Guilin, China - Club Med
China Southern-
Flying with China Southern was a dream. I flew premium economy on the way over and that was certainly a very pleasant experience. The extra space made the flight so much more comfortable. There was no elbow battling with the passenger next to you and no knee jerks in your back. It truly felt like you had your own personal space. On the return journey, I flew business class. This was certainly a highlight of the trip. The seating and flat bed exceeded the standard that I expected. The service was of the highest standard. My special need diet (vegetarian) was catered for and the meals were delicious. The service of the China Southern flight attendants was friendly, helpful and professional. I would highly recommend flying with China Southern in all classes; of course my favourite was business class. When booking premium economy I would suggest avoiding the last row that backs onto economy and in business class my recommendation would be to book the middle seating as you have uninterrupted access to the aisle. Flying to Guilin involves a layover (Guangzhou) plus a total flying time of approximately 14 hours. Given this, I would suggest a holiday in Guilin to be 7 days plus.
Club Med Guilin-
Upon arriving at Guilin airport we were greeted by a local driver who assisted with our baggage. The drive to Club Med Guilin took approximately 45 minutes. Depending on arrival time, the journey in itself was a scenic attraction and certainly worth staying awake for.
Upon arrival at the resort, we were greeted by our local host who provided a cooling refreshment and towel, which was just what was needed given the heat in August. We were given an overview of the resort and its facilities and then personally guided to our rooms.
The rooms were of 4 star standard and very spacious and modern. The bathroom was a little smaller than expected however still of good standard.
The location was truly amazing. Words cannot describe the true beauty of this area. The resort is located on over 47 hectares of "Art Park" and surrounded by sheer green mountains, similar to that of Halong Bay, Vietnam. Prior to the area being taken over by Club Med, the owner allowed select artists from all over the world to stay at the "Art Park" for periods of up to one month at no charge. During this time the artists would create sculptures of which over 100 remain standing today. These sculptures vary in size from one foot to 2 storeys high. Endless time can be spent exploring the amazing artworks on display.
If art is not your thing, rest assured that you will not be bored! You have a choice of trapeze, mountain bike riding and tours, beach volleyball, archery, tennis, golf, trampoline and much more. All of these activities are included as part of your package. If you are after a tour outside the resort, there is a tour office that is open for selected hours each day. You can choose from many different tours including a river cruise and cave tour, 4wd adventures, motorbike sidecar tours, light show and meal, to name a few. There is a fantastic kids club that caters for children of all ages and offers a variety of educational/cultural and fun experiences.
After a day of mountain biking off the beaten track or exploring the beautiful area, I can highly recommend a visit to the day spa. I must say this was one of my highlights. You must pre-book as it can get quite busy. This isn't your usual day spa. Your treatment includes your own private day spa "villa", which houses a private sauna, steam room / shower, Jacuzzi, champagne (if selected) and 2 massage areas on the upstairs level. This was certainly a luxurious experience that I just did not want to leave.
The selection of food was certainly plentiful, and included local, Western and Mediterranean. There is a selection of 3 different restaurant / buffets to choose from. If you have a special diet, I would highly recommend to advise of this when booking and make it a priority to discuss this with the head chef upon arrival. My vegetarian diet was catered for after I consulted the head chef.
The pool areas were beautiful. The Zen pool is an adult only area. The main pool had a swim up bar which interestingly only served non- alcoholic beverages. Did I mention that alcohol is also part of the package, including cocktails!
August is school holidays in China so this attracted plenty of families. The nightly shows are more than entertaining and the staff do a wonderful job in getting each and every person involved, no matter how young or old.
The service of the staff is completely flawless. I must say that I have rarely experienced such impeccable service. They certainly do a wonderful job of getting to know each person as an individual and ensuring that you have the holiday experience that you desire.