The Paradise Resort is quite fancy looking when you first arrive, with a security gate leading to its own private island compound. In the lobby are pictures of heads of state who have visited, including Bill and Hillary. But the facilities themselves are not so nice and the place paled in comparison to the Bravo Holiday Inn in Guilin.
The room was spare in a good way, with clean wooden floors and a balcony overlooking the water and the hills in the distance. But the complex itself seemed like a motel once you got past the lobby and was escorted to your room. The bell boy took my bags up and lingered in my room with the air-conditioning, while I stood in the doorway looking to go get somethi
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The room was spare in a good way, with clean wooden floors and a balcony overlooking the water and the hills in the distance. But the complex itself seemed like a motel once you got past the lobby and was escorted to your room. The bell boy took my bags up and lingered in my room with the air-conditioning, while I stood in the doorway looking to go get something to eat.
Since the pool was not open as the travel agent had promised and there was no gym at all, the only thing to do in the hotel was watch TV or go to sleep. I decided to take a shower, but the hot water wasn’t working. After a visit to the front desk and some people playing around with the pipes, they had me shower in another room. This wasn''t to much of a problem as I seemed to be the only guest in this 145 room hotel. But for the rates they normally charge (over $200 per night) you''d think they would have their act together. I''m glad that I was only paying 400 Hong Kong dollars,or about $50.
Despite all my resrevations, it was nice to wake up the next morning and look out across the lagoon at the sleepy village. While it is possible to stay for around $7 or $8 a night in Yangshuo in acceptable accomodations, splurging on the $50 for a great view was worth it.
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