Escape to Hengdian: Luxurious Holiday Inn Express Awaits!
Escape to Hengdian: A Holiday Inn Express Adventure (and a Few Unexpected Quirks!)
Alright, folks, let's talk Hengdian. You know, the "Hollywood of China"? Yeah, that's where I found myself recently, and let me tell you, it was a wild ride! This review is about the Holiday Inn Express there – the one promising a luxurious escape. Now, did it deliver? Well, buckle up, because we’re diving in… and, frankly, I’m still processing the whole experience!
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- Keywords: Hengdian, Holiday Inn Express, China, Hotel Review, Accessibility, Spa, Pool, Restaurants, Cleanliness, Wifi, Family Friendly, Fitness Center, Travel, Accommodation, Holiday.
- Meta Description: A detailed and honest review of the Holiday Inn Express in Hengdian, China. Find out about the rooms, amenities, accessibility, dining options, and overall experience – the good, the bad, and the slightly bewildering!
Getting There & the Initial Impression:
First off, accessibility. I'm happy to see that the hotel has elevator. From what I could see, most of the public spaces seemed reasonably accessible, though I didn’t do a deep dive; some dedicated accessibility information might be better. Getting around: Airport transfer was a breeze, they whisked me straight from the terminal to their door. The car park is plentiful. The whole arrival spiel? Pretty standard. A little too standard, actually. They offer Car park [free of charge] and valet parking which is a plus!
The Room – My Sanctuary (Mostly!)
Okay, available in all rooms: Air conditioning was a godsend. I cannot stress this enough, the climate in Hengdian sometimes is rough. They provided complimentary tea and free bottled water, which is always a win. Alarm clock, bathrobes (yes!), and blackout curtains (perfect for a nap after a long day of wandering movie sets). WiFi was excellent… more on that later. The interconnecting room(s) available option is perfect if you travel with a family or a group.
My room had air-conditioning, a hairdryer, a safe box, and a refrigerator. The bed was comfy, especially the extra-long bed. The daily housekeeping was efficient, which is always appreciated. They even had slippers! Luxury, people. Pure luxury! And I loved the reading light. Small details, but they make a difference.
One thing that was a bit weird – (and I'm not sure if this is a China thing, or a Holiday Inn thing) – the TV had a baffling selection of Mandarin channels and approximately one English-speaking channel that showed reruns of Law and Order. Not exactly my idea of "on-demand movies," but hey. Minor complaint, right?
Also, the soundproof rooms are brilliant, or at least they were until the neighbor’s karaoke machine kicked in at 2 AM. (Okay, that's more of a "Hengdian" thing, not a Holiday Inn thing!)
Internet… Ah, Internet.
Internet access – Wireless was, praise the internet gods, Wi-Fi [free]! You know, after a long day, that's so needed! Speed? Pretty decent, actually! I watched some Netflix, I checked emails, I even managed a video call without any hiccups. I like this. They also have internet access – LAN.
Food, Glorious (and Sometimes Slightly Odd) Food:
Dining, drinking, and snacking: Right, let's be honest. The food situation at the Holiday Inn Express in Hengdian was… interesting.
Breakfast [buffet] was included. Asian breakfast was the star. I tried congee (rice porridge) for the first time. I am not entirely sure I liked it, but I did try it. International cuisine in restaurant were also an option, and the Western breakfast was your usual fare: buffet in restaurant, eggs, bacon, toast, etc. Coffee/tea in restaurant were available. However, I must admit, the coffee wasn’t exactly what I'm used to. Think brown-colored water. But, hey, it woke me up!
I liked the A la carte in restaurant option. Salad in restaurant was offered in the buffet, and I got to enjoy the soup in restaurant as well.
There was also room service [24-hour].
They serve water. Bottle of water is a necessity!
They had a Poolside bar. I didn't get a chance to visit.
They have a Coffee shop. I did not visit.
They have Happy hour! I was too tired to partake.
They had Snack bar! It was great for the kids.
They have Desserts in restaurant! I saw them, never tried them.
The Vegetarian restaurant was also an available dining option. Asian cuisine in restaurant was a plus.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax – More or Less Relaxing!
