Unbelievable! This Baotou Hotel Near the Train Station Blew My Mind!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this review? This Baotou hotel… well, let's just say it unbelievably blew. My. Mind. (And I'm not even being paid to say that, swear!)
First things first, the location, a stone's throw from the train station. Accessibility? Bingo! And a lifesaver after a beastly train ride. Especially if you're like me, and your luggage always decides to stage a revolt.
Accessibility: A+ (Seriously! Even for the Baggage-Averse)
Seriously, the elevators whizzed you up and down like it was their job (which, technically, it was). Saw plenty of families with strollers, folks using wheelchairs… felt really inclusive.
Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty, starting with the tech stuff:
Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: My Precious! My sanity, saved!
Okay, I need to confess. I'm a digital nomad with a caffeine addiction and a serious need for a strong Wi-Fi signal. I practically live online. And this place? It DELIVERED. Free Wi-Fi in the rooms? Yes! And, shockingly, it actually worked. I could stream, video call, and even upload monster files, all without wanting to hurl my laptop out the window. In the public areas? Spotty sometimes, but in the rooms? Glorious, lightning-fast internet. Internet [LAN]? Didn't use it, but the options were there.
Things to do, ways to relax, Oh MY GOODNESS! Let me tell you…
Right, so, I'm not usually a spa-and-sauna kinda gal. But, after that train ride, a dip in the Pool with view (yes, a view!) was heavenly. Then I stumbled into a Spa/Sauna, Steamroom, and Fitness center. The sauna? Hot enough to sweat out a week's worth of travel grime. I, personally, did the Body scrub and Body wrap, I don't have the patience to do those things, but i think they were there. My skin felt like a baby's bottom afterwards. Bliss. They also had a proper gym/fitness center, but I only peered in, judged, and ran back to the pool.
Cleanliness and safety: The (Surprisingly) Smelly Side
Okay, confession number two: I'm a bit of a germaphobe. Especially after… well, travel. So, the Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Professional-grade sanitizing services, and Rooms sanitized between stays all hit the spot. I even saw this lady in a hazmat suit, seriously dusting the elevators. Very reassuring. They had a ton more: Hand sanitizer everywhere. Cashless payment service. Staff trained in safety protocol. Hygiene certification. Frankly, I felt safer there than I do in my own (admittedly grubby) apartment. BUT, and this is where it gets interesting, the hallways smelled a little like… strongly scented pine cleaner. Almost… aggressively clean. Not a huge deal, but it was noticeable. But hey, better than the faint smell of questionable history, right?
Dining, drinking, and snacking: Food, glorious food! (and the occasional questionable dish)
Right, food. The breakfast buffet was… a journey. Breakfast [buffet], a la carte in restaurant, Buffet in restaurant, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant. The variety was AMAZING. Seriously. I loved the Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop. I had a delicious Soup in restaurant one night. The Desserts in restaurant were beautiful. But, (there’s always a but!) the Salad in restaurant looked a bit sad at one point. The Bottle of water they gave you, free of charge, was pure gold. And I saw a Vegetarian restaurant! They had a Snack bar, too. And of course, the Poolside bar (hello, Happy hour!). There was even Room service [24-hour]. I can't emphasize enough how excellent this was. The Bar was nice, too.
The Rooms: My Cozy Little Fortress (and the occasional oddity)
Okay, the room. My fortress of calm. This is where the hotel truly won me over. Air conditioning, sweet relief! Blackout curtains to banish the harsh sun, Coffee/tea maker to fuel my caffeine habit, Free bottled water (thank you, angels!), a Desk for actual work, and a Seating area for collapsing in after a long day. The bed? Heavenly. Really, it was. Got the Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, and Bathtub. The Soundproofing was ace. I could sleep through a marching band, and on one occasion, I almost needed to…
One little thing: the Toiletries were a little… generic. Not exactly a luxurious experience. But hey, minor quibble, right? Also, the Mirror seemed a little too… optimistic. But who am I to judge?
