Unbelievable Hotel Deal Near Yanshan University: Qinhuangdao's Hanting Hotel!
Hanting Hotel Qinhuangdao: My Truth, The Good, The Bad, And The Probably-Just-Me
Okay, so I booked the Hanting Hotel in Qinhuangdao. You know, "Unbelievable Hotel Deal Near Yanshan University," the one that always pops up. And yes, I went in expecting… well, something. Let's face it, at that price point, you're not exactly dreaming of a Ritz-Carlton experience. But did it deliver? Let's dive into this messy, opinionated, and utterly human review, shall we?
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- Categories: Hotel Review, Travel, Accommodation, China Travel.
The Arrival & The Vibes (Or Lack Thereof)
First impression? Functional. Cleanish. Nothing screamed "Woah!" but thankfully, nothing screamed "Ew!" The exterior corridor (that's in "Exterior corridor" category, go figure!) was kind of bland. But who am I kidding? I was here for the deal, not for architecture.
- Check-in/out [express]: Yes! The express check-in/out saved me precious time. I felt a little like a speed demon, whizzing through.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Thankfully, the front desk was manned 24/7. I had a late-night craving for… well, I’ll get to that.
- Hotel chain: It's a Hanting, a recognizable brand in China, so at least you know what you're (potentially) getting. No surprises, good or bad.
Room Sweet Room (or, My Personal Mini-Drama)
The room was… okay. Again, functional. Air conditioning blasted, which was appreciated. The bed was surprisingly comfortable. However, I had a bit of a moment. The coffee/tea maker? Non-existent. I am nothing without my morning caffeine. That's when I realized how much I depend on a good cup of… anything. So, I called down to the…
Room service [24-hour]: YES. Thank goodness, there finally arrived a moment of salvation!
Complimentary tea & Coffee/tea maker: No.
Additional toilet – Sadly, no.
Air conditioning: Absolutely! It was a lifesaver.
Alarm clock: Present, which always makes me feel a little…dated.
Bathrobes: Nope. But hey, at least there were towels.
Bathroom phone: Oddly, yes. Who calls from the bathroom?
Bathtub, Separate shower/bathtub: Nope and nope, just the shower.
Blackout curtains: Awesome. Needed them for the jet lag.
Carpeting: Yes, a little worn, but clean.
Closet: Adequate.
Complimentary water: Free bottled water – A lifesaver.
Daily housekeeping: Check.
Desk: Yep.
Extra long bed: Didn't feel extra long, but comfy enough.
Hair dryer: Yes! My frizzy mane thanks you, Hanting.
High floor: Nope. But again, I wasn't here for the view.
In-room safe box: Yes. Always a plus.
Interconnecting room(s) available: Didn't check, didn't need.
Internet access – LAN and Internet access – wireless (Wi-Fi [free]): Yes, and it worked perfectly!
Ironing facilities: Yes.
Laptop workspace: Desk did the job.
Linens, Towels, Slippers: Present and, surprisingly, clean.
Mini bar: Didn't have one.
Mirror: Many.
Non-smoking: Crucial!
On-demand movies: Meh.
Private bathroom: Obviously.
Reading light: Yes.
Refrigerator: No, but I didn't need one.
Scale: Who checks their weight on vacation?
Seating area: Not really. Just a chair.
Shower: Functional.
Smoke detector: Let's hope so!
Socket near the bed: Yes. (Thank goodness!)
Sofa: Nope.
Soundproofing: Kinda. You could still hear the hallway a bit.
Telephone: Yes.
Toiletries: Basic.
Umbrella: Never underestimate an umbrella.
Visual alarm: Didn't need it, thank goodness.
Wake-up service: Yes.
The Food Battlefield (Or, My Quest for a Snack)
Here's where things get… interesting.
- Restaurants: There was ONE restaurant.
- Coffee shop: Nope. This made me sad.
- Desserts, Salad, Soup, Asian, International, Western, Vegetarian, Buffet, A la carte: The restaurant offered a mix. The buffet breakfast looked… well, okay. I opted for a la carte out of fear.
- Snack bar, Poolside bar, Bar: The snack bar was practically non-existent but I did get the much-needed caffeine fix.
- Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service: I didn't try breakfast in room or the take-away.
- Bottle of water, Essential condiments: A bottle of water.
Accessibility & Safety (Because We Gotta Be Responsible!)
- Accessibility: Don't expect the most advanced accessibility.
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property: Always a bit comforting to see.
- Check-in/out [private]: Nope.
- Couple's room: Wouldn't know.
- Exterior corridor: Yup.
- Fire extinguisher, Smoke alarms: Check.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Always a plus!
- Non-smoking rooms: Yes!
- Safety/security feature: Present.
- Security [24-hour]: Yes.
