[Aug. 2023 update] We stayed at the St. Regis again. Before arrival, I messaged customer service through the app and very directly mentioned that we had been upgraded to a suite on our previous few stays, and that I hoped it could happen again this time. The reply was still the standard official line: they added a note, but the actual upgrade would depend on the next day’s availability. Customer service should be able to see elite status information as well (I’m Platinum).
- Later, on the morning of check-in, I did see the upgraded room type in the app. Nice, nice.
- In the summer, they gave the kids small handheld electric fans, which was very thoughtful.
- The welcome fruit spread was more generous, and the welcome card now had cute illustrations too.
- The hair dryer was switched to a Dyson, and it worked great.
- Breakfast had a summer specialty, gua liangfen. It wasn’t as good as what you’d get from a street stall, but at least it was something with local character.
One thing worth mentioning is that the service attitude from the staff was still excellent: gentle tone, proactive service, and they would even offer to press the elevator buttons for guests. One detail that stood out was that if a staff member was waiting for the elevator and a guest happened to arrive, the staff member would let the guest take the elevator first and would not even step in themselves. That’s much better than some other hotels where staff carrying cleaning tools squeeze into the elevator with guests. Personally, I don’t mind sharing the elevator, but the fact that they voluntarily stepped aside really felt special.
Also, when I booked, the property was pricing at 40,000 points for that date. After selecting a 35,000-point free night certificate, the system automatically prompted me to add 5,000 points, which was quite convenient. I checked and it seems there are also times when it costs 50,000 points, so it looks like this property’s cat has gone up!
[Oct. 2022 update] Because of the excellent experience on our last stay, we stayed at the St. Regis again on this trip to Changsha. Thanks to the earlier Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant benefit upgrade, I received Platinum status. So this stay was under Platinum status. However, because I booked the room the day before arrival, the system did not automatically process any upgrade. Contacting customer service on WeChat only resulted in a note being added.
For upgrades, we can add a note for you first, and our colleagues will do their best to arrange it based on tomorrow’s room availability.
In the end, though, the front desk still upgraded us to a suite at check-in and explicitly mentioned that it was because of Platinum status. In addition, Platinum members can choose one of three welcome benefits at check-in: 1,000 points, breakfast for two, or a card holder. In most cases breakfast is the best choice. If your room rate already includes breakfast, then you might want to try the card holder instead. Platinum members also get a welcome cocktail benefit, which has to be redeemed at the bar. Since we were traveling with kids, we didn’t go.
Unfortunately, this hotel does not have an executive lounge. Instead, it only offers complimentary in-room beverage service, which may be worth trying if you’re interested. You can contact them before returning to the hotel so the drinks are ready for you in the room.
The children’s toiletries prepared this time were even more complete, and they even gave us two dolls. I have to say, this hotel is really generous.
This article was contributed by reader Lulu. If you have good content to share, feel free to contact [email protected]
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About The St. Regis Changsha
When we visited Changsha last year, we stayed at the InterContinental Changsha Beichen. The experience was good, and we also used up a few IHG free night certificates that were about to expire. This year, we wanted to try a different hotel in Changsha. I noticed that my Marriott free night certificates were set to expire at the end of June, so I decided to burn them. Free night certificates are especially comfortable to use at hotels in China, since many properties fall within the Marriott 35,000-point certificate range. So we went straight for the highest-end hotel bookable in Changsha: The St. Regis Changsha.
The St. Regis Changsha features 188 refined and stylish guest rooms and suites with sweeping views of the city, offering a tranquil retreat from the fast pace of urban life. The rooms are beautifully designed and incorporate subtle Chinese elements. Guests can recharge at the St. Regis Athletic Club or the swimming pool. The hotel offers six fine restaurants and bars, where talented chefs create elegant dining experiences. The approximately 2,000-square-meter grand ballroom and 8 additional refined meeting rooms, all lavishly appointed, are ideal for business and social events. The interiors are elegant and luxurious, with sophisticated Chinese decorative details throughout. St. Regis Butlers are also on hand at any time to provide attentive service and elevate every stay.
The St. Regis Changsha is located in Yuhua District, some distance from the busiest area around Wuyi Square. Fortunately, right next door is the Yunda Central Plaza commercial complex, and there is also Changsha Avenue metro station below. If you want to go to Wuyi Square, you can take Metro Line 5, which is quite convenient. Floors 1-5 of Yunda Central Plaza have all kinds of stores, while basement level 1 connects to the metro shopping area with restaurants, bakeries, convenience stores, supermarkets, and more. Overall, it’s a very convenient place to stay.
