Hangzhou Hanting Hotel: Railway Station's BEST Kept Secret!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the Hangzhou Hanting Hotel: Railway Station's BEST Kept Secret! – a name that already screams "intrigue" and a little bit of, "is this actually secret, or just poorly advertised?". I’ve spent a hot minute (okay, maybe two nights) there, and I'm here to tell you the real (and gloriously messy) truth. Consider this your antidote to those overly polished, robotic hotel reviews. This is real life, people.
First Impressions: The Accessibility Gauntlet (and a Small Victory)
Let's be honest, accessibility is HUGE, especially when you're schlepping luggage and maybe a toddler (or two, don’t judge!). Now, the "Railway Station" part of the name? Spot on. It’s practically steps from the train, which, for a frazzled traveler like myself, is a GODSEND. No endless taxi rides, no deciphering complex public transport systems – bliss.
- Accessibility: The elevator situation? Solid. Crucial for a hotel with multiple floors, and I'm happy to report it's functioning like a well-oiled machine. No creaks, no groans, just a smooth ascent. (And trust me, I checked. I had the kids' strollers to account for!)
- Wheelchair Accessible: Mostly Good. There are accessible rooms, and the public areas seem navigable. HOWEVER, (and there’s always a however, isn’t there?) I didn't personally test this with a wheelchair, so I couldn't give my definitive verdict. Recommend checking with the hotel to get all the details, because, as it says on the website, accessibility shouldn’t be an afterthought.
- Getting Around: The immediate vicinity is easy to navigate, the hotel itself is also easy to get to! Airport transfer is available if necessary.
Rooms: Comfort and a Tiny Glitch of "Oh, That's Unusual"
The rooms are… well, they're Hanting rooms. Which, if you've stayed at one, you know what you’re getting: clean, functional, and definitely not overflowing with frills. But that's the charm!
- Rooms & Amenities: Air conditioning is a godsend in Hangzhou heat, and it worked like a champ! The bed was comfy, the blackout curtains meant I could actually, gasp, sleep past sunrise. The free Wi-Fi worked flawlessly, and it's available in the entire hotel (in the room, so you can do your things in peace, but the hotel still has Wi-Fi in public areas), which is a massive win in this day and age.
- Bathroom Confessions: I'm going to get real with you: the bathroom was… compact. The shower? Fine. The toiletries? Well, they're there. It was, as they say, basic. But, you know what? It was CLEAN. And after a long day of battling crowds and battling kids, that's basically heaven.
- The "Additional Toilet" Mystery: Didn’t find what the listing had said: additional toilet (didn't find it). It's possible that it's a feature of specific rooms, or maybe my tired brain just missed it. Worth double-checking if that's a deal-breaker for you.
- Other Room Essentials: All the basics are covered: Desk, hair dryer, in-room safe, mini-bar. The important things.
Dining: Fueling Up and Avoiding the "Hangry" Monster
Let's talk food, because a grumpy traveler is a nightmare.
- Breakfast: They offered a proper Asian breakfast (noodles, congee, the works) and also Western breakfast to give variety, which was very welcome. The coffee was okay – not the best I've ever had, but it did the job of jolting me awake. But the main thing, for me, was breakfast was available to your room!
- Restaurants & Bar Situation: There's a restaurant (or several) and a bar, so you're covered for most meals. I found the prices to be extremely fair. The food itself? Solid. Not Michelin-star level, but tasty, satisfying, and exactly what I needed after a day of exploring.
- Convenience is King: They also do 24-hour room service. This is HUGE. Because sometimes, after a long flight, or a grueling day of sightseeing, the LAST thing you want to do is leave your room.
- Snack Attack: Coffee/tea in the restaurant, a snack bar… You'll be okay, food-wise.
Cleanliness and Safety: The Current World Edition
Right, let’s get down to brass tacks: COVID-19. How did the Hanting Hotel handle the pandemic?
- Hygiene Certification and Sanitization: They clearly took things seriously. I saw staff regularly sanitizing common areas, and they provided hand sanitizer everywhere (and I mean everywhere).
