Beijing Luxury Getaway: Unwind at the Marriott Executive Apartments (Sandalwood)
Beijing Luxury Getaway: My Sandalwood Sanctuary (and a Few Unexpected Hiccups!)
Okay, so you're dreaming of Beijing, right? Thinking history, culture, maybe a little bit of that famous Peking duck. And you're looking for a place to truly unwind, ditch the tourist hordes for a bit, and feel like you're actually living in the city, not just passing through. Well, I just got back from a stay at the Marriott Executive Apartments (Sandalwood) and… let me tell you, it's a mixed bag. But mostly, mostly good. Prepare for a slightly disorganized, utterly honest, and hopefully helpful review. Buckle up!
First Impressions: Accessibility & Arrival – Smooth or Stumbling?
Right off the bat, let's talk logistics. Getting there: airport transfer? Yes! They whisked me away from the chaos of Beijing Capital International Airport, and it was a godsend after a long flight. Car park? Check. Free of charge, which is always a win in a city where parking is a contact sport. Accessibility? This is important. The elevators work, which is essential. I saw a few ramps and assumed it's overall accessible. The website advertises a few accessible features, but I'd recommend confirming directly with the hotel if you have specific mobility needs because I didn't personally test it myself.
Check-in was surprisingly swift, which is always appreciated after the flight. Contactless Check-In/out? They offered it, which is great, but I prefer the human touch when checking in. I just love a good chat about my trip!
The Room: Sanctuary or… Mild Annoyance? (Mostly Sanctuary!)
Okay, the rooms. These are apartments, not just hotel rooms, so immediately I was sold. Space. Glorious space. I had a one-bedroom and I felt luxurious- like I was actually settling in. The air conditioning worked a treat (thank god, the Beijing heat can be brutal). They had a coffee/tea maker but I'll be honest, I usually stick to the coffee shop (more on that later). Comfortable beds, finally – proper, decent beds! Blackout curtains were a lifesaver for sleeping in and avoiding jetlag.
The bathroom itself was great; a big bathtub with a shower, plenty of space, but the shower had a slightly annoying tiny flow of water, it was a bummer. Bathtub. Hair dryer. Bathrobes and slippers were a nice touch. Internet access? Yes, and free Wi-Fi in all rooms! (Hallelujah!) The Wi-Fi in general, seemed to be spotty. And it's a bit annoying.
The Rest of the Space: Views, Lounges and Pools?
The whole complex is spacious. I only saw the swimming pool [outdoor] peeking from a distance, the picture seemed stunning. It's more of an apartment-style, so the general feel is private.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Food Glorious Food (Mostly!).
The restaurants themselves were a highlight. They have a vegetarian restaurant. The Asian cuisine was an absolute revelation. I mean, authentic! The in-room breakfast was a must. The best? The freshly squeezed juices. (Okay, maybe I was a bit obsessed). They also offer a breakfast [buffet], but I preferred to be in my apartment. Room service [24-hour]? Yes, and it was efficient.
The Coffee shop was my go-to for caffeine fixes. Great coffee/tea, and some pretty tasty desserts in restaurant. There's a bar, and I remember the Happy hour was delightful.. I didn't have a chance to try poolside bar though.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Spa Days and Gym Dreams (And Maybe a Little Over-Promising?)
This is where things get…interesting. They boast a spa, a sauna, and a steamroom, all promising a luxurious experience. Here’s a confession: I was desperately in need of a body scrub and a massage. I’d been traveling and I was tense.
The Fitness center was great. The Gym/fitness room was well equipped, but the massage had good points, but had even more… not so good points. It wasn't as relaxing as I'd hoped for.
Cleanliness and Safety: Feeling Safe?
In the post-COVID world, this is huge. Hand sanitizer stations everywhere. Staff trained in safety protocol. Daily disinfection in common areas. The room sanitization opt-out available. Rooms sanitized between stays. I genuinely felt safe.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Extras That Matter
The concierge desk was super helpful with booking taxis and providing recommendations. They have luggage storage, which is always useful. I was in a rush and they helped me out.
For the Kids: Family Fun?
I didn't travel with kids, but they seem to offer Babysitting service, and some Kids facilities.
The Quirks (And the Things I Didn’t Love)
Okay, here’s the honesty part: the website promised a few things that didn’t quite pan out. Sometimes I felt a bit like the staff were more interested in the protocol than the experience.
