Shanghai Luxury Getaway: Hanting Hotel Jiuting Metro Station Review (5-Star!)
Shanghai Luxury Getaway: Hanting Hotel Jiuting Metro Station Review (5-Star! … Probably Not.) - A Messy, Honest Take
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because I'm about to dive headfirst into my experience at the Hanting Hotel Jiuting Metro Station. Did it live up to the "Shanghai Luxury Getaway" promise? Insert dramatic pause Well, let's just say it wasn't quite the gold-plated limousine ride I was expecting. But hey, it's got a story, and that's what counts, right? (Right?!)
First Impressions & Initial Screws-Ups:
The exterior? Modern enough, with that generic, sleek-ish Chinese hotel aesthetic. Not exactly the Taj Mahal, but hey, I'm not complaining yet! Getting to the hotel was easy peasy lemon squeezy thanks to being right by the metro, which is a HUGE plus. Accessibility check-mark! Seriously, if you're relying on public transport, this is your jam. (More on accessibility later, because… well, you'll see).
Checking in, I was greeted with the usual cheerful, albeit slightly robotic, Chinese hospitality. But wait… I requested a non-smoking room. And guess what? My room reeked of stale cigarettes. Ugh. Initial disappointment? Big. Time. But this is where I learn to channel my inner zen master. I go back to the desk, they switch me to a new room, and all is (relatively) forgiven.
Rooms and "Amenities":
Okay, the room itself. Clean-ish. Let's go with clean-ish. (See what I mean about realism?). The decor? Functional. Think "beige on beige" with a splash of "hospital chic." The Air Conditioning worked like a charm, thank the heavens! And the Blackout Curtains were absolute lifesavers - important for avoiding that relentless Shanghai sunshine.
The free Wi-Fi was a godsend. Internet access – wireless! It did actually, shockingly, work! Imagine that. Internet access – LAN was available too apparently, though I didn't bother. I think. I honestly can't remember. My mind is a blur of dumplings and navigating the metro at this point…
The bathroom? Standard affair. Toiletries were provided, but let's be real, they were the cheap, generic kind. The shower was fine. Shampoo, soap, and a prayer is basically the operative function. They did have a hair dryer which was a welcome surprise. And they also had a scale. This is when I decided to mostly avoid breakfast.
Now, here’s where the cracks started to show. The "luxury" aspect was cough heavily embellished.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (or, My Dumpling Odyssey):
Breakfast… let's just say you're better off hitting up a local dumpling shop. The Asian breakfast was more of a generic Asian breakfast-ish deal. Buffet in restaurant involved a lot of lukewarm congee and things I couldn't identify. The Coffee/tea in restaurant was okay, I guess, but nothing to write home about. I definitely stuck to the fruit juice to avoid the disappointment. The Breakfast service was, well, it was there.
This is where I doubled down on a single experience that really stuck with me. One morning, feeling adventurous, I decided to try the (billed as "International") buffet. Oh, my friends. Oh. My. Friends. I'm not sure what part of the "international" spectrum they were aiming for, but it definitely wasn't anywhere I'd ever been. The scrambled eggs looked like a science experiment gone wrong, the bacon was chewy, and the "fruit salad" was swimming in a sickly sweet syrup. It was… an experience. I remember taking a bite and thinking, "Is this… is this real life?" I felt like a tiny, insignificant voyager, adrift in a sea of questionable breakfast foods. My response? I gave up and ate the only thing that looked remotely edible: a single, lonely roll.
The good news? The location right next to the metro station meant a HUGE selection of cheap and amazing food right at your fingertips.
Things to Do (or Not to Do):
Pool with view? Nope. Sauna? Not that I could find. Gym/fitness? Present, but I was too terrified of the equipment to venture inside. Spa? (Maybe). Spa/sauna, again, not that I could see. The hotel was functional, not luxurious. Body scrub? Body wrap? Steamroom? Get real.
Accessibility: The Uneven Path
Right, so, Accessibility is a mixed bag. The metro access is a HUGE win. The hotel itself had Elevator. Check. Facilities for disabled guests? Not sure on particulars and whether or not it matched their promises but the Front desk [24-hour] was always willing to help, so I'll give them that. Overall, it felt reasonably accessible, but I wouldn't place my bets on it being a fully-fledged universally accessible experience.
Cleanliness and Safety: Sanitized or… Sort Of?
