Nanjing South Station's BEST Hotel? Starway Hotel Review!
Nanjing South Station's BEST Hotel? Starway Hotel Review: A Messy, Honest Take
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the Starway Hotel near Nanjing South Station. Forget the sterile, corporate reviews. This is the real deal, folks. I’m talking honest, messy, and with a healthy dose of "Did I really remember to pack my toothbrush?" thrown in for good measure.
First Impressions (and the Quest for the Front Desk):
Okay, so navigating Nanjing South Station is like wading through a sea of humanity during rush hour. Finding the hotel? Well, that's a quest in itself. Signs, thankfully, were present, but after a 14-hour flight, I was basically functioning on fumes and sheer willpower. My first impression? "Thank god, air conditioning!"
Accessibility (Not My Strong Suit, Apparently):
I’m not exactly an expert on accessibility, thank goodness. But based on my observations, the elevator was there! (That's a win, right?) I didn't notice anything obviously problematic – ramps, clear signage. But again, I was focused on, you know, not collapsing. So, my apologies if this section's a bit light – I’m far more interested in the quality of the noodles.
Check-in and the Promised Land (aka My Room):
The check-in process was thankfully swift, even with my jet-lagged brain fighting to comprehend basic Chinese. The staff were friendly enough, though I wouldn't describe their English as "fluent." But hey, a smile transcends language barriers, and they had those. And yes, they offered contactless check-in/out, which I appreciated. Less touching, less potential for spreading the plague… always a bonus.
My Sanctum: The Room (and the Eternal Search for Wi-Fi):
Right, let's talk about the room. The promise of Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! was music to my weary ears. The reality? Well, let's just say it was… spotty. Sometimes it was blazing fast (bless!), other times it was like trying to download a YouTube video on dial-up in 1998. Annoying? Yes. But enough to ruin a trip? Nah, not quite. The internet situation was the biggest problem i encountered. I would get up for a drink, and the WiFi would be gone for a moment, before magically appearing again. But the room itself? It was clean. Really clean. And safe! The window did open – a small victory for a claustrophobic soul like myself. And I am sure I could ask for a non smoking, but I didn't really care.
Deep Dive: Cleanliness and Safety (and the Anti-Viral Overkill):
Okay, this is where Starway really shines. I’m not kidding – this hotel seemed to be waging a full-blown war on germs. Daily disinfection in common areas? Check. Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Rooms sanitized between stays? You betcha. You could practically eat off the floors (though I wouldn't recommend it, unless you're particularly fond of dust bunnies). It actually felt safe, even in a world still reeling from, well, you know. The hand sanitizer stations were plentiful, the staff were masked up, and I felt like I could finally breathe easy. The kitchen staff was also careful.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (aka My Personal Food Odyssey):
Breakfast was included. And it was… a buffet. (Be still my beating heart!) The Asian breakfast options were plentiful and intriguing. I made a point to try everything at least once. The Asian cuisine in restaurant was also top-notch. I even found some decent coffee, and the Coffee/tea in restaurant option was a good add. But let's be honest, I mostly stuck to the carbs. Because, carbs. And who needs healthy when you're on vacation? The room service [24-hour] was a lifesaver. Food delivery also. There also was a Snack bar. I did not try the Poolside bar or the bar, because I was focused on the food!
Services and Conveniences (The Little Things That Make a Difference):
The Daily housekeeping was excellent – my room always felt fresh and tidy. The Elevator was a godsend. The Luggage storage came in handy. There was also a Business facilities for those needing it I guess. The Currency exchange was also a benefit, and the Convenience store was a lifesaver. I did not use the other services.
Things to Do and Ways to Relax (Beyond Staring at Walls):
Okay, so the Fitness center was… well, it existed. I poked my head in, and it looked adequately equipped. I'm not a gym rat, so I didn't linger. But the fact that it was there, a place to sweat out all the noodles and questionable life choices, was appreciated. I definitely did not go for a Massage or use the Spa. I wanted to relax and Watch on-demand movies in my room.
The Nitty Gritty: In-Room Features (and My Personal Quirks):
- Air conditioning: Glorious. Absolutely essential.
