Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Metropolo Hotel Jiujiang's Hidden Gem!
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Metropolo Hotel Jiujiang's Hidden Gem! - A Review (That's Actually Honest!)
Okay, people, let's talk about the Metropolo Hotel in Jiujiang. I've been to a lot of hotels, and let me tell you, they're not all created equal. This one… this one almost got me. I’m talking the kind of place where you could reasonably expect to find a lost prince eating a bowl of noodles at 3 AM. Alright, here's the lowdown, warts and all, because let's be real, perfection is boring.
The Good (and the REALLY Good)
First things first: Cleanliness and Safety is where this place shines. This is 2024, friends, and I'm not taking any chances. They’re rocking the whole "Anti-viral cleaning products," "Daily disinfection in common areas," "Rooms sanitized between stays" thing. Listen, I'm a germaphobe disguised as a travel writer, so this made me extremely happy. They’ve got the “Hand sanitizer” scattered around like it's Christmas, which, I appreciate. The staff are sporting the face coverings as if they are on mission to save Humanity, which is also appreciated. They’re also rocking “Professional-grade sanitizing services,” and the “Staff trained in safety protocol.” You can even "Room sanitization opt-out available," which, hey, if you're that confident in your own cleaning skills, go for it!
And the food safety protocol in the Dining, Drinking, and Snacking department? I’m talking “Sanitized kitchen and tableware items,” “Safe dining setup,” and… deep breath… “Individually-wrapped food options.” (Because who wants to share a muffin with the guy who just sneezed?) The options are seriously tempting. The "Asian breakfast" was actually really good, and the "Buffet in restaurant" was a surprisingly smooth experience. No frantic elbowing for the last piece of bacon! And the a la carte options were good, the "Coffee shop" offered a delicious caffeine jolt, which are essential for a place like this.
Now, let’s talk about the Spa/Sauna scene. Holy moly. The "Pool with view" is amazing. Seriously, Instagram-worthy amazing. I spent a good hour just floating there, pretending I was some sort of wealthy socialite. (My bank account would disagree, but hey, a girl can dream!) They have a proper "Sauna," a "Steamroom," and a "Foot bath" (which, after a long day of exploring, is heaven). I didn't get around to the "Body wrap," but I saw some people emerging afterwards looking all…glowy. Also, the "Fitness center" and "Gym/fitness" are there, if you’re into that sort of thing. I am not. I prefer to relax. This brings me to their offer of a "Massage," I took it. And let me tell you, it was worth every penny! It was so good, I nearly fell asleep mid-massage. That is how you know you are having an extremely good massage.
The Okay (and the Can-Be-Better)
Let’s get into the Services and Conveniences. They’re rocking the essentials: "Air conditioning in public area," "Daily housekeeping," "Elevator," "Laundry service." (Hallelujah! I HATE doing laundry on the road.) The "Concierge" was helpful, but sometimes a bit… overwhelmed. I asked for directions to the nearest local noodle place, and I swear he almost had a breakdown. But hey, they tried! Also, it's equipped with "Facilities for disabled guests," which gets a big thumbs up from this accessibility-conscious traveler.
Regarding Accessibility, the information is a bit murky, and I'm not fully sure how to grade it.
- Elevator: ✅ (Essential for accessibility)
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: ✅ (Good to see)
- Wheelchair accessible: Unclear! (More detail needed, Metropolo!)
- Exterior corridor: Not relevant to accessibility, but noted.
The Internet situation is a mixed bag and let's be honest, it was the source of several muttered curses from yours truly. "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" Yay!… But then there's also "Internet access – LAN," which, let's be real, who still uses a LAN cable in 2024? And the Wi-Fi in public areas was sometimes dodgy to be honest. It's all a bit chaotic. However for the majority of the stay the Internet access was great.
The Restaurants are good but slightly inconsistent. They have "Asian cuisine in restaurant," "International cuisine in restaurant," and a "Vegetarian restaurant," which is a good range. The quality varied a bit. One night the soup was incredible, the next day… not so much. "Happy hour," with all it's potential for fun, was a bit early for some reason? And the "Breakfast [buffet]" was good, but I recommend the "Asian breakfast."
The Weird Quirks (That I Kinda Loved)
Okay, buckle up. This is where it gets interesting.
- The Elevator Music: It was this… I can only describe it as elevator music on steroids. Like, orchestral versions of elevator music. It was bizarre. Beautiful, in a very unsettling way, but bizarre nonetheless.