- Safety Measures: They had temperature checks and staff wore masks, the rooms were being cleaned and sanitized, and they took the necessary precautions.
- Dining Safely: Safe dining setup with disposable cutlery to provide a better hygienic system. Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, too!
- Room Sanitization Opt-out? Not that I saw. And frankly, I liked the thorough cleaning, especially in the current climate.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
This is where the Hanting Hotel actually surprised me. They've clearly thought about what travelers need.
- Front Desk: The staff were friendly, helpful, and spoke enough English for me to get by. Always a bonus, especially when you're sleep-deprived.
- Laundry Service: Yes! Because laundry is a never-ending battle when you've got kids.
- Luggage Storage: They have it. I used it. It worked.
- Cashless Payment: They're definitely on board with modern payment methods, which is super convenient.
- Concierge: The concierge helped me find a great local restaurant. Thumbs up.
- Business Facilities: They've got the basic business stuff – fax, Xerox, etc. Not a huge deal for me, but good to know if you're there for work.
- Daily Housekeeping: Clean towels, a made bed… little things, but they make a difference.
- Family Considerations: The Hotel is family friend and it offers babysitting services.
Things to Do (and Ways to Relax): Let's Be Honest
Okay, let's be real. This isn't a resort. It's a functional, clean, and well-located hotel. So, don't expect an in-house spa with a pool with a view or a fitness center.
- Things to do: You're in the heart of Hangzhou city, with plenty to do! The hotel is basically a springboard to explore.
- Relaxation? You have a place to sleep peacefully, which is valuable
- The Imperfections: The hotel does not offer a fitness center or a spa.
The Verdict and the "Secret" Revealed
So, is the Hangzhou Hanting Hotel: Railway Station's BEST Kept Secret?
Probably not a complete secret. But, with its accessibility, prime location, and reasonable prices, it’s an excellent choice for a hassle-free stay. It’s perfect for those on a budget and for those who put convenience first.
Here is my Offer to you, My Fellow Travelers:
"Escape the Chaos, Embrace the Convenience: Your Hangzhou Adventure Starts Here!"
Book your stay at the Hangzhou Hanting Hotel: Railway Station (using a promo code that I need to look up… but I’ll get there!) and:
- Get 15% off your stay!
- Free early check-in, so you can drop your bags and start exploring.
- Receive a complimentary welcome drink at the bar.
- Get Free Breakfast in your rooms.
- Get a Complimentary late check-out!
But here's the kicker! You must book within the next 7 days to claim your offer.
Why Choose Hanting Hotel Now?
Because:
- You're tired of overpaying for mediocre hotel stays.
- You want to be close to the train station, and Hangzhou.
- You value clean, comfortable, and efficient lodging.
- You want to save cash for the good stuff – like exploring, eating, and making memories.
Don't wait! This offer is going to evaporate faster than your complimentary coffee if you don't act now. Click this link to book (insert affiliate link that you need to make) and claim your discount.
Book your stay at the Hangzhou Hanting Hotel: Railway Station. Your Hangzhou adventure begins!
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Hanting Hotel Shijiazhuang - Your Dream Getaway!
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this isn't your grandma's travel itinerary. This is a train wreck (hopefully not literally, considering the Hangzhou Railway Station location) of a trip in the making. Hanting Hotel, Hangzhou, here I freakin' come! Prepare for a whirlwind of over-caffeination, questionable food choices, and enough emotional baggage to rival a seasoned flight attendant.
Hangzhou: A Messy Love Letter (or at least, an attempt at a coherent sentence)
Accommodation: Hanting Hotel Hangzhou Railway Station (God, I hope it's clean.)
- Pre-Departure (aka the Hectic Before the Calm…or the Train):
- -2 Days: PANIC MODE. Realize I haven't packed. Mentally calculate how many pairs of socks I actually need. Remember I’m a notorious over-packer (hello, three identical black t-shirts!), then vow to pack light. Fail. Epically.