- Bathrobes: Yes! Because who doesn't love a plush bathrobe moment?
- Coffee/tea maker: A lifesaver, especially with that spotty Wi-Fi.
- Hair dryer: Yes, thank god. I could pretend I had my life together.
- Refrigerator: Handy for storing emergency snacks and, you know, keeping my sanity.
- Satellite/cable channels: Options, options, options. I mostly stuck to the international news to get a sense of what was going on.
- Slippers: Added a nice touch.
The Verdict: The Good, the Bad, and the Hungry:
So, would I recommend the Starway Hotel near Nanjing South Station? Yes, with a few caveats. The amenities were great – especially for the price. The cleanliness and safety protocols were outstanding. The location, once I figured out how to navigate the station, was incredibly convenient.
The biggest drawback? The sometimes-temperamental Wi-Fi, The restaurant was the best part of the experience.
Final Score: 4 out of 5 stars. Why not 5? Because perfection is boring. And the slightly erratic Wi-Fi deserves a slight demerit. But overall, a solid choice. Would stay again. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I'm off to find some more noodles.
Escape to the Charming Langton Arms: Your Tarrant Monkton Getaway Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this itinerary for the Starway Hotel in Nanjing South? It's gonna be less "polished Travelocity brochure" and more "drunken diary entry after a particularly strong night of baijiu." Prepare for some realness, okay? Here goes:
Nanjing South Station - Starway Hotel: The Messy Truth (and a Whole Lot of Noodles)
Day 1: Arrival - Anticipation (and Questionable Air Quality)
14:00 - 15:00: Arrive at Nanjing South Railway Station. Jeez, this place is HUGE. Seriously, it makes Grand Central look like a bus stop. Finding the Starway, even with the helpful (albeit slightly panicked) Google Maps lady guiding me, felt like navigating a labyrinth designed by Kafka. This concrete behemoth just swallows you whole.
15:00 - 16:00: Check-in. Finally! Thank God for the smiling (maybe a little too smiling?) receptionist. My Mandarin is… passable. I manage to fumble through the check-in process, including the classic "show passport" routine. I'm pretty sure I signed my life away in some official-looking document I didn't understand. Fingers crossed. (Side note: the lobby smells faintly of disinfectant and… something indefinably Chinese. I'm going to assume it's good, right? Probably. Maybe. )
16:00 - 17:00: Room Inspection. Okay, first impressions: It's… clean. Surprisingly so. The bed looks suspiciously hard. *Oh god, I hope it’s not *too* hard…* The view? Well, it’s of… another building. Thrilling. But hey, at least the air conditioning works! And the shower? I have this irrational fear of hotel showers. Will it be hot? Will it flood the bathroom? Only time will tell…
17:00 - 18:00: First Noodles! Right, gotta get fed. Found a tiny noodle shop nearby. This, my friends, is where things get interesting: The stall is practically overflowing with locals. I think my basic Chinese will (hopefully) get me through. I point frantically at a steaming bowl of what looks like pure, glorious, noodle-y goodness. The auntie behind the counter (who totally looks like she's seen a thousand worse tourists than me) nods, her eyebrows raised. I'm betting that's the look whenever I don't speak Mandarin. I think I'm in heaven. (And it's only a matter of time the food coma will take over)
18:00 - 20:00: Wandering around the Station and surrounding area, aimlessly. Attempt to find some places that are open, and some that are closed. Maybe I took the wrong turn.
20:00: Collapse in bed, feeling the effects of jet lag.
Day 2: The Nanjing Massacre Memorial - Gut-Wrenching and Unforgettable
09:00: Wake up. Actually, that's a lie. I woke up at 06:00, staring at the ceiling, regretting not bringing a sleep mask, and wondering if I'd somehow lost my ability to sleep. Whatever, coffee time! (Or, you know, instant coffee, which is all I’m getting at the hotel. Sigh.)
