Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Hanting Hotel Nanjing Daishandong - Your Dream Stay!
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Hanting Hotel Nanjing Daishandong - …Or Does It? My Honest Hotel Diary!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just got back from a stay at the Hanting Hotel Nanjing Daishandong and, well, it was…an experience. The brochure promised "Unbelievable Luxury" but let's just say my version of "unbelievable" might be slightly different from theirs. This isn't your pristine, perfectly-filtered travel blog post. This is my messy, imperfect, totally-honest take. Prepare for a ramble!
Metadata & SEO Shenanigans:
- Title: Hanting Hotel Nanjing Daishandong Review: Luxury? More Like a Rollercoaster!
- Keywords: Hanting Hotel, Nanjing, Daishandong, hotel review, China hotels, accessible hotel, spa, swimming pool, free wifi, clean hotel, dining, travel review, Asia travel, budget hotel, luxury hotel, comfort, experience
- Meta Description: My unfiltered review of the Hanting Hotel Nanjing Daishandong! From accessibility and cleanliness to dining and wi-fi (yes, it's free!), get the real scoop on this hotel. Was it paradise? Or did things go a bit sideways? Find out!
First Impressions & Accessibility: The Good, The Confusing, and the Slightly Terrifying
Getting there was a breeze – shout out to that airport transfer. Smooth, efficient, and blessedly air-conditioned. Made a mental note: definitely use that again. The exterior? Functional. Not stunning. Think more practical, less "Instagrammable". Then, the lobby. Okay. Standard hotel lobby. Clean (thank the heavens! My germaphobic tendencies are having a field day these days). 24-hour front desk? Always a plus. Doormen? Yep, there was a doorman (I think he was mainly there to hold my luggage, I’m not sure he even looked in my direction).
Accessibility: Alright, so accessibility. This is where things got interesting. The elevator? Check. (Thank god. I need to burn those calories somewhere other than walking up twenty flights of stairs). Facilities for disabled guests? They advertised them, but to what extent? I'm not disabled, but I tried to keep an eye out. Seeing as i’m not disabled myself (touch wood!) it was hard to give an accurate assessment. Still, the presence of an elevator is a good sign.
Rooms: Where the Luxury (Maybe) Lives?
The room itself was… well, let's say it aspired to luxury. It had air conditioning (essential in Nanjing heat, let me tell you!), blackout curtains (bliss!), and a desk (crucial for me, the always-working traveler). Free Wi-Fi? Hallelujah! They weren't lying about that one. Free bottled water was a nice touch. A safe box made me feel a little less anxious about my passport. The bed was pretty comfy and the pillows were…well, they were pillows. Can’t complain.
The bathroom… well, that's where the "unbelievable" part might have been stretching things slightly. It was functional, yes, with a shower, toiletries, towels and a hairdryer, but the décor was a bit… dated? Let's call it "vintage chic." The bathtub called to me, but I couldn’t work out the controls. I decided to give it a miss. I was a little confused about a bathroom phone. That seemed oddly specific.
And then, the view. Oh, the view! (drumroll please). It… overlooked another building. Oh well, at least the soundproof walls mostly delivered.
Cleanliness and Safety: Sanitizing the Heck Out of Everything!
Okay, this is where Hanting really shines, which is a relief in these uncertain times. Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Daily disinfection in common areas? Check. Rooms sanitized between stays? Apparently. I gave everything a good wipe down with my own sanitizing wipes anyway. You can't be too careful. Lots of hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere. Staff trained in safety protocol? Seemed like it. They also had room sanitization opt-out available, which is fine by me. There’s a lot of stuff in the safety section, which gives me comfort in these times. The fact they’d been doing it for a while, even better.
Dining, Drinking, & Snacking: A Buffet Bonanza and a Quest for the Perfect Coffee
Breakfast. Ah, breakfast. They offered an Asian breakfast alongside a Western breakfast, which was a nice touch. I went for the buffet, which, let's be honest, is always a bit of a gamble. This one was… fine. Nothing to write home about, but it filled a hole. They offered coffee and tea but I’m a finicky one. The coffee in the dining hall? Not great. I embarked on a hunt for a decent coffee shop, but apparently, one does not exist. I felt like I was on a solo mission to find the holy grail, but in the end, I drank instant coffee in my room.
They also had a restaurant with a la carte available, but I didn’t try it. The poolside bar looked tempting, except the pool wasn't actually…working, which brings me to my next point.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Pool? What Pool?!
