Shanghai's Hidden Gem: Hanting Hotel Jiuting Street Review (You Won't Believe This!)
Shanghai's Hidden Gem: Hanting Hotel Jiuting Street – The Truth (You Won't Believe This!)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. This isn't your typical travelogue. This is my experience with the Hanting Hotel Jiuting Street in Shanghai, and trust me, it was… well, it was something. Expect a rollercoaster of emotions, because frankly, that's how I felt. Let's dive in, shall we?
First, the Basics (Yay, Boring Stuff!)
I stumbled upon the Hanting Hotel Jiuting Street during a whirlwind trip to Shanghai. Needed something affordable, clean, and with decent Wi-Fi (essential for a travel blogger, obviously!). SEO gurus, here's your goldmine: Shanghai Hotels, Jiuting Street, Budget Accommodation, Clean Hotels, Free Wi-Fi, Hanting Hotel Review, Shanghai Travel. Now let's move on…
Accessibility? (A Quick Aside)
Okay, accessibility… sigh. Officially? They say "Facilities for disabled guests." But let's just say, I wasn't exactly testing it to the max. I did see an elevator, which is a plus. But the labyrinthine corridors… and the potential for some seriously narrow doorways… Let’s just flag this as “Inquire Before You Commit With Specific Needs” and move on to the fun stuff.
Cleanliness and Safety – My Obsession (and Possible Phobia)
Look, I'm a germaphobe. Especially post-pandemic. So, this was HUGE for me. Cleanliness and safety? They were obviously prioritizing it. The Anti-viral cleaning products were heavily deployed. Hand sanitizer stations everywhere! I even saw staff actively wiping down the elevator buttons (small victories!). Rooms sanitized between stays? Absolutely, I think. They seemed to be. (Deep breaths, self!).
The Really Important Stuff: The Food! (My Kryptonite)
Right, let’s cut to the chase. Dining, drinking, and snacking - my jam.
- Breakfast (Buffet, Oh My!): They advertised a Breakfast [buffet], which sounded promising! And it was…sort of. The Asian breakfast options were plentiful, thankfully, because the Western offerings were…well, let's just say they could use some work. The scrambled eggs were a shade of yellow that suggested a chemical experiment… I stuck to the congee and some mysteriously delicious pickled vegetables.
- Coffee & Tea (Essential lifeline!): They had Coffee shop and Coffee/tea in restaurant. Thankfully, because I need caffeine to function, especially after a night of jet lag and questionable buffet food. The coffee was…decent, maybe a 7/10? They had a Bottle of water in the room, a nice touch.
- Restaurants & Snacking: They had Restaurants with Asian cuisine in restaurant and, if I was being honest after a day of the buffet, I'd need some of the other options like Salad in restaurant. There was a Snack bar, but I was too scared to venture in, so I can't review.
Oh, Internet, My Beloved
Internet access - wireless? Yes! God, yes! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hallelujah! And you know what? It actually worked! No buffering, no dropped connections. I could happily upload photos, write blog posts, and, most importantly, binge-watch Netflix in peace. This is a huge win in my book, and I was thrilled that they had Internet access – LAN options as well.
The Room: My Temporary Fortress
The room itself was… functional. Let's call it that. Air conditioning that actually worked, which was a blessing. Air conditioning in public area too, so you don't get too soggy. Non-smoking rooms, always a plus! I had a desk, a coffee/tea maker, and a refrigerator (handy for keeping my water super-chilled). The bed? Eh, it was a bed. Not the most comfortable, not the worst. The Blackout curtains were a lifesaver for sleeping in, which I desperately needed.
Now, for the juicy details!
Remember the wake-up service? I had it set, but twice I woke up early, and I had to sit there and wait for my service, which was awkward! This hotel is not all that different, it does have Family/child friendly, so I kept an eye on the kids going in and out of the exterior corridor. This just added to the charm of the experience!
Things to Do (Or Not Do, Honestly)
Okay, the Things to do section is… interesting. The Fitness center? I peeked in. Looked small, and probably hotter than the surface of the sun. I opted for the foot bath just to relax instead. The spa/sauna and Spa? I'm not sure what they offered, maybe I missed it? Honestly, I was more interested in exploring Shanghai.
