I stayed in a family room with my parents, thinking that a 'Golden Diamond' hotel (presumably a premium, high-tier hotel) would offer a better experience. However, it was just on par with a regular 5-star hotel, and in some aspects, even fell short of 5-star hotels with better service.
First, the pros: The hotel environment is quite good, the rooms are spacious, and the entire property covers a large area. It's currently lotus season, so it's very beautiful. For a 'Golden Diamond' hotel, the price offers decent value for money.
Now, for areas that could be improved: There were some blind spots in terms of cleanliness. For instance, there was dust accumulated on the curtains, the corners of the TV cabinet, and the first-floor balcony could have been cleaner. I understand that some outdoor areas naturally accumulate dust, but I'm mentioning it because the dust was quite noticeable, making it seem like it hadn't been cleaned in a while. After all, we're not staying in a 'camping style' place; this is a 'Golden Diamond' hotel. Also, the hotel might be a bit old, as some facilities show signs of aging.
Regarding service: When I proactively asked about a room upgrade or a welcome amenity, the answer was 'none.' It's not that I'm trying to get a small perk, but my colleague stayed the previous Saturday and received a room upgrade, which raised my expectations. Despite booking a more expensive room than him, I didn't get any special treatment. Additionally, the electric buggy needs to be called at least 10 minutes in advance. We called only when we were fully ready, which led to a long wait.
There were also some small details: There was no doorman when we arrived, though I saw one when we left. I originally wanted to experience the check-in by boat, but the butler said it was fully booked and offered to arrange a boat ride for breakfast the next day, which I thought was acceptable. However, during my check-in, the front desk agent next to me proactively offered a boat check-in to a guest who hadn't even booked it, and then escorted them away. I immediately questioned my own front desk agent about this.
Although the overall service was okay afterward, the initial impression upon arrival is very important, as was the communication with the butler before check-in, which left my expectations a bit unmet, making the service feel very average.
During my stay, the hotel pool was under maintenance, requiring a trip to the Crowne Plaza hotel, which was a bit inconvenient. Also, the package included tickets to Sunac Land, but the park is currently undergoing maintenance, and many attractions are closed. Just a heads-up for others.
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