Escape to Paradise: Unforgettable Holiday Inn Mengding Mountain Getaway
Escape to Paradise? Hold My Mengding Mountain Tea! A Seriously Unforgettable (And Slightly Flawed) Holiday Inn Getaway
Alright, folks, let's be real. This whole travel blogging thing is supposed to be all sunshine, rainbows, and perfectly curated Instagram feeds. But, if you're anything like me, you want the truth. So, here's the lowdown, the messy, the glorious, and the slightly-could-be-better truth about my recent adventure at the Holiday Inn Mengding Mountain. Prepare for a wild ride.
First Impressions (and a Sigh of Relief – About Accessibility):
Okay, let's start with a big win: Accessibility. This was a huge worry, as I'm traveling with someone who uses a wheelchair. But honestly? The Holiday Inn surprised the heck out of me. Wheelchair accessible throughout the public areas – restaurants, lounges, lobbies – checked. Elevators? Yep. Ramps strategically placed? You betcha. And, I'm thrilled about, Facilities for disabled guests specifically catered. It made a HUGE difference right from the start. I was expecting some awkward moments (that's my reality for most hotel stays), but it was smooth sailing! The front desk staff were super helpful--really, they were. They understood the need.
The Rooms: A Comforting Embrace (and a Few Minor Quibbles)
The non-smoking rooms were a godsend, and the soundproof rooms…well, they're a lifesaver! I'm a light sleeper, so let's just say I practically worship soundproofing. Our room was surprisingly spacious and comfortable. I love how they provided all the essentials, like bathrobes and slippers. The Air conditioning was spot on, and the blackout curtains? Perfection for a good night's sleep! We even had complimentary tea and free bottled water…little things, but appreciated.
But, and it's a big BUT, I was a little disappointed with the internet access – wireless. It was a bit spotty at times, and the internet access – LAN frankly wasn't even an option in the room we got, even though advertised. In a "remote" (and that's the right term) mountain location like this, reliable internet is precious.
The Food: A Culinary Rollercoaster (with Peaks and Valleys)
Alright, let's talk grub. The restaurants were a mixed bag. The Asian cuisine in restaurant was surprisingly good: flavorful, authentic, and I will confess, I actually crave their dumplings now. There was a variety of Asian breakfast, not just western. But, the breakfast [buffet]… oh dear. It was… well, buffet-y. The coffee/tea in restaurant was decent, and they actually had a Vegetarian restaurant option, but the selection was a little limited, a bit heavy on the fried stuff. The Asian cuisine in restaurant however was fantastic! They also offered a good Buffet in restaurant, but I mainly stuck with the Asian fare.
The Happy hour at the bar was pretty standard, but the poolside bar was a real winner. Sipping a cocktail with those mountain views? Pure bliss. The Room service [24-hour] was a lifesaver for late-night snack attacks, although, the salad in restaurant options weren't all that exciting.
Now, the real kicker? I wanted my wife's birthday dinner, but they said dinner service stops ridiculously early. "It's not like we can just grab a pizza," I whined to the waiter.
We ended up ordering the room service. The food was good, but the ambiance…a little lacking. Lesson learned: next time, book early.
Things to Do: Relaxation and Rejuvenation (Mostly)
This is where the Holiday Inn really shines. Seriously, they practically force you to relax. The pool with view was breathtaking, especially at sunset. The Spa/sauna was the perfect antidote for all the stress of getting… well, here. I spent a ridiculous amount of time in the sauna and loved it and the steamroom, which was a real treat. The massage was heavenly, a moment of pure, unadulterated bliss. The Foot bath was also a surprisingly good experience.
I did peep at the fitness center, and yeah, it seemed pretty basic, but in a place like this, I'm not trying to be a gym rat.
Cleanliness and Safety: Feeling Secure (Mostly, at Least)
The Anti-viral cleaning products were a nice tough! Seeing Daily disinfection in common areas definitely put my mind at ease during COVID. They actually used Professional-grade sanitizing services across the property. The Hand sanitizer stations were everywhere, and Staff trained in safety protocol were also good!
Things that still concern me: Though they promised, I did not see the Room sanitization opt-out available and definitely no sterilizing equipment.
Other Services and Conveniences: The Good, The Bad, and the Slightly Over-the-Top.
- The Good: The concierge was incredibly helpful. The daily housekeeping made sure that all the issues were taken care of. Car park [free of charge] was awesome!
- The Quirky: They have an Indoor venue for special events and Outdoor venue for special events. I think I saw someone organizing a small wedding. I was jealous.
- The Questionable: I'm not sure that the Babysitting service and the kids meal fit in especially well. They might have been there, but I did not see them.
Getting Around: Smooth Sailing (Mostly)
The Car park [free of charge] was a massive win.
Overall Verdict: Would I Go Back?
Absolutely. Despite a few minor hiccups and the slightly-too-early dinner service cut-off, the Holiday Inn Mengding Mountain was a fantastic escape. The scenery is stunning, the spa is divine, and the accessibility is top-notch. I needed a break, and it delivered! I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing mountain getaway. But, do your homework on the restaurant hours, make a reservation, and pack your patience (and maybe some extra bandwidth!).