Services and conveniences, all the bits and bobs
So many things. Seriously. Luggage storage, Daily housekeeping, Laundry service, Ironing service, Doorman, Concierge, Elevator, Safety deposit boxes, Cash withdrawal. All the usual suspects, but… let me tell you about the Food delivery. I did it, and it was a lifesaver, because i was exhausted, and there were options from multiple restaurants, which was amazing.
For the kids, and those not so inclined
Babysitting service? Check. Family/child friendly? Seems like it. Saw plenty of happy little rugrats running around. Didn’t have any kids, so i did not get to know them.
Getting around, easy peasy lemon squeezy
Airport transfer? Yup. Car park [free of charge]? Absolutely. Taxi service? Everywhere. Getting around was easy.
Extras, the sneaky bits
So much more. Non-smoking rooms, (thank goodness!). Pets allowed unavailable. I think?. Proposal spot? (Don't know, I wasn't looking, but good for the lovelorn!)
Now comes the imperfect parts…
My Baotou Hotel Experience: The Messy Bits, The Quirky Observations, the Honest Truth
Okay, so remember how I said the internet was a blessing? Well, it did cut out a couple of times. The room service menu? A tad confusing, especially after dark. And the staff? Super helpful, but their English varied wildly. I tried to order "duck pancakes". I got… something vaguely duck-like and pancake-adjacent. It was an experience.
And one more thing: There was this weird, persistent echo in the hallways. Echo echo echo. Made me feel like I was in a spy movie.
Oh, and there was this ONE day, where the hot water… didn't. Briefly. Panic set in. Then, thankfully, it came back.
So, the Verdict?
Despite the minor hiccups, the occasional aroma of Pine-Sol, and the duck pancake debacle, this hotel? Absolutely worth it. Hands down. The convenience, the amenities, the general feeling of being pampered? Unbeatable.
The Unbelievable Offer to Seal the Deal:
Okay, here’s the deal.
Book your own "Unbelievable Mind-Blowing Baotou Escape" by [Date] and receive:
- 15% Off Your Stay: Use code "BAOTOUBLISS" at checkout.
- Complimentary Breakfast: Indulge in the epic breakfast buffet, because trust me, you need it.
- Free Late Check-Out: Sleep in! You’ve earned it.
- A "Duck Pancake Redemption Voucher"! One free order of duck-ish pancakes (because, let's be real, they're an experience).
- Upgrade to a Room with a View: (If available, because, why not?)
- **And, the most important of all… Peace of mind! knowing you’re staying in a hotel that actually cares. *This is the Baotou Hotel you need. Book it. Seriously. You won't regret it.*
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the glorious, chaotic, and utterly unpredictable world of my trip to Baotou, China. Specifically, my base of operations: the Hanting Hotel, conveniently plopped right next to Baotou East Railway Station Zhanqian Square. "Convenient" is the operative word, because that place is a monster. But more on that later…
Day 1: Arrival & the Pre-Train Panic
10:00 AM (ish, timezones are my enemy): Landed bleary-eyed in Baotou. The airport was… well, it was an airport. Efficient, blessedly not on fire. My internal GPS was already short-circuiting from the jet lag.
11:00 AM: Taxi ride to the Hanting. The driver, bless his cotton socks, spoke zero English. My Mandarin is about as smooth as sandpaper. We communicated with a lot of frantic hand gestures and the universal language of "point at the map on my phone." Victory! We made it.
12:00 PM: Checked into the Hanting. Let's be honest, it's a Hanting. Clean enough, the aircon blasts like a hurricane (essential, trust me), and the free Wi-Fi is… patchy, to say the least. I spent the next hour trying to connect, ranting internally about the universe conspiring to cut me off from the internet. The internet is my lifeblood!
1:00 PM: Lunch! Found a little noodle stall (it smelled AMAZING) just outside the hotel. The menu was all in Chinese, of course. I pointed at a picture, the vendor smiled, and then I was presented with a bowl of… something. It was delicious. Seriously, the best thing I'd eaten in hours. I'm now convinced I can make any dish by pointing at the picture.
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM: The Pre-Train Panic. Okay, so I'm supposed to be heading out on a train in the afternoon. I'd never even looked at train schedules, so I was basically scrambling to decide which train to go on and how to get there. The panic started, I'm not going to lie. I'm usually pretty good at planning, but this trip was all over the place.