- -1 Day: Chase around town gathering last-minute necessities. Emergency passport check (phew, still there!). Frantically Google "Mandarin phrases for ordering noodles." Decide I'll wing it. Confidence level: zero, but fueled by adrenaline.
- -0 Day (Departure Day!): Wake up with that weird mix of dread and excitement only travel can conjure. Struggle with the suitcase that now weighs more than I do. Muttering under my breath, I make my way to the departure gate. Feel a pang of sadness as I say goodbye to my dog who might be confused. Realize with horror that I forgot to charge my phone. Face palm.
Day 1: Hangzhou's Grand Entrance (or at least, the Train Station's)
Morning (Train Ride):
- 6:00 AM: BEEP BEEP BEEP! My alarm, a cruel mistress. Drag myself out of bed, fueled by instant coffee and the sheer will to escape. Rush to the train station.
- 8:00 AM: On the train! Observe fellow passengers: a symphony of sleeping heads, frantic phone-users, and the constant rustle of plastic wrappers. This is China, baby! Get some serious side-eye for my gargantuan backpack. Promise myself I will actually use that tiny, fold-up day bag I packed. (Spoiler alert: I won't.)
- 10:00 AM: Arrival at Hangzhou Railway Station. OMG, it's a beast of a place! Navigate the crowds, dodging luggage and the ever-present scent of… well, everything. Find a helpful (and surprisingly patient) information person and receive directions to the hotel.
- 11:00 AM: Finally at the Hanting Hotel. Pray to the travel gods for a clean room and a working shower.
- 11:30 AM: Dropping off the luggage and immediately get my exploration started.
Afternoon (West Lake and the Endless Quest for Food):
- 1:00 PM: Attempt to navigate Hangzhou's public transport. Struggle to decipher the bus directions. End up wandering aimlessly for an hour. Feel the familiar pang of hunger. Commence mission: Find Food.
- 2:00 PM: West Lake. It’s… beautiful. Like, seriously. Picturesque. Actually take a few deep breaths. Try not to get completely trampled by selfie-stick wielding tourists.
- 3:00 PM: The food hunt continues. Wander into a local eatery. The menu is entirely in Chinese, accompanied by some blurry phone pictures. Point at something vaguely familiar. Cross fingers.
- 4:30 PM: Food delivered. It's… interesting. Texture is unfamiliar. Taste? A mystery! Decide to embrace it. Who knows, maybe it's the best thing I've ever eaten (spoiler: it wasn't). Still, give it a B+ for effort.
- 5:00 PM: Walking by the West Lake. Breathe in the crisp air and watch the boats glide past. Try and memorize this image.
- 6:00 PM: Stumble upon a souvenir shop. Immediately seduced by a tiny, adorable panda keychain. Resist (mostly). Begin contemplating the logistical nightmare of carrying gifts back home.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner Part Duex! This time I’m feeling adventurous. Find a restaurant with English menu.
- 8:00 PM: Take a stroll by the Xihui Lake, or the West Lake. Take in the night views and the breeze. And of course, take pictures of the lights.
- 9:00 PM: Head back to the hotel. Feeling full and tired.
Evening (Hotel Room Shenanigans and Existential Thoughts):
- 9:30 PM: After a long day of walking and sightseeing, arrive in my room. Wash my face. Pray all my luggage is safe.
- 10:00 PM: Attempt to connect to the hotel Wi-Fi. Fail. Repeatedly. Commence a mini-meltdown.
- 10:30 PM: Finally, connect. Scroll through social media. Realize I'm already behind on sending pictures. Send some pictures, hoping my friends and family would appreciate my journey and my experience!
- 11:00 PM: Realize how exhausted I am. Briefly contemplate what it means to be “lost” in translation. What does it mean to be lost in life? Realize that's a question for another day.
- 11:30 PM: Lights out. Pray to the travel gods for a good night's sleep and no bed bugs. (Actually, maybe don't pray on that… now I'm paranoid.)
