Escape to Paradise: Green Hill Hotel, Onomichi's Hidden Gem
Okay, buckle up, because we're diving headfirst into a review of [Hotel Name], and let me tell you, it’s a journey. Forget the sterile, predictable hotel reviews you usually read. This is the real deal, the warts-and-all, "I wish I had known this beforehand" kind of experience. And yes, I'll be throwing in some targeted SEO goodness because, hey, we gotta get found online, right?
First Impressions: Aaaaand the Lobby… (and the Wheelchair Access – Let's Get Real)
Okay, stepping into the lobby…it's…well, it's something. Shiny, definitely. Does it scream "luxury"? Maybe a whisper of it. The front desk staff were friendly enough, though getting them to understand my request for an early check-in (which, let's face it, is always a crapshoot) felt like navigating a complicated game of charades. (Side note: "Charades" should be a service offered at hotels. Imagine the fun!)
Accessibility: My Wheelchair and the World (It's a Mixed Bag)
This is important, so let's get to it. I NEED to know if a hotel is accessible. This hotel states it has facilities for disabled guests. The elevator was a lifesaver, because some places you find a building, but no elevator. Seriously, it's 2024! The good news: the elevator was good to go and accessible. The bad news: some areas felt a little cramped. Maneuvering a wheelchair in some of the corridors felt like a Tetris game. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it isn't perfect either. I'm giving them a solid B in this department if the hotel doesn't have more than 5 floors.
What about the Food (My Stomach is Always Key!)
- Foodie Central, or Just Fuel? The variety was a plus. There's breakfast (buffet, yay!), a coffee shop with coffee/tea in restaurant, and restaurants. I mean, restaurants! There's also the poolside bar, because, ya know, cocktails. They have a vegetarian restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant and Western cuisine in restaurant! I love that! There is also room service 24 hours, which is amazing!
- Breakfast – The Most Important Meal of the… Hotel Stay? Okay, the breakfast buffet. So, the variety was great. Eggs, bacon, pastries… the usual suspects. But my gosh, the "daily disinfection in common areas" might have gone too well because the buffet in the restaurant was a bit… clinical. Sterile. Cold plates. Not the warmest welcome. I will say, the Asian breakfast was delicious, though. And, bonus points for the breakfast takeaway service!
- Lunch and Dinner The other restaurant offerings. Okay, the a la carte in restaurant was nice, I mean, the international cuisine in the restaurant was well… international. Definitely the highlight of my culinary experience there.
- Important note on safety: Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Safe dining setup, and Physical distancing of at least 1 meter were all visible and appreciated. They really seemed to care.
Internet – Because, Duh.
- Wi-Fi in all rooms!, Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas: Okay, can we just say this is essential? Yes, there was Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! and there were Internet access – wireless, Internet access – LAN. I mean, it worked, but it was a bit… spotty. I even got a laptop workspace to help me.
Relaxation & Recreation - The All-Important Chill Factor
- The Spa Scene: They've got a spa. They've got a sauna, and a steamroom. Oh, and the massage! Now, that was a highlight. It was so good, I drifted off and almost missed my afternoon appointment. I'm not even going to pretend to be a fancy-pants spa expert, but the Body scrub and Body wrap sounded nice in theory. Next time.
- Pool with view: Yes, the swimming pool was outdoor, with a Pool with view. It was a little chillier than expected and I wasn't thinking about the swimming pool at the moment.
- Fitness center: Gym/fitness and Fitness center… I saw it. It was there. I definitely considered using it after all the desserts in restaurant but… well, you know.
The Room – My Little Castle (Mostly)
My room was… okay.
- The good: The Air conditioning worked perfectly. The blackout curtains. Bless. The bed. Very comfy. The slippers. Always a nice touch. Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.
- The not-so-good: The soundproofing could have been better. I could hear… everything. You know how they say "the walls have ears"? Maybe these walls have really good ears. The room decorations were rather basic.
- The weird: The additional toilet was an interesting addition. In-room safe box… Laptop workspace and Wake-up service… they were nice to have.
Services & Conveniences – The Little Extras
- Helpful Stuff: Laundry Service, Dry cleaning, and a Concierge. I used the concierge for… everything. Restaurant recommendations, taxi bookings… they were great. The Doorman was always there with a smile, which is always a plus. Currency exchange. Cash withdrawal.