The Spa, The Gym & The… Relaxing Stuff (Spoiler: Less Than Expected)
- Fitness center, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor], Foot bath, Pool with view, Body scrub, Body wrap, Massage: Hah! Don't get your hopes up. This is NOT the spa hotel of your dreams. There's no spa.
The Little Extras (Or, The Stuff I Didn't Really Need)
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: Probably. Didn't see anything.
- Business facilities, Xerox/fax in business center, Meetings, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meeting stationery: Didn't need them.
- Cash withdrawal, Currency exchange and Cashless payment service: Didn't test.
- Concierge, Doorman: Alas, no.
- Convenience store: Nope.
- Daily housekeeping: Yes.
- Dry cleaning, Ironing service, Laundry service: Unavailable.
- Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests: I didn't notice many.
- Food delivery: Probably unavailable.
- Gift/souvenir shop, Shrine: None.
- Indoor venue for special events, Outdoor venue for special events: Not that I saw.
- Invoice provided: Probably.
- Luggage storage: Yes.
- On-site event hosting: Nope.
- Projector/LED display: Don't recall.
- Smoking area: Yes.
- Terrace: Nope.
- Wi-Fi for special events: Don't think so.
Cleanliness & Safety (The Important Bits)
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: They seemed to be trying, which is good. Definitely felt safe.
Things To Do & Getting Around
- Airport transfer, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking, Bicycle parking: There were a couple of free parking spaces.
- Things to do: Not really. Not much in the hotel. You're on your own.
For The Kids
Escape to Paradise: Candlewood Suites Bluffton - Your Hilton Head Getaway!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned travel itinerary. This is a glorious, chaotic mess of a schedule for my (potential) adventure in Qinhuangdao, China. And trust me, it's going to be a ride. I'll be staying at the Hanting Hotel, Qinhuangdao Hebei Street, conveniently located for, uh, something near Yanshan University. Let's see if I can actually get myself there and back in one piece…
PRE-TRIP DRAMA (Because, let's be real, this is where it really begins)
- Week Before: Panic sets in. Did I remember my universal adapter? (I didn't. Note to self: order one immediately.) My Mandarin is, generously, "survival level." This is going to be interesting. Find myself obsessively watching YouTube videos of street food in China. My stomach is already rumbling.
- Day Before: Pack. Then unpack. Then repack. Realize I've brought three pairs of the same black leggings. Why? No idea. Curse my indecisive self. Briefly consider eloping to the Maldives. Remember I have no money for the Maldives. Decide to embrace the chaos that is me and Qinhuangdao.
THE (Potentially) Glorious, (Likely) Messy QINHUANGDAO ADVENTURE
Day 1: Arrival and the Hanting Hotel Humdrum
- Morning (ish): Arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Pray my connecting flight to Qinhuangdao is on time. (Spoiler alert: It probably won't be). Imagine the sheer joy of navigating a Chinese airport, armed with only a phrasebook and sheer optimism.
- Afternoon: Finally land (hopefully) in Qinhuangdao. Taxi to the Hanting Hotel. First impressions will be… well, first impressions. Expecting clean, functional, and possibly a slightly weird smell. Hopefully not too weird. Check in. Attempt to decipher room key (good luck, me).
- Late Afternoon: Unpack my suitcase. Discover I packed way too much. Decide to live out of my backpack for the next week. Embrace the minimalist lifestyle (even if it's forced). Explore the immediate vicinity of the hotel. Search for a decent cup of coffee. Pray for a decent cup of coffee. (Coffee is a vital ingredient for survival).
- Evening: Dinner. This is where things could get interesting. Armed with Google Translate and a brave heart, venture out for some local cuisine. I'm game for anything (within reason). Maybe a spicy noodle place? I'm picturing a steaming bowl of fragrant, deliciousness. Or, alternatively, ordering something completely incomprehensible and ending up with chicken feet. Either way, adventure!
- Night: Collapse into bed. Contemplate the sheer absurdity of being on the other side of the world. Write in my travel journal (if I can stay awake). Pray I can sleep, and that the hotel doesn't have a karaoke bar next door.
Day 2: The Great Wall - A (Highly) Anticipated Pilgrimage
- Morning: Wake up. Hopefully, the jet lag hasn't turned me into a zombie. Breakfast at a local restaurant (if I can find one). Attempt to order something other than "egg and bread." Maybe dumplings? My internal voice is screaming "DUMPLINGS!".
- Late Morning/Early Afternoon: The main event! The Great Wall! I'm going to see the Great Wall!! I’m picturing myself, perched on a rampart, looking out at the endless, majestic panorama. The history, the scale… It’s all so utterly overwhelming and awe-inspiring. I'm going to be that tourist taking a million pictures. Forget subtlety. I'm going full "tourist-mode-activated." I'm also incredibly nervous about the crowds. Picture me, awkwardly navigating the throngs, trying to enjoy the view despite the jostling. The sheer logistics of getting there are already giving me a headache.
