Kat N
Google
I booked this hotel through Amex FHR for the added benefits. I know Google reviews are not accessible in China, but I still wanted future travelers to be aware of my experience.
The stay was not terrible, but it also was not impressive. Through FHR, I received a room upgrade to a corner room with large windows on two sides, which made the space feel bright and more open. My brother also booked through FHR, but his room was not upgraded at all, which surprised us. We attempted early check in, but no rooms were available. We were eventually notified via WeChat around 2:40 pm that our rooms were ready.
One thing worth noting is the pricing. When I originally booked, the rates were quite high. I paid $221 per night, but when I checked again about two weeks before arrival, the same room was selling for $118 per night. Seeing the price drop by nearly half made the value feel even more questionable.
The St. Regis brand is known for prestige, but this location in Chengdu did not quite live up to that reputation. The price point made sense once we saw the condition of the rooms. While the staff were polite, the rooms were clearly dated. Our bathroom especially needed a refresh. The grout was yellowed and black in places, there were cracks throughout, and the shower fixtures were falling apart. One night, the shower would not fully turn off and kept dripping. On top of that, the pillows were awful. They offered no support, and even stacking them did not help. My neck hurt badly for two nights.
Very few staff members spoke English, which I understand since most of their guests are local Chinese travelers. That said, visitors should be prepared for a lot of noise and disorder throughout the hotel. There were frequent loud confrontations and children running around unsupervised. It is unfortunate, because China could be an incredible destination for tourists, but the lack of basic courtesy and order really detracts from the experience.
With the FHR benefit, we were given a $100 credit, or ¥700 at the time of our visit. This credit could only be used at their buffet restaurant called Social, or toward laundry, limo service, or the spa. The terms stated no accumulations, which was confusing. My understanding was that if the buffet cost $55 per person, my husband and I could fully use the credit. However, my brother stayed alone, so he could only use $55 and lost the remaining value. That was disappointing, especially since other FHR hotels we have stayed at never imposed this kind of restriction.
Would I stay here again? Probably not. I honestly do not think this hotel belongs in the FHR program.
