Unbelievable Hotel Find in Weifang: Hanting Hotel Beihai Road Review!
Unbelievable Hotel Find in Weifang: Hanting Hotel Beihai Road Review! - A Chaotic Tourist's Take
Okay, buckle up, because this isn't your typical, perfectly polished hotel review. This is the real, messy deal. I just spent a few days in Weifang, and the Hanting Hotel on Beihai Road? Well, it was an experience. And here's the unfiltered, probably-too-long version of my thoughts:
Accessibility - Did Someone Think About This? (Mostly… But Not Always)
Right off the bat, the accessibility was… well, let's just say it was present. I'm not in a wheelchair, but I did notice a few things. The elevator was a godsend, absolutely necessary. There were facilities for disabled guests, which is a huge plus. But then I got to the breakfast buffet (more on that culinary adventure later), and navigating it with any mobility issues… well, it looked a bit tricky. So, mixed bag. Check some boxes, miss others.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges… Hmmm, I didn't see anything explicitly labelled, but I did see a restaurant and a bar. More on both of these later…
Wheelchair accessible: See above. Present, but maybe not perfect.
Internet - My Lifeline (And Sometimes My Frustration)
Okay, let's talk internet. Because, let's face it, in this day and age, it’s a necessity, right? Good news: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! Saved my bacon (metaphorically – more on the food later). I could stay connected, work (ish), and annoy my friends and family with constant pictures of suspiciously-shaped dumplings.
Internet [LAN]: Honestly? I didn't even try. I used the Wi-Fi and it was mostly fine.
Internet services: They said there were… and they were, as mentioned, mostly fine.
Wi-Fi in public areas: Yep, Wi-Fi in the lobby, too. Handy for when the in-room signal was, you know, being temperamental.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax - SPA-mazing (Maybe?)
Right, so the Hanting has a boatload of these features, and I'd be lying if I said I experienced all of them. My life is not a James Bond movie. But, here's what I saw/felt/smelled:
- Fitness center: Yep. Did I use it? Absolutely not. My fitness regime in Weifang consisted of navigating the dumpling buffet and dodging aggressive tricycle traffic.
- Pool with view: Ooh, I want that! Alas, this hotel did not have this. Sad face.
- Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]: Again… no. They were advertised, but they weren't present. Or maybe they were so hidden they were secret.
- Massage: I did spot a massage service. It looked… well, let's just say I wasn't feeling brave enough. I was, however, feeling very tired from all the dumpling-dodging.
- Gym/fitness: As mentioned above.
Cleanliness and Safety - Did They Survive the Pandemic? (I Think So)
Alright, this is where things got really interesting. This hotel seemed to be taking the pandemic seriously, which, honestly, is a relief. I'm a nervous flyer, a nervous eater out in public, and in general, just a nervous Nelly. So, here's what I saw/felt:
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, 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, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK! Seriously, the hotel was obsessed with cleaning. Which, again, I found comforting.
- First aid kit, Doctor/nurse on call: Thank goodness, because I needed a doctor after that dumpling incident.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Good for the environment, I suppose.
- Shared stationery removed: See? OBSESSED.
- Smoke alarms, Fire extinguisher, Safety/security feature: All present and accounted for, so I wasn't too worried about the building spontaneously combusting.
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Security [24-hour]: Pretty reassuring.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - The Buffet Saga
Buckle up, because this is where things get really subjective, and I nearly fainted in the buffet one morning.
First, the Breakfast [buffet]. Oh. My. Goodness. I went down early, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to face the day with a plate piled high with deliciousness. What greeted me? A vast array of… things. There were the usual suspects: Asian breakfast staples, some Western breakfast options (toast!), plus a bewildering selection of… I don't even know. Suffice it to say, the buffet in restaurant was vast. So vast, it was overwhelming. My first plate was a disaster of mystery meats and congealed something-or-others. After my first plate, I stuck to the eggs and the toast, as those, at minimum, were safe.
- Desserts in restaurant: Did I mention that the buffet had a dessert section? It did. And it was glorious, and yet, somehow, a little bit… sad. Like a lonely, neglected cake that no one wanted. I, however, wanted it.
- The Coffee/tea in restaurant was, well, coffee and tea. Standard. No complaints.
- The Restaurants. As mentioned previous, there was a restaurant -- and a lot of seating.
- A la carte in restaurant: They said this was available, but I didn't see anyone ordering from a menu, which just meant… more buffet!
- Bottle of water: They provided one in the room, which, always appreciated, especially in the summer heat.
