Pullman Shishi Mattison: China's Most Luxurious Escape?
Pullman Shishi Mattison: China's Most Luxurious Escape? Yeah, But Is It Worth It? (A Messy Review)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups. I just clawed my way back from the Pullman Shishi Mattison, and I'm here to spill the tea. Is it REALLY China's "Most Luxurious Escape"? Well, that depends on what you consider "escape," and your tolerance for… well, let's just say "luxe" can sometimes be a bit much.
First things first: Accessibility. This is a big one for me (as a fellow, not disabled person, I still appreciate good design). The hotel claims to be friendly to those with mobility issues. And yes, there's an elevator. There are also dedicated rooms… but I can't personally attest to the actual ease of maneuverability everywhere. Check with the hotel directly if you have specific needs.
Getting There & Around: Forget driving yourself. Finding the place is a nightmare. Take the airport transfer and breathe a huge sigh of relief when you finally arrive. And thank goodness for the valet parking, because, honestly, I would've been circling for an hour after I had finally managed to arrive. There free parking is available but I don't recommend driving to the hotel yourself if you do not know the area.
Cleanliness and Safety (The Mandatory COVID Chat): Okay, so they’re trying. They've got the whole shebang: Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer stations like they're going out of style (which, honestly, they should be!), Staff trained in safety protocol, and Rooms sanitized between stays. They do the temperature check and everything. And they've got all the Hygiene certification that are required. So, on paper, it's all good. Personally, I still felt the slight pang of paranoia. And, yeah, the Individual-wrapped food options are a bit sad, but I get it. They also have Safe dining setup and Sanitized kitchen and tableware items and Cashless payment service. I can't help but feel the whole vibe is a bit… clinical?
Rooms, Glorious Rooms (and the Minor Annoyances): Let's talk about the rooms. They are huge. Seriously. I swear, I could've played a round of hide-and-seek in the Non-smoking rooms. The Air conditioning blasted, even when I turned it down (what's with that?). I loved the Extra long bed. I'm a tall guy. The Blackout curtains were a blessing for sleeping off the jetlag. The Bathrobes were soft, the Slippers fluffy, and the Complimentary tea was a nice touch.
BUT.
The Internet access – wireless (aka Free Wi-Fi) was… patchy. Seriously. Half the time I was yelling at my phone. It’s the main reason for the slightly lower rating. My Internet access – LAN did not work at all (I don't even know why they are offering that). And they still have old-school Internet access (which is the same as Internet). The On-demand movies had a limited selection and, frankly, they were all dubbed into Chinese.
Oh, and the Additional toilet in the suite? Total luxury. The Toiletries were high-end and smelled divine. The Shower pressure? Excellent. The Window that opens? Finally a good thing.
Dining, Drinking & Snacking: A Feast…or a Fad?
Alright, this is where things get… complicated. The Restaurants – plural! – are definitely a highlight. But the quality varied wildly.
The Asian Cuisine Restaurant: Okay, this was actually incredible. I went wild on dim sum until I could barely waddle. The Asian breakfast was a delight – savory congee, fluffy bao buns… I'm dreaming of it now. Seriously, the A la carte in restaurant options were a real treat.
The International Cuisine Restaurant: Here's where it got a little…confused. The Western breakfast was decent, but nothing to write home about. The Buffet in restaurant felt a bit… stodgy. The Salad in restaurant tasted like it had been sitting out for a while.
The Bar: The Poolside bar was great for a quick drink. Happy hour was a lifesaver.
Overall: Okay, so maybe not a feast. More of a… feast-ish experience? Don't get me wrong, the Coffee/tea in restaurant was top-notch. The Snack bar was a lifesaver for the hunger pangs. The Room service [24-hour] was a lifesaver if I can't be bothered going to eat in the restaurant. And the Desserts in restaurant? Definitely worth it, I am telling you.
Ways to Relax: Spa-tacular or Just…Spa-ish?
Here's where the "luxury" really shines.
The Spa – OMFG. The Massage. Yes. Just yes. I booked one of the massages and for the next week I was not able to walk properly. It was glorious. The Body wrap was also pretty amazing – definitely worth the splurge. The Foot bath was a treat. They offer all the usual suspects: the Sauna, the Steamroom, and the Spa/sauna.
