The expiry of my Hyatt Cat 4 free night voucher is looming whist I’m in China, and I curated a list of three candidates after due research: Alila Wuzhen, Grand Hyatt Hangzhou and Park Hyatt Suzhou. I decided for Park Hyatt Suzhou in the end, mostly because, well, it’s closer to home.
Also a small trick to share: the new Guest-of-Honour awards cannot be combined with free night awards, but in this year of transition there is a workaround. Gift your free night award to your Globalist friend, and as long as they’ve used up all their GOH vouchers they could call Hyatt’s customer service and make a GOH booking with the free night award. My free breakfast is sorted! But it’s a shame that Park Hyatt don’t do club lounges.
Park Hyatt Suzhou opened in 2020, and is still considered a new hotel. One dislike people have against it is location. It is in Suzhou’s Industrial Park so a good 10+ miles away from the city centre or Suzhou Railway Station. Although it’s in proximity to Jinji Lake, you don’t have direct access to the waters and many roads around here are under construction.
I definitely wouldn’t recommend tourists to stay here, but as I’ve been to Suzhou a couple of times previously it’s not a major concern.
Nowadays you’ll find most China’s luxury hotels in skyscrapers, and Park Hyatt Suzhou is unconventional in the sense that the whole property is just a small building, which I believe is extremely rare. The porters came up very swiftly to open the car door and carry the luggage for us.
Suzhou Garden is a very famous architectural style in China, and the hotel is following this school from inside to outside.
I think they are very successful in recreating a flavour of Suzhou Garden in such a modern building. Traditional elegance and modern luxury are blended very naturally and I like it a lot.
On your way to the guest lifts there are two Koi ponds. This unique species of fish is believed to bring fortune and good luck in Chinese and Japanese culture. The ponds are nice but sadly you can only admire through the glasses.
We arrived at 1pm, and our upgraded room was already waiting. It was a Deluxe Twin which was the best room category for twins. The bird cage at the door is cute.
Entrance and wardrobe:
Living room and bedroom:
One disadvantage of the twin rooms is none of them feature lake view, and ours faces a construction site. The room doesn’t feel as radiant as the hotel’s lobby but there are many nice touches that remind you that you are in an luxurious five-star hotel. Craft displays on the shelves are beautiful.
Bathroom with the smart toilet seat that opens up when you approach:
Welcome fruits:
Gym and pool facilities are on the ground floor opposite to the guest lifts.
Pool and jacuzzi:
The pool is unheated and a bit cold. The venue is translucent, allowing plenty of light to flow through. Along with the cabanas and plants by the side I almost feel like in a forest.
Sauna and jacuzzi are available in the changing rooms:
Breakfast is served at the Xizhou Hall, which as I read is very popular and you have to reserve well advance for dinner.
The service is buffet and a-la-carte dining mixed. I don’t think a-la-carte is a common breakfast style at China’s hotels.
Buffet:
The food however was a let-down to me. The Xiaolongbao’s skin is too thick, seasoning is off and there’s no soup inside. Cappuccino is from an automatic machine. The only thing I like is the pastry.
Service however throughout my stay is excellent, and I always felt warmly welcomed. I called for a bottle of mineral water and they sent six immediately. The only minor complaint: the turndown service arrived too late at after 8pm, and we had to decline it.
Although I do love Park Hyatt Suzhou’s architecture, room and service, I’m puzzled by their positioning in the market. The location is way too remote for tourists, and it’s too small to be presented as a resort. The Four Seasons nearby is a much better resort destination, but also more expensive.
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