HUALUXE Suzhou Bay Hot Spring Resort

The only place without mosquitos in the summer!

It is not convenient to take a bus or taxi, but it is very convenient to drive yourself

더할 나위 없이 좋아요. 아 영어는 조금 안 되더라구요. 식사가 진짜 맛있고.. 방 넓고..친절하고.. 온천물 아침저녁으로 하고.. 옆에 온천가서 또하고 진짜 최고임..동물들도 좀 있는데 너무 힐링이에요진짜.. 따로 먹고싶은 거 있음 챙겨 가세요. 간이매점이 너무 약해요. 저흰 1박 2일이라 갠춘! 더 오래있을 거면 저녁에 먹으러 나가긴 좀 멀고. 배달도 시켜먹더라고요 ㅎㅎ 석식 조식 배터집니당~~
근데 숙박비가 왕 싸다 이건 아님..ㅎㅎㅎ

My children were immediately in love with this hotel. The grand lobby was their first step into China and an impressive one. The room was a family room, with huge solid bunk beds for the children, a tent to play in, and lots of large soft toys to enjoy - including a huge, heavy yellow horse-shaped blob! The walls were painted in pleasant children’s style, with hand-painted animals. Clean, fresh, bright, and very large, the room was excellent.

On the balcony, a seriously deep stone hot tub awaits, which was a good way to wind down at the end of the day. It’s China in the summer and so the mosquitoes are an unavoidable fact of life - come with some repellant. Also, request a standard mosquito-repellant system to plug into the electrical outlets; they are available on request (and allegedly should have been in the room already). “Six Gods” (Liu Shen) is the local favourite repellant, which has a charming traditional scent and keeps the mosquitoes away.

Excellent buffet breakfasts each day - fine local noodles, decent selection, fresh fruits and well-seasoned dishes aplenty. Waffle / pancake station, egg chef, etc. are all present. It takes a little negotiation to obtain a real teapot (not cup) with actual tea leaves (not teabag), and green tea (lucha) seems in short supply, but you’ll get there eventually with persistence - ask for a jasmine tea (molihuacha).

The hot springs resort next door is also part of the same property, and guests take an electric cart between hotel and springs. Hotel guests have a discount in the springs, which is currently an awesome RMB100 / person. The springs are modern, varied, and hugely fun and so this price is a real bargain. (We were told that it would double soon, as the existing price is low due to the recent opening of the place.) Of course, take mosquito repellant, as always, but then enjoy some creative, charming, well-maintained, and fun springs. Some have fountains, infinity pools looking over the river at sunset, and even a massive whirlpool filled with rubber ducks! The highlight is a pool in which shoals of little fish nibble the dead skin from one’s feet, legs, and body (for an additional fee of some RMB 45 each, which is certainly worth it). It sounds terrifying, but is great fun and leaves the skin smooth - it is a traditional “remedy” and works wonders.

We will almost certainly be back again! The hotel is on the east coast of Lake Tai (aka Taihu), and thus is situated a fairly long drive (45 minutes) away from most attractions in town, but this is understandable given the nature of the hot springs.

I booked one king size bed private hot spring room in Expedia, but the hotel system shows double beds private hot spring room when I arrived. The front desk took 10 min to get me the right one. However, when I entered the room, it was totally uncleaned. Looked like someone just left the room without cleaning. Used towel in the bath, used towel on the floor, and the hot spring is still filled with hot water...... I had to called the front desk and ask them get me a room again..... Totally ruined my first day of vacation.