W Suzhou

That purple light is basically the room's main lighting, and when it's on I feel like I'm in a club. The rooms are dated, and the internet is extremely slow.

The internet was surprisingly slow for a hotel at this level, but the rest of the stay more than made up for it. W Suzhou has a bold modern look and a lively, funky feel. My spacious, stylish room had floor-to-ceiling windows with striking views of the city and lake, and even the heated electric toilet was great. The location is hard to beat, a short walk from Suzhou's largest mall and near the city center. Breakfast had one of the widest selections of fresh, high-quality food I've had in China. The on-site restaurants serve both local and international dishes in trendy spaces, though they cost a lot by Chinese standards. The pool and spa were gorgeous, calm, and luxurious. The massages were excellent too, but priced more like North America than locally.

This was my second stay in two years, and I have to admit I remembered the hotel better. It gets a bit chaotic. The room was superb, though my toilet wasn't working quite right. Breakfast could be better for the European options, especially the croissants and pancakes, which weren't good quality.

I was especially taken with the view of Jinji Lake from my room, both in daylight and at night. The room was spotless, and the housekeeper was kind enough to tell me about Suzhou's charm. On arrival, Kimi’s team had already made me feel welcome, keeping in touch and making sure the details were handled. The hotel's next to Suzhou Center, with an indoor bridge straight into the mall, which made exploring easy. It was my first visit to Suzhou, and the city's amazing atmosphere paired with the hotel's cool, stylish feel made the trip memorable. Thanks to the whole team for a special stay. I'd happily recommend W Suzhou to anyone visiting.