Unbelievable Hulun Buir Stay! Hanting Hotel Zhalantun Review (You Won't Believe This!)
Unbelievable Hulun Buir Stay! Hanting Hotel Zhalantun Review (You Won't Believe This!) - My Brain Dump on a Budget Oasis
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because I’m about to spill the tea on the Hanting Hotel in Zhalantun, Hulun Buir. And let me tell you, "unbelievable" isn't just clickbait. It’s the actual feeling I had wandering through this place. This isn't your glitzy, five-star, where they judge you for wearing mismatched socks. This is…well, you’ll see.
First things first: The Accessibility, or Lack Thereof (and My Rambling Thoughts on It)
Now, I’m not a wheelchair user, but I did pay very close attention to the Accessibility situation. The hotel says it has "Facilities for disabled guests." Okay… that's a start. The elevator is a godsend – no climbing eight flights of stairs with luggage, whew! But, I didn't see any ramps in the main entrance. The website, and the hotel generally, could really expand on this. Honestly? It feels…a bit vague. And for some, this vague-ness could be a dealbreaker.
Internet: The Lifeline of the Modern Traveler (and My Constant Panic About Staying Connected)
Ah, the internet. My digital umbilical cord. Okay, so:
- Free Wi-Fi in All Rooms! Hallelujah! My Instagram feed would have suffered without this. The signal was pretty strong on the first floor, but up on the tenth floor, cough it was a bit…spotty. I swear, on some days, I felt I needed to perform a ritual dance to get a signal. (Picture me, arms up, chanting "Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi, hear my plea!" You know, classy).
- Internet [LAN]: Yep, there's LAN internet. If you are an old soul, who finds physical connection as a necessity, then this will work for you.
- Internet Access: Obviously. Duh. Otherwise, how would I even write this?
- Wi-Fi in Public Areas: Pretty reliable, actually. Good for a quick scroll or a quick chat with the fam. But, my "urgent" work calls? I stuck to the room (when the Wi-Fi gods were feeling generous).
- Internet Services: They offer some basic business center stuff like Xerox/fax in business center.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax (aka, My Attempt at Pampering Which Failed Miserably, But Was Hilariously Entertaining)
Okay, this is where things get …interesting. They advertise a bunch of relaxation things, and I tried most of them, but the actual experience was… well, let’s just say it had its moments.
- Fitness center, Gym/fitness: "Fitness" is a strong word, alright. There were a few machines. I saw someone using one treadmill once. I gave up after 5 minutes.
- Pool with view, Swimming pool [outdoor]: Not on the property, but I did hear the hotel can arrange for nearby facility access.
- Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom: I didn't see any of this anywhere, so the hotel's website may be a bit misleading.
- Massage: Now this I was hoping for. They offer a massage service, but they couldn’t arrange for it.
- Foot bath: They don't offer it.
- Body scrub, Body wrap: Not Available.
Cleanliness and Safety: My Obsessive Compulsive Assessment.
I’m a germaphobe. I admit it. So, I was very interested in the cleanliness situation, especially after the last few years.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: They say they use 'em. I have to trust them, I didn't pack a microscope.
- Breakfast in room: Nope.
- Breakfast takeaway service: I'll get there.
- Cashless payment service: Yes! Thank goodness, I didn't want to use the ATMs.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: I saw the staff cleaning, so at least they are trying.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Good to know, should things go sideways.
- First aid kit, Hand sanitizer: Available, which is always reassuring.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Another essential.
- Hygiene certification: I didn’t see any, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have it.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Mostly.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: They try, but at breakfast, things get a little…cramped.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Again, trusting they are doing that behind the scenes.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Didn't notice this.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: I'd hope so.
- Safe dining setup: Pretty basic, nothing too fancy.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Hopefully!
- Shared stationery removed: Good idea.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: They seemed to be making an effort, lots of mask-wearing.
- Sterilizing equipment: Unknown to me.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: My Stomach's Verdict (and a Love-Hate Relationship with the Buffet)
Okay, the food. The heart and soul of any trip, right?
- A la carte in restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant, Restaurants: Yep, there are restaurants. The cuisine is varied in the hotel.