Overall… Would I Go Back?
Despite the small imperfections… YES! For the space, the location, and the feeling of actually living in Beijing, it's a solid choice.
Final Verdict: A solid 8/10. Highly recommend for a luxury stay.
Beijing Luxury Getaway: Unwind at the Marriott Executive Apartments (Sandalwood) – Your Exclusive Offer:
Ready to experience the sophisticated charm of Beijing? Book your stay at the Marriott Executive Apartments (Sandalwood) now and receive:
- 15% off your stay: Escape the ordinary and immerse yourself in luxury at a discounted rate.
- Complimentary airport transfer: Start your journey with ease and convenience.
- Daily breakfast included: Fuel your adventures with a delicious Asian breakfast.
- Free high-speed Wi-Fi: Stay connected and share your Beijing stories.
Limited-time deal: Book now and use the code BEIJINGESCAPE to unlock your exclusive offer.
Shenzhen Sunon Hotel: Your Luxurious Escape Awaits (5-Star Paradise!)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! This is NOT your meticulously planned, sterile travel itinerary. This is reality, Beijing-style, Marriott Executive Apartments edition. Prepare for the mess.
Beijing Breakdown: Surviving The Sandalwood with My Sanity (Maybe)
Day 1: Arrival & Apartment Anxiety (aka, Where's the Goddamn Toilet Paper?)
- 14:00 - Arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Okay, so the customs line was a freakin' marathon. Like, I swear I aged five years waiting. And seriously, why does everyone look so… serious? This is China, people! SMILE!
- Anecdote: The woman in front of me was wearing a hat that looked like a fluffy, pink cloud. I considered asking her for a ride. (Note to self: Learn some Mandarin, you idiot.)
- 15:30 - Taxi to The Sandalwood, Beijing - Marriott Executive Apartments. Traffic. Oh. My. God. I'm pretty sure I saw the same bus five times. The driver kept yelling at other drivers, which I think meant "Move your butt, you slowpoke!"
- 16:30 - Check-in at the hotel. Finally! But. Was. It. Worth. The. Wait? The lobby is gorgeous, all shiny wood and… what IS that smell? Incense? Overpowering incense? And the check-in process took an eternity. Paperwork! Sign here! Stamp there! My brain is already mush.
- 17:00 - Apartment Reconnaissance. Okay, the apartment itself is… surprisingly spacious. Kitchen! Living room! Bedroom! And… wait for it… TWO bathrooms! Score! Until I realized there's no toilet paper in the guest bathroom. Panic sets in. Maybe I should have packed extra, who knew!
- Quirky Observation: The shower has like, a million buttons. I push one and fear I will accidentally launch a missile. Did I mention the water pressure is borderline terrifying?
- 17:30 - Apartment Breakdown. I need to find toilet paper. This is a crisis. I'm tempted to scavenge the lobby. Or maybe ask the fluffy pink hat lady. I text my friend back home and get a very unhelpful response. "Just, like, ask the concierge?" UGH.
- 18:00 - Dinner at the Apartment (Delivery Hell). I decided to order in. After a very frustrating conversation with multiple apps, and lots of translation issues, I manage to order some noodles. They arrive, and… they're not what I ordered. I think I got spring rolls instead. I was too hungry to be annoyed, but I can't stop thinking about those noodles.
- Emotional Reaction: I was hungry, tired, irritated, and slightly lonely. And those spring rolls were… meh.
- 19:00 - Netflix and Despair. I try to watch a movie, but the Wi-Fi is patchy, the subtitles are wonky, and I keep thinking about those damn noodles. Giving up and going to bed. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better. At least there is TP in my bathroom.
Day 2: Forbidden City & Dim Sum Debacle
- 08:00 - Wake up. Breakfast at the apartment. Coffee is mandatory. Instant noodles. Not terrible, but not great, either.
- 09:00 - The Forbidden City. Holy. Mother. Of. People. The scale of this place is mind-blowing! Absolutely stunning architecture. The sheer history is almost overwhelming. I felt like an ant in a giant, ancient ant hill.
- Opinionated Language: Seriously, if you're going, GO EARLY. The crowds are insane. And for the love of all that is holy, wear comfortable shoes!
