Unbelievable Xuzhou Stay! Hanting Hotel Pei County - Your Dream Getaway Awaits
Unbelievable Xuzhou Stay! Hanting Hotel Pei County - My Dream… Maybe? (A Surprisingly Honest Review)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups. This isn't your glossy, perfectly polished travel blog. This is me after a stay at the Hanting Hotel Pei County in Xuzhou. And let me tell you, it was an experience. A complicated experience. Let’s dig in and see if this dream getaway actually felt like… well, a getaway.
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So, first things first: Accessibility. They say they have facilities… and they do. But… I'm not sure if it’s the execution or my expectations that fell short. The elevator was a godsend, thankfully. But the ramps? Let's just say I'm glad I wasn't pushing a wheelchair. More like, I'm glad I didn't need to push a wheelchair. It felt like they ticked the box legally, but didn't exactly prioritize ease. So, a hesitant thumbs up for accessibility.
Let's talk Food, Glorious Food (and Drinks!)
Okay, the food. This is where things get… interesting. The Asian breakfast was actually really good. I mean, seriously good. Think perfectly cooked noodles, flavorful congee, and some seriously tasty dumplings. I dove in headfirst, forgetting all about my usual morning routine. But the Western breakfast? Well, let's just say it felt like an afterthought. The scrambled eggs looked suspiciously yellow and the pastries, well, let's just say they weren't exactly Parisian.
Then there's the restaurants. They had a few. Asian Cuisine, obviously. International cuisine too. (I’m still not sure what constituted “international”). The coffee shop was a solid 7/10, offering a decent caffeine fix. The poolside bar? I didn't see a pool… and I definitely didn't see a bar. Perhaps I was looking in the wrong place. The salad was surprisingly fresh, a welcome relief from the heavier fare. But the soup? Let's just say it needed a lot of seasoning. And a bottle of water was a constant companion, thank God.
Important side note: The breakfast was also available as a buffet, but be warned, I saw some people loading up their plates like they were prepping for a nuclear winter. Kinda scary. The Breakfast takeaway service, well if you're in a rush? Nice option.
Cleanliness and Safety - The Worrying But Necessary Bits
Okay, in this post-pandemic world, this is CRUCIAL. The Hanting seemed to take it seriously. They had anti-viral cleaning products, the staff were trained in safety protocol, they provided Hand sanitizer everywhere you turned. I spotted daily disinfection in common areas. They even had Individually-wrapped food options. I felt fairly safe. Not perfect, mind you, but better than some places I've seen. They did seem to have the basic stuff down. The room sanitization opt-out was something I didn’t use (I trusted them), but nice to have.
Things to Do (or not) - Relaxation & Recreation
This is where things get really muddled. They say they have a fitness center, but I didn't see it. Maybe I was blind. The Gym/fitness listing gave me hope! The Spa/sauna listing again got the hopes up… but again, nothing. And the pool with view? Non-existent. Again, I'm possibly blind, which wouldn't be the worst thing after the food. But… the massage? Oh man, I had a massage. It was… an experience. Let's just say it involved a lot of awkward hand gestures and a language barrier that was hilariously vast. Was it the best massage of my life? Absolutely not. Did I emerge feeling relaxed? Maybe a little. Did I learn some new Chinese phrases? Absolutely!
Now, the Body scrub and Body wrap are out. I'd like to see the facilities. The Foot bath? Hmmm… if I squinted, I'd say… No.
The Room - My Little Sanctuary (Maybe?)
The Non-smoking rooms were a win - though I definitely caught a whiff of something vaguely…unspecified… in the hallway. My room itself was… well, the Air conditioning blasted enough for a polar bear. The Bed was comfortable. Blackout curtains were a lifesaver. Plenty of Towels. The Internet access – wireless (yay! Wi-Fi [free]) was mostly reliable.
I had a Private bathroom (thank goodness). The only thing I missed was a Window, which, uh… was missing. It might have been a basement room.
Services and Conveniences - The Ups and Downs
The Concierge was incredibly helpful… once I finally managed to convey what I needed (translation apps are a lifesaver!). The Laundry service was efficient, but my clothes came back smelling faintly of… something. The Daily housekeeping was a plus.