- Afternoon: After the Great Wall, maybe a little souvenir shopping. I need to find something for my mom. Something she will be proud to display on her mantelpiece. Something…that isn't a plastic dragon.
- Evening: Dinner. The Great Wall has me starving. Back to the street food for dinner. If I’m feeling brave, I’ll try the local specialty, whatever that might be. Will I order something I'm not entirely sure about? Definitely. Will I regret it? Almost certainly. Will it make a good story later? Absolutely!
- Night: Back to the hotel. Review photos of Great Wall. Admire my heroism. Pass out.
Day 3: Yanshan University and the Mystery of the "Local" Experience
- Morning: Another attempt at conquering breakfast. Research Yanshan University. It's right next door! Okay, I'll at least walk around the campus.
- Late Morning: Walk around Yanshan University and take some pictures. Attempt to blend in like a local, while also getting more than a few curious glances. Get lost. Probably.
- Afternoon: Free time! Do some "local" things. This is where the plans get vague, because I don't actually know what "local" things are in Qinhuangdao. Maybe a park? A museum? A random street corner? (I'm seriously considering the street corner). Google Translate might be my best friend today.
- Evening: The "Evening Dilemma". Dinner. Finding a place that welcomes foreigners. Will experiment with the food and enjoy a new kind of experience.
- Night: Early night.
Day 4: Doubling Down on the Great Wall (and Maybe a Mental Breakdown)
- Morning: Wake up. Jet lag hits hard. Contemplate the sheer physical effort required to get out of bed.
- Late Morning: Decided to go back to the Great Wall. I went back to the Great Wall! I wanted to see it again, soak it in. I was craving that feeling of history, of being connected to something so vast and ancient. I needed to feel it again… This time, the crowds were brutal. I’m talking shoulder-to-shoulder, slow-moving queues. I’m talking about being bumped and prodded and generally feeling claustrophobic. My "zen" state from yesterday quickly evaporated.
- Afternoon: I was hangry and the sheer number of people made me want to flee. I wandered out, completely defeated. I found a quiet spot, sat down and ate a Snickers bar. (It was a beautiful moment).
- Evening: Dinner. Decide to find a place where there aren't any people. And actually, I might be thinking too much. But this trip is all mental, so what does it matter? I'm going to eat.
- Night: Back to the hotel to reflect.
Day 5: City Exploration and Retail Therapy (or the Art of Wandering Aimlessly)
- Morning: Breakfast. And more coffee. Seriously need to figure out how to get a decent coffee.
- Late Morning: Explore the city. This is where the "wandering aimlessly" part comes in. Walk around.
- Afternoon: Souvenir shopping! For myself.
- Evening: Back to the street food. Back to the hotel.
- Night: Review the photos from the day.
Day 6: Beach Day (or Attempting to Embrace the Ocean)
- Morning: Wake up, pack, and check-out.
- Late Morning/Early Afternoon: Leave the city.
- Evening: Depending on the time, decide to find another place to spend the night.
Day 7: Departure and the Aftermath (or the Post-Trip Existential Crisis)
- Morning: Breakfast.
- Afternoon: Check out of hotel. Head to the airport.
- Evening: Fly back home.
- Night: Arrive home. Unpack my suitcase. Realize I still haven't used half the clothes I packed. Begin desperately researching my next trip. Start a blog about my travel escapades. Write this trip report…
Post-Trip Reflections
- I probably ate something that made me slightly ill.
- I learned more than I thought I would.
- I spent too much money.
- I took a million photos (and they're probably all terrible).
- I want to go back!
This is just a rough outline. The real adventure will be filled with unplanned detours, unexpected encounters, and the constant struggle to communicate (and not get lost). Wish me luck! And prepare for the inevitable "post-trip debrief" where I recount every glorious, embarrassing, and delicious detail.
180° Samui: Koh Samui's BEST Kept Secret Revealed!
Is this Hanting Hotel *really* near Yanshan University? Like, walkable? Because my last "nearby" hotel involved a bus, a rickshaw, and a prayer.
The price! It sounds suspiciously low. Is this place a glorified hostel with questionable hygiene? Spill the tea, please.
Okay, but what about the rooms themselves? Are they…prison cells? Tiny, windowless boxes of despair?
Food! Is there food nearby? And by "nearby," I mean, can I stumble out in my pajamas and grab a late-night snack nearby?
The internet! WiFi! Is it a reliable WiFi? Because I NEED my social media fix.
The Staff? Are they friendly? Do they speak English? Because my Mandarin skills are… well… nonexistent.
Would you stay there again? Be honest!
