When I read that this hotel was designed with 'ancient Chinese grandeur and exquisite Suzhou garden features', I was filled with dread and thought it was going to be Sheraton tacky and cheap but no, it's really nice with charming gardens and unusual but interestingly designed but comfortable buildings, although some of the older areas are due a refurb.

I booked using my SPG points and upgraded to Club level, whch is just about worth it, although not as good as many hotels these days. Our room was fine but due refurbishment within the next year or so. There is a nice pool area which was unpleasant to use on one occasion because of fumes from the construction site next door. As we could not find any local restaurants, we ate both nights in the hotel - once in the main restaurant, which was very good and once in the hotel's Chinese restaurant that was just about OK - nice people but average food.

We spent one day visiting the gardens in Suzhou - lovely but heaving with people as it was a national holiday. Our second day we went to Tongli, a charming water town with some beautiful gardens - we were there early and missed most of the crowds.

Overall I would recommend the Sheraton Suzhou and would definitely stay again.

This may be the best hotel in China. It is certainly the best hotel deal in China if you are a member of the Starwood Preferred Guest program, and you redeem "cash & points" for your stay. It costs about US $40 that way, plus a few thousand points. When you get to the hotel, you can then upgrade to the executive floor for another 1500 points. That gets you a free evening reception and breakfast buffet in the lounge -- both very worthwhile.

In addition to the value, the architecture of the hotel is very interesting. It looks and feels like an ancient Chinese palace. And it overlooks a huge traditional Chinese garden (try to get a garden view room). There is really nothing else like it that I have found in China.

Service is very good, with an accomodating staff and nice touches like live traditional music in the lobby in the evening.

The location is not perfect, but with a taxi costing only about US$1.30 to the center of town, who cares?

They are currently building an additional "luxury" wing (the existing hotel is pretty luxurious) which probably accounts for the noise experienced by a previous poster. I heard no noise during my stay. If the problem persists, ask for a room away from the construction, which is on only one side of the large property.

BTW, if you are in Shanghai, it is now only 40 minutes to Suzhou by the high speed rail line. The fare is only about US $10. The city is very interesting, and should be a stop on any visit to China -- especially with the opportunity to stay at this great hotel.

I booked a suite in the Sheraton Suzhou for me my wife and my young 2y-old son.

It was saturday late afternoon, and check-in was smooth. I usually stay in this hotel when stopping in Suzhou, as I like the gardens, style and architecture. We arrived in the room and found immediately that the previous guest had used the non-smoking room as a fumoir - all furnitures, bedding, curtains smelled cigaret smoke... I immediately called the reception, and was told that was the only room available. And at that moment, the room started to vibrate and noise erupted from hammer and drilling works just in front of the room. I complained but the staff offered absolutely no help or attention whatsoever. They just mentioned that a bulding next door was undergoing renovation...

drilling stopped that night at 7pm, and started at 7am on Sunday morning. My worst hotel night EVER!

No need to say - never again.

We stayed at this hotel as part of an extended tour of China booked through a tour operator.

On arrival you are greeted by stern looking external walls which can be a little off putting. Looks like the walls of a old castle but inside everything is modern. There is also a lot of building work going to extend the hotel.

Check in was quick and efficient and the room was perfectly satisfactory.

The hotels has attractive gardens and many rooms overlook the famous pagoda.

We found the food both at breakfast and during the evening buffet to be less than hot but still edible.

During the evening a singer accompanied by a pianist entertained.

However, this hotel lacked the character and atmosphere we would have expected of a 5 star hotel and the group felt it was mainly interested in catering for business men.

Really good hotel in terms of architecture and the services expected from a 5-star hotel. The pool looks great (too bad for the noise level due to construction next door)

It's a little out of the way but not too bad. The only think I did not like was the pillow.

One point to note. The room was 1700RMB when I called the hotel to reserve. On wotif.com it was 1200RMB. So I found an internet connection and did it this way.

I spent two weeks in Suzhou on business and stayed at the Sheraton. It was fabulous. I loved the archetecture of the building and the gardens were really beautiful. The first week I had a view of the courtyard gardens and the second I had a view of the Pagota in the garden behind the hotel. (That garden is a public garden and historic site). In the morning, there are always a group practicing Tai Chi in front of the pagota.

The hotel has both a western restaurant and a Chinese restaurant. The western restaurant had a buffet for breakfast and at dinner, although at dinner you could also order off the menu. The food was very good, especially the desserts at the dinner buffet. I also ate at the Chinese restaurant for Dim Sum one weekend and was delighted. I would definitely do that again. We also ate there one evening and the food was really good. Just remember if you are coming from the US that the Chinese food there is not like the Chinese food here! I should also mention that I had a lovely jasmine tea up in the lounge one afternoon. I don't think I'll ever forget how fragrant and wonderful it was!

I used the gym one time to use the treadmill and it was nice. The machines have video panels on them for entertainment while you work out. Just get a headset from one of the staff. They are quite friendly and can help you learn to use any of the equipment you are not familiar with.

I stayed in the towers and had access to the corporate lounge (not all guests have access to this lounge), which served complimentary cocktails and appetizers in the evenings before dinner. It was nice to hang out there. There is also a TV and places to relax and a computer with internet access.