Staff & Service – The Human Element (Or the Lack Thereof?)
The staff were… there. They were polite, efficient, and spoke enough English to get by. The Front desk [24-hour] was a huge plus since I arrived at some ungodly hour. The concierge? I didn't really need them. But, the Laundry service was a lifesaver! I could get all my clothes clean and fresh, and the daily housekeeping was perfect.
The Quirky Bits (Because Life is Never Dull)
- The Elevator of Doom: The elevator was tiny, slow, and slightly terrifying. I swear, it sounded like it was about to explode every time it went up or down.
- The "View": My "view" was of a brick wall. Oh well, at least it was a quiet brick wall.
- Lost in Translation: The signage, if I’m being honest, was a bit… confusing. I spent a good ten minutes trying to decipher the location of the "snack bar" (see above, where I admitted I was too scared to go).
Over Emotional Reaction and Conclusion (The Truth bomb!)
So, would I recommend the Hanting Hotel Jiuting Street? It's complicated. It's not the Ritz-Carlton. It's not luxurious. It's not particularly special in terms of amenities – no pool with view or anything fancy like that. It really doesn't have any spa, the sauna, or the gym.
The rooms are nothing special, though it does have Soundproof rooms which are a great feature for a hotel. However, the smoking area outside, is just a breath of fresh air. It did have everything I needed, as boring as the room was, there was an extra long bed, and I loved the separate shower/bathtub. The Hair dryer was just what I needed.
But, if you're on a budget, need a clean and safe place to crash, and don't mind a few quirks, it's a perfectly acceptable option. The free Wi-Fi alone is worth the price of admission! The key takeaway: Clean, safe, and well-connected, despite its flaws, Hanting Hotel Jiuting Street offered a surprisingly comfortable stay and access to all the other places I wanted to explore in Shanghai.
Final Verdict:
- Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars. (Rounding up for the Wi-Fi!)
- Would I go back? Maybe. If the need to save money and having good solid internet access was a priority, absolutely. Otherwise, I'd be tempted to splurge a little more.
- Recommendation: Perfect for budget travelers, solo adventurers, and anyone who appreciates a clean bed and reliable Wi-Fi. Don't expect glamour, but do expect a decent experience.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find some decent coffee… and maybe a spa!
Escape to Paradise: Pousada Panceiro Cabo Frio Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! Because this ain't your grandma's meticulously organized travel itinerary. This is the raw, messy, and probably slightly caffeinated account of my time trying to navigate the glorious, chaotic beast that is Shanghai. Specifically, my home base: the Hanting Hotel on Jiuting Street. Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it.
DAY 1: Arrival, Jet Lag, and Dim Sum Dreams (Shattered?)
7:00 AM (Shanghai Time): Landed. Okay, technically, I thought I landed. My brain's still stuck somewhere over the Pacific. The "Welcome to Shanghai!" sign at Pudong Airport seemed to mock my bleary-eyed state. Took the metro to the hotel. The metro itself was an experience. Fast, efficient, and a symphony of announcements I couldn't understand. Found the Hanting. It smelled… clean. Always a good sign, right?
8:30 AM: Checked in. The receptionist was probably used to dealing with drooling tourists. My attempts at Mandarin ("Ni hao!" and "Xie xie!") were met with polite nods and a keycard. Room: small. Bed: firm. But hey, it's a bed. Jet lag started hitting me hard. I collapsed.
10:00 AM: Woke up. Starving. Dim sum was the only thing on my mind. Located a place a few blocks from the hotel. I wandered in. The menu – a beautiful, impenetrable wall of Chinese characters. Pointing and hoping became my strategy.
11:30 AM: The Dim Sum Debacle. I ordered what I thought was steamed pork buns. It arrived. It looked… unusual. Taking a bite? A burst of… a taste I didn't recognize but was somehow delicious; I realized I'd probably ordered something REALLY experimental. I ate it all. Who am I?
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Nap time. The jet lag conquered me.