They said they were taking Covid seriously. Daily disinfection in common areas. Individually-wrapped food options. Hand sanitizer stations were present, and the staff for the most part wore masks. But was it 100%? I'm not so sure. Room sanitization opt-out available? Well, I never saw the option, but they did keep the space cleanish. More of an assumed hygiene certification than a 5-star level hygiene. Staff trained in safety protocol – probably.
Services and Conveniences: Mixed Bag of Helpful-ish
Concierge? Sure, they were there, but I didn’t feel like they were actually "concierging." Dry cleaning? Yep. Laundry service? Also yes. Cash withdrawal was available. The Convenience store was handy for getting your late-night snacks, though. Basic stuff.
The Verdict?
The Hanting Hotel Jiuting Metro Station is… functional. It's a perfectly decent choice if you need a cheap and convenient place to stay near the metro. Don't expect over-the-top luxury, but it's clean-ish, has Wi-Fi, and is a good basecamp for exploring Shanghai. For the price, it's okay. Just keep your expectations firmly grounded, and embrace the adventure. And definitely skip the hotel breakfast. You've been warned.
Unbelievable Fort Worth Getaway: Hampton Inn & Suites Trophy Club!
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this itinerary for the Hanting Hotel Shanghai Jiuting Metro Station… well, let's just say it's going to be more "human" than a perfectly polished travel brochure. Prepare for a glorious mess.
The (Highly Unofficial & Unpredictable) Hanting Hotel Shanghai Jiuting Metro Station Adventure: AKA "Pray for Patience, Pack the Tums"
Day 1: Arrival and the Existential Crisis of Luggage
- Morning (6:00 AM): Wake up in my own bed. Pack. Overpack. Question every single clothing choice. Am I really going to wear that sequined blazer? Probably not. Yet, it's in the suitcase. This is a symptom, people. This is a symptom!
- Afternoon (1:00 PM): Arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG). Jet lag is already whispering sweet nothings of doom in my ear. Navigate the airport – which, honestly, feels like the Hunger Games of baggage claim. Retrieve my luggage! The sheer joy! (And the simultaneous dread of having to carry the thing).
- Afternoon (2:00 PM): Taxi to the Hanting Hotel near Jiuting Metro Station. Attempt to explain the address to the driver using my terrible Mandarin. Fail spectacularly. It's a miracle we arrive in one piece.
- Afternoon (3:00 PM): Check into the Hanting Hotel. The room… is… well, it's a room. Clean-ish. Functional-ish. The air conditioning might work. I’ll withhold judgement… for now.
- Afternoon (4:00 PM): Explore the area surrounding the hotel. Find a random street food stand. Risk it for the biscuit. My stomach is a tightrope walker.
- Evening (6:00 PM): Attempt to use the metro. Get utterly lost in the labyrinthine Jiuting Metro Station. Accidentally take a train going in the wrong direction. Curse under my breath. "What did I even do to deserve this?! "
- Evening (7:00 PM): Finally make it back to the Hotel!
Day 2: Culture Shock, Dumplings, and Existential Angst
- Morning (8:00 AM): Wake up to the distant roar of Shanghai. Breakfast at a local eatery. This is it. My attempt to be culturally sensitive. It includes something that looks like an egg. (It might be a duck egg. I'm not sure.)
- Morning (9:00 AM): Visit the Qibao Ancient Town. Prepare for a sensory overload. Seriously, people, the crowds, the smells, the colors… it's beautiful and chaotic at the same time. I'm both overwhelmed and completely enchanted. Buy a ridiculous hat. Regret it almost immediately.
- Lunch (12:00 PM): DIM SUM TIME! God, dumplings are a godsend. I'm pretty sure I could eat them for every meal. Especially the soup dumplings! The explosion of flavor in my mouth… well, it's a religious experience. I could legit weep tears of joy.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM): Wander more through Qibao. Get more lost. Take a million photos. Find yet another street food stand. This time, I discover a new level of weird in the form of a squawking, bright yellow bird they were grilling right on the sidewalk.
- Afternoon (4:00 PM): Get lost again. Realize my phone battery's at 10%. Panic! Start desperately scanning the horizon for a charging station.
- Evening (6:00 PM): Back to the hotel. Collapse on the bed . Watch some truly terrible Chinese TV. Wonder if I could be happy living in a small cottage near the sea, far from the chaos.