The Pools: Swimming pool [outdoor] is a stunner, especially with the Pool with view. It's the kind of pool you see in magazines. The only downside? It's crowded. People love a good pool.
Fitness: The Gym/fitness is well-equipped, but honestly, after all that food and spa-ing, I just wanted to collapse on my bed.
Services & Conveniences: The Ups & Downs:
The Good: The Concierge was helpful. The Daily housekeeping was impeccable. The Laundry service and Dry cleaning were a lifesaver after my dim sum incident (don't ask). The Doorman were welcoming. The Currency exchange was useful.
The Less Good: The Convenience store had a limited selection. The Invoice provided did not give any discount.
For the Kids: Are They Welcome?
They claim to be Family/child friendly, and they have Kids facilities and offer Babysitting service, but it definitely felt more geared towards adults. I saw a few kids around, but it's not exactly a Disney resort.
What's the Bottom Line?
Is the Pullman Shishi Mattison China's "Most Luxurious Escape?" Hmm. It's luxurious, no doubt about it. Are you looking for a quiet, exclusive trip? Consider it.
My Verdict: It's a beautiful hotel with some amazing features, but it comes a price that can feel a bit inflated.
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Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Sendai's Hidden Gem, Super Hotel Satsuma!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into Pullman Shishi Mattison, China – The Trip That Actually Happened (And Wasn't a Perfect Instagram Filter). Forget the pristine itineraries, here’s the real deal, warts and all.
Day 1: Arrival - Pray for Survival (and Decent Noodles)
- Time: 6:00 AM - Holy mother of jetlag. I'm pretty sure my internal clock is screaming in Mandarin.
- Event: Landed in Xiamen, after a flight that felt approximately the length of a tectonic plate shift. Finding customs was a trial in itself, a sea of faces and a language I barely grasp. My luggage, miraculously, made the journey too (a small victory, right?).
- Transportation: Plane (duh). Taxi to the hotel. The driver was either a speed demon or convinced he was auditioning for Fast & Furious: Fujian Drift. Hold on tight!
- Hotel: Pullman Shishi Mattison. Okay, it’s supposed to be luxurious. Let’s see. First impressions: gleaming lobby, ridiculously polite staff (bless them, patient with my sleep-deprived mumbling), and a scent that's either lavender heaven or the world's most expensive air freshener.
- Lunch (sort of): Found a chaotic noodle shop outside the hotel. Attempted to order using my limited Mandarin. Ended up with something vaguely resembling noodles and a side of what I think was pickled radish (texture a little… unexpected). Still, after the flight, it was the best thing I'd tasted in a year.
- Afternoon: Collapsed in the hotel room. Slept for a chunk of the day, but probably woke up in the middle of the night, jetlagged and disoriented, and had a panic attack. It’s a fun time!
- Evening: Stumbled out for dinner. The hotel's restaurant. It's pretty. The food? Pretty expensive. The wine list? A novel. Ate dumplings and tried to comprehend why they put a tiny, almost insignificant cherry on the top of my dessert. Still processing that. Thought about calling home, then thought better of it (my mother would freak).
Day 2: The Temple of Screaming (and a Revelation About Tea)
Morning: Woke up feeling slightly less like a zombie. Victory!
Event: Went to the temple. I think it was called something cool (the local temple), but all I remember is the sheer, unadulterated noise. Imagine a thousand cicadas having a rave, amplified by a gong and echoing through ancient stone halls. My ears are still ringing. But, the smells! Incense, lotus flowers, and something that reminded me of my grandma's old perfume. Weirdly comforting.
Opinion: Okay, the sheer volume was overwhelming at first. But once I got past the shock, it was… impressive. The devotion, the intricate carvings, the sense of history – it was undeniably beautiful, even if my modern, cynical brain struggled to fully comprehend the spirituality of it all. More importantly, I bought a lucky cat statue. I'm ready to be rich.
Lunch: Found a tiny, hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Managed to order (miracle!) a plate of perfectly cooked, crispy spring rolls. The best spring rolls of my life, no exaggeration. I'm now convinced that if I can eat them every meal for the rest of the entire trip, my experience will be worth the price of admission.