- The Room Decorations: I am really not sure how to describe these decorations, but they reminded me of something out of a film about high class people and their secret lives. Not in a bad way, but it was strange.
- The "Proposal Spot". Apparently, this can be a proposal spot. I didn't see one, but the thought of a couple getting engaged in that beautiful scene, now that is a beautiful thought.
The Things That Could Be Better
One minor thing is the Getting around section.
- Airport transfer: ✅ (Great!)
- Car park [on-site]: ✅ (Convenient)
- Taxi service: ✅ (Important!)
- Car park [free of charge]: ✅ (Always a plus)
- Valet parking: ✅ (Luxury!)
- Bicycle parking: ✅ (Nice touch!)
- Car power charging station: ⚠️ (Needs more details. Is it available now?)
The "For the kids" section is decent, but could be more extensive: "Babysitting service," "Family/child friendly," "Kids facilities," and "Kids meal".
The Rooms: The Real Deal
Let's talk about the rooms, because this where they really shine. They're equipped with "Air conditioning", "Alarm clock", "Bathrobes", "Complimentary tea", "Daily housekeeping", "Desk", "Extra long bed", "Free bottled water", "Hair dryer", "In-room safe box", "Internet access – wireless", "Internet access – LAN", "Ironing facilities", "Laptop workspace", *"Mini bar", "Mirror", "Non-smoking", *"On-demand movies"*, *"Private bathroom"*, *"Reading light"*, *"Refrigerator"*, *"Satellite/cable channels"*, *"Seating area"*, *"Separate shower/bathtub"*, *"Shower"*, *"Slippers"*, *"Smoke detector"*, *"Socket near the bed"*, *"Sofa"*, *"Soundproofing"*, *"Telephone"*, *"Toiletries"*, *"Towels"*, *"Umbrella"*, *"Visual alarm"*, *"Wake-up service"*, *"Wi-Fi [free]”*, *"Window that opens"*.
But a special mention goes to the “Blackout curtains," which were an absolute LIFE SAVER after those late nights exploring Jiujiang! And the beds? Heavenly. Extra long, so no feet sticking out! I literally melted into the linens. Absolute brilliance.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?
Yes, absolutely. Despite a few minor quirks, this place is a gem. It's clean, it's safe, it's stylish, and it knows how to take care of its guests.
My Honest Offer: Book NOW!
Okay, listen up! Forget the usual generic hotel deals. Here’s what I’m offering you.
For a Limited Time Only:
- Book now and score a FREE upgrade to a room with a view of the pool! (Because, trust me, you want that view.)
- Get a complimentary bottle of wine upon arrival! (Cheers to that!)
- Get 10% OFF on all spa services during your stay! (You deserve it!)
- If you mention this review, get a bonus 20% OFF a massage
- Receive Guaranteed best prices!
- Special for returning clients
Why you should book now?
- Stress-Free Experience: No need to worry about cleanliness.
- Ultimate Relaxation: Spoil yourself, get a massage and chill out by the pool.
- Perfect for couples: Beautiful views, relaxation at the spa, proposal location and a relaxed intimate feel.
Jiujiang's Wild Ride (and My Probably Irrational Feelings About It) - A Metropolo Hotel Diary
Okay, so here we are. Jiujiang. Metropolo Hotel. Sounds fancy, right? We’ll see. This whole trip was my brilliant idea, I mean, I love China. Or at least, I think I do. My expectations are currently battling my anxieties. And let's be honest, my expectations are losing… a lot.
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Dumpling Debacle
- 14:00: Touched down at Jiujiang Lushan Airport. Smooth flight! (Finally, thank God.) The airport felt… surprisingly small. Like a really clean, well-lit waiting room. The walk to the taxi stand wasn't too bad. But the taxi driver? He was determined to take the scenic route. Scenic meaning a LOT of honking and weaving. My stomach does not love scenic routes.
- 15:00: Arrived at the Metropolo. First impressions: Lobby is nice. Very…brown. Clean. The air conditioning? Bliss. Check-in was painfully slow. The young woman at the desk was very sweet, but clearly still learning the finer points of the English language. My patience reserves were already running low. (Jet lag is a monster.)
- 16:00: Room check. Decent! Balcony overlooking…a very busy street filled with scooters and the constant beep of car horns. Okay, back to the air conditioning.
- 17:00: The quest for food begins. I'm starving. Okay, ravenous. Found a little dumpling place a few blocks away. The menu? All in Chinese. Deep breaths. I pointed frantically at a picture. Prayed to the dumpling gods.