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Attempted to explore the Jiuting area. So many shops I cannot read, so many people buzzing everywhere. Trying to learn to cross the street without getting flattened is my first skill to be perfected. I felt utterly lost but also strangely, wonderfully stimulated.
7:00 PM: Dinner. Found a noodle shop (thank god for pictures in the menu). It was a total hit. The noodles were perfect, and the broth, warm and savory. This might have been the best meal of my life.
8:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Exhausted but buzzing. Tomorrow, I tackle the Bund! (Insert dramatic music here).
DAY 2: The Bund, Scams, and The Price of Tea in Shanghai
9:00 AM: Woke up again to a jet lag attack. Okay, maybe I'll take a day trip out of the hotel.
10:00 AM: Metro to The Bund. The Bund. A visual explosion of architecture. The modern skyscrapers looming over the colonial buildings… jaw-dropping. I spent a good hour just staring. Seriously, someone pinch me.
11:00 AM: The Tea Ceremony Scam. A very friendly Chinese woman came up to me in a tea shop. I was delighted to have some company and a guide. She offered me a cup of tea, and we talked about Shanghai. It was great! Then came the bill… a bill for a single cup that cost all my budget. Lesson learned: be very, very cautious. I was annoyed, but hey, I'd seen some beautiful buildings.
1:00 PM: Lunch. Managed to order something edible this time!
2:00 PM: Strolled around People's Square, I felt like I was in a movie.
4:00 PM: Back to Jiuting.
6:00 PM: Dinner. This time was some type of street food.
7:00 PM: This night, I just crashed.
DAY 3: The Shanghai Museum and a Search for Authenticity
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM: The Shanghai Museum. Okay. Okay. This was amazing. The bronzes, the calligraphy, the porcelain… utterly breathtaking. I wandered around, feeling a kind of reverence. It was like a crash course in Chinese history and art. I spent a good 3 hours there, time just vanishing.
1:00 PM: Lunch in a local market. I was determined to move away from tourist traps. I found a small place filled with locals. The food? Spicy, delicious, and probably not what I ordered.
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Trying to find the real Shanghai. I walked the backstreets, away from the glitz and glamour. Saw old men playing mahjong, kids playing games, and bustling shops. This was what I was looking for. A more authentic side of the city.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Back to the hotel. I swear, the bed feels like a cloud after all that walking.
8:00 PM: Dinner. I attempted to cook myself, but I just ended up resorting to a nearby takeaway. It was the best takeaway in the world.
DAY 4: Departure - Reflections and a Promise to Return
7:00 AM: Packing. Ugh. I am not a morning person. Reluctantly, I checked out of the Hanting.
8:00 AM: Metro to the airport.
9:00 AM: Reflections. Shanghai… was more than I expected. The food was incredible, the sights were beautiful. The people were generally lovely, even if I couldn't understand them. It was a sensory overload in the best possible way. The Hanting Hotel? It was a simple base, and nothing more. But it was mine for a few days. It was a place to recharge (even if I always overslept).
10:00 AM: Boarding the plane.
11:00 AM: I'm leaving. This city has my heart. I promise I'll be back. (Just need to work on my Mandarin… and my map-reading skills.)
This is just a snapshot, folks. A messy, honest account of a trip that threw me for a loop in the best way possible. Shanghai, you've won me over. And the Hanting Hotel, you did your job. Now, off to catch up on some sleep!
Chicago's Hottest Hotel: Lincoln Park Luxury Awaits!
Hanting Hotel Jiuting Street: You Won't Believe This! (My Honest Take) - FAQs
Seriously, "Hidden Gem"? What's the Deal with this Hanting in Jiuting?
Okay, "Clean and Functional" sounds… bland. Give me some dirt! What's the *real* tea on the rooms?
So, the bathroom situation... walk me through it. What’s the reality?
Breakfast? Is there even breakfast? And is it worth the trouble?
What are the pros and cons of staying in Jiuting in general, and not just at the Hanting?
Okay, let's say I'm considering it. Any *specific* advice for staying *at* the Hanting in Jiuting?
Tell me a defining anecdote - what was the *most* memorable thing that happened to you there?