- Alternative meal arrangement: If there’s a specific dietary requirements, they're happy to accommodate.
- Asian breakfast, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Western breakfast: Ah, the buffet. The central nervous system of this hotel. Look, it's… a buffet. It's got everything. Every kind of breakfast food, from savory Chinese food, to Western-style eggs and sausages. Some dishes were downright amazing. Some… not so much. I remember this one slightly questionable egg roll with a very dubious aftertaste. But, you know what? It fuels your day.
- Bar, Poolside bar, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Happy hour, Room service [24-hour], Snack bar: No pool, no poolside bar. The other things were available, and the coffee was decent, though.
- Bottle of water: Complimentary and necessary.
- Desserts in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Salad in restaurant: Generally, they have it.
Services and Conveniences: My Shopping List of Essentials
- Air conditioning in public area, Air conditioning: Essential
- Audio-visual equipment for special events, Indoor venue for special events, Outdoor venue for special events, Wi-Fi for special events: I didn't witness any events.
- Business facilities: Okay.
- Cash withdrawal: Available.
- Concierge, Doorman: Super helpful.
- Contactless check-in/out: Yes, which is nice.
- Convenience store: I saw a little one tucked away.
- Currency exchange: Available
- Daily housekeeping: Yes!
- Dry cleaning, Ironing service, Laundry service: All available.
- Elevator: Absolutely
- Essential condiments: They've got the basics.
- Facilities for disabled guests, Luggage storage, Safety deposit boxes: Everything is available.
- Food delivery: They can point you in the right direction.
- Gift/souvenir shop: I don’t remember seeing one.
- Invoice provided: I get a copy.
- Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Projector/LED display, Seminars, Shrine, Terrace: Not applicable.
- Smoking area: Yes.
- Xerox/fax in business center: The hotel's business services.
For the Kids
I did not travel with children.
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: Not Applicable.
Access, Getting Around, and Safety
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Non-smoking rooms, Room decorations, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms: The usual standard.
- Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private]: Easy and quick.
- Couple's room: Yes.
- Exterior corridor: Okay.
- Hotel chain: Hanting Hotel
- Pets allowed unavailable: No pets allowed.
- Proposal spot: Not sure.
- Smoke detector, Soundproofing: The hotel ensures the guest's safety.
- **Getting around, Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging
Alright, buckle up buttercup, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned travel itinerary. This is my trip to Hanting Hotel Zhalantun Qinghe Home Plaza in Hulun Buir, China, and it’s gonna be… well, probably a hilarious disaster. Let's see if I can even remember what day it is at this point.
Day 1: Arrival and Initial Bewilderment (aka "Where Did My Luggage Go?!)
10:00 AM: Theoretically, I land in Hulun Buir. (Or, that's the idea). Reality? The flight was delayed, of course. And my luggage? MIA. "Probably in Ulaanbaatar," the airline guy helpfully shrugged. Ugh. Starting strong.
12:30 PM: Arrive at Hanting Hotel Zhalantun Qinghe Home Plaza. Okay, it's… functional. Cleanish. The lobby smells faintly of disinfectant and something else, something floral. I'm already craving a strong coffee and a nap. My room? A perfectly serviceable, yet utterly forgettable, square box.
1:30 PM: Lunch. Finding food is always an adventure. I wander around, overwhelmed by the Chinese characters on all the signs. Eventually, I stumble into a place that seems to serve dumplings. God, I hope it's dumplings. I point and grunt a lot, and end up with something… mostly fried. Not terrible, actually! My brain is starting to unfog a little.
3:00 PM: Explore the plaza. Actually, my expectation and the reality are totally different. The main thing is the plaza is a lively place, full of life. There’s a whole bunch of stuff to see and do.
5:00 PM: Attempt to procure basic necessities. You know, toothpaste, a toothbrush, a change of clothes (thanks, airline!). This involves a lot of pointing, miming, and the discovery that my phone's translation app is about as useful as a chocolate fireguard. Success rate: mediocre. I'm currently living in the same clothes I left home in, and I think I'm starting to smell like a yak.