Uncover Italy's Hidden Gem: Il Poggio Dei Pettirossi Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this itinerary for the Holiday Inn Resort Mengding Mountain? It's gonna be less "perfect glossy brochure" and more "surviving a panda stampede" (hopefully with fewer actual pandas involved). This is real life, people, and sometimes real life smells vaguely of damp socks and overenthusiastic mosquito repellent. So, here goes…
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Tea Gamble (and Possibly Jet Lag)
- Morning (Arrival - hopefully): Landed in Chengdu. Oh, the air! Smells like…well, a city. And instant regret for not wearing my comfiest travel pants. Getting the transfer to Yaan city. Apparently, the drive is scenic, "breathtaking" they say. I'm betting on at least an hour of "are we there yet?" coming from my own brain, jet lag be damned. Praying my luggage arrives with me - I'm already picturing myself wandering around in a hotel bathrobe for the next 3 days.
- Afternoon (Checking In & Panic-Looking at My Tea Credentials): Check-in at the resort. Beautiful lobby, all that jazz. I'm already scanning for the closest coffee machine and a strategically placed power outlet. Actually, this place looks promising. Massive views, fresh air, the sort of place where your worries go to shrink. Find my room, dump my stuff. Okay, so this is where the "tea experience" starts. They're touting the tea gardens, the tea ceremonies… I bought tea a few times and I don't even know how to brew it properly at home. This is going to be interesting.
- Evening (Tea Time and the Mystery of the Missing Chopsticks): Okay, so the first tea tasting. It's beautiful. The landscape is amazing. And… I'm totally lost. They're throwing around words like "oolong" and "infusion" and I'm pretty sure I'm just nodding and smiling hoping I don't accidentally snort tea leaves up my nose. Food. YES. The food is where I'm confident - hopefully. Dinner at the resort restaurant. Fingers crossed for some mapo tofu that actually delivers a punch. And please, please let me find some chopsticks. I need to feel like at least one tiny thing is under control. Post dinner, I'm crashing. Early to bed to attempt to adjust to the time difference.
Day 2: Mountain Majesty and the Great Hike Debacle
- Morning (Sunrise and the Promise of Pain): Woke up early. The view. Seriously, it's worth the price of admission which is the view of the mountains. Breakfast and a coffee (Praise be!) It is the day for exploring the tea gardens and that big hike they keep mentioning. Supposed to be "moderate." I'm not sure my definition of "moderate" agrees with theirs.
- Afternoon (Conquering, Sort of): The hike. Okay. I will admit. It was beautiful. But here's a fun fact: "gentle incline" translates to "steepish slog" in the language of mountains. I'm pretty sure I saw a small, possibly adorable, animal laugh at me at one point. The tea gardens were amazing to be sure. The views were to die for. The altitude? Not my friend. I'll admit it, I took a few breaks that turned into sit-downs, and ended up losing my way for a few minutes! Getting my bearings again, the joy of exploring the garden.
- Evening (Spa Bliss and the Search for Noodles): Back to the hotel, time for a massage (I've earned it!). Followed by dinner. I NEED noodles. I crave them. This resort's got to feed this craving or I might actually resort to eating all the instant noodles that are in my bag. It's a slippery slope. Stargazing, maybe? Provided the sky isn't engulfed in a smoggy haze that would give even the most optimistic person a bad case of the blues.
Day 3: Panda Encounters (Maybe), Local Life, and Emotional Baggage
- Morning (Panda Daydreams and Cultural Immersion): Today, if time allows, planning a trip to see Pandas at Bifengxia Giant Panda Base. I'm picturing fluffy, adorable chaos. And maybe a serious case of the "awww's." Also, I'm determined to find some authentic, non-touristy, local life. So, a wander through the nearby market seems a must. (Hopefully, I don't offend anyone by accidentally pointing and yelling "what is that?" at some exotic fruit.)
- Afternoon (Panda-nicity and more tea): The Panda base! If the timing is right, then pure fluffiness! If not, then more tea tasting and a chance to actually learn something about tea. (Or, you know, at least bluff convincingly). A stroll in the resort surroundings would be a good way to end the afternoon.
- Evening (Farewell Dinner and the Existential Crisis of Choice): The farewell dinner. Reflecting on the trip. Had some amazing moments, some slightly awkward ones. The food, the people, the scenery. Trying to decide which tea to smuggle back home without looking too suspicious. Feeling that pang of sadness that always comes with the end of a trip. Thinking about how I can incorporate more tea into my life. And whether I could actually embrace the mountain lifestyle. Probably not, but hey, a girl can dream, right?
Day 4: Departure and the lingering scent of Tea (and possibly regret)
- Morning (The Great Escape and Goodbye): Last breakfast! Trying to savour everything because as soon as you start enjoying something, it is always time to go. Maybe sneak one last look at the mountains.
- Afternoon (Arrival at Chengdu and onward): Back to Chengdu. Check-in and onward!
Overall Mood? Probably a good blend of awe, mild exhaustion, the slightly frenzied energy of someone who's just discovered they actually like tea, and a healthy dose of existential wondering. After all it is about traveling, enjoying the experience and letting the journey guide you.