- The "Meh" I did see a convenience store. It was fine. Invoice provided. Neat I guess. Daily housekeeping was very appreciated.
- Business-y stuff: Business facilities, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, Seminars, Projector/LED display, and Xerox/fax in business center. I was not there for business.
- For your special moments: Indoor venue for special events, Outdoor venue for special events, On-site event hosting, Proposal spot. Ok!
Cleanliness & Safety
- Anti-viral cleaning products and Daily disinfection in common areas: Okay, this is a big one for me, especially these days. I felt safe.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays: They were clearly taking it seriously.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Good to know.
- Additional features: Hand sanitizer, First aid kit, Doctor/nurse on call, Invoice provided.
Getting Around
- Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Airport transfer, Taxi service, Valet parking. They had options!
- Bicycle parking. They had parking for bicycles. I don't have a bicycle.
For the Kids – (I Don’t Have Any, But I Noticed)
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal*. It seemed appropriate for kids, but I didn't have any to prove.
Overall Vibe & Recommendation (The Real Deal!)
Look, this isn’t the perfect hotel. There will be things you would like you to improve. There are areas where they are lacking and I'm sure there will be things you'll love. But, as a base camp for exploring, it's great. They seemed to care about safety!
Would I go back? Maybe. I'd certainly consider it, especially if I wanted a relaxing getaway with a focus on, well, relaxing. If you're looking for a polished, flawless experience, maybe look elsewhere. But if you're after a solid, convenient, and mostly comfortable stay with friendly faces, and you value some of those extra safety precautions, this could be your spot.
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Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your average, polished travel itinerary. This is the unvarnished, slightly frantic, and hopefully hilarious account of my time at the Green Hill Hotel in Onomichi, Japan. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions, questionable decisions, and a whole lot of ramen.
Green Hill Hotel, Onomichi: A Hot Mess of a Holiday (Or, How I Learned to Love a Japanese Hill Town)
Day 1: Arrival, Ramen Panic, and a View That Made Me Weep (in a Good Way, Mostly)
14:00 (ish): Arrived at Onomichi Station. Okay, technically I arrived an hour earlier, but I spent that time circling the station like a confused puppy, desperately searching for the "luggage-forwarding service" someone on Reddit swore existed. Turns out, it did. And it was amazing. My giant, overstuffed backpack magically appeared at the Green Hill Hotel, whilst I was free to… well, stumble.
14:30: Finally made it to the hotel. Green Hill. Cute. Slightly dated, BUT oh-so-charming. The receptionist’s English was… let's say, limited. Google Translate became my new best friend (and sometimes, my worst enemy - "I need a bathroom" translated into “I crave a toilet” and got me the most confused, yet polite, head tilt imaginable).
15:00: Luggage-less, I embarked (more like, WADDLED) in search of lunch after the exhaustion of my previous adventure. Ramen was the goal. Ramen was THE DREAM. Found a tiny place with a line snaking out the door. THE LINE was intimidating but the smell… divine. I stood, my stomach rumbling like a grumpy Godzilla. This was a test, for an emotional eater, and I was failing.
- Anecdote: While in line, I overheard a family of four arguing very loudly (in Japanese, obviously). I didn't understand a word, but I felt profoundly included. The universal language of family drama, right? Made me miss my own messy crew at home. (Also, I'm pretty sure the little kid threw a noodle at his dad. Adorable.)
16:00: Victory! Slurping ramen. The most delicious ramen I think I've ever had. Rich, savory broth. Perfectly chewy noodles. The works. Just… bliss. Ate it so fast I nearly choked. Worth it.
17:00: Attempted to climb Senko-ji temple. The hill… oh, the hill. I am not a hill person. I consider walking from the fridge to the sofa a workout. Made it about halfway before needing a serious sit-down. The view though… Jesus. The Inland Sea shimmering, the town spilling down the hillside, the little boats bobbing… I actually teared up. Not a dignified cry, mind you. It was more of a choked, "Oh. My. God…" kind of thing. Which might have freaked out a passing Japanese couple. Sorry folks, but it’s THAT kind of view.
18:00: Found a quaint little cafe, Yuki-no-Fune (snow boat?). The coffee was strong and the people were lovely – all locals, all chatty. I’m pretty sure the elderly lady next to me tried to feed me mochi. I didn't mind.
19:00: Checked into my hotel room and discovered it was tiny. But spotless. And the view from my window? Just as spectacular as I remembered. Feeling more than slightly overwhelmed but happy.