Another point worth mentioning is that the hotel is very close to Changsha Huanghua Airport. Once you leave the hotel, you can get right onto the elevated road and then onto the expressway, and reach the airport in about 20 minutes (though there may be COVID testing checks after exiting the highway, which could add about 10 minutes when traffic is heavy). If you need to catch a flight, this is a highly recommended place to stay.
Also, next to The St. Regis Changsha there is another Marriott property, the W hotel. If you’re younger and like a trendy nightlife vibe, you could choose that one instead. For families like ours traveling with kids, the St. Regis is the safer choice.
Booking
This time I booked using 4 Marriott free night certificates from my account plus 4 certificates from my husband’s account. Of those, three were 35,000-point certificates and one was a 50,000-point certificate. These certificates had all been extended by Marriott during the pandemic, but they would no longer be extended after June 2022, so this was a good opportunity to use them up.
To book, you can simply search on the official website. Marriott free night certificates can be combined in one reservation, so you just search for your check-in and check-out dates, and on the payment page you can select multiple certificates. Marriott free night certificates now also follow dynamic pricing, with 35,000 points as the base, so depending on the date the price may be 33,000 or 37,000 points. Fortunately, Marriott certificates can now also be topped off with points. So even if you only have a 35,000-point certificate, adding a small amount like 2,000 points makes the stay easy to book.
One annoying quirk is that Marriott free night certificates seem to be applied in order. My booking dates were priced at 33,000, 33,000, 37,000, and 33,000 points, while my certificates were 35,000, 50,000, 35,000, and 35,000. If you book all four nights together, the 50,000-point certificate ends up being used on a 33,000-point night, while a 35,000-point certificate gets applied to the 37,000-point night. That means you have to top off the reservation with an extra 2,000 points. So I had no choice but to split the booking into 2+2, making sure the 37,000-point night was booked with the 50,000-point certificate. In practice, splitting the stay is not a big deal. Usually, if you explain in advance at the front desk that it is one continuous stay and you do not want to change rooms, it is not a problem.
I checked recent rates, and the price was RMB 1,600 including taxes and service charges, while the W Hotel was RMB 1,250. Converting that roughly into USD, the redemption value comes out to about $240, which is still far above Marriott’s $99 annual fee. If you value it against a 35,000-point redemption, that works out to about 0.68 cpp. Honestly, that is just average, since hotels in China are still relatively inexpensive.
Unfortunately, I only have Marriott Gold status, which was actually included through a credit card. If you stay on points or free night certificates, breakfast is not included. If you are Platinum or above, you can choose between points and breakfast at check-in, and breakfast is obviously the no-brainer choice. As for upgrades, if availability exists, Gold members can generally be upgraded by one category, from the base room to the Deluxe Skyline room, which basically means a higher floor. If you are Platinum or Titanium, you may have a shot at being upgraded to a St. Regis Suite. Of course, if you chat with the hotel in advance, your odds of an upgrade may improve. You can call the front desk, send an email, or use the in-app online customer service option within 48 hours before check-in to contact the front desk. After that, you can also add the Changsha Marriott WeChat account for further communication.
Also, if you are staying at hotels in China, I recommend downloading the Flyert app. Before booking, you can check reviews of the hotel, especially whether people have had success chatting their way into an upgrade, a suite, or free breakfast, as well as how the service and surrounding area are. That can help you avoid disappointments and have a much better experience.
Reaching Out Before Check-In
I looked through information on the Flyert app and saw that an online customer service option appears 48 hours in advance, so you can chat with the butler. There is some chance of getting upgraded to a suite. Then I noticed that all the heavy hitters posting there were either Platinum or Titanium members, so as a lowly Gold member, I figured I probably would not get much of anything. Still, I used both the online customer service channel and WeChat to message the butler, letting them know we were traveling with a child and hoping for a suite upgrade so we would have more space. The butler said they could only add a note and that any upgrade would depend on arrival-day availability. That was pretty much the standard official response.
However, when I checked the Marriott app one day in advance, I saw that my room had already been upgraded from a standard room to a Skyline View room, basically a one-level upgrade to a higher floor. That was already pretty nice. I also checked the price and it had gone from RMB 1,600 including tax to RMB 1,800, which was not bad at all.
Outside the Hotel
The St. Regis Changsha is located at Yunda Central Plaza. Once you get off the elevated road and make a turn, you are there. Across from the entrance were three Rolls-Royces belonging to property owners, with the license plates Xiang A.YD001, Xiang A.YD002, and Xiang A.YD003. Supposedly, if you pay cash for a St. Regis suite, you can enjoy complimentary airport transfers as well. (Suites are around 3000.)
