Bellagio by MGM Shanghai on the Bund 上海外灘蘇寧寶麗嘉酒店 (Shanghai, CHINA)

After a whirlwind 18 hours in Changzhou, we took the train to Shanghai (上海站) Station for the second leg of our journey. From that point on, everything was on cruise control. The ride took about an hour and as soon as we got off, we caught our pre-arranged hired car at Exit B. Ten minutes later, we already arrived at our hotel.

I didn’t realize it but it's been almost nine years since I last visited Shanghai. My previous trip was during the winter of 2017 and I had an amazing time touring the city as a solo traveler. Knowing that I probably won’t get another chance to return to Shanghai anytime soon, I decided to splurge on our hotel accommodation this time around.

Bellagio by MGM Shanghai on the Bund (上海外灘蘇寧寶麗嘉酒店) is a five-star luxury hotel located on the edge of the North Bund, offering stunning views of the Suzhou River and the Lujiazui skyline. With limited time left on our trip, I thought it was essential to stay close to the action.

The moment we stepped through the doors, I knew I have made the right choice. The Italian white marble and a grand staircase at the lobby set the tone early.

Our corner room was tastefully designed with touches of neoclassical design that effortlessly blend art deco glamour with modern luxury.

The spacious layout (60 square meter) features generous living areas, two comfortable double beds and a plush sofa.

I especially loved the light-flooded space, thanks to the ceiling-to-floor windows positioned across different corners of the room.

Amazingly, our room offers a partial view of Suzhou River (蘇州河) and the Pudong skyline from one of the windows, making it a joy to wake up to every morning.

The closet and dressing room are located in the foyer away from the living area creating more space and extra privacy — an excellent touch from the design team.

The bathroom was just as elegant, with white and black marble throughout as the main theme.

As always, I’m a big fan of the double-basin design.

Shower room

Toilet

One of the nicest things about staying at Bellagio Shanghai was its walking distance to the Bund. I’m not talking just about the North Bund but the Bund in general. It was just steps away from Waibaidu Bridge (外白渡橋), the famous all-steel bridge (from 1856) making it an easy connection to Chen Yi Square (陳毅廣場) and of course, the spectacular view of Huangpu River.

I don’t think anyone will get tired of watching this view over and over again. I know I won’t.

Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Price: ¥¥¥¥

Address: 188 Beisuzhou Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, China

上海市虹口区北苏州路188号

Closest Metro Station: Tiantong Road (天潼路)

Tel: +86 (021) 3680-6666

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/5b/sOhM

InterContinental Hotel Foshan 佛山保利洲際酒店 (Foshan, CHINA)

We were supposed to stay in a hotel close to little nugget's tour group but once we found out that their hotel accommodation was in no-man's land, I had a quick change of heart. After much research online and going back and forth a few times, I finally decided that we would stay at InterContinental Hotel Foshan (佛山保利洲際酒店) — an upscale, 5-star high-rise hotel located in the heart of Nanhai District's financial zone, overlooking Qiandeng Lake Park (千灯湖公园).

Built in 2010, the InterContinental Hotel Foshan stands as one of the few true luxury hotels in the city, offering 445 rooms spread over 39 floors.

Thanks to the good guys here, we got a complimentary upgrade to a room with a stunning lake view. 👏👏

A closer look revealed that the room had been partially renovated. However, some of the furnishings were clearly retained from earlier years, creating a slight mismatch in color and style.

We were informed beforehand that the upgraded room had rather small single beds. Typically, a standard single bed is around 1.2 meters in width, but here, we had two single beds that were just 1 meter wide. I didn't know they make such small beds and mattresses!

The bathroom featured marble walls, countertops, and a spacious layout — exactly what one might expect from a hotel built over 15 years ago. 

The toilet was positioned right next to the shower room, without a separate dividing door.

The highlight, of course, was the sweeping view of Qiandeng Lake Park right from our window. A nice treat to wake up to.

After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll along Qiandeng Lake (“Thousand Lantern Lake”). At 8:20 pm sharp, a light show began with all of the iconic buildings around the lake lighting up in sync. The dazzling display was accompanied by live music and a video presentation highlighting the best of Foshan’s heritage, projected onto a massive screen. We stayed and watched for a bit before continuing our journey up the lake.

