XXiarenjunThis was my first time in Shenyang, and for an important anniversary, I chose the Conrad as our base for a three-day, two-night stay. Here’s an objective review based on my actual experience:
**Location:**
The hotel is very close to both Beizhan (North Station) and Shenyang Station, about a ten-minute taxi ride. If you take the subway, it’s just one transfer, and you can reach Exit A of Renmin Square Station on Line 2 (which is the entrance to MixC Hang Lung Plaza) in about 30 minutes. From the first floor of Hang Lung Plaza, there's a glass automatic door that connects directly to the hotel's first floor. Regarding Hang Lung Plaza, I won't comment on the shopping as I didn't explore it much. However, it’s very convenient to take the escalator down to the basement for a meal, grab some snacks at the supermarket/convenience store, play Taiko or Maimai at the arcade on the basement level, or sing karaoke at Mei KTV on the third floor accessible by a scenic elevator. This definitely adds to the convenience of staying at the Conrad.
**Service:**
* **Pre-Stay Service:** I didn't receive any pre-arrival calls or contact, which is usually standard for five-star hotels. It made me think, 'Hmm?' a little, but it wasn't a major issue. During check-in, the front desk informed me that our room was still being prepared but offered a complimentary upgrade to a smoking room so we wouldn't have to wait. I accepted the kind offer and was relieved that the smoke smell in the room wasn't very noticeable.
* **During-Stay Service:** On the first night, I wanted to take a bath, but the bathtub took nearly two hours to fill, only reaching the depth shown in the photo. After half an hour, I thought it was just because the tub was large and filling slowly, but when it was still the same after more than an hour, I suspected the drain wasn't sealing properly. However, it was quite late, and I didn't want to bother the hotel staff with repairs at that hour, especially since we’d already received an upgrade. It felt like that 'don't ask for a bicycle when you've been given a watch' kind of awkwardness. So, the next morning, I called housekeeping to ask if someone could check it while we were out in the afternoon. When we returned the next evening, the first thing I did was fill the tub, and seeing the water successfully rise made me so happy! I could finally take a bath! I'm grateful to the staff for solving the problem on time. Later that night, we went to the executive lounge on the 83rd floor for the evening light meal. The food was excellent, and they were proactive in asking about our needs. Special thanks to Cloris, Luna, and Rachel for their warm service.
**Facilities:**
As mentioned above, the room was generally in good condition. There were a few areas that showed some wear or minor human-made stains, but nothing major. Honestly, you don't really use or even touch every single part of a suite; it's always just a few key areas. The bathtub issue might have been a 'historical problem' left by a previous guest, but at least I got it resolved. This does, however, suggest that there's room for improvement in terms of facility maintenance and even upgrades.
**Dining:**
The executive lounge's food has already been mentioned, so I won't repeat it. For breakfast, I went at 8 AM and 9 AM on the two different days. As expected, it was less crowded earlier. You swipe your room card, then an attendant guides you to an empty table and asks if you'd like coffee or tea. Overall, breakfast was quite good, offering most of the varieties you'd expect from a typical five-star hotel.
**Final Thoughts:**
One minor point of annoyance was the hotel's elevators. Many guests have mentioned the hassle of having to transfer elevators on the 88th floor to get from the hotel entrance to their room. Personally, I think the waiting time for the elevators is more frustrating than the transfer itself. From the 88th-floor lobby to the rooms on lower floors, there are four elevators. Without judging whether that's too many or too few, objectively speaking, every time I waited for an elevator from my room floor to the 88th floor, or from the 88th to my room, it always took over a minute. There was never a time when an elevator arrived within thirty or forty-five seconds of pressing the button. And often, when the elevator did arrive, it was empty. Perhaps it was because I stayed on a weekend and the hotel had an event?
The above only represents my personal experience during this stay.
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