10:00 - 13:00: Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall. Okay, brace yourselves. This is not a lighthearted experience. It's absolutely devastating. The sheer scale of the horror… the photos…the testimony… it's a kick in the gut reality check. I walked around stunned, and feeling the weight of the world, and just… numb. I spent like 30 minutes, just standing in a single room, probably sobbing. I won't go into details about the exhibit because it is something you must experience, but I will say this: leave yourself enough time, and don't rush. This isn't a museum, it's a memorial. It's history. It's a lesson. It’s also a reminder of how quickly things can go horribly wrong.
13:00: Stumble out of the memorial. I think I need to eat. And breathe. And not think about what I've just seen. Found a random little restaurant nearby. Ordered something I couldn’t' entirely translate. It was definitely not "happy food." I just sit there, staring at my lunch, and trying to process everything. I'm pretty sure my chopsticks skills deteriorated in the shock of the museum visit.
14:00 - 16:00: Walk around the city center. Try to clear my head because I needed a distraction. Find a coffee shop, and try my best with the baristas. And as I was walking, I try to observe the local culture, which is quite a big difference from my city back home.
16:00 - 17:00: Go back to the hotel, and take a big nap.
17:00 - 20:00: Try other restaurants. I found some great restaurants that serve some great noodles. And with my experience yesterday, I feel that my Mandarin skills are improving!
20:00: Sleep. Probably another sleepless night ahead, because wow, that museum…
Day 3: Temple Touring and Train Troubles? (Maybe)
09:00 - 12:00: Visit the Jiming Temple. Another stunning sight. The architecture is breathtaking. I walk around in awe, watching people pray, and appreciating the peace of the place. Definitely a counterpoint to the heaviness of yesterday. Thank god.
12:00 - 14:00: Lunch near the temple. More noodle! This time, I’m feeling a bit more confident… until I can’t figure out how to pay the bill. Cue more fumbling and awkward gestures. The staff is mostly amused by my struggle (I think).
14:00 - 16:00: Relax, pack, and prepare for the train. Feeling a little anxious. I'm supposed to be heading to Shanghai tomorrow. I really, really hope I got the right train tickets. The whole booking process felt like a lottery with the added challenge of trying to understand a language I barely speak.
16:00 - 18:00: Wander the streets. I just wanted to do something chill, so I went to the local community park where I can observe people and their lives.
18:00: Dinner at the hotel. I'm starting to crave familiar flavors. I'm not sure whether I'm homesick or not, but I'm starting to feel that way.
20:00: Bed. Cross fingers, toes, and anything else that will help me get some sleep. Tomorrow, Shanghai!
Day 4: Departure (and Reflections)
- 07:00: wake up, finish packing.
- 08:00: Train to Shanghai (hopefully!).
- Throughout the day: Reflecting on Nanjing. It was… intense. Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Delicious (all those noodles!). I'm leaving with a mix of emotions. I think any trip that makes you feel something is a good one. And Nanjing? It definitely made me feel.
Overall Musings:
- The Starway Hotel? It was fine. Inexpensive. Clean. A base camp for an adventure, nothing more. Don't expect luxury. Expect functional.
- The food: Noodles, noodles, and more noodles. (And I'm not complaining.)
- Nanjing: A city of contrasts. Modern and ancient. Joy and sorrow. A place you won't easily forget.
- My Mandarin: Still terrible, but improving… slightly.
- My emotional state: A rollercoaster. But hey, isn’t that what travel is all about?
So there you have it. My Nanjing experience, unfiltered. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to book another trip just to escape my daily life.
Escape to Paradise: Jeju Grace Hotel Awaits!
Starway Hotel at Nanjing South Station: My Brain-Dump (AKA FAQ)
Is this Starway Hotel *really* the best option near Nanjing South Station? I mean, Google Reviews are...variable.
Okay, let's be brutally honest. "Best" is subjective. Did it save my sanity after a 14-hour train ride? Yes. Would I recommend it to a five-star hotel snob? Absolutely not. Look, the Starway is *convenient*. That's its superpower. Seriously, roll out of the station, stumble through a slightly underwhelming lobby (more on that later), and you're basically home. So, yeah, for pure location? Top marks. But if you're expecting luxury... prepare for a reality check.
How close is *actually* close to the station? Like, can I practically wear my pyjamas?