- Evening (8:00 PM): Dinner at a random noodle shop near the hotel. The noodles were good. The people were friendly. I don't understand any of the words, but I feel like I belong.
Day 3: The Bund, The Rain, and the Unrelenting Call of Shopping
- Morning (9:00 AM): Brave the metro again! Today, the Bund. The famous Shanghai skyline. I'm bracing myself for the crowds.
- Morning (10:00 AM): Arrive at the Bund. Oh. My. God. It's more impressive than I ever imagined. Buildings that scrape the heavens. The air, alive with energy. A true spectacle. (And, yes, the crowds are there. But that’s life.)
- Morning (11:00 AM): It starts to rain. The sky seems to weep with the weight of the city. The rain doesn't exactly stop any of the beauty. But somehow, the crowds still get to me.
- Lunch (1:00 PM): Duck into a cafe near the Bund to escape the rain and eat. The café is beautiful, the coffee expensive… but the cake is worth it.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM): Retail therapy. I can feel my credit card weeping in my wallet. The shopping streets are calling my name and I’m suddenly very susceptible to shiny things. This is my happy place. I find a knock-off Prada bag and I think I’m in love.
- Afternoon (4:00 PM): The rain stops. The sky clears. I feel an intense gratitude for this moment of relative sunshine.
- Evening (6:00 PM): Back to the hotel. My feet hurt. My wallet is lighter. But I feel… good.
- Evening (7:00 PM): Order from the local McDonald's because, come on, sometimes you crave what you know.
- Evening (8:00 PM): Start packing. Regret the sequined blazer.
Day 4: Goodbye, Shanghai (and the Question of the Missing Sock)
- Morning (8:00 AM): Last breakfast in Shanghai. Try to decide how to wrap up things.
- Morning (9:00 AM): Check out of the Hanting Hotel. Hope the air conditioning works a little better.
- Morning (10:00 AM): Taxi to Pudong Airport (PVG). The traffic is a beast.
- Afternoon (12:00 PM): Attempt to navigate the airport. Feel overwhelmed again.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM): Board the plane! But wait! Where did my favorite sock go?
- Afternoon (4:00 PM): Take off. Say goodbye to Shanghai. Consider all the adventures and all the imperfections. Think about all the things I didn't do.
- Evening (8:00 PM): Land back home. Unpack the luggage, which smells faintly of dumplings and adventure. Realize I already miss Shanghai.
- Evening (9:00 PM): Start researching potential next travels.
Important Notes:
- The Metro: Learn some basic Mandarin for directions or get familiar with ride-sharing apps.
- Food: Be adventurous. Embrace the weird. Trust your gut (after the first day).
- Jet Lag: It is real. Embrace it. Nap when you can.
- Patience: You'll need it. Just breathe.
- The Sequined Blazer: Consider leaving it at home.
- Remember: This is just a loose outline. Embrace the unexpected. Get lost. Eat dumplings. Have fun! And don't be afraid to look like a tourist. We all are, in the end.
There you go. A travel itinerary that's less a rigid plan and more a suggestion of good intentions with a heavy dose of "anything can happen." Enjoy! And good luck. You'll need it.
Bandung Bliss: Luxe 2BR Gateway Ahmad Yani Escape!
Shanghai Luxury Getaway: Hanting Hotel Jiuting Metro Station - The REAL Deal (5-Star? Uh...)
Okay, *five-star* Hanting? Really? Like, seriously REALLY?
Alright, alright, settle down. The 5-star thing? Let's just say the marketing department might have been reaching for the stars a *bit* further than the actual hotel. Don't get me wrong, Hanting Jiuting isn't a total disaster, but "luxury"? Honey, I've seen more plush in a laundromat. More like… budget-friendly-with-aspirations. It’s clean-ish, the staff tries, and for the price, it’s...okay. But five stars? Nope. Unless the stars they're referring to are things like… the tiny ants in my room (more on *that* later...).
So, the rooms. Spill the tea. What’s the vibe?