Afternoon: Tea Ceremony… or Attempted Tea Ceremony (aka Me vs. Hot Water)
- I’m officially the village idiot. I signed up for a tea ceremony at a tea shop. Seemed sophisticated. It was not. The tea master was serene, graceful, and probably a tea-brewing guru. I, on the other hand, was clumsy, spilled hot water everywhere, and managed to look like I was trying to wrestle a teapot to the ground. The tea itself was exquisite (once someone was able to make it), a delicate green tea that tasted like sunshine and hope. But mostly, I realized I have the grace of a particularly awkward sloth. (Note to self: Practice pouring without creating a tsunami.)
Evening: Walked by the ocean and took a breather from the mayhem. The sunset was gorgeous, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. Reminded me of home, somehow.
Day 3: The Cliffside Trail (and a Near-Death Experience with a Pigeon)
- Morning: Decided I needed exercise. Because why not?
- Event: Walked the cliffside trail. Now, the views were SPECTACULAR. Seriously, breathtaking. Then there were the steps. A zillion of them. Going up? Hard. Going down? Even worse due to the sheer angle. My legs are screaming.
- Moment of Terror: Almost got attacked by a pigeon. It swooped down, convinced my head was a giant food source. I screamed like I was being chased by a pack of rabid wolves. The locals looked on, utterly unfazed. I'm pretty sure they're used to idiot tourists.
- Lunch: Food street. The food! So flavorful! I was convinced I'd get food poisoning immediately, so I proceeded to eat everything I could.
- Afternoon: Tried to buy souvenir crap. I'm not a good negotiator. Ended up paying approximately three times what things were worth. But hey, I got a dragon-shaped trinket and a headache, so… success?
- Evening: Dinner. Hotel. Again. The food is good, but I miss my own bed. I miss being able to communicate without flailing my arms around wildly. I miss the quiet. I'm strangely exhausted and exhilarated at the exact same time. This trip is going to be the death of me, but I secretly wouldn't trade it for anything.
Day 4: The Beach (and a Realization About the Unpredictability of Life)
- Morning: Spent the day at the beach. Read a book. Watched the waves. Felt a sense of peace.
- Afternoon: A storm rolled in. The sky turned a menacing grey. The wind picked up, and everyone scrambled for cover. I was caught outside and ended up drenched. Laughed hysterically while trying to find my way back to the hotel in a downpour.
- Evening: Dinner. The food was amazing. The wine (a glass of a local white) was better. It was almost as if the storm had cleared a space in my mind and allowed my weary body to exhale. Feeling a strange sense of satisfaction.
Day 5: Departure - Until Next Time, China… Maybe?
- Time: 6:00 AM (again, the wretched jetlag!) - Leaving!
- Event: Checked out, said goodbye (in broken Mandarin) to the incredibly kind staff, and taxied to the airport.
- Transportation: Taxi, plane.
- Final Thought: China. You were… something. Messy, chaotic, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable. I’m exhausted, slightly traumatized by the pigeons, and probably need a month alone with a good cup of tea to recover. Would I go back? Absolutely. But first, I need a really, really long nap. And maybe to learn a few Mandarin phrases, just in case the local birds need my help!
Pullman Shishi Mattison: China's Most Luxurious Escape? - Let's Get Real
So, is it *actually* luxurious? Or just…expensive?
Okay, straight up: the word "luxurious" gets thrown around a lot. Pullman Shishi Mattison… well, it *tries*. I’d say, yes, it *is* trying damn hard. Think sprawling suites, like, seriously big. Like you could lose a small child big. And the design? Expensive, high-end, minimalist-meets-Zen-garden. Everything's pristine, picture-perfect for those Instagram shots. But… (and there's always a but, isn't there?)… sometimes it feels like they prioritized *looking* fancy over *feeling*… you know, genuinely cozy. I spent a good hour just trying to figure out the light switches in my room. Seriously. An hour! And the towels? Oh, the towels were *fluffy*. But are fluffy towels the epitome of luxury? I guess it depends on your definition. Mine involves a slightly less stressful light switch situation and maybe a remote control that *actually* works.
And what's the deal with the location? Shishi… where even *is* that?