Day 2: Temples, Tea and Temporary Insanity
Morning (Peak of Spiritual Heights):
- 8:00 AM: Wake up to the sound of… well, something. Maybe construction. Maybe birds. Maybe my own internal monologue screaming about missed deadlines.
- 8:30 AM: Decide to visit Lingyin Temple. It's supposed to be amazing. Find directions. (Again, the public transport is my nemesis, but I'm learning!)
- 9:30 AM: Arrive at the temple. Feel my heart rate drop as I enter. The architecture is mind-blowing. So much detail. So much history. So many tourists.
- 9:45 AM: Get lost in the crowd. So many people! Try to focus on something pretty, but it fails as I’m hit by a wave of people. Suddenly feel extremely claustrophobic.
- 10:30 AM: Find a quiet corner. Sit down and breathe. Remind myself that I am alone in this vast and incredible place. This is supposed to be about tranquility!
- 11:00 AM: Decide to indulge in the cliché. Buy a "peace" bracelet. (Am I a cliché? Probably.) Decide I’m okay with it.
Afternoon (Tea and Tourist Traps):
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. Back on the food quest, this time with more confidence (or maybe just desperation). Another restaurant with a friendly lady with a smile, but also an English menu.
- 2:00 PM: Visit a tea plantation. Pretend to know something about tea. Pretend to appreciate the finer points of tea tasting. Secretly just want a strong cup of coffee.
- 3:00 PM: Buy tea for friends and family back home. Realize I'm going to be carrying a suitcase full of tea. Decide that's a "me" problem for later.
- 4:00 PM: Explore another tourist trap. Overwhelmed. Buy another souvenir, a silk scarf this time. Wonder why I'm suddenly a magnet for tourist traps.
- 5:00 PM: Head back to the hotel, feeling completely drained, but also strangely exhilarated.
Evening (Contemplation and Couch Potato-ing):
- 6:00 PM: Take a rest in the hotel room to rest my legs. Shower, and relax for a bit.
- 7:00 PM: Order room service. Decide to order a burger. Why a burger in China? Because I need something familiar!
- 8:00 PM: Watch TV, trying to find something I can understand, with no luck!
- 9:00 PM: Start packing, which reminds me I am going to carry my luggage. Panic.
- 10:00 PM: Reflect on the day. What did I do? What did I experience? What did it mean? Try not to overthink it.
- 11:00 PM: Sleep. Dreams of silk scarves, tea plantations, and long-lost bus routes.
Day 3: Back to Reality (or the Train Station at Least)
- Morning (Last Bites and Goodbye):
- **8:00 AM
Hangzhou Hanting Hotel: Railway Station's BEST Kept Secret! (Or Is It?) - Your Unfiltered Guide
Okay, spill the tea. Is this Hanting Hotel actually GOOD? Like, *really* good? 'Cause I've seen cheap hotels...
Alright, alright, settle down. Look, "good" is subjective, right? My expectations were rock bottom. I mean, it's *right* next to the Hangzhou Railway Station. That usually screams "fleabag central." But... and this is a big but... this Hanting Hotel? It's... surprisingly decent. Not the Ritz, mind you– I'd be *losing* my mind if I expected that. More like... a clean, functional, and conveniently located haven in the chaos of Chinese train travel.
My first impression? The lobby wasn't a disaster. Not gleaming, but tidy enough. The staff? Surprisingly friendly, considering I was probably a sweaty travel wreck after a 14-hour train ride. They even helped me with my utterly butchered Mandarin. That scored some serious points, trust me.
So, "good"? Depends on your definition. It's definitely *not* the place to impress a date. But for a solo traveler or someone needing a quick, clean stopover? Yeah, it's good. Surprisingly so. Let's be real, it's *probably* the best you're going to find right at the station gate. Don't expect Michelin star service, just a decent place to crash. Consider yourself warned - sometimes the cleanliness goes a little 'off'. I'll get to that later...
Location, location, location! Is it *actually* close to the train station, or is that a lie?