20:00: Stumbled across a tiny izakaya (Japanese pub) that looked like it was straight out of a movie. Sat at the counter, and had some of the best yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) of my life. The local owner, an absolute legend, barely spoke a lick of English but made me feel perfectly welcome. Lots of pointing and smiling involved. And possibly the best sake I've ever had… or maybe it was just the fatigue and the view and the ramen… I swear, this place is magic.
21:00: Back at the hotel, utterly knackered. Made a mental note: learn some Japanese before my next trip. Also, maybe invest in some better walking shoes.
22:00: Collapsed onto the bed. Passed OUT.
Day 2: Cats, Cycling, and the Bitter, Beautiful Taste of Failure
08:00: Woke up. Sore. Stiff. Still grinning. Started the day with a Green Hill hotel breakfast. Tiny, perfectly sculpted, and utterly unlike anything I ate back in the States.
09:00: Determined to find the legendary cat alley. Armed with my camera and a whole lot of optimism. Walked around town finding some cool shots.
- Quirky Observation: In theory, the cat alleyway should be pure, unadulterated cat bliss. In reality, it was a bit hit-or-miss. Found a few snoozing felines. The other cat was either hidden, or not. Cats, am I right?
11:00: Rented a bicycle and planned to bike the Shimanami Kaido. Famous for its cycling routes. I am not a cyclist. I am, however, an idiot who loves a good challenge.
Rant: The bike was a death trap. The seat was like a medieval torture device. But the views! The bridges! The shimmering sea! Absolutely incredible. Rode until my legs were screaming and other cyclists were zooming past me like I was standing still.
Anecdote: Nearly crashed into an elderly lady on a tiny, adorable tricycle. Apologized profusely (though I'm fairly certain she didn't understand me). Realized, with a jolt of horror, that I was going the wrong way on one of the bridges. Turned around. The incline of the bridge nearly killed me.
14:00: Back at the Green hill, triumphant (and exhausted). Lunch at a cozy little cafe with big windows to view the harbor.
16:00: Shower. This is the most important piece to a day of exhaustion and cycling, I had to soak my legs for at least 30 minutes!
17:00: A wander through the streets, looking for some nice souvenirs
19:00: After a long day, decided to find a place to enjoy some nice food and drinks to soak in the beautiful nights of Onomichi.
20:00: After dinner, it’s time to go back to the room and crash after a long day of activity.
Day 3: Departure. (With a Heavy Heart, Slightly Less Sore Legs, and a Whole Lot of Memories)
09:00: A final, delicious breakfast at Green Hill. This time, I managed to figure out what half the things were in the breakfast buffet. Success!
10:00: Stood on the balcony, one last time, and just breathed it all in. The view. The silence. The sheer, unapologetic beauty of it all. Felt a pang of sadness. I didn't want to leave.
11:00: Checked out, with a smile and a slightly panicked "Arigato!" (It was all I had.)
12:00: Headed off to the station. Already planning my return. Onomichi, you magnificent place. You've broken me, humbled me, and left me with a hunger for more.
12:30: Goodbye, Green Hill Hotel. You were basic, the internet was spotty, but you were a perfect base for a messy, beautiful adventure. I'll be back. Probably. With better shoes. And maybe, just maybe, a few more Japanese phrases under my belt.
Postscript: This itinerary is clearly not a model of efficiency. It's a bit chaotic, a bit rambling, and full of imperfections. But that's the beauty of travel, isn't it? It's about the unexpected, the mistakes, the little moments of joy and frustration that make up the whole, glorious mess. And Onomichi? It's a mess worth getting lost in.
Escape to the Majestic Auburn Mountains: Best Western Plus Awaits!
Hold Up… Are Online Cooking Classes *Actually* Worth It? My Kitchen's Already a Fire Hazard.
Alright, let's rip the band-aid off. Worth it? Sometimes. Depends. God, I hate answers like that. Here's the REAL dirt: I signed up for a "Pasta Perfection" class a few months ago. My kitchen? Let's just say it's seen more chaos than a toddler convention. I’m talking burnt garlic, spaghetti sauce explosions, and the constant threat of setting off the smoke detector.
BUT… I gotta confess, I learned *so much*. Like, how to *actually* boil pasta *without* turning it into a gluey mess. The instructor, bless her heart (more on her later), was patient and, crucially, could see my mistakes. Which, let's be honest, were numerous.
