Cendre Hotel in Suzhou

A superficial hotel experience, with terrible soundproofing that kept me awake all night.

When I first checked into this hotel, I was actually quite looking forward to it. From the moment I walked in, the staff were very welcoming and professional, guiding me through a smooth and attentive check-in process. There were even walls full of awards. The room also came equipped with a delivery robot; if you needed anything, you just placed an order, and the robot would bring it right to your door – very high-tech. The room itself was tastefully decorated in a minimalist style, with a logical layout. The bedding, sink, and even the corners of the floor were spotless. At first glance, there was nothing to complain about, and I thought I had made a great choice for my stay.

But who would have thought that this seemingly good experience would completely fall apart at night, turning into a total nightmare?

I was looking forward to a good night's sleep after a long day, but as soon as I lay down, I could hear voices from the next room – adults talking, children playing – as clear as if they were right next to me. I thought I could just bear it for a while, but the noise was constant. I could hear every little sound from the duplex room, both upstairs and downstairs. Children screaming, adults laughing and chatting, even occasional shouting, and the constant flushing and refilling of toilets created a cacophony of irritating noise. I tossed and turned in bed, staring at the ceiling and counting the minutes. The clock passed midnight, then 1 AM, but the noise outside showed no signs of letting up.

I covered my ears and pulled the duvet over my head, trying everything I could, but I couldn't block out the noise. I was so sleepy my eyelids were heavy, but I simply couldn't fall asleep.

Honestly, what do you stay in a hotel for? Isn't it for a clean, comfortable place to get a good night's sleep? What good is it if this hotel makes all these 'superficial efforts' like fancy service, high-tech equipment, and stylish decor? With such terrible soundproofing, it can't even meet the most basic need for accommodation. Everything else is just a flashy façade, because the fundamental purpose of staying somewhere is a peaceful and good night's sleep!

The agony of that night completely wiped away all the positive impressions I had initially. Paying to suffer – that pretty much sums up my experience this time. I sincerely suggest the hotel seriously address its soundproofing issues; otherwise, no matter how professional the service or how smart the equipment, it won't retain guests who simply want a peaceful night's sleep.