Kempinski Hotel Xiamen

I arrived at the hotel around 1:50 PM on January 1st. There was a huge crowd checking in, and almost everyone was having trouble getting their rooms. I was also told I'd have to wait until 3 PM to enter mine. It was clear they were understaffed during the holiday, and check-in took quite a while. Once I finally got my room key and went up to my floor, I found the key card wouldn't open the door. Luckily, the staff on the floor were very helpful; they verified my information and let me in. Overall, the check-in experience was extremely poor. Everything else was pretty standard. The room was a bit old, and there were few power outlets, which were also very loose. The option to choose between a soft or firm mattress was a nice, thoughtful touch. However, both the lobby and the elevators had an unpleasant odor, which mixed with the hotel's air freshener was quite off-putting. I didn't try the dining, as Xiamen has plenty of great food options, and ordering takeout is very convenient. The hotel's location is better suited for taxis or driving. The nearby Egret Island is beautiful, and it's quite convenient to get around from here. It's about a 25-minute drive to Gaoqi Airport. Overall, it's decent for the price. The staff were genuinely friendly, but the overall experience wasn't great.

The hotel's location is pretty good. However, since it's an older hotel, the shower drains are quite slow. The service, overall, was decent, but the breakfast restaurant service could definitely use some improvement.