The hotel has a swimming pool [outdoor]. Or it had a swimming pool; it was closed for maintenance during my stay. Major disappointment. I came in expecting to lounge by the pool sipping cocktails (which they also had at their bar) but instead, I was wandering around the city, which, after all, is kind of the point of traveling, right? They advertised a fitness center, gym/fitness and, spa/sauna, so I headed down and investigated. They had a sauna and steamroom, and, to my utter delight, a gym/fitness centre. I ended up visiting the gym a couple of times. It wasn’t amazing, but it was workable. No pool with a view to be had. I should have done some body scrub or a body wrap to cheer myself up, but I didn’t.
Services & Conveniences: Elevators, Elevators Everywhere!
They had a concierge, who was helpful (mostly). Daily housekeeping was on point. The elevator was, as already mentioned, a lifesaver. The luggage storage was handy. Currency exchange was available. The other services, such as dry cleaning and ironing service were decent enough. I really appreciated something as simple as the wake-up service.
Internet Access & Staying Connected (or Not):
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms - Yes! It worked great, super fast, reliable and the best thing about staying in that hotel. I had no issues with the Internet access.
For the Kids & Other Important Stuff:
I didn't have a kid in tow, so I couldn’t test out the babysitting service or the kids facilities, but the hotel seemed generally family/child friendly.
My Verdict: The Good, the Bad, and the Slightly Baffling
So, was the Hanting Hotel Nanjing Daishandong "Unbelievable Luxury"? No, not really. It was more like "Comfortable-ish with some nice touches."
The Good: The cleanliness was top-notch. The free Wi-Fi was a lifesaver. The staff were polite and helpful, although some of them spoke almost no English. The location was convenient. The price was right.
The Bad: The dated décor. The closed pool. The lack of a decent coffee shop. The slightly baffling bathroom phone. The view! The view!
The Verdict:
I'd stay there again? Probably, if the price was right and I needed a clean, conveniently located base. It wasn’t the stuff of dreams, but it was far from a nightmare. It certainly had its quirks. Overall I’d give it a… solid 3.5 out of 5 stars, I think. It's definitely a no frills hotel. But hey, sometimes you just need a clean bed and a strong internet connection, and in that, the Hanting delivers. And hey, the adventure is in the imperfections, right? Now, off to brew myself a decent cup of coffee…
Florence, SC Hotel: I-95/I-20 Comfort Near Civic Center!
Okay, here's a gloriously messy, opinionated, and utterly human itinerary for a stay at the Hanting Hotel Nanjing Daishandong Laiao Nancheng, Nanjing, China. Buckle up, buttercup, because it ain't gonna be pretty.
Hanting Hotel Nanjing: My Nanjing Meltdown (and Maybe Some Noodles)
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Pillow Conspiracy
- Time: Whenever the heck I finally escape the clutches of the airport. Let's be real, after a 14-hour flight, my body clock is going to be a confused mess.
- Event: Dragging my sorry luggage through the bustling chaos of Nanjing's (probably) sweltering heat. I'm already envisioning a dramatic, sweaty arrival. Pray for me.
- Transportation: Taxi, assuming I can actually hail one AND successfully communicate the hotel's location without resorting to frantic miming. Google Translate, I beseech thee!
- Hotel Check-in (and the Pillow Predicament): Okay, so the Hanting. It's clean, right? Functional, hopefully. But the pillows…oh, the pillows. I have a deep and abiding love/hate relationship with hotel pillows. I’ve lived with too-flat, too-lumpy, and everything in between. This is a make-or-break moment. If the pillows are atrocious, I might actually cry. (Don't judge, jet lag is a cruel mistress.)
- Dinner: Immediately after depositing my luggage (and possibly shedding a tear over the pillows), I will embark on a mission to find the best street food within a 10-block radius. Nanjing is known for its duck blood soup, its sweet osmanthus rice cakes, and a thousand other things that I'm probably incapable of ordering. Wish me luck, and pray I don't accidentally eat something that bites back.
- Evening: Collapse. Pure, unadulterated collapse. Maybe read a book, try to fight off the inevitable urge to doomscroll on my phone, and then, if the pillows haven't utterly defeated me, attempt sleep. Let's be real, I'll probably be awake at 3 am staring at the ceiling, because, jet lag.
