The Real Deal on Pan Pacific Suzhou (Wu Palace) - My Unfiltered Review!

[Samuel Kihn]

Hello, today I want to share my real experience of staying at the Sheraton Hotel Suzhou Wugong for four days and three nights!

• I've been to so many cities, but it's my first time experiencing such a "Garden Resort Hotel."

  • You know, Suzhou is famous for its classic gardens. This hotel was built in that style, which makes it very characteristic.

• Service Experience:

  • Before I went there, I saw some reviews online saying the service wasn't good. So, I was a little worried about it.
  • But after arriving at the hotel, I felt that the service was actually very good! When the car I booked with a ride-hailing app reached the front door, someone was already there to help open the doors. After completing the check-in process, the person at the front desk led us to the door of our rooms. It felt quite considerate and thoughtful.

• Rooms Facilities and Air Conditioning (Warning!):

  • I must mention this, the facilities were a bit old and shabby.
  • But the real issue with this hotel was the air conditioning; it seemed like a decoration and was practically useless.
  • A warning for anyone who tends to get too cold or too hot: Fortunately, during my stay, the weather in Suzhou was not terrible, which made it bearable. However, before checking in, please make sure the air conditioning works properly!

• Check-in Timing (Be Warned!):

  • We got off the high-speed train/Guangzhou around 1 PM and headed straight to the hotel. Surprisingly, we saw a lot of people in the lobby waiting for available rooms and asking the staff about their check-in time.
  • According to them, they were still cleaning the rooms and would provide the room keys after 3 PM.
  • I had a little doubt here: The hotel policy says 12 PM check-out; however, check-in isn't available before 3 PM. This may cause unpleasant experiences for newcomers.
  • To cope with this, I suggest checking the storage room for luggage first (which is free of charge), and go out for sightseeing before checking in, rather than waiting at the lobby helplessly. If earlier arrival is planned, it would be better to have an alternative plan in mind.

• Transportation:

  • This part was good; it was convenient for me to take a ride-hailing app or subway to the popular places within the city.

• Value for Money:

  • In summary, one night cost us about RMB 300. What more could one ask for! (This is a Chinese saying meaning that the price is pretty reasonable; don't make too many demands).

• Additional notes:

  • PS: The hotel does not provide breakfast!

• Tips:

  • By the way, there is a historical scenic spot called Panmen Site behind the hotel, which houses the ancient city wall and watergate. With room cards, visitors can enter the site unlimitedly for free.
  • I recommend visiting Panmen at night – the lighting creates such a different atmosphere and makes the visit really worthwhile!

I hope this information is helpful to anyone planning a trip to Suzhou!

[Colin Cronin]

The facilities are admittedly old, and the service is really just average.

[Rosemarie Sawayn PhD]

But for over 300 yuan, it's still quite a good deal.

[Stacey Kulas]

Which room type is this, dear?

[Velma Thompson]

I got my room by 1 PM back then, and the AC was working fine too.

[Abel Schulist MD]

We ran into guests from another room in the elevator, and they were also saying their AC wasn't working.

[Antoinette Ferry]

The scenery is fantastic and the location is super convenient. I'm a Tongcheng member, so I got one day of free breakfast, which was great because I was planning to visit Xiyuan Temple for their vegetarian noodles anyway. The night view of Panmen Gate is stunning.

[Clarence Hessel II]

What room type is this?

[Hugo Witting]

We went during the National Day holiday, and it was 1600 a night.

[Daisy Hermiston]

Breakfast is on the first floor.

[Carmen Willms]

Once I got there, I realized it wasn't as bad as the online reviews made it out to be.

[Felix Glover]

This AC just made noise, no heat. The bathtub faucet water was either scalding hot or freezing cold. On the plus side, apart from good value, they offer a free one-hour Hanfu and Qipao experience, plus an introduction to Suzhou's Panmen Gate and the hotel's history.

[Sylvia Franecki]

Yeah. The shower water was the same, either too icy or too hot.

[Timothy Denesik]

The room facilities are too old and soundproofing is poor. The hotel's general environment is quite nice, but personally, I don't think it's worth its price.

[Madeline Hermann III]

Right. The hotel's public areas are great, but the rooms are really just average.

[Faye O'Conner]

It's a hotel from the 90s; it used to be a Sheraton.

[Candace McDermott]

Oh, I see.

[Lucia Feest]

I paid 1500 for 2 nights, not cheap at all.

[Velma Thompson]

I booked it yesterday for nearly 900. After seeing a bunch of negative comments, I'm having second thoughts.