Merlinhod Hotel in Guangzhou

Extremely satisfied with this hotel, I've stayed here many times, and it's always my first choice when I come to Panyu. The room is very spacious (can accommodate two kids), and the service is excellent. We arrived late at night, and as soon as we got out of the car, a staff member immediately came over to help us with our luggage – very thoughtful and welcoming. The lobby has small snacks and cute little plush toys, which the children absolutely loved and found very comforting.

My two friends and I stayed at the Meilihao this time, originally just looking for a place to relax for a couple of days. We didn't expect the experience to far exceed our expectations – our schedule was packed from morning till night, so I have to write a thorough positive review.

First, let's talk about the facilities. The hotel's pool isn't a standard rectangle; it's irregularly shaped. The water seemed freshly cleaned and quite clean. It's divided into a children's play area and an adult swimming area, and there's staff monitoring the children's section, which is excellent for safety. There are also lifebuoys nearby. The deep end must be less than 1.65 meters, as the water level wasn't as high as me. Next to the pool, there's a wellness center. We initially planned to get a SPA with my friends, but the prices weren't very reasonable, so we skipped it. Further alongside, there are new energy charging stations, which is fantastic – we didn't have to go out looking for a place to charge.

Dining: The buffet breakfast included with the room was incredibly lavish. It offered both Chinese and Western hot dishes, salads, fried rice, fried noodles, sweet soups, soy milk, egg tarts, donuts, and durian pastries – we thoroughly enjoyed it. Towards the end of our meal, the restaurant staff even brought us a platter of cantaloupe and watermelon. The biggest surprise was the **self-service afternoon tea** in the executive lounge. Everyone dining there was very civilized and quiet. You could help yourself to desserts, snacks, fruits, coffee, and tea. The coffee machine even let you choose between espresso and Americano, both of which were aesthetically pleasing and delicious. I felt like we got our money's worth just from these two meals! There were also small snacks and drinks in the lobby where we checked in, along with fruit drinks. The Qingbuliang sweet soup shop recommended by the lovely staff at the front desk was delicious.

Guest Room: The hallway seemed to have an air freshener; the scent was very pleasant. Our triple room didn't have a window and looked like a school dormitory when we entered. The bed sheets and duvet covers were very clean, and the soft mattress was super comfortable to lie on. There wasn't enough water in the room to drink, but we could take water freely from the hallway.

Upon check-out, the lovely staff asked about our stay, helped us scan the parking code, and even gave us a souvenir gift with some small snacks and a phone stand. The service was exceptional and very thoughtful. Meilihao Hotel has now been added to our list of places to revisit. Next time we're in Panyu, we'll definitely choose this place again.

I attended Sasha's class on the 6th floor of Meilihao. After class in the afternoon, I was in a hurry to catch my high-speed train and didn't pack everything properly. I only realized it when I got home. I contacted the hotel afterwards, and I want to thank the front desk staff, Xiao Yang, for helping me find my mouse. In my stereotypical impression, Xiao Yang truly meets the standards of a star-rated hotel employee: meticulous, attentive, and thorough in her work. A special shout-out and praise to her! The hotel is very large, and the rooms and conference facilities are on the same floor, which is very convenient. From the 6th floor, you can even see Guangzhou's famous 'Cockroach Building'. I assume most of the guests staying on the 6th floor are here for conferences, so everyone's schedule is similar, and I didn't notice any noise. There are also plenty of restrooms in the conference area, so you don't have to wait long during breaks, with both squat toilets and regular commodes available. There's a pool downstairs, but it was closed due to rain during my stay. Of course, the sun came out the afternoon I checked out – just my luck, bad timing!

Very nice hospitality.
Even that the hotel is not very new, it's very clean and very nice.
A special, the hospitality of the workers is one of the best. Many thanks for Wu Yu Hui manger - very quick check and providing all details

Cleanliness: Very clean.

Facilities: The outdoor pool is nice.

Executive Lounge Afternoon Tea Buffet: Just some small snacks and self-serve drinks, pretty average.