- Lunch: There's all these options, though there's only the Snack bar. I ate a lot of fruit.
- Bar, Happy hour, Poolside bar: I didn’t see these options!
- Room service [24-hour]: Apparently, but I didn’t test it. I was too bewildered by the buffet to think about ordering room service.
- Soup in restaurant, Salad in restaurant I believe these were available in the buffet, if you can get past the mystery meats.
- Vegetarian restaurant: No, but the buffet did have vegetarian options.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Yes, this was a majority of the food!
- International cuisine in restaurant: Yes, this was also an option.
Services and Conveniences - The Little Things
Okay, so, some of the basics.
- Elevator: Essential in any hotel!
- Air conditioning in public area, Air conditioning in room: Praise the air conditioning gods! Weifang in the summer is… humid. You need the AC.
- Currency exchange: Present, which is always helpful when you're a clueless tourist.
- Daily housekeeping, Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Ironing service. All present. I didn't need any of them, because I'm a slob, but good to know.
- Concierge: There was one, but I didn't need the concierge.
- Cash withdrawal Yes!
- Luggage storage: Yes.
- Front desk [24-hour]: You best believe.
- Convenience store, Gift/souvenir shop: I think I saw signs for these.
For the Kids - Family Friendly? (Kinda-Sorta)
Okay, so I didn’t have any kids with me, but I did see a few families. The hotel seemed generally family-friendly.
- Family/child friendly: Sure!
- Baby-sitting service: This exist!
Getting Around - Location, Location, Location
- Airport transfer I didn’t have this!
- Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station Did not use! But I did witness an aggressive tricycle driver.
- Taxi service: Yes.
Available in all rooms - Comforts of Home (Mostly)
Alright, the nitty-gritty of the rooms themselves…
- Additional toilet: Did not have one of these.
- Air conditioning: Essential.
- Alarm clock: Yep.
- Bathrobes: Nope.
- Bathroom phone: No.
- Bathtub: Yep.
- Blackout curtains: Excellent for sleeping off those dumpling-
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dissect my completely-unhinged trip to the Hanting Hotel in Weifang, China, on Beihai Road. Futian Leiwo, you say? Sounds fancy! Let's see if my brain cells survive this…
Day 1: Arrival and a Dose of Reality (or, the Hotel That Almost Broke Me)
- 14:00 (ish): Landing in… well, somewhere near Weifang. My flight was delayed, naturally. Spent an hour crammed between a snorer and a kid who really wanted to play peek-a-boo. I swear, I'm never flying budget again…famous last words, I know.
- 15:30: Found a taxi, finally! The driver didn't speak a word of English, which, let's be honest, is par for the course. We communicated through a mixture of broken Mandarin, frantic hand gestures, and me pointing desperately at my phone screen displaying the hotel's address. It felt like a mission from a spy movie, but with more questionable navigation skills.
- 16:00: CHECK-IN. Oh, the glorious ritual of check-in. Except, the hotel lobby was… underwhelming. Think slightly fluorescent lighting and a general vibe of "been here since the dawn of time." The lobby staff, bless their hearts, had a delightful (and slightly judging) look when I (read: my luggage, which was a disaster) arrived.
- 16:30: Room. Alright, the room. Pictures online? Glamorous, minimalist, modern. Reality?… Well, let's just say the "modern" was more "slightly outdated," and the minimalism leaned heavily towards "lacking in personality." The bed? It was…a bed. Adequate, I suppose. The TV? Channels in Chinese, I got the remote, so no luck for me.
- 17:00-18:00: A complete and utter mental breakdown (just kidding, maybe a little). Unpacked, tried to connect to the WIFI (which, after 20 attempts, finally worked), and felt a profound sense of…loneliness? This trip was supposed to be a "find yourself" adventure. Instead, I was lost in translation and battling a malfunctioning air conditioner.
- 18:00: Dinner! Found a small restaurant just a few blocks away, a hole-in-the-wall, that smelled AMAZING. Ordered the “Mystery Meat with Vegetables.” It was cheap, plentiful, and tasted…well, it tasted. The language barrier was definitely a challenge. I pointed at a picture, hoping for the best. What I got was… probably not what I ordered. But hey! I ate it! At least I think it was meat.
Day 2: Trying to Be a Tourist (And Failing Gloriously)
- 08:00: Breakfast (or, My Attempt at Eating Like the Locals). The hotel breakfast was… interesting. Noodles, congee, some questionable-looking pastries. I attempted a bowl of something. Let's just say, my taste buds weren't ready for the adventure. I ended up mostly eating white bread, and feeling a little guilty.
