In SZX there are two Hyatt hotels outside the main terminal building. Both have views, but after a recommendation by a fellow ALST’er we decided to book the Hyatt Regency. We booked a Runway View room. The hotel has a curve, so to ensure you have a view of all movements you need to be in rooms ending in odd numbers 01 through to about 15. We had 909 which was perfect. The 10th and 11th floors are Exec rooms. From the hotel you have clear views onto runway 16/34 and everything else on the other runway (15/33) can be either seen descending behind the terminal or climbing out. There is also a small gap that you can see onto the other runway if you time it right. Plus, near the lifts you can walk out and see the movements in the other direction as well (not that we needed to) as well as some views of Cargo. We didn't miss any movements during our stay.
A further update on room numbers had asked in advance that 901, 903 etc were allocated but I think as we had Executive Twin Rooms, they gave us rooms on floor 10 & 11. There is also a floor 12, but that wasn’t offered up to us and we were unable to access it to give it a recce. Any odd numbered room between 1101 to 1115, 1001 to 1051, 0901 to 0965 and 0801 to 0871 to would give a view to the North and any even numbered room between 1102 to 1128, 1002 to 1048, 0902 to 0966 and 0802 to 0870 would give a view to the South. As there is a massive window looking to the South by the lifts up to these rooms, you should take a North facing room near the lifts as this will allow you to cover all the runways for arrivals and departures. I had room 1005 and I found that the door at the end of the corridor by rooms by 1001 & 1002, allowed a view across to runway 33/15 – very limited view but enough to get what you are after. This door also works on floor 11 but the view is even more limited – floors 9 & 8 offer no view at this end of the corridor.
Booking an Executive type room will get you access to the Lounge on floor 11 and this opens from 1pm to 9pm. Free drinks and nibbles and there is a happy hour between 6pm and 8pm. Crucially though, the views in the Lounge are very good and even if the arrivals/departures change runways, you can still cover it all. Inside the Lounge, you can see the runways heading North. There is also a small covered area outside from where you can view the Southern thresholds of both the runways.
To get to the hotel when you go through immigration and customs go straight ahead to the transport hub. Once in there keep walking and look for door 18. It’s in the far right corner and you have to take the lift up to level 3. for further clarity Gate 18 is located between gates 16 and 17 but one floor up
and not as you would expect after gate 17 Follow signs for Hyatt Regency. When you get closer, you'll see a picture of a flight deck. Turn left and keep walking. Take a lift on the left down to level 1 and you’re there. We left SZX after a full and productive morning to CAN. We took a Didi (China’s version of Uber) which I booked via the Alipay App. The journey took a couple of hours (which was mostly spent catching up on sleep) and cost around £45.
Above: View onto runways 16/34 from room 909.
Below: View onto the gap of runways 15/33.