Then there's the Convenience store. This was a goldmine! Snickers, instant noodles, that weird, neon green drink… everything a weary traveler could need. Cash withdrawal was easy (also important!). Currency exchange – yeah, I'm not sure they had that.
For the Kids (And the Young At Heart?)
I didn’t see any Babysitting service, so I have no idea. The Family/child friendly is a maybe, but probably not for small children with a lot to entertain them.
Getting Around - Navigating the City
Airport transfer: yes, they had it! (I needed that). The Taxi service was readily available. Car park [free of charge]. Easy peasy!
My Weird & Wonderful Experience – In a Nutshell
Look, the Hanting Hotel Pei County? It's not the Ritz. It's not the Four Seasons. But it’s also not a complete disaster. It’s got its quirks, its shortcomings, and its moments of genuine charm.
The Emotional Verdict:
I wouldn’t call it a “dream getaway.” But it was an… adventure, definitely! It’ll give you a story to tell. If you go in with low expectations and a sense of humor, you might actually have a decent time. Just pack your own snacks, maybe bring a picture of a spa, and be prepared for a few surprises. Honestly, the whole thing felt a bit like an IKEA flatpack hotel experience. It did the job, but don't expect everything to always match up perfectly. The experience? Unforgettable, but not always in the way you might expect. Would I go back? Maybe. If I knew what it would really be like…
Rating: 6.5/10 (could be higher, but that massage and the missing pool… you know?)
Luxury Liverpool Street 1-Bed: London's BEST Apartment Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your sanitized, all-bells-and-whistles travel brochure. This is my Xuzhou Pei County, Hanting Hotel (ugh, let's be honest, it's not exactly the Four Seasons, but hey, it's a roof!) itinerary – and it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.
Day 1: Arrival & the Existential Dread of Cheap Noodles
- 4:00 AM: Woke up at my house, feeling like a zombie. Flight from… well, let's just say it involved a lot of airport coffee and a questionable airplane sandwich. Landed in Xuzhou. My luggage, of course, decided to take a scenic tour of… somewhere else. Excellent start.
- 8:00 AM (ish): Finally made it to the Hanting Hotel in Pei County. It’s clean-ish, which is more than I was expecting. The room smells faintly of cigarettes and ambition.
- 9:00 AM: Attempted to shower. Water pressure? What water pressure? Basically, a gentle misting. Filed that under "Character-Building Experience."
- 10:00 AM: Hunted down a breakfast. Found a tiny hole-in-the-wall noodle place. The aroma was… potent. Ordered something vaguely resembling a noodle soup. Let's just say the flavor profile involved a lot of chili oil and a deep, existential question: "Is this what my life has come to?" (Verdict: Probably.)
- Throughout the Day: Wandered around the area. Pei County is not exactly known for its glitz and glamour. It’s more… functional. Witnessed a full-blown argument between two elderly women over… well, who knows? Language barrier! It reminded me of my grandma arguing over the price of tomatoes at the farmer's market. Nostalgia and bewilderment.
- Evening: The noodles revisited. I’m still not entirely sure what I ate. Ordered a beer. Ate a plate of peanuts that were probably older than me. Watched a dubbed action movie on the tiny TV. Found myself, against all odds, strangely content. The sheer, messy ordinariness of it all was starting to grow on me.
Day 2: The Mausoleum of the Messy Emperor and the Unexpected Beauty of a Bike Ride
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast? More noodles. This time, with an egg that I suspect was fertilized during the Ming Dynasty.
- 9:00 AM: Headed to the Mausoleum of Liu Bang. This dude was the founder of the Han Dynasty. He was also, apparently, a bit of a messy emperor. His mausoleum is… well, it's impressive in its sheer size. The sheer number of guards and security, however, makes you feel like you are guilty of something.
- 11:00 AM: Okay, I confess, I'm not a history buff. The mausoleum was a lot of stone carvings and hushed whispers. I was more interested in the street vendors outside selling questionable snacks. Got a candied hawthorns on a stick. Sticky. Delicious.
