#StayInGuangzhou

[walkaboutrojo]

The Planet Hotel, Guangzhou, China

Located on a busy street in Guangzhou’s LIwan district, surrounded by foreign trade markets (mostly textiles) is a unique lodging choice that will whip you away from “Planet China” and into its own universe.  The Planet Hotel is an ambitious attempt to bring an element of surprise, western concepts of hospitality and one-of-kind décor to an otherwise bland and uninspiring hotel experience in this part of the city.

I visited this hotel during an admittedly sleepy time of the year, the heat of the Chinese New Year, so my experience was different in that the hotel occupancy was low and the surrounding markets and businesses were closed for the week.  Still, it did not distract from my experience. 

Building:

Location:  The location is in a part of the city that is heavy with foreign trade and not necessarily near any tourist attractions.  A short walk south into the vibrant Liwan district or a few blocks to the metro will get you where you need to go.  Unless you’re in the area for business, you’ll be out of your way to stay here. 

Facilities:  The building is not a new construction and consists of a mid-rise, 2 wing design.  The hotel does not offer any kind of recreational facilities such as a gym, spa, or swimming pool.  But there was a coffee shop/wine bar adjacent to the main lobby that (because of the holiday week I stayed) was empty and not in use.  The well-stocked gift and snack shop was a welcome site when waiting for the elevator.  I only got to experience the restaurant on the top floor for the morning breakfast.

Amenities:  Everything is branded in this hotel.  EVERYTHING!  You can’t look at the towels, toilet paper holder, or even the waste basket without it reminding you that you’re staying at “The Planet Hotel”.  The room and bathroom amenities were abundant for this caliber hotel. 

Décor:  This is the real star of the show.  Some people might be put off by the pseudo-“cheesy” elements throughout but the property knows what it is and ultimately made for a fun atmosphere.  You never knew what splash of bright color or alien statue would await behind each corner.  During my visit, the carpets in the rooms and in the hallways were so thick that you actually felt like you were bouncing, or floating in a low gravity space station.  The white walls and fixtures felt like they’re right out of the Apple design studios and the distant hum of the Air Conditioners added to the utter worldly environment.   

Service

Staff:  The front desk staff were excellent and welcoming when I first entered.  It was a little humid outside and I was offered some sweet tea and a hot towel at check-in.  The process was efficient and the front desk agents were well trained to accommodate a foreign guest.  In the restaurant, which is rather small for a hotel this size, the staff and especially the manager on duty were very diligent in escorting guests in and out and providing service and space to enjoy the breakfast.  They in particular, should be commended for executing this delicate dance with guests and available dining space each morning. 

Food:  The abundant buffet style breakfast food catered to both Chinese and western tastes and the egg bar gave my requests quickly and to my liking. 

Cleanliness:  The rooms and hallways did not smell like cigarette smoke, a comment of note when dealing with Chinese hotels as it’s quite rare.  In fact, there was a pleasant smell throughout the hotel, much like a “new carpet” smell.  The bathrooms, rooms, and common areas were all free of clutter and dust; a noticeably attentive housekeeping staff taking care of everything.

Experience

Comfort:  The beds were extremely comfortable.  The soft touch bed sidings and super soft mattress made getting out of bed in the morning a fight with my will power.  However, the interesting mid-century inspired space chair in the room looked cool, but was a chore to hang out in for more than a few minutes.  The standard rooms are small and could be considered crowded for more than 2 people. 

Uniqueness:  This is definitely a unique experience hotel for this market.  Rooms facing the road will offer the only real view of the outside world.  The room I was in had a disappointing view of the boarded-up windows of the office building next door.  The attempt at what it’s trying to do is worthy, but things like the space capsule showers with changing lights and loud music have a less than stellar execution.  The crazy alien characters and ultra-modern artwork of the lobby more than make up for those shortcomings.  You won’t find another hotel stay like this in Guangzhou.

Value:  Definitely a good value for the money considering the lack of other inspiring competition, the bountiful breakfast buffet, and the unique concept.  The prices are pretty much in line as the other options in this category, and although lacking some facilities that have become standard throughout the industry, the uncommon décor and amenities more than make up for it. 

Rojo Rating:

Location:  5

Facilities: 4

Amenities: 7

Décor: 8

Staff: 8

Food: 6

Cleanliness: 7

Comfort: 7

Uniqueness: 8

Value: 8

Total:  68/100

A year after my visit, I’m still telling my friends about this place and that is the mark of a good hotel.  It doesn’t have to be the most opulent or most comfortable to be a success.  For true hotel fanatics like myself, this beats the typical hotel “box with a bed” experience at a price that doesn’t over promise what is actually being delivered.  I applaud The Planet Hotel for stepping into the Guangzhou Hotel market with such a bold attempt.   The company has ambitions to expand their brand and I’m looking forward to future offerings from this lodging group.