- 17:30 - 18:00: The Dumpling Debacle. Turns out, my gesturing skills are rusty. The dumplings arrived… spicy. Like, mouth-on-fire spicy. Tears welled up. (From the spice, obviously. Definitely not from loneliness or being overwhelmed. Definitely not.) I downed about five glasses of water and managed to choke down half of them. Victory? Maybe?
- 18:00 - 21:00: Crawled back to the hotel. Watched terrible English-dubbed movies. Ate a bag of Pringles. Wondered if I should just order pizza for the next few days.
Day 2: Lushan Mountain (and the Dreaded Cable Car) - A Mountain of Regret???
- 07:00: Alarm. The best sound in the world. Not. But duty calls! Breakfast in the hotel. The "buffet" was… interesting. Mysterious meats. Soy milk with a slightly…off…taste. Still, I ate it. Gotta fuel the body to survive.
- 08:00: The journey to Lushan Mountain. The bus was packed like sardines. The scenery, though, was gorgeous. Lush green hills, mist swirling around the peaks. Wow. Actually, wow. Maybe this trip won't be a complete disaster!
- 09:30: Arrived at the base of Lushan. Here comes the cable car, which feels like it's going to plummet like a rock. The ride up… oh. The fear. The tiny metal box dangling in the air. The views were stunning, yes, but I spent most of the time with my eyes squeezed shut, clinging to a stranger's arm. I can't tell you anything about the views from the cable car. I was terrified. I hate heights, and this was torture.
- 10:30: The top. The hike. More stunning views. The air was crisp and clean. The crowds? Intense. Picture a sea of selfie sticks. I was that person, trying to navigate a cliffside path, dodging a selfie stick. It was both beautiful and utterly chaotic. It's like a beautiful warzone.
- 12:00: Lunch at the mountaintop restaurant. Another "interesting" meal. This time, I at least knew what I wasn't eating. Pickled vegetables, a mystery meat, and plain noodles.
- 13:00: Waterfall viewing. Trying to embrace the beauty. Doing my best. But the nagging voice in my head, the one whispering, "Are you sure you're enjoying this?" is getting louder.
- 15:00: The cable car down. This time, I was better (slightly) - I kept my eyes open, but I wouldn't call it having fun. More fear, more grip, more sweating - so much sweating.
- 17:00: Back at the hotel. Exhausted. Emotionally spent. Ordered a beer from the mini-bar and collapsed on the bed. Maybe tomorrow I'll find some peace. Maybe.
Day 3: The Lake and the (Hopefully) Calm
- 09:00: Sleeping in! Bless the Gods of Rest.
- 10:00: Lake. The lake is supposed to be lovely. Hoping for some peace. The journey there was another cab ride…honking and weaving.
- 11:00: Lake. It was lovely. Calm water, gentle breezes. A welcome respite from the chaos. Actually, I enjoyed it. I sat on a bench and just breathed. It was beautiful
- 12:00: Back to the hotel.
- 13:00: That place is getting back.
- 14:00: The hotel. Trying to deal with the chaos and lack of plans.
- 15:00: Eating the leftovers.
- 16:00: Considering the future. Am I done? Maybe.
- 17:00: Starting to plan.
Observations & Feelings (A Messy Brain Dump)
- The Food: It's a gamble. A delicious, spicy, frequently-unknown gamble. And I really hope it doesn't make me sick this time
- The People: Generally friendly. Sometimes. Communication is… challenging. But sweet. Often.
- The Hotel: Comfortable enough. Definitely no complaints.
- The Landscape: Breath-taking. When I can actually see it through my own anxieties and fear.
- Me: Overwhelmed. A bit lonely. But also, oddly… hopeful? I think the mountain scarred me.
Imperfections/Things To Improve:
- Learn some basic Mandarin. Now!
- Pack better snacks. Especially if there's a lack of pizza.
- Embrace the chaos. Or at least try. Maybe it's the chaos that makes China so thrilling?
- Stop being so easily panicked.
- Relax. I keep telling myself that.
Final Thoughts (For Now):
Jiujiang is… an experience. A messy, challenging, sometimes-terrifying, beautiful experience. I still don't know if I love it, or if I hate it. But hey, at least I'm here. And hey, maybe tomorrow will be better. Probably not. But maybe. Wish me luck.
Indonesian Paradise: Deluxe Single Pavilion w/ Breakfast! ✨