Beijing Luxury Escape: Excemon Hongxiang Hotel's Unforgettable Stay
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving HEADFIRST into the Excemon Hongxiang Hotel in Beijing. Forget polished travel blogs – this is gonna be REAL. And let me tell you, after my recent, rather memorable stay, I feel qualified to say it was an… experience. Let's get messy with it.
Beijing Luxury Escape: Excemon Hongxiang Hotel - The Unvarnished Truth
First things first: Accessibility. Now, I'm not in a wheelchair, but I did see some ramps around, and the elevators are present. I'm going to assume that it's a decent bet for accessibility, given my (admittedly limited) observation. I didn't see any specific dedicated signage, and that's a quick win for the hotel.
Okay, let's dive into the nitty-gritty then, where I struggled but lived:
On-Site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges, Wheelchair Accessible I didn’t specifically check every outlet for wheelchair accessibility, I simply didn’t. But honestly, I saw no obvious showstoppers. I bet the concierge can tell you though!
Internet Access (and All Its Forms)
Ugh, the internet. It's a tale of triumph and despair. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! And it actually worked. Most of the time. Blessedly. The speed was adequate for, you know, checking emails and updating Instagram. But streaming a movie? Forget it. Internet [LAN] – existed, I suppose, but I didn’t bother. Internet services… well, see above. Wi-Fi in public areas was a bit spotty. Sometimes I got it, other times I felt like I was back in the dial-up age. The frustration? Real. That's when the hotel went from a great place to stay to a complete and utter frustration: I needed to work.
Things to Do – My Favorite:
Let's just say I spent an unreasonable amount of time in the Spa. And let me get real here. The Spa was divine. The Pool with a View was… well, it was a pool. And the view was pretty good, especially at night. They also had a Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, and a Swimming pool [outdoor], which, I think, all of them were in good condition.
Now, my Achilles heel: The Massage. Oh, the massage. I opted for the full body, and let me tell you, the therapist was amazing. It was like my muscles were having a party. I walked out feeling like a limp noodle, in the best possible way. Worth every single penny! The Foot bath, I didn't try. And I did try the Gym/fitness center, which was well-equipped, but I found it to be far too busy and I gave up.
Cleanliness and Safety – The Sanitized Bubble
Look, in the age of you-know-what-disease, cleanliness is KING. And the Excemon Hongxiang? They were obsessed. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Rooms sanitized between stays. My room felt hospital-clean. There was a lot here: Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options (more on that later…), Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment. You get the picture. They take it seriously, which is reassuring.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Food Glorious (and Sometimes Bizarre) Food
This is where things get interesting. I loved the Asian breakfast and buffet in the restaurant. The Asian cuisine in restaurant I tried was fabulous. There were so many options to enjoy: A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, and Buffet in restaurant. The Coffee/tea in restaurant & Coffee shop were great. The Desserts in restaurant? I ate way too many. Happy hour? Don't mind if I do. International cuisine in restaurant… honestly, I didn't try it. I was too busy gorging on the Asian stuff. There's also a Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, and Western cuisine in restaurant. It was a freaking smorgasbord!
Okay, the breakfast buffet deserves a special mention. It was epic. But… there were moments. One morning, I got a… let's just call it a unique dumpling that was filled with something I couldn't identify, and it was a slightly horrifying experience. But hey, that’s travel, right? The Breakfast takeaway service was great for a quick bite.
Services and Conveniences – The Good, the Bad, and the Slightly Weird
The hotel offered the usual array of Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, which was very nice. And, honestly, the Dry cleaning, Elevator. I loved the Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, which was all perfect.
The On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center. They had it all. I didn't use all of them but the availability was nice.
For the Kids – Honestly, I don't have kids, so…
They have the Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, and Kids meal. The hotel seemed family-friendly. But I was there to escape from my kids.
Rooms – My Personal Oasis (Mostly)
My room was lovely. Really. Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, and Free bottled water were all present and accounted for.
The Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, 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. The bed was fantastically comfy, and the blackout curtains were a godsend (jet lag!). The Interconnecting room(s) available was a great option as well.