- There are these infinity-style reflecting pools on both sides of the entrance, which look very relaxing.
- A revolving door is pretty much standard here.
Luxury cars often show up at the entrance too—Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, Ferraris, and so on. It seemed there may even have been a celebrity staying there that day.
The first floor of the hotel is only a reception area. A staff member will proactively help move your luggage onto a cart and give you a claim ticket. Check-in is on the 48th floor, and you just hand that ticket to the front desk there.
Check-In and “Talking Your Way In”
The St. Regis Changsha occupies floors 48 through 63, with office space below. When we arrived at the 48th-floor check-in lobby, it felt grand and elegant, with a black and light gold color palette that leaned toward a calm, old-school luxury vibe.
There were three check-in stations, and guests could sit down while checking in, which was quite comfortable. The St. Regis also offers in-room check in, where they can take you straight to your room and complete everything there, which is excellent for both privacy and comfort. On the day we arrived, the hotel’s computer system had crashed, so each front desk agent was holding a stack of papers and manually verifying guests’ check-in details. We had actually been set up for in-room check in, but it was only discovered right before the process was finished. I did not feel like going through it again in the room, so I just completed everything at the desk.
Since we arrived fairly early, around 11 a.m., only one king room was ready at the time. I did not mind, since the official check-in time was 3 p.m. anyway. As she processed the check-in, I kept complimenting St. Regis service for being thoughtful, saying the WeChat butler responded promptly, and mentioning that I understood the system outage had made everyone very busy and that I did not mind. In short, I laid on the praise and the conversation went quite well. Then I casually asked about breakfast. The front desk agent kindly asked whether this was our first stay, and then she gave us breakfast! So yes, chatting a little really can help... Later I checked Flyert and people there had indeed mentioned that if it is your first stay and you are traveling with a child, there is a decent chance of getting breakfast.
And that was not the end of the good news. Another front desk agent nearby said she had checked the room situation and it would be difficult to place our two rooms on the same floor. Of course, that kind of thing is understandable. But then she apologized and asked whether we would consider rooms on different floors, since that would let us check in right away and might even make a higher-category upgrade possible. The moment I heard that, I knew there might be a chance at a suite, because above the base room is Deluxe, and above Deluxe is the St. Regis Suite. Naturally, I said I did not mind and asked her to take a look. She kept flipping through page after page of check-in paperwork and, sure enough, found us a St. Regis Suite on the 53rd floor. So off we went, happily moving in with the whole family. I checked the rate later, and the St. Regis Suite was priced at RMB 2500, which felt great.
I also have to give major praise to the butler service at the St. Regis Changsha. Butler Yvette came over starting from the check-in process, chatted with us while we were waiting about the reason for our stay, and introduced the hotel. She escorted us to the room and clearly explained the room features as well as what each hotel floor offered, including the gym, pool, restaurants, afternoon tea, and more. It really made us feel that this was a different level of butler service. Even though we might not use every amenity she mentioned, just listening to her calmly walk through everything made it obvious how professional they were and how much care they put into their work.
Elevator Lobby and Hallways
The room and elevator layout at The St. Regis Changsha is extremely well designed. The elevators are in the middle, and you can head to guest rooms in four directions from there. That means even the farthest room is only a few dozen seconds away from the elevator, without the endless hallways you get at some hotels.
- There are seats next to the elevator lobby for waiting, which is a nice touch. That said, the 4 elevators arrived so quickly that we barely needed them.
- Across from the seating area, they even placed decorative pieces and artwork. Very thoughtful.
St. Regis Suite Experience
After all that, we finally made it to the St. Regis Suite. The suite is divided into three parts: the living room, bedroom, and bathroom, with a total of 90 square meters.
Living Room
The overall color scheme is also black and light gold. At first glance, it feels a bit old-school and formal, but it grows on you over time. The living room comes with a desk, TV, minibar area, and a sitting area, so it is highly functional.
The sofa and coffee table in the sitting area were quite comfortable. There was also more than enough room to have a late-night snack there.
The view from the window felt like looking down on everything around us. This 63-story building is probably the tallest one nearby.
The night view was even better.
The living room also has a half bath, which is very practical.
The minibar setup was fairly standard, with the usual coffee machine, kettle, and so on.
Of course, aside from the capsule coffee and tea bags, everything else came at an extra charge.
Bedroom
The bedroom has two full walls of windows, and with the motorized curtains fully open, the natural light is excellent.
There is a vanity on one side of the bedroom. For us traveling with a child, it immediately turned into a place to pile things up. But if you have time to sit down and do your makeup slowly, it would be lovely.
