessories you'd expect at a four-star hotel. The minibar was a little sparse, though I rarely use one, and I didn't try room service. Breakfast was included. The buffet had cooks who could fry eggs and a mix of Chinese and western food. It was more like a three-star breakfast than a four-star one, but perfectly adequate. The staff were friendly and accommodating, with enough English to help sort out issues, including a problem logging into the room Wi-Fi. The internet wasn't great, but usable, given that Google, fb, youtube and twitter aren't available in China. It was a pleasant stay, and if I get another free layover hotel in Guangzhou, I'd choose this one again.

For a transit night, this was a comfortable place to stay. The airport is about 20 minutes away, and a free shuttle runs both ways. There's a 24-hour convenience store on the first floor for snacks, KFC at the building's corner, and more restaurants and shops, including a supermarket, nearby. This is a residential area rather than a business complex, so be ready to use some Chinese. The room was very clean, the bathroom was nice, and the bed was comfortable. I'd stay again on a business trip.

I had a very large, quiet suite. The hotel is about a 500-700m walk from the subway, and the shuttle takes fifteen minutes to the airport.

We keep coming back, and after four stays, we’re already looking forward to the next one. The price is modest, and the free breakfast has plenty of Cantonese dishes alongside Western food. The room is large and well equipped, with two double beds. I also like the glass-walled bathroom and shower, which make the room feel bigger. The service starts with the free VIP shuttle: the driver helps with our bags, and at the hotel someone brings them up to the room. Check-in is easy, too, since there’s always someone who speaks English. I enjoy walking 6-7 kilometres around the area and seeing how it’s constantly being built up and modernised. There are so many hotels in Guangzhou, but this is the one we return to.