Important things to be aware of: Access, CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Couple's room, Exterior corridor, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms, Pets allowed unavailablePets allowed, Proposal spot, Room decorations, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms, Getting around, Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking, Available in all rooms, all were present.
The hotel is a safe place to explore.
Quirks & Imperfections – Because No Place is Perfect
The language barrier. Sometimes it was a challenge. I’m talking, pointing at pictures and using apps to translate. At first it was mildly frustrating. But eventually, it just added to the adventure. The lighting. A bit dim in my corner room. I’m older, I need more light. The price. It's a luxury hotel, so, yeah, it's not cheap. But the experience… well, it was worth it.
Emotional Reaction: Overall, Impressed
I was looking for a luxury escape, and that's what I got. I came, I ate, I spa-ed, and I (mostly) conquered the internet. More importantly, I felt taken care of.
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Beijing Blues & Bliss: A Messy Itinerary at the Excemon Beijing Hongxiang Hotel (Oh Boy)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this ain't your sanitized, perfectly-planned travel blog. This is my Beijing adventure, warts and all, and it all starts…at the Excemon Beijing Hongxiang Hotel. Don't get me wrong, the place is… well, it exists. Let’s dive in, shall we?
Day 1: Arrival & Awkwardness (Plus Noodles… Thank God for Noodles)
- Morning (5:00 AM - 9:00 AM): Flight from [Home City] - I swear, the airport is a black hole of delayed flights and overpriced coffee. Managed to snag a window seat, which meant… well, more staring at the blurry clouds as they slowly transformed into the concrete jungle of Beijing. Arrival. Immigration. Lost my pen IMMEDIATELY. Classic. Taxi to the Excemon. The driver? A charming mix of silence and aggressive horn-honking. This is going to be interesting…
- Mid-morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Checking in. The hotel lobby… looks like someone raided a slightly fancy antique store. Lots of dark wood and… a lingering smell of… I can’t quite place it. Is that… potpourri? Anyway, the check-in process took approximately the same amount of time as assembling IKEA furniture in the dark. The room? Clean enough. The view? A brick wall. Sigh.
- Lunch (12:00 PM - 1:30 PM): THANK GOD. Found a tiny, hole-in-the-wall noodle place around the corner. The best, slurp-worthy, chili-oil-drenched noodles I've ever tasted. Actually, it felt like a hug from the inside. This is what I came here for! (And possibly a strong drink later…)
- Afternoon (1:30 PM - 6:00 PM): Attempted to conquer the Summer Palace. I say "attempted" because I spent a good hour lost in a maze of identical pavilions, convinced I'd wandered into a parallel universe. Found a little stand selling candied hawthorns (they're like, tiny, tart apples on a stick) – the sugar rush gave me the boost I needed to… well, to get even more lost. Eventually, stumbled upon the Long Corridor. Stunning. Completely worth the getting-lost-induced anxiety.
- Evening (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM): The classic tourist trap, The Summer Palace. It was beautiful and crowded.
- Evening (9:00 PM onwards): Back at the hotel. Dinner. A slightly disappointing plate of fried rice that tasted vaguely of sadness. Maybe it’s jet lag. Maybe it's the brick wall outside my window. Either way, I'm officially considering a second helping of those noodles. And possibly a large glass of something…strong. Already missing home.
Day 2: Forbidden City Fumbles & Duck Disasters
- Morning (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Forbidden City! Finally! Got a blister forming already, thanks to my less-than-stellar walking shoes. The place is HUGE. Absolutely mind-boggling. Wandered around like a toddler in a superstore, gawking at the gilded roofs and imagining emperors stomping about. The sheer scale of it… wow. Almost got trampled by a tour group enthusiastically wielding selfie sticks.
- Lunch (12:00 PM - 1:30 PM): Street food! Tried a kind of pancake-y thing that was either genius or utter garbage. Jury's still out. My stomach is also slightly on the fence.
- Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM): Tiananmen Square. The sheer scale, again. The faces of the people, it made me feel like I was an ant. A deep sense of awe and history washing over me. It's incredibly moving, but it's also incredibly… well, empty.