- 12:00 PM: I bought a broken down bike and went for a ride – I had to get out of the hotel. The wind whipped through my hair, the sun warmed my face (a surprisingly rare occurrence). Found a small lake, some trees, and a sense of… peace? Who knew Pei County had this side? Maybe it's the lack of wifi.
- Afternoon: Got lost, inevitably. Asked a local for directions. He spoke absolutely no English, but somehow, through a combination of pointing, hand gestures, and my increasingly desperate attempts at Mandarin (which sound more like Klingon), I found my way back. Humbling.
- Evening: Dinner was… surprise! Noodles! This time, with some sort of mystery meat. It was… edible. More beer. Wrote in my journal, my thoughts a jumbled mess of cultural observations, loneliness, and the persistent feeling that I’d forgotten something important. (Probably my luggage.)
Day 3: The Market of Mysteries & the Hanting Hotel Blues
- 9:00 AM: Ate the last of my instant coffee. The thought of more noodles made me slightly nauseous. Decided I need something new.
- 10:00 AM: Hit the local market. This place was sensory overload. Smells, sounds, sights – it was chaotic and wonderful. Saw live chickens, mysterious herbs, and a dude selling… well, I have no idea what he was selling, but it smelled amazing. Buy some weird fruit.
- 12:00 PM: Went back to the hotel. Spent an hour with the hotel's manager trying to figure out how to get my luggage. They do not speak English very well, which made it the same experience of the first day.
- 1:00 PM: Showered again in the misty, lukewarm shower and fell into the same pattern of self-contempt.
- 2:00 PM: Fell asleep for 2 hours.
- 4:00 PM: Took my "luggage". It ended up only being the size of a backpack. I asked for a refund to the other travel agency and he acted surprised and didn't know what to do.
- 6:00 PM: Ate dinner and went back to my room.
- 7:00 PM: Contemplated ordering yet more noodles for tomorrow.
- Side-note: the hotel's wifi hasn't worked once.
Day 4: Departure – and the Lingering Smell of Noodles
- 6:00 AM: Woke up. Said goodbye to the bed. The place to go to find new life.
- 7:00 AM: Ate noodles.
- 8:00 AM: Checked out of the hotel. There was a moment of genuine sadness leaving. I did the things I was supposed to do.
- 9:00 AM: Went to airport.
Final Thoughts:
Xuzhou Pei County isn't exactly a bucket-list destination. It's… real. It’s a place where you eat questionable noodles, get lost, and face a language barrier that rivals the Great Wall. But it's real, and in its messy, ordinary way, it was kind of… beautiful. It was a reminder that travel isn't always about the perfect Instagram photo; sometimes, it's about the unexpected, the imperfect, and the slightly horrifying, but ultimately, human experience of being completely out of your element. And, yes, I still don't know where my luggage is. Pray for me.
Escape to Paradise: Victoria City Hotel, Oranjestad, Aruba
Okay, spill the tea! Is this Hanting Hotel in Pei County *really* a dream getaway? Like, for reals?
Dream getaway... hoo boy. Let's just say I went in with the optimism of a caffeinated squirrel. The truth? It depends. Honestly, "dream" might be a *bit* strong. More like "perfectly adequate base of operations" with the potential for some seriously memorable moments. Thinking of it as a dream is setting yourself up for disappointment. Think of it as... an adventure! A moderately comfortable, potentially slightly weird, adventure. More on the weird later.
What's the deal with the location? Pei County? Where *is* that even?
Pei County. Right. I'll be honest, before this trip, I could have confidently placed it... well, I couldn't have. Let's just say it's in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, China. Picture a sort of... a slightly less bustling city than Shanghai, but still very much *alive*. Look, Pei County isn't exactly a global tourist magnet. Think of it as exploring the *real* China, away from the polished tourist trails. Which, truth be told, is part of the appeal! You get a genuine slice of life. You might also get very confused by some of the street signs. Happened to me... several times. And by several, I mean, like, *a lot*.
Alright, the rooms. Clean? Comfy? Ghosts? (kidding... mostly.)