The Spa/Fitness Center/Pool: Okay, first, the swimming pool [outdoor] looked lovely, but I didn't get the chance to try it. I heard rumors that there was also a pool with view. I was a bit too pooped from climbing miniature Chinese mountains. The Gym/fitness, Spa/sauna, and Sauna were all there. I didn´t use it.
Spa – A Personal Story: I did book a massage (because, come on, it's China, and massages are practically mandatory!). The overall experience was… good. I was expecting a bit more “luxury,” but the massage itself was decent. The masseuse was very polite, and I could hear my thoughts. The foot bath was relaxing. I did not go for Body wrap or Body scrub, I was too scared.
Things to do: They have a shrine. I went to the shrine and took a photo.
There are also lounges to relax in.
Cleanliness and Safety – Pandemic Times!
- Anti-viral cleaning products. I can vouch for the overall cleanliness. Everything felt sparkling.
- Breakfast in room. I did not try it.
- Breakfast takeaway service. I did not want to take my breakfast.
- Cashless payment service. Brilliant!
- Daily disinfection in common areas. I saw the staff clean the hotel.
- Doctor/nurse on call. Always good to have.
- First aid kit. You never know.
- Hand sanitizer. Available everywhere!
- Hot water linen and laundry washing. I can't confirm, but they did dry cleaning.
- Hygiene certification. I didn't check, but it felt safe.
- Individually-wrapped food options. Okay.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter. It was somewhat followed.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services. Excellent.
- Room sanitization opt-out available. Nice.
- Rooms sanitized between stays. Yes.
- Safe dining setup. Did not eat there.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items. It looked clean.
- Shared stationery removed. I didn´t see anything.
- Staff trained in safety protocol. Yes, from what I saw.
- Sterilizing equipment. I didn´t see that.
Services and Conveniences – The Perks!
The concierge was helpful, but a little… reserved. The laundry service was pretty good, and fast. Daily housekeeping was efficient. Elevator was essential for getting around. Cash withdrawal was possible. The convenience store was handy for snacks. Luggage storage was offered. Safety deposit boxes are available.
- Business Facilities: Meetings. Meeting/banquet facilities. Projector/LED display. Wi-Fi for special events. Didn't use it.
- Contactless check-in/out. Nice!
- They have Invoice provided. Okay!
- Front desk [24-hour].
- They offer Car power charging station.
- Car park [on-site]. Yes.
- They offer Shuttle/car hire.
- They offer Tailor-made tours.
For the Kids – Family Fun?
- They offer Babysitting service.
- They are Family/child friendly.
- They have Kids facilities.
- They have Kids meal.
Overall – The Verdict?
Look, the Holiday Inn Express in Hengdian is a solid choice. It's clean, it's comfortable, and the staff is friendly. The WiFi rocks! The food is interesting. It's probably the best-in class.
The biggest takeaway? Hengdian itself is a wild ride. It’s an
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Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to deep-dive into my (slightly chaotic) adventure at the Holiday Inn Express Dongyang Hengdian By IHG Jinhua China. "By IHG" – you know, just in case I forgot where I was staying… as if the sheer newness of China wouldn't remind me.
Day 1: Arrival of Mild Panic and Questionable Noodles
14:00 - Touchdown! (and immediate existential dread): Okay, landing in Jinhua felt more like being spat out of a giant airplane-shaped cough than gracefully arriving. Jet lag hit me like a rogue wave, and my Mandarin fluency was basically "Ni hao" and "Xie xie" – which, let's be honest, barely scratches the surface. Finding the shuttle to the hotel was an Olympic sport of miming and pointing, and I’m pretty sure I accidentally offended a sweet old lady with my luggage.
15:30 - Checking in… maybe: The front desk staff were unbelievably patient with my fumbling attempts at translation. I managed to get the room key, which felt like a small victory. My first impression of the room? Spotless. Almost too spotless. Like, did someone sanitize the air itself?
17:00 - The Noodle Incident: So, I was starving. Google Maps, bless its little digital heart, pointed me to a noodle place a few blocks away. Big mistake. The place was bustling, the smells were intoxicating, and I had no idea what I was ordering. I pointed at a picture, smiled obnoxiously, and ended up with a bowl of… something. It was hot. It was spicy. And I think I ate a pig's ear. (Don't judge me, jet lag!) Let's just say my digestive system is still recovering.
