EemiliciousI chose to stay at this hotel, billed as the 'cheapest Anantara,' but my overall experience was, frankly, below expectations. For the price, I could have found a newer, more comfortable five-star hotel right in the city center.
First, let's talk about the service. During check-in, the front desk staff's attitude wasn't bad, but it lacked the warmth and welcoming vibe one expects from a resort. There were quite a few smokers congregated in the balcony area connected to the lobby, and I noticed the smell of smoke from the moment I checked in, which definitely impacted the overall experience.
I understand that the hotel is older, but the cleanliness of the guest rooms definitely needs improvement. Beyond just making the bed and changing towels, the general cleaning was subpar. There was noticeable dust on the desks and the floor wasn't cleaned properly.
The gym was quite a disappointment. It's small, has poor lighting, and a limited number of machines. If you have a regular workout routine, it might not meet your needs. The children's play center also felt quite dated, which didn't really align with the hotel's positioning as a family-friendly resort. I had planned to let my child enjoy the outdoor pool, but it wasn't open during our stay. The indoor pool was quite crowded on the weekend, though it became significantly less busy after the Sunday check-out rush, making for a much more comfortable experience.
The breakfast, which we added on, was pretty average overall. Neither the taste nor the presentation met my expectations, and it felt rather ordinary compared to the hotel's supposed standing.
Of course, there were some positive aspects to this stay. Since we booked for two nights, we received an upgrade benefit for consecutive stays, and the hotel upgraded our room type, which was a pleasant surprise.
The complimentary travel photo shoot included in the package actually turned out to be the biggest surprise of our stay. My child and I experienced a Miao ethnic costume shoot. While the costumes cost an extra ¥10 per set, there were many options, and the clothes were clean and odorless, which was acceptable. The entire changing and shooting process took less than half an hour, but the photographer was very professional. Not only were the photos great, but they also patiently guided our poses. My child was very engaged throughout and even wanted to take the costumes home afterward. Although the package only included three retouched photos, we ended up purchasing more.
The hotel's location is relatively remote, but surprisingly, there's a wide selection of delivery food available nearby. Delivery times were a bit longer, but the barbecue and iced drinks we ordered were both delicious, which somewhat made up for the inconvenience of the location.
Overall, this hotel's hardware facilities clearly show their age, and there's significant room for improvement in some maintenance and service details. The brand itself is appealing, but if you have high expectations for accommodation quality, facilities, and the resort experience, I personally don't think the overall value for money is very high at the moment.
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