Day 2: The Temple Tango and Food Coma
- Morning: Okay, so the pillows weren't totally awful. Success! Stumble out of bed (after a good struggle) and attempt to locate the hotel's free breakfast, and decide if its actually edible. My bar for breakfast is pretty low right now.
- Event: A pilgrimage to the Linggu Temple. I’m a sucker for ancient architecture and a bit of history, so this should be interesting. I'm also expecting to get lost at least three times. I always get lost. It’s my superpower.
- Transportation: Taxi/Subway (I'm hoping I can navigate the subway without causing an international incident…again).
- Afternoon: Lunch!! Time for proper Nanjing cuisine. I'm researching the best local restaurants (which, let's be honest, will probably involve me consulting a travel blog and then picking the place with the fewest people and the most pictures on the menu.) I'm dreaming of some sort of spicy, noodle-y paradise.
- Food Coma Phase 1: Post-lunch, I suspect I'll be in a food coma of epic proportions. Consider a short nap, followed by a light stroll around the surrounding area to try and ward off the food coma monster. Attempt to practice some basic Mandarin phrases and likely horrify the locals.
- Evening: Dinner at a restaurant or street stall. This is Nanjing, after all, so there’s plenty of great food to try.
- Late Night: Stumbling back to the hotel, wondering if I ate enough to trigger a second epic food coma.
Day 3: Confucius, Crafts, and Culinary Chaos! (Plus, Pillow Review!)
- Morning: Wake up in a haze, question all my life choices. But first: PILLOW REVIEW! Seriously, before I even brush my teeth, I'm assessing the pillow situation. Did I sleep well? Has the pillow betrayed me with its flatness or lumpiness? The fate of my entire day depends on this.
- Event: Visit the Confucius Temple. Because, culture. Because, I'll probably be the only Westerner there, staring in awe and slight bewilderment.
- Transportation: Taxi/Subway (again, fingers crossed for no meltdowns).
- Afternoon: Shopping! I have a weakness for souvenirs. So, I'll be hunting for local crafts and trinkets, maybe attempt to haggle (badly).
- Mid-Afternoon: I stumbled upon a street food district! Oh, the smells! Oh, the chaos! I pointed at everything that looked even remotely edible and hoping for the best. I didn’t know what half of the stuff was, but hey, adventure, right? Probably the best meal of the trip so far!
- Evening: A fancy dinner (hopefully). Because, after all that street food, my stomach deserves to be pampered. I'm thinking a multi-course, beautifully presented meal that I'll probably photograph excessively.
- Late Night: Pack for departure, and, of course, another pillow assessment. Will I miss this city? Who knows. But the pillows…they're the real mystery of this trip. Until I am able to write the review, the pillows will always be on my mind.
Day 4: Departure…and the Aftermath
- Morning: One final, tearful farewell to the surprisingly decent breakfast. Check out of the hotel. Stare longingly at the pillows.
- Event: Rush to the airport, praying my flight isn't delayed.
- Transportation: Taxi, hopefully I remember the address this time.
- Departure: Commence the long, tiring flight home.
- Aftermath: Spend the next week reliving my trip in my head, obsessing over the food, reflecting on the cultural experiences, and, of course, mentally crafting my definitive pillow review. And I will probably start planning my next trip to China. Because despite all the chaos, the bad navigation, the food comas, and the pillow obsession, I secretly loved every minute of it. Now, I just need a nap.
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Hanting Hotel Nanjing Daishandong - Your Dream Stay! - ...Or Is It? (Let's Be Honest)
So, is this place *really* a dream come true? That "Unbelievable Luxury" bit has me skeptical...
Alright, alright, let's get one thing straight: "unbelievable luxury" is marketing speak. Take it with a grain of salt, my friends. It's more like... elevated comfort. Think less Versailles, more a really, *really* nice Holiday Inn Express. Don't go expecting gold-plated everything. Now, that being said, the Hanting in Nanjing *is* solid. I mean, the photos? They're… well, they're heavily filtered. But the reality ain’t half bad. The lobby smells faintly of something… floral. Could be good, could be grandma’s perfume. Jury’s still out.
Tell me about the rooms! Are they actually... clean? And spacious? (I'm a clean freak and a claustrophobe, you see.)