- Anecdote: I accidentally tripped over a little kid who was wearing a tiny dragon costume. He glared at me like I had personally offended his ancestors. (Which, in a way, I probably had.)
- 12:30 - Lunch at a Dim Sum restaurant (supposedly authentic). So, the restaurant had amazing reviews. I walk in and struggle to navigate the menu and the waiters. It was a blur of bamboo steamers and unfamiliar flavors. I ordered something with a suspicious amount of pork and a lot less vegetables.
- Messy Detail: I was so excited for dim sum, which I then regretted. I got so full, I barely finished half of the dumplings and the waiter gave me a strange look.
- Emotional Reaction: I was excited, then overwhelmed, then stuffed. The taste was good though!
- 14:30 - Attempting to find the Temple of Heaven. This is where the travel guide gets confusing. I got lost. The taxi driver didn't speak English. I spent a good hour wandering around a particularly dusty neighborhood.
- Rambling: I saw some amazing street food stalls, but I was too full from dim sum to even consider trying anything. Seriously, the timing of these meals is horrible.
- 15:30 - Temple of Heaven (Finally!). Okay, so, it was pretty impressive, once I found it. Just, wow. But the jet lag is really hitting me.
- 17:00 - Back to the apartment. Nap time is essential.
- 19:00 - Dinner at some restaurant. I picked this one because it was close and easy. I was too tired to go anywhere else. I order something I hope is safe.
- Emotional Reaction: It was… fine. Everything is fine. But I really miss a good burger.
Day 3: The Great Wall, Great Expectations, Great Disappointment…?
- 07:00 - Wake Up! Pack water and snacks. Today's the day I tackle the Great Wall of China!
- 08:30 - Tour Bus to the Great Wall (Mutianyu). The bus ride was long. I tried to sleep, but the road was bumpy.
- Rambling: I was reading a book on the bus and I accidentally lost my page. I'm not sure what chapter I was on.
- 10:00 - The Great Wall! Okay, wow. It's… breathtaking. The views are incredible. The climb is… strenuous. I was not ready for this.
- Doubling Down: That climb! Holy hell, it was rough! I stopped every ten feet. My legs were jelly. I kept thinking, "I can't do this!" (But then I did, because… pride?)
- Anecdote: I saw this group of people who were so prepared. They had hiking boots, walking sticks, and those little backpacks that hold water. I felt like a complete amateur.
- 12:00 - Lunch at a local restaurant on the wall. The food was… basic. But the view made up for it.
- 14:00 - The cable car (thank heavens!). Because my legs were done.
- 15:00 - Back to the apartment. Exhaustion.
- 16:00 - Bed.
- 18:00 - Thinking about food.
- 19:00 - Dinner! I order food from a well-known burger place. It was a great choice!
Day 4: Departure!
- 08:00 - Wake up. Pack. Say a sad goodbye to The Sandalwood.
- 09:00 - Check out.
- 10:00 - Taxi to the airport.
- 12:00 - Flight. Going home. I can't wait to sleep in my own bed. I'll be back.
Beijing Luxury Getaway: Marriott Executive Apartments (Sandalwood) - Your Burning Questions Answered (and then some!)
Okay, so you're thinking Beijing, right? Luxury? And maybe, just maybe, the Marriott Executive Apartments (Sandalwood)? Good choice (apparently!). But before you pack your Louis Vuitton carry-on (or, hey, your trusty old backpack, no judgment!), let's get real. Here’s the lowdown, the gossip, the *actual* dirt on Sandalwood from yours truly, a seasoned traveler with (mostly) good intentions. Prepare for honesty, a few tangents, and maybe a slightly unhinged rant or two. You've been warned.
1. Is Sandalwood actually *luxurious*? Like, legit? I'm talking fluffy robes and champagne breakfasts luxurious.
Alright, let's cut the crap. Yes. *Mostly* yes. The robes? Glorious. Thick, soft, basically hugging you and whispering sweet nothings about how you deserve that extra croissant. The champagne breakfasts? Well, depends. They *have* champagne, which is a good start. But the buffet? Okay, here's where it gets interesting. One morning, the smoked salmon was… *questionable*. Like, maybe it’d seen better days, or perhaps been battling the Beijing humidity. I bravely soldiered on, because, you know, luxury. Another day? Perfection. So, it's a gamble. But hey, the overall vibe? High-end. The service? Generally impeccable. They genuinely *try*. And the apartment itself? Spacious, modern, with a view that, depending on your luck, can either be stunning or… a slightly less exciting view of other buildings. (Mine was pretty good, I lucked out!) So yes, luxurious, but with the occasional, delightful imperfection. Think Scarlett Johansson's beauty with a touch of, you know, real-world human-ness.
