Unbelievable Holiday Inn Express Deal in Meishan, China! (IHG)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the Unbelievable Holiday Inn Express in Meishan, China! (IHG). Forget those sterile, corporate reviews – this is gonna be raw, real, and probably slightly unhinged. Let's get messy!
First Impressions: Getting There & Settling In (aka, Did I Survive the Airport Transfer?)
Alright, so Meishan. Never heard of it before, but hey, an "Unbelievable Deal" on IHG sounded intriguing. The airport transfer? Smooth. Like, surprisingly smooth. Didn't expect that. My Chinese is… patchy, let's be honest, mostly consisting of "Ni hao" and frantic pointing. But the driver got me there, no blood, no tears (on my part anyway).
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag, Frankly
Okay, let's address the elephant in the room. Accessibility. Officially, the hotel claims Facilities for disabled guests. This is where things get… nuanced. The elevator? Check. Ramps? Probably. I say "probably" because I'm walking and didn't scrutinize every inch. So, if you require wheelchair access, I'd advise calling ahead and grilling them. Really grill them. Don't take their word for it; get specifics. I'm just saying, the Chinese understanding of "accessible" can sometimes differ from Western expectations.
Rooms: My Personal Oasis (and the Great Towel Debacle)
The room itself? Clean. Spotlessly clean. They're clearly on top of the Cleanliness and safety game, with Anti-viral cleaning products and that whole Daily disinfection in common areas thing. Rooms sanitized between stays? Yep, I think so. Felt safe, even in the middle of a global pandemic.
Now, the details. Air conditioning? Bliss. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!? Yes! And it actually worked, unlike some hotels I've stayed in where you need a PhD in network engineering to connect. Blackout curtains? Glorious. Seriously, I slept like a baby slug. Additional toilet (okay, I'll be honest, I didn't check for that) and all the other necessities: Desk, Coffee/tea maker, Safe box (because, you know, I have secrets…just kidding).
The Bathtub? Beautiful! Until I tried to use it and realized I was missing a towel. One towels. So I called the front desk. And then I waited. And waited. And then I found an extra towel hiding in the closet. Score! Small victory, folks, small victory.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Buffet of Wonders (and Some Regrets)
Alright, the food. The Breakfast [buffet] was… extensive. Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, you name it, they (probably) had it. The Asian cuisine in restaurant section was a glorious mountain of strange and wonderful things. I tried all of them. The Soup in restaurant was amazing, like, comfort food heaven. The Coffee/tea in restaurant… well, it was coffee. Not bad, not great.
The Happy hour at the Bar was tempting, but after that breakfast, I was stuffed. The Poolside bar? Didn't even look at it. I was too busy strategising what to eat for lunch.
Here's where I confess: I may have overeaten at the breakfast buffet. I'm pretty sure my stomach staged a revolt somewhere around the fourth plate of dim sum. The Breakfast takeaway service was tempting, but I got the feeling I'd just end up eating more, so I resisted.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Relaxation Station (and the Mystery of the Foot Bath)
Swimming pool [outdoor]? Yes! Looked lovely. Probably refreshing. But I was too busy recovering from the aforementioned buffet.
Gym/fitness? Yep, there's one. I saw a couple of people huffing and puffing on treadmills, looking very serious indeed. (I'm a walker, not a runner. My fitness centre is a scenic route, not a treadmill).
Spa/sauna? Yes! But I didn't check. Honestly? I was feeling lazy and full of dim sum.
The Foot bath. This is where things get confusing. Mentioned. But I'm not sure if this exists. Or if it's a secret underground spa ritual I wasn't invited to. Maybe I should've asked…
Cleanliness & Safety: Surviving the Pandemic (Sort Of)
Okay, so the Hygiene certification and all the Professional-grade sanitizing services? Reassuring. Hand sanitizer everywhere. Individually-wrapped food options. They take this seriously, which I appreciate. It made me feel safe. And hey, they even have a Physical distancing of at least 1 meter. Because, you can never be too careful.
Services and Conveniences: The Usual Suspects (and a Slightly Creepy Shrine)
Concierge? Present and helpful. Elevator? Yes. Laundry service? Yep. Nothing particularly exciting here. The usual hotel stuff.
The elevator, though, was next to a "shrine." I don't know why. It was a little… odd. A small figurine, candles, and some sort of incense. Okay. I didn't ask. Some things are best left mysterious.
For the Kids: Family Friendly (but My Kids Stayed Home)
Babysitting service? Family/child friendly? Yes, to both. They have Kids facilities, and I think the Kids meal is a thing. But, my kids are not a thing. They are a non-factor that is not the subject matter of this review.