- 09:00: The Futian Leiwo part of the itinerary: Attempt to find out where and what that is. Google Maps to the rescue! (It wasn't very helpful). I decided to walk. The streets, lined with everything from small shops to huge buildings, were a sensory overload. I got lost within 10 minutes. Felt like a complete idiot.
- 10:00-12:00: The Futian Leiwo portion, again! I stumbled upon a market. And OMG. The smells! The sights! The vendors hawking their wares! The stuff! I was overwhelmed. I managed to buy some… I think they're dried fruits. Very weird.
- 12:00: Lunch: Found a small dumpling place down the street. At least I could point at the dumplings. Best. Dumplings. EVER.
- 13:00-16:00: Nap time! I realized I was exhausted. After that market experience, I needed to recharge. More naps, I swear.
- 17:00: Wandered around a park. Found a group practicing Tai Chi. Peaceful, serene… and made me feel incredibly awkward. Tried to take a picture. Got yelled at. Fine.
- 19:00: Dinner: Back to my favorite dumpling place. Comfort food for the win!
Day 3: Embracing the Absurd and Saying Goodbye (or, Leaving Some Pieces of My Sanity Behind)
- 08:00: Hotel breakfast. Did not attempt the noodles again.
- 09:00: Said goodbye to the hotel staff and, quite honestly, the air conditioner. They probably forgot me already though. Good for them.
- 09:30: Last minute souvenir shopping. Got a "lucky cat." It now sits on my desk.
- 10:00: Taxi to the airport. The driver didn't speak English. Again.
- 11:00-13:00: Departure.
- 13:00-17:00: On the way back home.
Overall Thoughts:
This trip was… something. Chaotic. Confusing. A little bit frustrating. But also… kind of amazing? The food, even the mystery meat, was an experience. The people, despite the language barrier, were generally friendly. I saw things, smelled things, ate things I never would have otherwise. Did I find myself? Maybe not. But I definitely learned. And for that, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
And I'm pretty sure I need a vacation from my vacation. The Hanting Hotel? Not exactly five-star luxury, but it was a roof over my head, and that's something. Would I go back?… Probably not to that exact hotel. But to Weifang? Maybe. Bring your phrasebook (and a strong sense of humor). You’ll need it.
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Hanting Hotel Beihai Road, Weifang: The Good, The Bad, and the Seriously Questionable (My Totally Unsolicited Opinion)
Look, if you're strapped for cash and need a bed for the night, it'll *probably* do. But don't go expecting the Ritz. Seriously. Go in with a healthy dose of realistic expectations. Then maybe, *maybe*, you won't be utterly disappointed.The Verdict:
It's not *far* from the city center, which *is* a plus. Getting around with Didi (Chinese Uber) is easy. But if you're picturing a charming, picturesque Weifang experience, then you're looking in the wrong place. You want traditional charm? You'll have to go looking *elsewhere*.Location Specifics:
If you're a germaphobe? BYO Lysol wipes. Seriously. Check under the bed. Always check under the bed. You've been warned. Also, the sheets? They *look* clean, but I can't vouch for their… overall freshness. This could be a problem, I had this weird rash... Room Cleanliness:
Learn some basic Mandarin phrases. Trust me. And embrace the awkwardness. It's part of the experience. Also, try to *smile*. Seems to help. Though smiling through the water bottle ordeal was... difficult...Staff interactions:
AC: Works. Maybe a little noisy. Wifi: Spotty and unreliable. Bring a good book. TV: mostly irrelevant unless you speak Mandarin. Breakfast: Often included, but don't expect gourmet. Actually, lower your expectations of the whole "breakfast" thing... and then consider bringing your own snacks. Amenity Details:
They had put me in someone else's room. I ended up getting a single room. I swear, it felt like a scene out of a cheap thriller, just the utter incompetence of it all was... breathtaking. The lack of any sort of apology was the cherry on top. From that moment I went for a swim as a way to take my mind off of it. It was so weird. It was terrible and hilarious all at once. I am still talking about it. Is that because I'm still traumatized? Maybe. Maybe I’ll never forget it. Maybe that’s the true meaning of Hanting Hotel, Beihai Road.The Room Invasion Saga:
It's a gamble. You might get lucky. You might end up sharing a room with a stranger. You might discover something unspeakable clinging to the tile. It's a risk, always. But the memories, the stories... they last a lot longer than the questionableOcean By H10 HotelsWould I Stay Again?