2. I'm a foodie. Is the food good? Beyond the potential salmon drama, I mean.
Oh, the food! This is where it got *really* interesting. Okay, the in-house restaurant is good, solid, reliable. But Beijing… Beijing is a city BURSTING with culinary delights. Forget room service for a bit, okay? Get OUT THERE. Explore. Negotiate with street vendors (bring your Mandarin phrasebook!). One night, I stumbled upon this tiny dumpling place… oh my *god*. Heaven on a plate. Greasy, delicious, life-altering. Another night? Peking duck, of course. You *have* to. It's mandatory. Do your research – find the best places. Ask the concierge for tips (they actually have decent ones!). Sandalwood is a convenient base, but the real feast awaits outside its walls. Trust me. My stomach thanks me *daily*. (Okay, maybe not always. That mapo tofu I ate… spicy, delicious, regretted it in the morning.) But back to Sandalwood. In-house food? Fine. Beijing food? A revelation. Prioritize wisely, my friend.
3. How's the location? Is it near anything interesting? I need to Instagram everything.
Okay, let's talk location. Sandalwood's in Chaoyang, which is… okay. It's not smack-dab in the Forbidden City's backyard, but it's pretty well-connected. Taxis are easy to hail (use the Didi app, seriously), and the subway is a lifesaver. You can get to most major attractions relatively quickly. The Olympic Park is nearby, which is cool if you're into that sort of thing (I took some VERY dramatic photos of the Bird's Nest Stadium, naturally). Lots of fancy shops and restaurants in the area, which is GREAT for Instagram. But… here’s the truth. Beijing is HUGE. Like, mind-bogglingly huge. Expect travel time. Don't think you're going to pop over to the Great Wall on a whim. You have to *plan*. So, location? Pretty good. Convenient. But embrace the journey. It's part of the fun. And charge your phone – you'll be taking a LOT of pictures.
4. The apartments… are they actually *apartments*? What's the deal with space?
Yes, they're *apartments*. Which is fantastic. Forget those cramped hotel rooms. You get a proper living area, a kitchen (with a fridge, microwave, the works!), a bedroom, sometimes even a separate dining area. It's like having your own little Beijing pied-à-terre. I LOVED it. One night, I actually cooked dinner (very basic, I’m not a chef, ok?) and ate it on the little balcony. Felt so… grown-up and sophisticated. The space is a huge selling point, honestly. Especially if you're staying for more than a few days. You can spread out, relax, and avoid the claustrophobia that can sometimes plague hotel stays. Plus, that kitchen? Perfect for late-night snack runs (because, dumplings) and discreetly hiding your stash of chocolate. (Don't judge me.) Seriously though, the space is amazing. Book an apartment, not just a hotel room. You'll thank me later.
5. What about the service? Are the staff helpful? Do they speak English?
The service… mixed bag, honestly. Generally, the staff are lovely and helpful. They really do bend over backwards to assist. English is widely spoken, which is a HUGE relief. However, there were a couple of little hiccups. One time, I asked for extra towels. They took… a *long* time. Like, I started questioning my entire life choices long. Eventually, they arrived. Another time, there was a slight issue with the Wi-Fi. Again, fixed eventually, but it did involve a bit of gesturing and me desperately googling "how to say 'my internet is slow' in Mandarin." So, while the intentions are excellent, perfection isn’t always the name of the game. Don’t expect flawless efficiency, but do expect genuine friendliness and a willingness to assist. Just… be patient, and remember to pack your own sense of humor. It'll come in handy. And tip generously – they deserve it!
6. Okay, but the gym? Is the gym good? Don’t judge me.
Alright, alright, the gym. Yes, I went. (Don't judge *me*). It's… decent. Modern equipment, treadmills, weights, the usual suspects. The view from the treadmill? Not the most inspiring, honestly. But it's clean, well-maintained, and gets the job done. I won't lie, I only went a few times. Beijing food is a powerful temptation. And sightseeing is exhausting! But if you'Hotel Near Airport