Getting Around: Car Park and Public transport (or, Did I Lock the Car?)
Car park [free of charge]? Yes! That's me. Car park [on-site]. Also yes. The Airport transfer was already a thing. And there's Taxi service, too. I didn't need to use it, but it was there.
The "Unbelievable Deal" – Is It Really? The Verdict!
Okay, so, the unbelievable deal? The price was certainly good. The value for money? Excellent. Would I stay here again? Absolutely. It's clean, comfortable, and the staff is friendly despite my sketchy Chinese.
The Bottom Line:
- Pros: Cleanliness, comfort, great value, strong breakfast buffet, security, and free Wi-Fi.
- Cons: Potential accessibility concerns, occasional towel shortages, and the mysterious shrine. I need to know!
- Overall: A solid choice for a stay in Meishan. Book it, and get ready for dim sum bliss!
NOW, THE UNBELIEVABLE OFFER (Because You Deserve It!):
Tired of boring, generic hotel stays? Craving an adventure? Look no further than the Unbelievable Holiday Inn Express Deal in Meishan, China! (IHG).
Book your stay NOW and receive:
- Up to 40% off our best available rates!
- Free Breakfast Buffet: Fuel your day with a culinary adventure of Asian and Western delights!
- Complimentary Wi-Fi: Stay connected and share your Meishan experiences with the world!
- Exclusive Access: To the pool and gym (if you're into that sort of thing).
- Peace of Mind: With our rigorous cleanliness and safety protocols, your health is our top priority.
But, there's more!
Special Bonus: Book directly on the IHG website and receive a complimentary bottle of water and a welcome fruit basket to get you started.
Don't delay! This Unbelievable Deal won't last forever!
Click here to book your amazing escape to Meishan today! (Link to your booking page here)
Act fast - it's time to get that dim sum!
Bangkok's BEST Kept Secret? Orion Hotel & Residence Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to get real about a trip to the Holiday Inn Express Meishan Dongpo by IHG in Meishan, China. Forget flawless itineraries; this is going to be a glorious, messy, and hopefully hilarious recounting of days that may or may not go according to plan. Expect tangents, opinions, and a healthy dose of "I told you so" moments.
The Pre-Trip Panic (and the Realization I'm Terrible at Packing)
So, Meishan. Never been. Heard absolutely nothing about it. Which, as a seasoned traveler, means: OPPORTUNITY! Before the trip, I'm a classic jumble of excitement and crippling anxiety. Did I get the right visa? Did I remember my phrasebook? (Probably not.) Did I pack too much? (Always.) Too little? (Guaranteed.)
Packing became a frantic ballet of indecision. Mountains of clothes sprawled across my bed, a testament to my complete lack of packing skills. I'm pretty sure I ended up bringing like, six different pairs of shoes. Six! Who needs six pairs of shoes in a place I barely know? Me, apparently. Because, "what if it rains? What if I feel like hiking? What if… well, what if?"
Day 1: Arrival, the Mysterious Noodles, and a Mild Panic Attack
Morning (Meishan Arrival): Okay, first hurdle: Landing. After what felt like a marathon flight (because, let's be honest, all flights feel like marathons, even the short ones) and a blurry bus ride, I wobble, slightly jetlagged, into the pristine lobby of the Holiday Inn Express. The air conditioning is a godsend. The staff are super polite (thank goodness for a smile, even if I can't understand a word of Mandarin yet). Bonus points for the free coffee. I needed that.
Afternoon (Hotel Reconnaissance & Noodle Adventure): Okay, room check. Clean. Comfy bed. Yay! Now, exploring! I'm a sucker for a good hotel, even if it's a run-of-the-mill hotel brand. After unpacking (mostly re-packing everything because the way I crammed everything in was a disaster), and a quick freshen up, out I went, a lone explorer armed with a map and the vague feeling of "where am I going?"
Food is essential. And the immediate task was lunch. After that, I spotted a little noodle shop just off the main road, and thought I'd be brave. Inside, it was all clanging pots, steaming broth, and the happy chatter of locals. I pointed at a picture and gave a thumbs-up.
What came next? The most perplexing, delicious, and utterly unidentifiable noodle concoction of my life! The texture was… interesting. The broth? A symphony of flavors I couldn't place. My attempt to thank the cook resulted in a lot of arm-waving and smiling. But damn, it was good. I think I might have inhaled it.