- 3:00 PM: Tried to buy a train ticket. The station (see: "monster," mentioned earlier) was a madhouse. Seriously, picture a crowd scene from a zombie movie, except instead of groaning, everyone is shouting in Chinese. It was intense.
- 3:30 PM: Found a helpful staff member (angels do exist, people). She took pity on my flailing attempts and managed to decipher my train ticket request. Bless her soul!
- 4:00 PM: Made it to the platform JUST as my train pulled in. Victory! (After a slight sweat-induced meltdown)
Day 2: The Desert, the Sheep, and the Bitter Disappointment
8:00 AM: Woke up utterly exhausted. Train travel ruins you, I'm pretty sure.
9:00 AM: Breakfast. Back to the noodle stall! Today's adventure: spicy beef noodles. Delicious, and enough to kickstart my brain.
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: The Desert. This was the major draw. Baotou sits right on the edge of the Gobi Desert (apparently, I'm one of those "go-to-the-desert" types.) I was expecting vast, sweeping dunes and a true Lawrence of Arabia experience. What I got was… a bit underwhelming. Don't get me wrong, it was still cool to see a desert for the first time. It was just… smaller than I imagined.
- 11:00 AM: Found a camel ride! The camel was a grumpy old fella named Harold. He smelled like… well, like a camel. But the ride itself was surreal, the desert sands are pretty and I felt like I was in a movie.
- 12:00 PM: I'd heard that the Gobi Desert's sunset is supposed to be gorgeous. Waited around for an hour, freezing my rear off (it gets cold as hell once the sun goes down.) Got a beautiful shot and instantly felt better, and the whole experience was worth it!
2:00 PM: Sheep! I swear, there are more sheep than people in this part of the world. Wandered through the edge of a small village - I would have gotten closer, but the language barrier made it difficult, and I was too worried about getting into a situation. They just stare at you with those blank, knowing eyes. Slightly unnerving.
3:00 PM: The Bitter Disappointment. Tried to find a local brewery, as recommended by the travel guide. Found the location - an abandoned building. My heart, it shattered.
- 4:00 PM: Stumbled upon a local market. Bargained for a ridiculously cheap scarf. I probably overpaid, but I'm calling it a win.
6:00 PM: Dinner. Another noodle adventure! This time, with dumplings. Heaven.
Day 3: Hot Water and Heartache
- 9:00 AM: Decided to try the local hot springs.
- 10:00 AM: Packed my backpack - swimsuit, towel, etc.
- 11:00 AM: Found out the hot springs were about a 4-hour bus ride away in the opposite direction of where I was headed next. My itinerary was already a mess, so I decided to write it off.
- 12:00 PM: Ate lunch near the hotel.
- 1:00 PM: Checked out of the hotel.
- 2:00 PM: Train/Bus ride to the next stop. This is where the journey ends, and the next begins.
Final Thoughts (and Rambles):
Baotou? It's… an experience. The Hanting Hotel? Perfectly acceptable. The food? Amazing. The language barrier? Brutal. The pre-train panic? Real. The Gobi Desert? Smaller than expected, but cool. Would I go back? Eh, maybe. It's not the prettiest city in the world, but I'm so glad I went and did the things that I did. You've gotta embrace the chaos, go with the flow, and learn to point at pictures and pray!
Columbus, NE's BEST Kept Secret: Sleep Inn & Suites Awaits!
Unbelievable! This Baotou Hotel Near the Train Station Blew My Mind! - FAQs (and My Actual Thoughts)
Okay, seriously, what's so 'unbelievable' about this Baotou hotel? I mean, it's Baotou...
Alright, buckle up. This wasn't just "okay." This was... an experience. Look, Baotou. It's not exactly known for its five-star hotels, alright? You're picturing dusty plains and maybe a Mongolian yurt or two, right? I was. I was bracing myself for the usual, slightly-worn, chain-hotel-adjacent experience. Instead… BAM! This place was… different. The sheer newness hit me first. Like, it smelled of fresh paint, not the lingering cigarette smoke I'd mentally prepared for. Then there was the lobby…
(Okay, I need to backtrack because the lobby still gives me chills. It was like a spaceship had landed. Gleaming marble, mood lighting, and these… these weird geometric sculptures that were either really cool art or a complete waste of space. I'm still not sure. But it was *memorable*.)