The location of the hotel was great. There are several gardens and historic sites within walking distance. I walked quite a bit, although taxis are inexpensive and the hotel concierge can call one for you. (If you don't speak Chinese, the bell hop can tell the driver where you want to go, but be sure that you have a hotel card so if you need to get a cab back they will know where to take you!) There are 2 shopping streets nearby, including the famous one that is pedistrian only. There are several high-quality silk shops there where you can't bargain the price, but they are worth going to. I was very happy that all of this was so close to the hotel. Some of my collegues stayed at the Renassance Hotel, which was quite elegant but was the usual modern hotel style and further away from the best shopping areas of town. The Sherton looks like an old Chinese Pagota and gardens and just made for a nice experience.

All in all I think this is the best place in town to stay and I'd definitely recommend it.

i stayed over 50 times in this hotel and in total over 250 nights and it is simply the best in town

By far the best hotel in Suzhou. Great service, staff speak English and the design is remarkable. Highly recommended.

This Sheraton has good facilities and service, welcome was very warm. Personnally I'm not a big fan of the fake Chinese decorations and I find this one a little over the top.

Room was nice but the feeling is a litlle old fashion (maybe I am spoiled after staying at the Meridien Cyberport)

I stayed for seven nights with two business colleagues. As other reviewers have said, the setting and architecture of this hotel are beautiful. It has traditional Chinese features like pagoda style roofs and big windows. The rooms are nicely decorated but a bit small. The bathrooms are spacious and black marble, with glass showers and separate tubs. We all found the beds to be rock hard and the hotel did not have any pads to offer guests like us who prefer a softer mattress. The staff was fairly efficient but not as friendly as some at other hotels, particularly in Shanghai. The business center was fine but charged 20 Yuan (about 2.50 USD) per page for copies. The restaurant was alright. We had breakfast there a few times and the tea and coffee was 30 Yuan per cup (about 3.50 USD). But a glass of wine in the bar was 60 Yuan (about $8), less than many Shanghai bars and restaurants. There are two pools, one inside and one out which are nice and the health club was fine. The best feature of this hotel is the huge public garden behind the hotel which can be seen from many rooms. Request a garden view and watch groups of Chinese do tai chi with swords and fans between 7 and 8 each morning. Dining in Suzhou is mostly local cuisine. If you prefer western food, it's best to eat at the hotel. We found local dining very reasonably priced compared with the hotel prices. There are some shops and restaurants within walking distance of the hotel and cabs are plentiful. There seemed to be alot of single Chinese women around this hotel inviting the many visiting business men to join them for a drink.

The hotel is probably the best bet in Suzhou because of its location. In general, Suzhou is very industrial with some beautiful, traditional gardens to visit and some silk factories with good prices for shopping. For a tourist, two days in Suzhou is probably enough.

I stayed here back in 2002 on a multicity/regional tour of China. Only one night, but still long enough to appreciate the building and the city where it is located. Room was spacious and clean, and the restaurant was absolutely wonderful. The best part of the hotel, however, was its classical exterior, and the interior garden (miniature Suzhou), with canals and pavilions. This was the most sophisticated accommodation on my tour of China, and--surprise surprise--it wasn't overpriced (maybe it will be when I am 64 :-(). A place like this in Suzhou's European equivalent, Venice, would have had a double room at the lowest price of 400 US dollars or so. Besides, hotels shouldn't be priced according to location, but for the atmosphere and amenities. Mind you, the location of this hotel is excellent-- the equivalent of The Shangri-la in Hangzhou, the Shangri-la in Pudong in Shanghai, the Sheraton Guilin, and the Peninsula Palace in Beijing, where I also stayed. Furthermore, I could see the town's Pagoda from both room and courtyard garden. Overcast skies did not dampen my enthusiasm for this hotel. The next day, I managed to even arrange an impromptu tour of Tai Hu by cab before checkout time. I regret I didn't stay here a couple of days longer, as Suzhou is a fabulous city. It is wonderful that this hotel is not a huge concrete block as it would be in any other Chinese or world city. Heck, the moniker "Towers" in any other city would have referred to unsophisticated rectangular blocks of concrete at least 500 feet high. I would add some photos of the place during my stay, but then downloading them by computer for me is more trouble than check in, check out, and room service combined at this world-class hotel.

We stayed ther 2 nights for travel reasons. We we're really disappointed by this hotel that is sonly 7-8 years old but seems much older. It's a pity because the architecture of the building is interesting but not used as it should be. The room was comfortable but so classical.

I stay at this hotel for at least a week, 2 or 3 even 4 times every year (because of business). It is by far the best hotel in the area and an excellent hotel overall. The rooms are well appointed and always clean. The bathrooms are very nice, although the water pressure in the shower leaves a lot to be desired. This hotel has an excellent gym as well as beautiful indoor & outdoor pools. The grounds are magnificent. The Chinese restaurant is wonderful. The service is top notch and everyone is polite and friendly. If you are in Suzhou, you cannot do better than this Sheraton.

We stayed here May 2004. I really like the fact that the building really tried to blend in with the Chinese culture and tradition. The hotel looks like a Chinese castle from outside. The inside of the hotel also incorporated Chinese components. A lot of corridors. If you get a room in the far side of the corridor though, u're in for a long maze-like walk. But everything just made the experience exotic and wonderful. It's in a good location, next to the old city wall and a huge, recent Chinese garden. The room is what you would expect from a Sheraton and very clean. I actually felt like taking a bath in the nice clean tub.

After spending a few days in Shanghai, the peacefulness and tranquility of this hotel was most appreciated. The Sheraton has replicated beautiful gardens with ponds and fish and bridges - which was nicely complimented the world famous gardens in Suzhou. The pools were wonderfully relaxing -- The staff was helpful and friendly.