- Afternoon (4:00 PM - 6:00 PM): Attempted to navigate the hutongs. Got hopelessly lost. Again. But this time, found a tiny tea shop. The tea? Divine. The shop owner? A tiny, smiling grandmother who didn't speak a lick of English but somehow managed to convey more warmth and hospitality than the entire Excemon hotel staff combined.
- Evening (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM): Peking Duck. I am not going to lie, I got very excited. I booked a popular restaurant. The experience was a rollercoaster of delight and… well, utter chaos. The duck itself was glorious, crispy skin, juicy meat. My chopstick skills, however, were less glorious. Spent half the meal chasing errant pieces of duck around the table. The waiter looked amused. I looked like a complete tourist. Worth it.
- Evening (9:00 PM onwards): Back at the hotel. This is the point that I realize I have a massive headache. I'm not entirely sure if it's from the duck, the jet lag, or the sheer exhaustion of being constantly overwhelmed. More noodles are calling. And a whole bottle of water.
Day 3: Great Wall Glory (and Greasy Fingers)
- Morning (7:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Great Wall! Hired a driver for this one. The drive was… let's say, "eventful." The driver seemed to have a death wish, weaving in and out of traffic like a caffeinated squirrel. But when I got there… wow. The view… breath-taking.
- Lunch (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM): My driver took me to a restaurant. The lunch was traditional and authentic. I can't tell you for sure what they were but they were tasty. I was still getting my bearings and didn't take notes.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM - 5:00 PM): More Great Wall. It's a hike, let me tell you. Felt my lungs burning, my legs screaming. Totally worth it. The views were incredible. The wind almost blew me off the mountain. Almost fell.
- Evening (5:00 PM - 9:00 PM): Back to the hotel. This is the day I realize that I am tired of taking subways and walking and having to be in my own brain all day.
- Evening (9:00 PM onwards): Back at the hotel, and I am just wanting to watch TV and stare at the brick wall.
Day 4: Temple Tumble & Goodbye
- Morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Temple of Heaven. Peaceful. Serene. A much-needed respite from the sensory overload of the past few days. Wandered around, feeling a sense of quiet contemplation. Until I got jostled by a group of enthusiastic tai chi practitioners. Then the moment was gone. Still, it was beautiful.
- Lunch (12:00 PM - 1:30 PM): Back in my favorite noodle joint. One last, glorious bowl of chili-oil-drenched goodness. A tear escaped my eye. The noodles were that good.
- Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM): Last minute souvenir shopping. Ended up buying a tiny, slightly wonky porcelain panda. I fell in love with its imperfections.
- Farewell (4:00 PM onwards): Check out. Taxi to the airport (same driver as before, still weaving). Flight home. Reflecting on the trip. Beijing is a chaotic, overwhelming, beautiful, frustrating, and utterly unforgettable place. It's a city you fall in love with, even when you want to scream. I'm exhausted, exhilarated, and already planning my return. Yes, even with the brick wall.
Final Thoughts:
The Excemon Beijing Hongxiang Hotel? Eh. It was a place to sleep. The food? Amazing. The people? Mostly lovely. Beijing? A sensory overload that left me both thoroughly exhausted and completely captivated. I'll definitely be back. Just maybe with a better map, stronger walking shoes, and a healthier respect for the local traffic. And first thing's first: I'm booking my next trip, just to find those noodles again!
Lisbon Airport Stay: Loures' BEST Hotel Near TAP?
So, is this Excemon Hongxiang Hotel in Beijing really as ridiculously opulent as the pictures make out? Because honestly, sometimes I feel like Instagram just lies.
That 'Unforgettable Stay' thing...is that just marketing fluff? Did you *actually* have an unforgettable stay? What made it so damn...unforgettable?
Let's talk about the food. Was it Michelin star-worthy? Because, let's be honest, that's what we really care about.
The location? Convenient? A pain in the butt? Or somewhere in between in the sprawling, chaotic city of Beijing?
What about the room itself? I need specifics! Size? View? Pillows? Because, people, pillows are *critical*.
Did you get to use the spa? Because hotel spas are either amazing or hilariously disappointing. Which are we talking here?
Any downsides? Any tiny, annoying things that brought the whole experience down a peg? Be honest, please!
