Naturally, the Hilton properties are my go-to places for this trip! I was considering the Conrad or this hotel. They are the two best properties in the city. There was no shortage of luxury options when it came to Guangzhou. It is well-represented by all of the big names. I opted for the Yuexiu Hotel since it is a very new hotel. I love how they call it “越秀宾馆” that is so classic and I love the historical links. Curio is one of the most special and unique brands within the portfolio. It is also cheaper than the Conrad which makes more financial sense since I require 2 rooms. I am also arriving at 2am on the first day. It is also always good to stay in something this new. The hotel location is also better for exploring and checking out the historical sights.
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
I booked the stay directly with Hilton and got the base-level rooms. I reach out ahead to the hotel and get some information. China is just on a different level. You can barely find any information on the website. This is especially true when the hotel is this new. The hotel offered me all the information and they also did their best to arrange for rooms on the same floor. Before my stay, I was also upgraded one tier to the deluxe room. The hotel still has some rooms that are still not open yet for stays. Yuexiu Hotel comes with 200 guest rooms and suites spread across 4 categories. You can check out the breakdown below.
| Rooms | Executive Lounge Access | Bathtub | Room Size | No of Rooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guest | No | No | 35 Sqm | 87 |
| Deluxe | No | Yes | 35 Sqm | 35 |
| Executive | Yes | Yes | 35 Sqm | 24 |
| Junior Suite | No | Yes | 57 Sqm | 12 |
| Deluxe Suite | Yes | Yes | 60 Sqm | 36 |
| Executive Suite | Yes | Yes | 115 Sqm | 1 |
| Two Bedroom Suite | Yes | Yes | 115 Sqm | 4 |
| Yuexiu Premium Suite | Yes | Yes | 145 Sqm | 1 |
Checking In
I arrive at the hotel only at around 3am since my flight is scheduled to land at 1.20am. From Guangzhou Baiyun Airport it is about a 40 mins drive to the hotel. It is very easy with Didi and I barely waited for the car to arrive. Upon arrival, we went into the empty lobby area. There was no one at this hour and I was immediately helped at the counter. Check-in took a little time as they took our details and information.
The lobby looks very chic and I love the decor of the area. There are plenty of seatings by the side of the lobby. After all, it is only 2 months old. Late check-out was extended till 4pm which is very much appreciated for my late departure out of Guangzhou. Service was unmemorable since it was late at night and I also didn’t get the full information about the property. The encounters in the morning were much better. I also met the lovely Fancy, the Guest Service Manager who is very helpful and knowledgeable.
During the day, they also have some hot drinks by the lobby for guests to enjoy. That is very sweet.
Deluxe Room
I was assigned a room on the 12 floor. We have rooms on the same floor but they are not connecting rooms or even adjacent rooms. The deluxe rooms are a level above the lead in the category. It measures a cosy 35 Sqm. It feels much more spacious than it is. I love the layout and how it is decorated. This is perfect for both long and short stays. It is a great use of the space. The deluxe rooms also come with an inbuilt kitchenette. I am surprised by this.
On the right of the room, you have a little space to sit which is very thoughtful and nicely set up. This will be handy for you to wear your footwear right before exiting the room. I would love it if they could set up this area with perhaps an additional wardrobe or some hooks for your outerwear.
The bathroom is found towards the left. It is of a good size and handy. Such a great use of the space. I love the set-up. It comes with only a single sink but plenty of counter space. All sorts of amenities are provided and I am also shocked that they even had a Dyson hairdryer here. That is very unacceptable. It is nice that they have decided to invest in quality fittings.
The toilet in the shower is located in a separate room. The shower room is spacious and comes with a bathtub inside too. It is like those configurations that you see in Japanese hotels. I am a huge fan of this configuration. It comes with both a rainforest shower head as well as a handheld one. Amenities are in large pump-size bottles and they were from Guild + Pepper. I love the woody and oaky scent of it. This reminds me a lot of Gilchrist & Soames. Temperature control is great but water pressure is weak.
Heading into the main space of the room itself. Along the walkway, this is where you can find a kitchenette along a wet bar. It is well-appropriate. Pots and pans are available upon request from the staff. They also have a fridge here that is left empty for your use. There is an espresso coffee machine, capsules and packaged tea provided. They also had a washer and dryer installed here. You can find all sorts of glassware too. Drinking water is provided.