We began making our way to Foshan Denghu West Street Night Market (佛山灯湖西街夜市), a popular spot just 10 minutes away. 

The night was a bit cold but the walk along the lake remained pleasant and refreshing.

All in all, we had a fairly comfortable and enjoyable stay. The complimentary breakfast buffet was a nice touch, and the hotel staff were friendly and courteous throughout. The location was ideal — right by the lake, with easy access to the night market, shopping malls, metro and more.

If there’s one downside, it would be that some facilities looked a bit dated, and while signs of recent renovation were evident, a comprehensive makeover would certainly help recapture the hotel’s former glory.

Rating: ❤❤❤

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: 20 Denghu East Road, Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangzhou, China

佛山市南海区灯湖东路20号

Closest Metro Station: Qiandeng Lake (千灯湖)

Tel: +86 (757) 8626-8888

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/03/0Ok

Daybreak 曉宅山 (Jiufen, TAIWAN)

The second leg of my Taipei getaway was a short trip to Jiufen (九份), a charming historic hillside village in northern Taiwan renowned for its narrow, lantern-lit alleyways, traditional teahouses, and sweeping ocean views. I first visited this dreamy village as a young man on a foggy, lightly rainy day and not surprisingly, the atmosphere felt straight out of a fairytale. Almost two decades later, I found myself returning to Jiufen hoping to rediscover that same sense of magic.

After a satisfying lunch at T+T, I called an Uber to take me to my accommodation in Jiufen. The drive from Taipei took around 40 minutes, mostly along highways. It wasn’t until the car began pulling up the tiny uphill roads that Jiufen truly revealed itself. It wasn't long before we arrived right at the footsteps of Daybreak (曉宅山民宿).

When I first came across Daybreak, a hillside Airbnb, on social media, I was instantly sold. The property consists of two buildings. The first, 曉宅山, clings dramatically to the cliffside, offering breathtaking, unobstructed views of the sea. 

The second, 暮宅山, sits higher up the hill across the street, with a more modest vantage point and a noticeably more conservative interior design.

Needless to say, I decided to drop a few bucks more for the contemporarily designed room with the full sea view. Check-in was quick and straightforward. I was given two passcodes — one for the entrance to the Airbnb and another for my room. As expected, the property is unmanned after 6 pm daily.

I went straight to my room to take in the view, and it matched the online photos by at least 95%.

The room was flooded with natural light thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The expansive glass panels framed the hills and sea like a living painting, and in the early morning and around sunset, soft light spilled into the space, creating a visually stunning and almost meditative atmosphere.

The bathroom itself was simple and functional — nothing fancy. 

There was a separate shower room next door.

And of course, a large bathtub positioned by the window overlooking the hills and sea. It was one of those amenities that looked fantastic on paper but, in reality, I never ended up using.

Even from the bed, the view was nothing short of spectacular.

While the scenery was as good as advertised, I didn’t end up soaking in the tub or spending much time on the terrace.

The problem? Directly connected to the terrace was a small, somewhat worn-out grass field that could clearly use better upkeep. Being a corner room, I also noticed groups of tourists occasionally wandering through the backyard area near the grass field, which compromised privacy more than I would have liked.

That said, Daybreak is probably still one of the best accommodation options in Jiufen. After an afternoon spent climbing stairs and weaving through crowded, lantern-lit streets, returning to the room felt like a quiet exhale. At night, with Jiufen’s lights glowing softly in the distance, the space remained calm and still.

A complimentary breakfast was served at the ground-floor restaurant of the sister hotel across the street, and it was a good one — bacon and eggs, vegetables, corn soup, and more.

This trip felt like a long-overdue return to Jiufen. Hopefully, I won’t have to wait another two decades to revisit this magnificent village.

Rating: ❤❤❤

Price: $$$

Address: No. 49, Shuqi Road, Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Tel: +886 2-2496-0988

Website: http://daybreaktw.com/ 

Hotel Okura JR Huis Ten Bosch JR 豪斯登堡大倉酒店 (Sasebo, JAPAN)

I had it all planned — a magical Christmas Day set in a European fairytale world at Huis Ten Bosch. It was meant to be a stark contrast to our past holiday shopping sprees in Tokyo or Osaka. I hoped it would leave a lasting impression on our little nugget. Something magical to remember for years to come.