Okay, technically you could wear your pajamas. I may or may not have done precisely that. It's *that* close. Think: emerge from the station, aim slightly to your left, and walk for like… three minutes? Maybe five if you're dragging a suitcase the size of a small car (which I was). Seriously, the proximity is the main selling point. That and the fact that, after a marathon train journey, your brain is fried and you just want to collapse.
What's the lobby like? Because first impressions matter (sometimes).
Prepare for... functional. Let’s put it that way. It's not winning any design awards. Imagine sterile but clean. Think linoleum floors, a few tired-looking chairs, and a reception desk staffed by people who mostly speak functional English (bless them!). The lighting is… well, it's there. It doesn’t exactly scream “welcome to paradise!”, but it gets the job done. They also have vending machines. That's a plus because sometimes you just need a mystery flavored soda at 2 AM.
Okay, the Rooms! What's the *deal* with the rooms? Are they clean? (That's the main thing, right?)
Alright, this is where things get… variable again. Generally, yes, the rooms are *clean*. But “clean” in a kind of… "they've tried their best" way. Don't go expecting pristine, clinical perfection. The first time I stayed, I swear I saw a slightly questionable stain on the carpet (don't judge me; I’m not a professional stain analyst). But, look, the sheets *felt* clean, the bathroom was mostly spotless, and that's what mattered. The second time, I found a rogue hair in the shower. Minor, but, you know...things happen. Just bring your own sanitizing wipes if you're extra-particular.
The noise! How noisy is it? Right next to a train station, after all…
Ah, the noise. This is a big one. Look, you *are* next to a major train station. You *will* hear stuff. Trains coming and going, announcements, what sounds like a thousand screaming children (okay, maybe not a thousand… but a lot!). But, and this is important, the soundproofing is *surprisingly* decent. It’s not the Ritz-Carlton, but I actually slept through the night – both nights! I'm a light sleeper too! I'd recommend earplugs, just in case. Better safe than sorry. The occasional train horn will make you jump, though. Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.
What about the *vibe*? Is it a depressing place or a place of… *possibility*? (lol)
Okay, "vibe." Let's be real. It's not exactly a party. It's more of a… functional, transient, get-some-sleep-before-your-next-train-journey kind of vibe. There's a certain, shall we say, "utilitarian" aesthetic. Don't expect Instagrammable moments. But, on the other hand… it’s also a place where you can check in, collapse onto the bed, and not be judged. Which, after a grueling journey, is invaluable. I once saw a guy in the elevator wearing a bathrobe and slippers. No one batted an eye. That's the beauty of this place. It's a haven for travel-weary souls.
Breakfast? Tell me about the breakfast! Because I *need* to know.
Okay, the breakfast. This is where things become... interesting. The first time, I skipped it. Didn't trust it, after the slightly questionable carpet stain. The second time, hunger got the better of me. It *was* included in the room rate, after all. Prepare for a buffet of… choices. Some of which are… familiar. Some of which are very, very not. There’s usually some sort of congee (rice porridge), some questionable processed meats, and toast. Lots and lots of toast. The coffee… is best taken in copious doses (you’ll need it). It’s not a gourmet experience. It’s fuel. But hey, it's fuel that's included! Just set your expectations accordingly. I wouldn’t cross the street for it, but for a quick and easy way to start your day, it’s alright.
Would you stay there again? Be honest!
Absolutely. Without a doubt. Look, it's not glamorous, it's not luxurious, and you might find a stray hair or two. But the location? Unbeatable. The price? Reasonable. The convenience? Priceless. After a long journey, it's a lifesaver. It’s the place you book when you *really* need a bed and don’t really care about anything else. Would I book it for a romantic weekend? Nope. Would I recommend it to a friend in transit? Absolutely. I'm already planning my next stay, actually. Just remembering the proximity to that train station… it's a game changer.
Any Hidden gems or things to watch out for?
Okay, here's the thing: The lift (elevator) is a bit… temperamental. Sometimes slow, sometimes jammed. Be prepared to walk a few flights of stairs, especially during peak check-in/check-out times. Secondly, the wifi? Don’Find Hotel Now