19:00 - Room Service (and Regret): After taking a super hot shower, I didn't want to leave my safe bubble of the hotel room, so I ordered from the in-room menu. The chicken I ordered was a little weird. I don't' know why, but the chicken was very hard to chew.
Day 2: Hengdian World Studios – A Glorious Tourist Trap (and Total Overwhelm)
08:00 - Breakfast Buffet Bliss (and the Scramble for Waffles): The breakfast buffet at the Holiday Inn was actually pretty solid. Emphasis on the "pretty." I mean, waffles! A glorious, sugary beacon in a sea of unfamiliar foods. I may have eaten, like, five of them. No regrets.
09:00 - Taxi Chaos and the Great Wall of Paper: The driver didn't speak English, so I pulled up the address of the main entrance to the Hengdian World Studios from the internet, and showed it to him. The taxi ride was a blur of honking and what I think was conversation. We arrived at a giant gate, and the sheer size of the place hit me like a wall. The ticket lines were a swirling vortex of people and… well, more people.
10:00 - Studio Stroll (and the Search for Authentic China): Hengdian is massive. Like, it’s where they film all those epic historical dramas. I spent the next few hours wandering around, gawking at replicas of ancient palaces and temples. It was undeniably impressive, but also… a little surreal. I wandered, wandering, and wandering.
13:00 - The King's Feast (and My Near-Death Experience with Spicy Peppers): Decided to eat lunch in one of the restaurants outside of one of the palaces. Ordered a dish that looked innocent enough (dumplings with sauce), but OH. MY. GOD. The peppers. The chili peppers. They were tiny, bright red, and packed a nuclear punch. I swear, my face turned purple. I'm pretty sure I saw visions. Maybe I'd experienced authentic Chinese cuisine, but it wasn't gentle…
15:00 - Back to the Hotel for Rest: After the spicy lunch, I decided to cool down in my hotel room. Decided to buy some medicine to cool down my stomach, and try to relax. I was not sure what to do at this point.
17:00 - Take-Out Regret: I did not want to make the same mistake as last night, so I took out a pizza. The pizza was okay, though maybe not the best decision. I regretted taking out a pizza from a place I didn't know, when it arrived an hour later.
Day 3: Cultural Immersion (aka: Trying to Find My Way Back to the Hotel)
09:00 - Decaf Coffee and the Stubborn Translator: The morning was spent trying to figure out the directions to the market by cross-referencing Google Maps with my hotel's Wi-Fi, and trying to ask a receptionist some questions. I kept asking the receptionist where to find the market, but the Wi-Fi cut out, and some directions were unclear.
10:00 - Exploring the city: Decided to explore the area around the hotel, figuring out how to get to the market on my own. I ended up wandering in the town, and tried to order some food. Finally, the food arrived.
14:00 - Hotel Bound: After the long journey, I decided to turn around.
15:00 - The Sweet End: Finally, the last order of the day, and I made my way to the lobby to check out, and head to the airport.
Observations, Quirks, and Emotional Mishaps:
- The Language Barrier: Okay, every day was a lesson in improvisational mime. Seriously, I should get a degree in pointing.
- The Heat: China is so hot.
- Food Expectations vs. Reality: My stomach has seen things. There were moments of pure, unadulterated bliss (those waffles!). And then there were moments where I questioned my life choices (that pig's ear, ugh).
- The Kindness: Despite the language barrier and my general cluelessness, the people were overwhelmingly kind and patient. Even when I was clearly a walking disaster.
- The Hotel Itself: The Holiday Inn Express was a welcome sanctuary. Clean, comfortable, and with a decent breakfast buffet.
- My Emotional State: A rollercoaster. Moments of pure awe, followed by moments of abject panic. But mostly, a profound sense of being somewhere completely different.
Final Verdict:
Would I go back to Hengdian and that noodle shop? Maybe. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just be prepared for sensory overload, questionable culinary choices, and the occasional existential crisis. But hey, isn't that what travel is all about? Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find a Pepto-Bismol.
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