7:00 PM: Dinner. Decided to try a local restaurant near the hotel. This is where things get interesting. Ordering felt like a game of charades with the waiter. The first dish was some sort of stew (not sure what kind of meet it was), It was amazing!
9:00 PM: Exhausted, fall into bed, and pray my luggage turns up before I have to start wearing my socks as underwear.
Day 2: The Great Grasslands of Hulun Buir (and My Complete Lack of Coordination)
- 8:00 AM: Wake up. Feel the lingering effects of jet lag. Still no luggage. Send another enraged email to the airline. (Unlikely to help, but therapeutic). Coffee is imperative. Where can I find coffee here?
- 9:00 AM: Book a day trip to the Hulun Buir grasslands. Pictures promised vast, rolling hills, Mongolian yurts, and horses. I'm picturing myself as a graceful, free spirit, galloping across the plains. The reality, I suspect, will be me looking like an absolute clutz.
- 11:00 AM: Embark on the tour, feeling excited. And a bit nervous.
- 12:00 PM: Arrive at the grasslands. And my God, it really is spectacular! The vastness is something else. It really takes your breath away. The air. The freedom… I have to try to take a horse trip!
- 1:00 PM: Trying to ride a horse. This should be majestic. Instead, it looks like I'm auditioning for the role of a very awkward inflatable pool toy. My face is red, my legs are screaming, and I'm pretty sure I almost fell off five times. Eventually, with some patient guidance, I manage to stay on… for a glorious, albeit shaky, five minutes. I feel the emotion of the plains!
- 2:00 PM: After horse riding, I found that it was difficult to walk. But I will embrace the new experiences. I go to yurt and get the local food. Eating and drinking is a must!
- 6:00 PM: Sunset is amazing!
- 9:00 PM: Dinner.
Day 3: Deep Dive into the City (and My Growing Obsession with Noodles)
- 9:00 AM: Wake up. The jet lag is still kicking my butt. Today I should probably see some attractions. The museum or something like that.
- 10:00 AM: Breakfast.
- 12:00 PM: Head to a museum or something.
- 2:00 PM: After museum, walk around and shop.
- 4:00 PM: Find a noodle place. Decided to make this meal a main event. It was the best food I’ve tasted in days. It's a revelation! The broth, the vegetables, and the noodles are perfect!
- 7:00 PM: Dinner.
- 9:00 PM: Sleep, maybe with better luck this time.
Day 4: Departure (and a Plea to the Universe)
- 6:00 AM: Wake up, reluctantly.
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast.
- 11:00 AM: Check out of the hotel.
- 12:00 PM: Head back to the airport, heart full of conflicting emotions. Relief that I'm going home. Sadness to be leaving the beauty of Hulun Buir. And a deep, abiding hope that my luggage has finally turned up. (Seriously, airline, where is it?!).
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at the airport.
- 3:00 PM: Flight.
Post-Trip Thoughts (Because Let's Be Real, It'll Be a Chaotic Post-Mortem):
This trip? Not perfect. Not smooth. Definitely messy. But that's the point, isn't it? It's the imperfections, the unexpected detours, the near-disasters, and the glorious moments of utter awe that make a trip truly memorable. Would I go back? Absolutely. Would I pack better? Probably not. The universe clearly enjoys my ongoing struggle. But now, I know what I was up to, and I'll be better!
Fuzhou's BEST Hotel? Wanda Plaza Luxury Awaits! (Hanting Hotel Review)
Unbelievable Hulun Buir Stay! Hanting Hotel Zhalantun Review (You WON'T Believe This!) - Totally Unfiltered FAQs
Okay, spill the tea. What's the absolute *truth* about the Hanting Hotel Zhalantun? Like, the REAL truth?
What about the room itself? Actually *comfortable*? Or should I bring my own sleeping bag?
Okay, the bathroom. The *bathroom*. What horrors await me in the bathroom?
Let's talk location. Is it actually *convenient* for exploring Hulun Buir?
The staff! Were they helpful? Did they speak any English? Should I brush up on my Mandarin?
Okay, about the food. Anything *close* to edible nearby? Breakfast? Anything?
What was the strangest thing about the Hanting experience? Lay it on me!
