Shangri-La Hotels in Guilin

My first impression of Shangri La Guilin is that many staff speak English proficiently or at least the basics that are required for their job. I arrived an hour and a half before the check in time but they promptly checked me into my room without any long wait. My luggage was taken to my room by a bell boy whose English was even better than the front of the house. My initial thoughts of the room was that it was quite old fashioned and the interior design & amenities were dated in comparison to most 5 star hotels. The view however was exceptional. I could clearly see the garden, river and mountains. After my first night I was woken by some loud music. Though the staff tried to tell the dancers that playing the music was disruptive to their guests, they continued to play it which further frustrated me. I informed the guest manager Edward who was very helpful in rectifying this. He upgraded me into a much nicer room that he ensured me should be quieter. They also gave me complimentary fruits in the room which added to the nice gesture. This is exactly the kind of quality of service that earns them a 5 star rating. Carl at the front desk was also very competent and was very helpful when I had to pay for something through wechat. The room I came with was a package deal that included breakfast, spa voucher, photoshoot and club privileges. It was worth the extra cost as the all inclusive club buffet during happy hour was filling and tasty (photo attached). Breakfast was a Chinese buffet with a fusion of western basics such as cereal, toast and bakery items. If you have the time, I would highly recommend seeing Kelly (English name) for a ”signature Asian” massage at the spa. She applied the perfect pressure for me and was very kind. The photoshoot was organised through wechat and included 6 photos. The photographer was lovely and the final photos made special memories of my time in China. Suggestions for improvement: several items in the room are in need of repair or replacement eg. old hair dryer that lightly blows air (useless), flickering lights when you turn it on and the phones. I also think if they were to refurbish the pools outside then the place would appear less worn down. Overall, the service and reputation is what made this stay worth it. I look forward to staying at Shangri La again