I first went to Panyu Hotel, queued up for check-in, but after several minutes, neither of the two front desk staff acknowledged me. It felt like waiting in line at a bank. So, I turned to my phone, searched for nearby hotels, and found Grand Mercure with good reviews. Here's my experience:

The good parts:
1. They have 4 EV charging stations, and I didn't have to wait to charge (probably because I arrived late), which was one of the reasons I chose Grand Mercure.
2. Plenty of parking. I noticed there was a conference on the 6th floor these past few days, but there were still plenty of empty parking spots, so no worries about finding a space.
3. There's an outdoor swimming pool, and guests can swim for free. The pool hadn't closed when I arrived, but it was raining, so the staff said they'd wait for the rain to stop before opening it. The next morning, it wasn't raining, and I spent some time by the pool (didn't bring swimwear or a cap). Even though it rained the day before, the water was still very clean.
4. Customer service representative Xiao Mai (MAI) told me my room was on the 6th floor and that there was a conference upstairs. Concerned I might not find my way, she personally escorted me to the room and helped me adjust the temperature and lighting. Her service gets a perfect 10.
5. The room was quiet. Willow at the front desk, when I checked in around 6 or 7, offered me choices: a room with a pool view, a bathtub, or a balcony. I picked the one with a balcony. Although it didn't overlook the hotel pool, I could step out to get some fresh air and feel the breeze (thankfully, I had sprayed insect repellent beforehand; Guangdong mosquitoes can fly up to the 6th floor and fly high after a blood meal!). The mattress was soft and comfortable, not lumpy. The carpet looked old and faded but was very clean, probably having been recently cleaned.
6. Good greenery and abundant plants. The fountain turns off at night, so it doesn't disturb sleep.
7. The hotel has three interconnected buildings forming a '凹' shape. There are elevators in the connecting areas. If you're on the 6th floor, taking the scenic elevator down to your car is quite convenient, saving you a trip to the main lobby.
8. The Chinese restaurant on the first floor didn't seem to be open. Guihua recommended nearby Shun Jing Ming Lou, Shui Yun Jian, Da Shu Tou, and Hua Xi Yu (which sounds beautiful, and I ended up going there) for Cantonese cuisine. The prices in the vicinity aren't as high as in Shenzhen, so they're acceptable.

Areas for improvement:
1. Every time I need to exit the parking lot, I have to scan a QR code or call the front desk to enter my license plate number, which is quite inconvenient. The hotel should consider upgrading its parking system, similar to Chimelong's, where you input your car details at check-in, and it's valid until check-out the next day.
2. The cakes at afternoon tea were not very refined; they were too simple.
3. If it's your first time and you're staying on the 6th floor, I'd recommend having someone escort you, as it can be a bit confusing to navigate.

For me, the pros outweighed the cons. It really depends on personal preferences.

I stayed here initially for 3 nights for Canton Fair Phase 1 and decided to come back for Phase 2 and stayed in Hotel Merlinhod itself due to great size of the rooms where in, it was really spacious, neat and clean. I arrived late around 2:30 am and received great service by getting my room and collecting couple of parcels that I had ordered from my supplier. The staff at the reception were also friendly and accommodating as Huo (Yanyan), May, and Mai were amazing at their work where in I left my luggage for 3 nights in the hotel and received it as it was. Overall, great place to stay.

Facilities: So-so, especially the elevator, which felt sluggish. Service: Decent, quite enthusiastic actually, but the breakfast selection was small, and not as good as Mehood Lestie's. Environment: Not great, a bit old and eerie. Hygiene: Pretty clean.

The front desk staff, particularly Liulu and Huotangguo, upgraded my room, which was a nice improvement. The oranges in the lobby are always sweet and never sour, and I've noticed the fruit changes every time – last time it was cherry tomatoes. A big thanks to the staff for helping me out with the charging station issue. I'll be back in a few days!

The shuttle service to Shiqinan Metro Station and Guangzhou South Railway Station was excellent; the staff were very professional, and the driver was great. The room was clean and tidy, well-equipped, and the bedding was comfortable. The front desk staff, Kele, was warm and attentive, making the check-in process quick and smooth. The breakfast offered a wide variety of delicious options. The location is convenient, and I will definitely choose this place again next time!