The main space of the room is in a rectangular configuration. I love the finishes with a touch of traditional and yet luxurious finishes. The wardrobe is fully equipped with all sorts of amenities that you might require from an ironing kit to a steamer, umbrella, a safe, bathrobes and bath slippers. There are plenty of hangers.
The deluxe room boasts an additional sitting area. This comes with a couch and a coffee table. It is good for two. It is always nice to have a seating area in the room itself other than your bed in a room.
The high-quality smart screen television is mounted on the wall. The size is great for the room. It comes with plenty of both local and international cable TV channels. The quality is great and this makes it good for a pleasant movie night.
The working desk cum vanity area comes equipped with a mirror and lamp. There are power outlets and the wifi is strong. Do note that the wifi comes with a firewall and you will not be able to access certain apps with the Wi-Fi connection.
The plush king-size bed takes up the centrepiece of the room. The bedding was extremely good and on the firm side which is what I appreciate. The same goes for the pillows and sheets. I slept well. On both sides of the bed, you can find nightstands. Power outlets and controls for the lighting are within reach.
The room comes with a view of the surrounding area and the Yuexiu Park across the road. The curtains and blinds are manually controlled. Turndown service is automatically offered in the evening with the room refreshed.
Fitness Centre
The fitness centre is located on the 8th floor. It is open from 7am to 11pm daily. It is a rather lovely facility and well-equipped. The place is well maintained. After all, it is such a new facility. Towels and water are provided. There is also a Pilates room that is not open yet.
Executive Lounge
This is the first time that I saw a Curio with an executive lounge. You don’t usually see them here. The executive lounge is open from 2pm to 9pm daily. It is a very nice space on the second floor. They offer afternoon tea and evening cocktails. As per usual, entitlement is offered to guests in executive rooms and above or Diamond status guests. For my second room, we paid a special rate of 400 CNY which includes breakfast the next day as well.
I did not spend much time at the lounge since I was out most of the time. I did manage to pop by for afternoon tea on the second day. Afternoon tea is served from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. The staff is very polished and I was always addressed by name. They constantly come by to offer drinks and refills. Drinks wise they have some juices, coffee, tea and soft drinks. It is quite a nice spread for afternoon tea. They have some chocolate tarts, fruits, cookies and these nice freshly made prawn crackers. That was the highlight.
The evening cocktails are a much better spread. Alcoholic beverages consist of spirits, red and white wines and bottled beers. There are also some simple mixers that you can use to whip up some simple cocktails.
The food selection is pretty good. Here are some pictures of it. I enjoyed the soup and stir fry. It stays rather empty during the evening cocktails and we had a fun time.
Breakfast at ADD
Breakfast is served at ADD restaurant. It is an acronym for All Day Dining! HAHA! Breakfast is buffet style from 6.30am to 10.30am. This is extended till 11am on weekends. That will come in very handy. Breakfast costs 99 CNY if not included in your rate or membership. You get complimentary breakfast if you have Gold or Diamond status. We barely made it for breakfast on the first morning since we went back to sleep at around 4am. You are free to sit anywhere in the restaurant. It is very spacious.
Here are some of the pictures of the restaurant. The spread is very good from both Western and Chinese selection. The food quality is very good and I love that they cook food in small batches and they are constantly kept fresh. I love their dim sum, pastries and stir fry. The wanton is also very good. The selection changes from time to time.
Don’t miss out on the breakfast if you have access to it! It is worth heading down for. However with Guangzhou being a culinary city with plenty of good food all around the area. I will not pay just to have breakfast at the hotel.
Conclusion
This is a very nice hotel. It is always worth staying in a new hotel when everything is so new and everything is in tip-top condition. I had a comfortable stay and enjoyed it a lot. No regret choosing this over Conrad. The decor is top-notch. I certainly don’t mind coming back here from another stay and would love to check out some of the other room types. I do love the Curio brand as you might just get surprises here and there. It allows you to check out boutique hotels or unique hotels with the ability to enjoy your elite status and earn points.
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