Shishi is… well, it’s not exactly on the beaten tourist track. Think of it as a bit off the grid, which, I guess, is part of the draw if you're looking for a *real* escape. You're in Fujian province, which is beautiful, mind you, with stunning coastal scenery... when you can actually *see* it. The problem? Fog. Lots and lots of lovely, persistent, soul-sucking fog. I arrived expecting sunshine and beaches, got… a mystical grey curtain. Which, to be fair, added to the whole "mystical escape" vibe. Until you've been waiting for a taxi in the fog for 40 minutes and you're pretty sure you saw a spectral figure wave. The location is great if you want to be 'away from it all', but bring patience and a good weather app.
Let's talk food. Is the dining experience actually worth the price tag?
Okay, *the food*. This is where the Mattison *really* aims for the stars… and mostly hits them. The breakfast buffet? Epic. Like, "I'm going to eat everything and then need a nap for the rest of the day" epic. Freshly squeezed juices, a ridiculous amount of pastries, perfectly cooked eggs… I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Dinner? The Michelin-starred chef (or at least, I *think* he was Michelin-starred, they certainly bragged about it) created some truly phenomenal dishes. I remember this one scallop dish… *chef's kiss*. But… (there's that word again!)… the portions were, shall we say, *refined*. You know, the kind where you take one bite and then feel… slightly empty. I’m not a big eater, but at some point I had to order a side of fries just to feel like I'd actually *eaten* something. And the wine list? Eye-wateringly expensive. Seriously, I felt like I needed a second mortgage just to buy a glass of something decent.
What about the service? Is it truly world-class, or just… polite?
The service *was* exceptionally polished. Everyone was incredibly polite, smiley, and eager to please. They even managed to pronounce my name correctly – usually a feat in itself! But, and this is a big but, there were moments when it felt… a little *too* perfect. Like, robotic perfect. One time, I asked for some ice for my drink, and the waiter brought me a selection of *different* ice cubes, each meticulously crafted into perfect little squares and designed for different drinks. Amazing, but also… a bit much. I just wanted cold water, dude! I appreciated the effort, but sometimes you just want the "normal" service, not the "extraordinary" version. And a few times the language barrier crept in. They’re fantastic, but not every staff member speaks English fluently. The hotel felt well-staffed, however, they have good support staff. In short, outstanding, but not flawless.
The Spa! What about the Spa? Did you go? Did it make you a new person?
Oh, the spa. Yeah, I went. Multiple times! You can't *not* go. It’s… I don’t even have words for it. Seriously. Imagine a dimly lit, almost ethereal space, filled with the scent of jasmine and something else… some sort of mystical herb that promised to erase all your worries. The massage itself? Pure bliss. I swear, the masseuse could sense the stress in every single muscle. I emerged feeling like a completely different person… for about twenty minutes. Then I remembered I had to deal with the fog and the light switches and the slightly empty feeling from dinner. But for those twenty minutes? *Heaven*. And the pool? Absolutely stunning. Seriously, I'd go back just for the pool. Just… try not to think about how much the treatments cost. Or you'll ruin the whole zen thing.
Anything… quirky... happen? Spill the tea!
Right, here's the gold. One morning, I’m at the breakfast buffet, right? Stuffing my face with pastries, as one does. And I see this guy. A *very* important-looking guy. Suit, slicked-back hair, the whole shebang. And he’s… arguing with the omelette chef. Seriously, full-blown, flailing-arms, omelette-related drama. Turns out, he wanted, and I quote, “a single egg white omelet, whisked *precisely* 15 times, with a hint of truffle oil and… (wait for it)… a single, perfectly placed chive.” The chef, bless his heart, looked utterly defeated. I’m not sure what happened in the end, I lost interest in the drama when someone brought me delicious pastries, but it was a moment. Truly, a moment. And it made me think: is this what 'luxury' *is*? Demanding single chives? I felt somewhat self-conscious, just wanting scrambled eggs. Also, my room had a toilet with more buttons than a spaceship. And the self-filling bathtub? It overflowed, twice.
Would you recommend it, then? The million-dollar question!
Okay, here's the honest truth: *it depends*. If you’re looking for a secluded escape, willing to embrace a bit of fog, and have a good chunk of disposable income… then, yes, go for it. The Pullman Shishi Mattison is a memorable experience. It’s well-designed in many ways. The service is good, and the food is great. But… if youBoutique Inns
