Sofitel has an impressive row of modern and luxurious hotels all over the world. So, we had fairly high expectations coming into Guangzhou where their Chinese-Parisian high-rise is apparently becoming an attraction of its own thanks to its elegant rooms and regal interior design. Even MICHELIN Guide gushed over the hotel!
For this trip, we're traveling as a family and the short of it is that we had a lovely time in this bustling port city just outside of Hong Kong. During our stay, we booked a Superior Room but our platinum Accor membership earned us a nice upgrade to Luxury Room Club Millésime, which is notably 15 square meters larger than the Superior and Magnifique room.
Review of Luxury Room Club Millésime
We learned Millésime means vintage in French, which is fitting given the meticulous furnishings and lacquered wooden furniture that dominate the room. The Chinese-style fabrics double as a charming red accent and the French poetry in the carpeting is surely a creative touch.
Normally you will find that one part of the accommodation stands out, but this luxury room is sophisticated and well-appointed on all fronts. The dim lighting is easy on the eyes and the spacing is just superb all around. There's no hiding the fact that the hotel meets the hype that precedes it.
A small knock on the arrangement is that the flat-screen TV and workstation share the same table.
There's definitely enough space for both, but seeing as the room is uncrowded, a separate table would have been nice here. On the other hand, the bathroom is stunningly simple, which is honesty part of the charm.
For families with small kids, Luxury Room Club Millésime is more than enough and with free broadband internet and pay per view movies to boot.
Sofitel Guangzhou Features and Highlights
Sofitel Guangzhou has a consistent signature design across its facilities and all of its twin towers, which holds 500 hotel rooms the last we heard.
Sometimes that level of detail makes shared areas unremarkable, but not this time. The Executive Lounge or Club Lounge, for one, is stunning as it is relaxing. It's one of our favourite facilities for sure, but we would be remiss if we didn't call attention to the So Fit gym that features a beautiful augmented view of the Guangzhou cityscape.
There is also L’Occitane spa which has a hot tub, ice room and hammam, steam room, and an indoor pool where the family can hang out. Standard hotel amenities are included in your lodging.
Location of Sofitel Guangzhou
The hotel is at the heart of Guangzhou's business district so there's a fair amount of shops and fine dining restaurants around the area. It's a convenient location in more ways than one, especially since the hotel is just a 10-minute walk from shopping centres like Victory Plaza, Festival Walk and Teem Plaza.
When you stroll around the city, we recommend the TernX diaper clutch as a go-to utility bag. It's 4L capacity is spacious enough for essentials, diapers and even a changing mat, and its sleek and compact design will allow you to attend to your parenting duties in style.
Local attractions like Guangzhou Library and Guangzhou Opera House are also just a 10-minute ride away, while Guangdong Museum, Pearl River, and Canton Tower are about 15-minute away by public transport.
Lastly, Canton Fair, a hallmark business event observed twice a year is only 20-minutes away from the Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich Hotel.
On a side note, we had a small mix-up as we forgot one of our laptop chargers. We had to order something online, which we received in just about 20 minutes. It might come in handy if you missed out on something important along the way.
When it comes to going in and out of Guangzhou, you'll have plenty of options. The nearest would be the Guangzhou East Railway Station, a 10-minute drive. Then, the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (Guangzhou Baiyun Airport), the nearest airport, is about a 50-minute drive away.
Limousine airport transfers can be set up if you inform Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich hotel ahead of time. Otherwise, DiDi is a popular and secure ride-sharing app that is perfect for getting around China. It also supports in-app chat translations so you can communicate better with your driver.
For this trip, we had a seamless experience in and out of Guangzhou with our all-in-one travel solution the TernX Carry On Stroller.
Summary on Our Stay at Sofitel Guangzhou
One of the underrated things about Sofitel Guangzhou is its multiple dining options including Le Grill steak house and the enigmatic 2 on 988 Cafe, which serves Chinese and international buffet. Another perhaps is the pleasant service provided by the hotel staff.
On the other hand, the swimming pool is nice to have in urban hotels because it gives the family some on-site options to unwind together. Overall, we think the Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich makes for a superb choice if you're looking for a place to stay near Hong Kong, but also has convenient access to the greater Guangdong Province.