Oh, the rooms. Okay. Clean-ish. I'm also a clean freak, so trust me, I get it. I walked in, gave the bathroom a *serious* once-over (that's my ritual, folks), and… okay, it passed. There was a *tiny* hair in the shower, the kind that makes you shudder and then convince yourself it’s probably yours and you’re just being dramatic. And about the space? Well, it’s a modern hotel, which means… compact. Not exactly cavernous. I wouldn’t try throwing a party in there, unless you consider one person and a suitcase a party. But let's be honest, most hotel rooms are… that's the price of living well. But the bed? Oh, the bed. It was like sinking into a cloud. Seriously. Amazing. I almost didn't leave. Almost. I still dream of that bed.
What about the location? Is it convenient for getting around Nanjing?
Okay, location is key. And here’s where the Hanting kind of shines. Daishandong is… not exactly the bustling city center. But it's *close enough*. You're not going to walk to the Confucius Temple, but a quick taxi ride or a hop on the metro and you're golden. I mean, I’m directionally challenged, and even *I* managed to navigate the metro. The real advantage is it's a bit away from the absolute chaos. Quiet. You’ll get some peace and quiet. Bonus points if you’re a light sleeper – less honking horns at 3 AM. Unless you’re unlucky enough to get a room overlooking the delivery entrance. You’ve been warned.
The Breakfast...Oh God, the Breakfast. What's the deal?
Ah, breakfast. The make-or-break moment of any hotel stay. And here? It's... *breakfast*. Don't expect Michelin-star cuisine. But it's included, which is a win in my book. They have the usual suspects – toast, some scrambled eggs that look vaguely yellow (not always the best sign), maybe some noodles if you're feeling adventurous (I always am. Regret is a dish best served cold, right? Or with lukewarm noodles, in this case). Coffee? Weak. Bring your own instant, seriously. But here’s the thing: I once had the breakfast. The first morning I was there, I got it. The second? I went straight for the 7-Eleven down the street and got some instant coffee and a pastry. Just…trust me. And maybe pack some granola bars. You’ll thank me later.
Is the Wi-Fi any good? Because I need my Instagram fix!
Okay, seriously. Wi-Fi. Critical. I get you. I, too, live for the 'gram. And the Wi-Fi at the Hanting? Well, it's… it's there. Sometimes. It's like a shy little kitten – you never quite know when it’s going to show up. Expect a few momentary disconnects while you’re in the middle of uploading, and you are good to go. I managed to get a few selfies up, so it can’t be *that* bad. But don't plan on streaming any epic movies. Download them beforehand. Trust me, and also maybe bring a book. Just in case.
What about the staff? Are they helpful? Do they even speak English?
The staff? Mostly helpful, bless their hearts. English fluency varies, let's just put it like that. I tried asking a question once and got a lot of smiling and nodding, which… isn’t always helpful when you're desperately trying to figure out where the nearest convenience store is located. But they try! They really do. And the smiles are genuine. Which makes up for a lot. Plus, waving your hands around and making exaggerated gestures is a universally understood language, right? (It works 90% of the time, or so I tell myself). Just...be patient. And maybe brush up on your Mandarin. Or download a translation app. You'll get by, but maybe don’t expect complex conversations about, say, existential philosophy. Although, if you do, let me know how it goes!
Okay spill the tea: What was the *worst* thing about your stay?
Ugh, the worst thing. Okay, here’s the juicy bit. Buckle up. It wasn’t the Wi-Fi, though that was a close second. It was the *noise*. Specifically, the construction. I got a room on the… not sure what floor, but somewhere near the… you know that entrance and exit, near where the staff would talk? That’s my view. They were building something. Hammering, drilling, the whole shebang. From, like, 7 AM onwards. Every. Single. Morning. It felt like living inside a construction site. I literally considered wearing earplugs and ear muffs. I complained once, politely, but nothing changed. So, I just became intimately familiar with the sound of construction. If you're a light sleeper, do yourself a favor: ask for a room away from… anything possibly involving any kind of construction. Seriously. God, I still hear those drills sometimes. The sound of machines… Ugh. It was awful.
Would you go back? Be honest!
Honestly? Yeah, probably. Despite the construction symphony and the questionable coffee and breakfast. The bed was *that* good. And the location is convenient. And the price? Yeah, that's a big factor. For the price, it's a pretty decent option. It’s not perfect. Far from it! But it’s comfortable enough, and the downsides are, well, manageable. Just… remember the earplugs. And maybe pack some snacks. And don't expect "unbelievable luxury." Just expect a decent place to crash in Nanjing. And if you do go, tell me if the construction noise is still going on. I need to know!