Is it clean? Because that's, like, the most important thing.
CLEAN. Oh, my god, YES! Like, hospital-grade clean. I may or may not have initially questioned if they'd actually fumigated it before I arrived. I'm not *usually* that germaphobic, but after some of the… *adventures* I'd had in previous Chinese hotels, I was thrilled. The bathroom? Sparkling. The sheets? Crisp and, dare I say, luxurious. I actually *wanted* to stay in the hotel room. Which is a huge win.
What's the deal with the location? Near the train station is usually a mixed bag...
Right, near the train station! Okay, fair point. Usually, you get noise, slightly sketchy vibes, and a whole lot of… pigeons. This place was surprisingly quiet! I mean, you *could* hear the distant rumble of trains, but it wasn't like staying *on* the tracks. And the walk to the station itself was easy. No dodging rogue taxi drivers or weird smells (a definite bonus). It also wasn't a total wasteland of travel agencies and greasy spoons; there were some... *slightly* better options nearby. I still had to navigate a few questionable street vendors, of course. Because China. But hey, proximity is HUGE when you're hauling luggage!
How were the rooms? Finally tell me!
The rooms... Okay, the rooms were not just rooms. They were *sanctuaries*. Mine had a huge window with, I swear, a *city view* (it was Baotou, so I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting, but it was nice!). The bed was a cloud. Seriously. I sunk into it like I'd been wandering the Gobi Desert for a week. They had all the amenities – coffee machine (important!), minibar (probably overpriced but who cares!), and a TV. There were also… and I'm not exaggerating… electronic curtains. ELECTRONIC CURTAINS! I spent a good fifteen minutes just playing with them. What can I say? I’m easily amused. The decor could be best described as "modern minimalist-meets-slightly-over-the-top-luxury". But hey, I liked it!
What about the service? Were the staff helpful?
This is where it got... interesting. The staff were genuinely helpful, mostly. The front desk folks... they were trying! My Mandarin is, shall we say, *rudimentary.* Their English wasn't exactly fluent. But they were so patient, and they really, really tried. There was one incident... (I'm still blushing about it. I tried to order room service and accidentally ordered, like, five plates of dumplings. They still delivered them with smiles, and I ate them all. Don’t judge me!) But yeah, generally, excellent service. They genuinely wanted to make sure you were comfortable which is a lot more than you can say for some places.
Did they have a good breakfast buffet? I’m a sucker for a good hotel breakfast.
Oh, the breakfast buffet. Okay, this is where things went from "surprisingly good" to "mind-blowing." It was a *feast*. You've got your western options (eggs, bacon, toast) and then the real star: all the local Chinese delicacies. I went back for seconds. And thirds. And maybe even a fourth plate *and* some pastries. Hey, I was on vacation! Everything was fresh, well-prepared, and honestly, delicious. I'm not even a huge breakfast person, but this buffet… this buffet changed me.
Okay, so… is there a catch? Is this place ridiculously expensive?
Okay, now you're asking the real question. Here's the kicker: it wasn't *crazy* expensive. I remember thinking, "This is too good to be true!". I looked for hidden fees, I re-read the bill three times… Nope. Reasonably priced! Which made the whole experience even more… bewildering. I'm still trying to figure out how they make a profit. If you find the hotel, and get a great price, book it. I haven't found anything equivalent.
So, would you recommend it? Seriously.
YES. Absolutely, unequivocally, YES. Look, I’ve stayed in some truly awful hotels in my life. This was the complete opposite. It was clean, comfortable, well-located, and the staff…well, the staff were the best. Even if you’re skeptical about Baotou, or you only need a quick stop-over, this hotel is worth it. It's a little slice of unexpected luxury in a place you wouldn’t expect it. Go. Check it out. And then tell me if I’m crazy. But I don't think you'll think that. You'll probably be as blown away as I was. Okay, I'm done gushing now. Sort of.
