Ulasan HOSHINOYA GUGUAN

Stayed two nights in this secluded resort, which was the reason we stopped at Guguan, and it did not disappoint. We arrived after the normal check-in time and were led to our maisonette by a staff, who showed us the facilities on the way. The staff went on to show us the amenities of our maisonette and prepared tea for us. The first floor of our maisonette was divided into different zones for luggage, toilet, dining, relaxing and sleeping. The zen / minimalistic design gave off relaxing vibes and one felt that one could curl up on the day bed with a book and look out of the floor-to-ceiling windows all day long. The second floor consisted of an open-plan bathroom with two wash basins, a shower and an outdoor onsen. It worked for couples and families with young kids but could be problematic for people who wanted more privacy. The onsen was nice but it did take time to adjust the temperature. The two floors were connected by a staircase with no railings and might prove to be dangerous for young kids. Our three-year-old loved running up and down the stairs, which meant we had to run after him too. It served to make us exercise after our sumptuous meals. We had a dinner reservation in the restaurant on our first night. My husband and I had the excellent Kaiseki course and our child had the kid’s meal, the portion of which was huge and would have been enough for an adult. It would be great if they could offer something smaller for young kids. Service at the table was exceptional and I appreciated that they double-checked with me my allergies. We had hotpot for dinner in our room on our second night. Food was delicious and quite good value for money. I was at first worried that the smell of the food would linger in the room but it turned out alright thanks to the excellent ventilation. It would probably be better, however, if we had booked dinner earlier. The only available time slot when we booked (on the day after breakfast) was 8:00 p.m. For breakfast, one could choose from three options – *********, Japanese and Western. My husband and I chose ********* and Japanese on both days. The portions were big and the food was tasty. But I wish they would refill our fruit juices. I was only given half a glass of apple juice on my first day. At the price they charged, one would expect to get free flow of juice. The landscaped garden was enchanting. We enjoyed the guided tour of the garden in the morning and stretching exercise under the stars in the evening. The swimming pool was masterfully designed to form part of the garden and our child had fun playing with the other kids. Free bottled drinks and float tubes were offered at the pavilion but the ice cream was not free. While we could get free ice lollies, tea jellies and drinks served in the lounge area, I felt that they could be more generous and give us free ice cream too. The outdoor bath hall was beautiful. One felt surrounded by nature when having a soak there. We only went there once tho