Okay, the rooms. Let's get real. Clean? Mostly. I'm a bit of a germaphobe (don't judge!), so I brought my own sanitizing wipes. Did I use them? You bet your sweet bippy I did. Comfy? Yep! The bed was decent. Not like, cloud-nine luxurious, but definitely better than some previous budget hotels I've suffered through. Ghosts? Okay, maybe *some* slight creaking during the night... but probably just the wind. Definitely. Seriously though, the room itself wasn't bad! Air conditioning worked (a HUGE deal), the TV had some decent channels, and the WiFi was... well, it was *there*. Sometimes. Hey, it's a budget hotel, you know? Can't expect miracles. But listen, I've slept on worse. Way worse. Like, in a car… voluntarily.
What about the food? Breakfast included? Anything actually good?
Breakfast... ah, breakfast. This, my friends, is where things get interesting. Is it included? Yep. Is it a gourmet experience? Absolutely not. It's a very... *Chinese* breakfast. Think noodles, questionable meats (I’m still not sure what it all was!), and a lot of things I couldn't identify. I’ll admit, I played it safe. Lots of plain rice porridge and the occasional fried egg. I also discovered an unshakeable love for the little baozi (steamed buns). Those were delicious. Seriously, grab the baozi. You won't regret it. And honestly, after a few days, you come to appreciate the predictability of it all. No nasty surprises! Well, mostly. One morning I may have accidentally eaten something with an alarming, and *very* spicy, aftertaste. Learned my lesson there.
The Staff! Friendly and helpful? Can they speak English?
The staff... okay, here's the thing. The staff were generally *very* friendly. They smile a lot, which is always a good start. English? Well, let’s just say my rudimentary Mandarin skills got a workout. It was a lot of pointing, miming, and using a translation app. Sometimes, you get this feeling that they are genuinely trying, and sometimes you got someone who definitely wasn't. They were very patient with my attempts to order food (the baozi incident...). They would *try* to help, even if there was a major language barrier. Overall, they tried to be helpful. Bonus points for effort! And a sincere smile is priceless.
Is there anything to do in Pei County? Other than, you know, sleep?
Okay, Pei County isn't exactly bustling with tourist hotspots. But that's the *point*! Explore! There's local markets. Amazing food stalls (once you figure out what they are selling!). And it’s perfect for observing everyday life. I stumbled upon a park with a really cool pagoda. (Took me ages to find it, got lost like three times.) I found a tea house, though I'm not sure all the tea I was served was tea. Mostly, though, it’s about the experience of *being there*. I spent hours just wandering around, observing people, and trying to figure out how things worked. I've never really done that before, and it was... freeing. Sometimes, the best adventures are the ones you don't plan. Just take the leap!
What was one of the *craziest* or *most memorable* experiences you had?
Oh, man. Okay, buckle up. There was this one time... Okay, so I decided to try and take a taxi. I'm waving my arms, I'm shouting "taxi!" in my worst, most mangled Mandarin. This minivan rolls up. The driver? A tiny, elderly woman with a smile that could melt glaciers. She didn't *speak* any English. We didn't know the other's intention. We got in anyway. And the adventure began.
She drove me, not where I *wanted* to go, but to an entirely different part of town that I had never even heard of. Then, we passed some landmarks I *kind of* recognised, so I started thinking that she understood. She was taking the scenic route. I had no idea where I was going, but I started to assume she knew. It was so confusing!
She pulls over. Points at a massive, ornate building, gestures wildly. I'm thinking, "Oh, is this... the museum, or something?" Nope. Turns out, she was just telling me to "be careful" on the side of the road. (I think that's what she meant). So, I paid her the equivalent of, like, a dollar. Then, she gave me a huge hug and waved me off. And I was left wondering if I had been taken for a ride? The adventure, and the taxi driver, were the best part of the trip. I still to this day don't know where I was going.
Seriously. That whole experience was… perfectly insane. It's what traveling is *all about*, right? Embarrassment, confusion, and a healthy dose of bewilderment. I'll *never* forget that tax ride, or the crazy, beautiful woman. That, my friends, is Pei County magic.