The rooms… hmm. Imagine a small, surprisingly well-lit box. Now, try to picture that box filled with everything you *need* and very little of what you *want*. Think minimalist chic... with a dash of "we're on a budget." The bed? Kinda hard, but hey, it’ll force you to appreciate a good mattress when you get home, right? The bathroom? Functional. Clean…ish. No, wait, let me rephrase that. Clean *enough*. And the view? Depending on your luck, you get a peek at the bustling Jiuting streets (which can be… entertaining at 3 AM when the karaoke bar across the street gets going) or… another building's wall. My first room had a view of… well, let's just say I got very familiar with the neighbor's air conditioning unit. My second room? Ah, bless that air con, better than a wall. It was the ants, you see. Tiny, determined ants. Crawling. Everywhere. It was like a tiny, six-legged invasion, a constant reminder of my place in the universe's grand, ant-infested scheme. Management did move me, thankfully, but the memory lingers!
What about the location, being near the Jiuting Metro Station? Is it actually convenient?
Okay, *this* is where Hanting Jiuting actually kinda redeems itself. The proximity to the metro? GOLD. Absolutely GOLD. Seriously, roll out of bed, stumble five minutes, and you're *on* the Line 9. Bam! Access to the whole dang city! So, yes. Very convenient. Thank goodness, because after dealing with the ants, I needed a win. You can be at the Bund in about an hour-ish. That's a huge plus, especially if you're into the whole Shanghai tourist thing. Saves you a fortune on taxis too. That metro is a godsend compared to trying to hail a cab when you're bleary-eyed and still thinking about the ant army.
The food! Is there decent grub nearby? Are you stuck eating instant noodles in your ant-infested room?
Phew! No, no, no instant noodles all day (though I may or may not have had a small pack for a midnight snack when my ant army took over). The Jiuting area itself? It's a bit of a mixed bag food-wise. Plenty of local restaurants, some of them amazing, some… less so. Expect some language barriers, embrace the pointing-at-pictures technique, and be prepared for a few culinary surprises. I stumbled upon this *amazing* dumpling place a few blocks away, and it was genuinely the best dumplings I've ever tasted. Conversely, I also tried a place that served what I *think* was chicken feet. Let's just say the dumpling experience helped me forget the chicken feet experience *quickly*. Overall, plenty of options, but don't expect Michelin-star dining. This is a 'get-fed-and-keep-moving' kinda area.
The staff. Are they friendly? Helpful? Do they speak any English? Did they *notice* the ants?!
The staff? Bless their hearts, they try. They're generally polite and helpful, but let's be real, English fluency is… patchy. Some speak a decent amount, some a little, some… gesture dramatically. The ant situation? Well, they were *mortified*. I mean, I think they were. It was hard to tell through the language barrier, but they were certainly very apologetic and moved me (yay!). They seemed genuinely concerned, which was nice. So, the staff: good intentions, variable English skills, and (thankfully) a willingness to evict you from an ant-riddled chamber of horrors. Just be patient, use translation apps, and embrace the awkwardness. It’s part of the adventure!
Anything else I *really* need to know before booking? Any hidden flaws?
Okay, here's the real lowdown. Listen. Before I even start, I've got to say – double check your room *immediately* for ants. I cannot stress this enough. Seriously. Check. For. Ants. Beyond that: the walls are thin. REALLY thin. You will hear everything. The karaoke bar, the snoring, the arguments, even the gentle hum of someone's electric toothbrush. If you’re a light sleeper, pack earplugs. LOTS of earplugs. And perhaps a white noise machine. Seriously. Think about it. If you have a specific view in mind, don’t get your hopes up. And remember, this isn't the Ritz. It's a budget-friendly option near the metro. Adjust your expectations accordingly. If you want to feel like royalty, this ain't it. But if you want a clean-ish, convenient, and *cheap* place to crash while you explore Shanghai? It'll do. Just… please, check for ants.
Okay, so, would you *recommend* the Hanting Jiuting Metro Station? Be honest!
Okay, final verdict? Hmm... Let's just weigh it. The price? Excellent. The metro access? Freaking fantastic. The rooms themselves (sans ant-related incidents)? Functional. The staff? Trying their best. The "luxury" factor? Nope. Absolutely not. Would I recommend it? If you're on a tight budget, need to be near the metro, and aren’t overly fussy about five-star standards? Yeah, probably. Just bring ant spray. And earplugs. And maybe a hazmat suit, just in case. But seriously, it's not the worst hotel I've ever stayed in, and for the location and the price, you *can* put up with the quirks. Just prepare yourself. Shanghai is amazing, but the Hanting Jiuting is… an experience. A memorable one, for sure. Good luck, and may your room be ant-free.