The bed was soft and comfortable. The bedroom overall still leaned toward that old-school formal style, and even the artwork featured plum blossoms.
Bathroom
To get from the bedroom into the bathroom, you first pass through a walk-in closet. It is quite spacious, and there are cabinets alongside it as well, with enough room for a whole family's clothes.
In the center of the bathroom are two sinks. On the left are the bathtub and shower, and on the right is the toilet.
The bathtub has a square design and is great for soaking. Right next to it is a window, and because the floor is so high up, if you are not too concerned about privacy, you can confidently open the curtains and enjoy a bath.
At night, we contacted the butler, who prepared a tub full of bubbles and rose petals. Soaking in a bubble bath while enjoying the night view was incredibly relaxing.
The butler also thoughtfully prepared kids' toiletries, and even two big bags of little yellow ducks.
Welcome Amenity
From what I had seen before, it seemed that only Platinum members and above received a welcome amenity, so I am not sure why we got one too. It included Perrier, fruit, orchid beans, and sesame sticks.
There was also a box of St. Regis chocolates, which I suspect may have been prepared for the child.
They also prepared a rocking horse and a little tent for the child. The service was better than I had imagined.
Dining
Breakfast
Breakfast was also served on the hotel’s 48th floor in buffet format, with both Chinese and Western options. It was fairly busy every day.
As a hotel in Hunan, most people ordered a bowl of rice noodles.
And then followed it with a signature St. Regis coffee.
The restaurant seating was a bit tight, and the space felt busy.
Afternoon Tea
We were out sightseeing almost every day, so we did not try afternoon tea at the hotel. I heard there were quite a lot of influencers splitting the bill just to come take photos. The display model was really well done, with a Blue Sea afternoon tea theme.
Pool
The pool is on the hotel’s 63rd floor (the top floor). During the pandemic, you had to reserve in advance with the butler before using it. Still, there were usually only about four or five people there each time, so it felt very spacious. There is one smaller temperature-controlled pool and one larger swimming pool. Note that for the large pool, you must wear a swimsuit and swim cap to enter. The changing room also provided bottled water, shower facilities, a steam room, and even equipment for drying swimsuits.
- The pool water was very clear.
- Floor-to-ceiling windows made it easy to enjoy the view after a swim.
- Towels were provided.
Rooftop Courtyard
There’s also a small courtyard on the top floor, which is quite pleasant. It’s a nice place to sit, chat, and enjoy the view.
Next time, we should bring some barbecue up here.
Service
At most hotels, I’m usually not that interested in the service side of things—I always feel a little bad bothering other people. But the service at The St. Regis Changsha really did make us feel at home. I added the butler on WeChat right at the beginning, and after that, every related request was handled directly through that account, which saved the hassle of calling and waiting to be transferred. Room service, pool reservations, booking a bubble bath, water delivery, asking where to get a PCR test, printing documents—it was all handled through WeChat. They even sent fun emoji stickers, which totally won me over. I believe multiple staff members were rotating on that butler WeChat account, so special thanks here to Shelly, Ricky, Nina, Sally, and the other unnamed staffers for all their thoughtful help.
Walking through the hotel, whether we were dressed formally, in a T-shirt, carrying takeout, or wrangling a noisy kid, the staff always greeted us with a smile. They would proactively help press the elevator button and say hello, which made it feel like the hotel genuinely cared about you. The hotel’s hardware is top-notch, but the service absolutely keeps pace. MONA YANG, the lady who came every day to help prepare the bubble bath, was also incredibly kind—chatting with us while getting the bathwater ready at just the right temperature and full of bubbles. Finally, when we checked out and were leaving with several large bags and suitcases, we happened to run into Yvette and another staff member by the elevator. They very naturally helped pull our luggage to the hotel entrance and had another staffer load it into the car, which gave this trip a perfect ending.
Overall, our stay at The St. Regis Changsha left us extremely satisfied in every respect. The hardware is excellent, the service is warm and attentive, and with its strong location and surrounding amenities, The St. Regis Changsha is my top hotel recommendation in Changsha.
About the food...
Since it wasn’t very convenient to take the kid out to eat, for several days in a row we waited until the child was asleep and then ordered crayfish takeout to the living room. A rough calculation showed that we somehow spent more than RMB 1000 on takeout over just a few days... Juwei Quji and Mingfu Qishi were both very good for flavored shrimp, braised shrimp, and shrimp tails.
Of course, our favorite of all was still that bowl of Hunan rice noodles every morning—an absolute necessity, deep in the bones, and full of soul.