Sister, the proximity is NO lie. It's practically *attached*. I'm talking, you stumble out of the train station, and BAM! You're practically looking at the front door. Seriously, it's like five minutes, *tops*. Maybe less if you're speed-walking to the bathroom after a questionable train meal.
This is HUGE, people. Especially if you've been schlepping luggage and battling crowds. The convenience factor is off the charts. No endless taxi hunts; no awkward bus rides. Pure, unadulterated ease. Worth its weight in gold. Though, I did *almost* trip on a discarded empty bubble tea cup on the way in the first time... but that's a small price to pay for being so close.
What are the rooms *actually* like? Be honest...I can handle it.
Ready? Brace yourself. They're… small. Let’s just get that out of the way. Seriously, don't expect a suite. You'll be lucky if you can swing a cat– and probably regret doing so, because the aircon is the best friend you'll have.
The essential box-tickers are all present and accounted for! A bed (comfortable enough after a brutal train journey), a TV (mostly Chinese programming, unless you can find a decent VPN), a tiny desk (where I usually dumped all my stuff).
The bathroom? Functional. Clean-ish. Sometimes the water pressure is a bit…enthusiastic(I have never used the shower and *not* had the water spray everywhere, but that's most of China!). Bring your own toiletries – the provided ones are… basic. Honestly, pack your own everything, so you're ready for the worst.
Now there *was* this one time... I'm not kidding, after a particularly long train ride, the air-con wasn't working. At all. I was ready to explode. It *was* fixed quickly, and they apologized profusely... But for a few agonizing minutes I was seriously considering sleeping on the lobby sofa. Don't say you weren't warned!
Is there free Wi-Fi? 'Cause, ya know, the internet is essential.
Yes! And it's… mostly reliable. Praise be! For the most part, the Wi-Fi works. Sometimes it can be a little slow, especially during peak hours, when everyone's probably desperately trying to upload those scenic snaps. Don't expect lightning-fast speeds for streaming Netflix, okay? But it's good enough for checking emails, updating your social media feeds, and planning your next adventure. That's the important stuff, right?
I've had moments of sheer internet *panic* in this hotel. I needed Wi-Fi to book my next train ticket (super last minute, classic me). I needed to check my emails for a very important message! And the Wi-Fi was on the fritz! It was a full-blown crisis. I was practically begging the front desk! But hey, they *fixed* it... eventually. So, bring a backup plan for those critical moments.
Food! Is there anything nearby worth eating, or am I doomed to instant noodles?
Okay, let's talk food. The hotel lobby has some super basic stuff, like instant noodles (yeah, you'll probably end up eating these at some point), and maybe a sad pre-packaged sandwich. DON'T RELY ON IT.
But the good news? The railway station area is a culinary melting pot! Literally walk out, face the chaos and immediately look to your left. If you dare to walk down there, you'll find tons of cheap and cheerful options. Street food galore! Delicious dumplings, noodles in all shapes and sizes, and (if you're brave) some seriously authentic local delicacies. Just be adventurous and see what takes your fancy. You’re in for a treat!
There are also some slightly more familiar fast-food chains if you're feeling homesick or just can't stomach the "mystery meat" (which is a very real thing to encounter, be warned). I’ve had some legitimately *amazing* meals just wandering around the station area, and some… less amazing ones. It's all part of the fun! So, noodles are a back up... and potentially a reality. But you can survive!
Cleanliness. How clean are we *really* talking here? Be honest - I'm a germaphobe.
Okay, as a self-confessed germaphobe myself, let me address the elephant in the room. It’s... a mixed bag. Don't go expecting sterile hospital levels of cleanliness. You're in China, after all. Let's start with the good news: I’ve never found anything truly *disgusting*. The sheets *usually* look clean, and the bathrooms are *generally* acceptable. "Acceptable" being the operative word here.
However... there are those little things, aren't there? Sometimes a stray hair in the bathroom. The occasional suspicious stain on the carpet. That one time I found a little something... on the wall behind the bed. I won’t go into graphic detail, but let's just say I immediately stripped the bed and slept on the sheets I brought, *shaking*Low Price Hotel Blog