Evening (The Great Google Translate Fail & the Mild Meltdown): Ah, the sunset. Beautiful, yes, and the perfect setting for a slight crisis of confidence. My phone, my lifeline, decided to betray me. The crucial google translate app was giving me gibberish, and I was suddenly lost in a sea of signs I couldn’t decipher. So I had a panic attack. A small one. But it felt enormous at the time. I calmed down by sitting on the steps of the hotel and watching the city come alive. I made a plan (get more data, find a dumpling place, sleep).
Day 2: The Dongpo Cultural Park (And My Questionable Photography Skills)
Morning (Breakfast and the Questionable Pancakes): The hotel breakfast. Standard fare, but with a few interesting touches. The pancakes however were a disaster. They looked like hockey pucks. I ended up surviving (and succeeding) on the congee and melon.
Afternoon (Dongpo Cultural Park - And My Obsession with the Trees): I'd heard about the Dongpo Cultural Park. It's where the poet Su Shi was born. Tourist alert! But, I'm in. Okay, so the park… it's beautiful. Green. Serene. Full of pagodas and statues and things I don't understand but that make me feel momentarily cultured. The architecture is incredible. I spent way too much time wandering, getting pleasantly lost, and feeling vaguely inadequate next to all the people who knew far more about Chinese history and art than I did.
I became ridiculously obsessed with the trees. Massive, ancient trees with branches snaking out like the arms of wise old men. I spent a good twenty minutes trying to photograph one, and the result? A series of blurry, mediocre shots that utterly failed to capture its majesty. My photography skills are clearly in the toddler stage.
Evening (Dinner and a Near-Disaster with Chopsticks): Dinner time! I bravely ventured out, this time with a renewed sense of adventure. Found a dumpling place (yay!) and proceeded to embarrass myself with chopsticks. It was a comedy of dropped dumplings, accidental stabs at my own hand, and increasingly frantic attempts to look graceful. Eventually, I gave up and just shoveled them in with the chopsticks. The dumplings were worth the struggle.
Day 3: The Meishan Market and the Unexpected Charm
Morning (Market Madness and an Intense Bargaining Session): Markets! Love them. Hate them. They're a sensory overload, a symphony of exotic smells and vibrant colors. This market was no exception. I spent hours trying to navigate the chaos. I haggled for a small souvenir (badly, I suspect). The vendor, bless his heart, seemed to find my terrible Mandarin and clumsy attempts at bargaining endlessly amusing. I, however, felt like a complete fool. But hey, at least I got my little trinket!
Afternoon (Unexpected Charm and the People): I had expected to feel a bit like an outsider in Meishan. But, there’s something about the pace here, the unpretentiousness, that started to work on me. I’d find myself smiling at strangers, and getting smiles back. It was unexpected and lovely.
Evening (Hotel Relaxation and Reflection): Back at the hotel, I crashed. I felt this trip was an exercise in trying new things, accepting my own imperfections, and laughing a lot. I'm always hard on myself (I’m a work in progress). The bed felt amazing. After a relaxing shower, I spent hours just looking out the window, thinking.
Day 4: Departure, The End…or is it?
Morning (Last Breakfast & Last-Minute Souvenir Hunt): One last hotel breakfast. One last cup of coffee. One last attempt to figure out the pancake situation. Then, came the frantic scramble for last-minute souvenirs. Because, you know, gotta bring something back for the people back home!
Afternoon (Homeward Bound): Goodbye Meishan, goodbye Holiday Inn Express. The journey wasn’t perfect. Far from it. But it was mine. It was real. It was a mess of misadventures and delicious noodles and an overwhelming sense of “I did it!” I'm pretty sure I left a trail of crumpled maps, half-eaten snacks, and questionable photos in my wake. And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Emotional Verdict: Would I go back? Absolutely. Next time, though, I'm bringing better phrasebook skills, advanced dumpling-eating techniques, and maybe even a slightly less overloaded suitcase. And I'll definitely try to get better photos. Wish me luck. (I'll need it.)
Okay, So This "Unbelievable" Holiday Inn Express Deal in Meishan, China? Let's Dive In (Brace Yourself!)
Is this REALLY a good deal? REALLY?! Because my credit card's already quivering in its little plastic boots...
What are the rooms like, REALLY? Because all those generic hotel photos always look suspiciously perfect.
Breakfast time! Is it the usual sad continental spread or something more exciting?
Is the location convenient for… anything? Like, actual things a tourist might want to do?
Let's talk about the staff! Are they friendly? Do they speak English? Are they secretly plotting my demise? (Okay, maybe that's just me...)
Was there anything *actually* unbelievable about this experience?
Would you go back? And more importantly, would you recommend it?
