Four Points by Sheraton Suzhou

My suite on the 18th floor was a reasonable size, with a separate living room and panoramic views of Dushu lake and Suzhou Industrial Park. The air conditioning wasn’t on when I arrived, but it worked well once switched on. Check-in was quick, and they explained the hotel facilities. There was a happy hour with drinks and light bites in a small lounge beside the lobby bar, from 5:30-7:30. The fruit platter they sent was decent. Breakfast was quite good, with bacon, tomatoes, an egg station, and the usual Asian options. I liked it better than breakfast at the Le Meridien in Suzhou bay. The location isn’t ideal for sightseeing, though there’s a subway station within walking distance and a small mall and convenience store across the road. I’d already stayed at the other three SPG properties in Suzhou and decided to try the Four Points too.

I stayed for more than four weeks and really enjoyed it. Four Points Suzhou sits right beside Dushu Lake, with lovely lake views from the rooms. There are also several nice restaurants and small convenience stores within easy walking distance. The rooms have large beds, a minibar, TV, A/C, LAN and WiFi, bathrobes, umbrellas, hair dryers, and a small workspace. The bathrooms show some mould and don’t hold up well to close inspection, which is the one thing that kept me from giving five stars. The hotel also has room service, laundry, shoe shining, and a spa with a pool, saunas, and gym. Breakfast offers lots of choice: familiar international dishes like eggs, bacon, toast, oatmeal, baked beans, and bread, plus salad, Danish pastries, cereals, and local noodles, vegetables, and fruit. There are no cold cuts and very little cheese. Staff are polite and friendly. Not everyone speaks fluent English, but usually someone who does is available quickly.

The hotel and staff are high quality and professional. I liked the breakfast and dinner buffets, and my plan included the breakfast buffet for free. There’s also a fancy bar and the rooms are very good. A few things could be better. Wi-Fi gets very unreliable in the evening, presumably when everyone is using it. The Ethernet cable at the desk is connected to nothing, so fast wired internet would be welcome. My meal from the bar took around 40 minutes, which was too long. My coworker could exchange USD for CNY, but when I asked, reception sent me to the Bank of China. We’re both from the US, so why did we get different answers?

A nice hotel in what feels like a ghost city, with empty office blocks, apartments only partly occupied, and malls that are barely populated. The lake is the one saving grace, with long walks possible when the air is okay.