So, if you're a kitchen disaster zone like me, and you're willing to embrace the mess (and maybe invest in a fire extinguisher), then yeah, maybe it’s worth it. Just don't expect Michelin star quality on day one. Or year one, to be honest.
Okay, Fine. But Is It Realistic? I'm Barely Awake Before 10 AM.
Sleep schedules? Schedules? Ha! Listen, I get it. I am *not* a morning person. I am powered by coffee and the faint hope that I won’t accidentally put a sock in the microwave. The good news is, most online classes offer a bit of flexibility. Mine had recorded sessions, so I could watch them at 3 AM if I was feeling particularly… inspired? (Usually, I was just up because of insomnia fueled by too much caffeine).
The *bad* news? You still have to *make* the food. And cleaning up when you’re that tired… it’s a special kind of torture. So, choose your class timing wisely, folks. Don't try to make a complex dish when you have barely slept. You'll regret it. I almost set fire to a pan of oil just from zoning out.
Can You *Actually* Taste the Food? (Duh.)
Well, yeah, obviously. You're making the food! But here's where it gets interesting. One of the biggest hiccups for me was that my screen (the one with the class) was, obviously, *not edible*. So, I'd be watching the chef taste their incredible sauce, and I'd be stuck here, staring at a virtual chef, while I'm making my own version.
The taste test is *crucial*. So you need to: 1) Have the ingredients. 2) Have a functioning mouth. 3) Taste as you go. It's all about the feedback loop. If you don't taste it, you're just blindly following instructions and you might end with with something that is just absolutely *wrong*. Don’t be afraid to adjust the seasoning. Flavor is a personal journey, people!
I'm Terrified of Messing Up. Do I Need to Be a Culinary Genius?
Absolutely not! In fact, messing up is half the fun (or at least, half of the learning process). The Pasta Perfection class? I burnt the garlic *three times*. THREE TIMES. The instructor, bless her heart (again), just chuckled and offered a tip. "Don't walk away," she said. Good advice.
Embrace the imperfections! The wonky pasta shapes. The slightly overcooked veggies. The time you forget to add salt. It's all part of the process. I got mad at myself when I burned the garlic, but it's honestly just an experience! I mean, you'll fail. Guaranteed. It's kinda the point. It's how you learn.
What About the Instructors? Are They All Annoying Food Snobs? (Like, *Really* Annoying?)
Okay, this is a valid concern. We've all seen the celebrity chef types on TV. Some are probably great. Some, I suspect, are just… *intense*. The good news is, in my (limited) experience, the online instructors are usually pretty chill. They understand you're probably cooking in a tiny kitchen, with questionable knife skills, and a tendency to panic.
My Pasta Perfection instructor? Sweetest woman ever. She had a slight accent, a perpetually cheerful demeanor, and the patience of a saint. She even gave me personalized feedback when I accidentally turned my pasta into a sticky, starchy blob. (Yes, that happened.) I also enjoyed her jokes. It's a huge plus if the instructor is not a pretentious jerk.
Do I Need Fancy Equipment? My Budget is… Ramen.
Ramen is a staple! See, this is the kicker: most online classes are *designed* to be accessible. They won’t tell you “You *must* have a $500 pasta maker!” Because, let's be honest, most of us don't. The recipes often use readily available ingredients and basic equipment. My Pasta Perfection class? All I really needed was a pot, a colander, a wooden spoon, and a rolling pin. And, you know, the previously mentioned ability to not set fire to things.
That being said, if the class is *specifically* about, say, artisan bread-making, you might need some specialty stuff. But generally, start with the basics. Your wallet will thank you.
Okay, But Seriously… What About Time Commitment? I'm Busy!
Time is the enemy, isn’t it? The worst thing about online classes? The fact that the clock keeps moving forward. Most classes will estimate a cooking time, but that, my friends, is a *lie*. Factor in extra time for prep, washing dishes, and staring blankly at the ingredients because you forgot what you were supposed to do. My first pasta dish took *twice* as long as the recipe stated.
It depends on the class, of course. Some are quick and easy (perfect for me!), while others are multi-day affairs. Read the course description *carefully* and be honest with yourself about how much time you can realistically dedicate. Because nothing is worse than starting a 3-hour class at 9 PM when you have to be up at 6 AM.