Our only dilemma was choosing where to stay within the theme park. While Hotel Okura JR Huis Ten Bosch (豪斯登堡大倉酒店) is located just on the perimeter, it made perfect sense due to its close proximity to all the park’s amenities. It felt like the most convenient choice.

I have to admit, my first impression during check-in wasn’t the best. The process took way too long, and our room wasn’t ready even by 2:45pm. We were advised to take a seat at the lobby but at least they were willing to check in our luggage first. That gave us a chance to explore the park a little before returning later to settle into our room.

I decided to splurge a little on a designer room which has been recently renovated, not so much for its quirky interior, but rather for the unobstructed view of the park. 

Other than the glass-walled bathroom, there was not a ton of design elements within the room.

There was just enough space for a small sofa near the end of the bed.

The glass-walled bathroom was an interesting touch but I wasn’t sure if I like it to be brutally honest.

The toilet appeared small at first glance.

But it came with a handy bench, perfect for placing a tablet, phone, or book — great for a bit of multitasking comfort.

I always prefer a separate bathroom area, and while there was certainly enough space here to make that happen, they chose to place the basin, mirror, and counter outside, right next to the closet.

One nice surprise was the convenient selection of shops in the ground level of the hotel. Located close to the amusement park's entrance, they included a bakery, a convenience store, and a few other essentials that catered well to hotel guests.

Despite a few hiccups at check-in and some quirks in the room layout, we had a comfortable stay. And that’s what it truly matters most.

Rating: ❤❤❤

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: Hotel Okura JR Huis Ten Bosch, 10 Huis Ten Bosch Machi, Sasebo, Nagasaki 859-3243, Japan

Closest Train Station: Huis Ten Bosch

Tel: +81 (0)570-041-489

Website: https://www.jrhtb.hotelokura.co.jp/

Amane Resort Seikai 潮騒の宿 晴海 (Beppu, JAPAN)

After a full day exploring different corners of Kitakyushu, we finally made it to Amane Resort Seikai (潮騒の宿 晴海) in Beppu (別府) almost an hour after sunset. Everyone was exhausted, and to our surprise, there was no bell service waiting at the counter. So, we had to wrangle our own luggage before rushing inside for our check-in.

Thankfully, the process was quick and painless, and soon we could finally unwind and enjoy the night.

I had a small hiccup during my booking last month and as a result of that, we didn’t get the contemporary-style room I wanted. Instead, we ended up in a Japanese-style room — dim lighting, smaller interiors, and a more traditional vibe. On the bright side, it saved me a few bucks, so I guess that’s a fair trade-off.

For a party of four, sharing one bathroom was definitely a challenge during our two-night stay. And the fact that the bathroom door had no lock? Let’s just say it made things interesting (just ask little nugget!).

A glass door in the bathroom led to a shower room through (again, dimly lit). 

Beyond another glass door was our private onsen, offering an unobstructed view of Beppu Bay (別府湾). Too bad it was pitch dark when we arrived, so the view had to wait until next morning.

Our apartment had two bedrooms: One with two regular double beds — a bit tight, but that’s Japan for you.

The other was a tatami-style room with futon beds. 

When we first arrived, the futon beds weren’t set up, but the staff assured us they’d be ready after dinner.

I stocked up on snacks from the supermarket, thinking we’d lounge in the living room late into the night. Reality check: everyone was wiped out following dinner. 

After a quick soak in our private onsen, we all called it an early night, so we could catch the complimentary breakfast the next morning.

With a good night’s sleep behind us, we were ready to truly enjoy the onsen. Dipping in warm waters under a clear blue sky, gazing out at Beppu Bay — this was the moment that made the trip unforgettable. Just ask this guy and you get the same answer!

Before heading off to Oita, I stepped onto the balcony to soak in the atmosphere. The view of Beppu Bay was stunning. 

We even squeezed in some photo time at the hotel lobby, which boasts the same panoramic backdrop of Kitakyushu and Oita.

Honestly, I could spend half a day here, just sitting on the terrace with a drink in one hand and a book in the other. Life in slow motion — something we rarely get in the city.

Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Price: ￥￥￥￥

Address: 6-24 Shoningahamacho, Beppu, Oita, 874-0023, Japan

Closest Train Station: Beppudaigaku

Tel: +81 (0)977-66-3680

Website: https://www.seikai.co.jp