Altiz Bintaro 3: Tangerang's Dream Home Awaits!
So, Mengding Mountain Holiday Inn… Paradise? Really?
Paradise is a STRONG word, okay? Like, strong. It's more like… a package deal. Picture this: You Google "Escape to Paradise," and this place pops up. You see the photos – lush greenery, misty mountains, smiling people, the whole shebang. And you're like, "Sold! My life is a tire fire, I need this!" And... it delivers, kinda. The views are breathtaking. Seriously. There are moments where you just stop and gasp. But then… (and there’s always a 'but then,' isn't there?)… then the shower water barely trickles, and the breakfast buffet looks suspiciously like a high school cafeteria's leftovers, and you're rethinking all your life choices. So, yeah. Paradise-ish. With a healthy dose of reality.
The Mountain Views! What's the deal? Did they live up to the hype?
Oh. My. God. The mountains. They were *it.* Seriously, the photos don't do them justice. I’m talking… EPIC. I spent a solid half-hour just staring out the window of my room like a zombie. The mist rolling in, the jagged peaks… it was genuinely awe-inspiring. Especially at sunrise. Okay, fine, I only saw the sunrise once because, you know, vacation… but that ONE sunrise? Worth the entire trip. My phone, however, decided to die right at the moment of peak gorgeousness. Classic. Moral of the story: CHARGE YOUR PHONE. Don't be like me.
Okay, but the rooms? Were they, you know, *clean*? And comfortable?
Clean-ish. Let's just say they weren't *hoarders-level-clean*. There was a slightly… earthy scent. Which, I guess, is appropriate in a mountain setting? Maybe? The bed was… fine. It wasn't a cloud, but it wasn't a torture device either. The pillows, however, those were a travesty. Flat. Lumpy. Like tiny, deflated marshmallows. I ended up using a rolled-up towel as a pillow. Glamorous, I know. The Wi-Fi was a mythical creature I only heard whispered about in hushed tones. Seriously, I think a carrier pigeon would have been faster. But hey, at least I was *disconnected*, right? (I’m lying. It was frustrating as hell.)
The Food! The most important question! Tell me everything.
Ah, the food. This is where things get... interesting. Breakfast was… a mixed bag. There were the "good" things, like the fresh fruit (when they were fresh), and then there were the questionable things. The scrambled eggs had the texture of rubber, and the coffee... well, let's just say it wasn't exactly Starbucks. The dinner buffet? Again, a mixed bag. Some dishes were surprisingly delicious – the spicy Sichuan was amazing, that's the truth – others... let’s just say I'm pretty sure a rogue chicken nugget from 2018 was hiding somewhere on the buffet. But hey, you can't go wrong with the noodles. Or, you know, a whole plate of noodles. I did. No regrets.
What about activities? Did you… you know… *do* anything?
Okay, here’s the thing. I went in with GRAND plans. Hiking! Yoga in the mountains! Learning Mandarin! I ended up… mostly napping. And staring at the mountains. And eating noodles. There were "marked trails," but I got lost on the first one. Turns out, my sense of direction is about as accurate as a drunk gnat. They have a spa, but it was fully booked. I did manage to find the tea plantation, which was actually pretty cool. Learned a bit about tea. Drank a lot of tea. So, yeah, not the most action-packed itinerary, but hey, sometimes you just need to… *be*. And stare at mountains. It’s okay!
Okay, spill the tea, what was your biggest "Oh no!" moment?
Right, buckle up, because this is a doozy. Picture this: Day two. Feeling good, finally got the hang of the breakfast buffet (sort of). Decided to go for a "leisurely" hike, right? Wrong. I chose a trail that, according to the (vaguely-translated) sign, was "Suitable for Experienced Adventurers." Me, being the experienced adventurer I am (read: mostly indoors), thought, "Challenge accepted!" About halfway, it started raining. Not a drizzle, I'm talking monsoon level. The "trail" turned into a muddy river. I, of course, was wearing my finest (read: only) pair of white sneakers. I slipped. I fell in a giant mud puddle. I looked like a drowned rat, covered head-to-toe in muck, my shoes were ruined, my phone was dead (again), and to top it off, I saw a guy in a *full business suit* walking the trail. And he looked completely unbothered. That, my friends, was my "Oh no!" moment. I’m not sure who I was more embarrassed for, him or me.
Would you go back? Honestly.
Okay, honest answer? Absolutely. Even with the dodgy pillows, the somewhat suspect food, the disastrous hike and the intermittent Wi-Fi. That’s the thing. The mountains. The sheer, unadulterated gorgeousness. That, and a healthy dose of "I survived" bragging rights. Plus, I've learned a valuable lesson: always pack waterproof shoes. And maybe a good sense of direction. And maybe a new phone that can withstand whatever conditions it finds itself in. So, yeah. Despite the imperfections, despite the minor (and major) disasters, it was… memorable. And, dare I say, worth it. I feel like I need another vacation *from* the vacation to fully recover, but yeah, I’d go back. Maybe. Eventually. After I get a new pair of shoes.
