Unbelievable Nantong Luxury: Starway Hotel Wuyi Rd. Awaits!
Unbelievable Nantong Luxury: Starway Hotel Wuyi Rd. Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the…well, let's just say "enticing" waters of the Starway Hotel Wuyi Rd. in Nantong. "Unbelievable Nantong Luxury" they call it, and honestly? I'm still trying to decide if it truly lived up to the hype, or if I just got swept away by the sheer… gestures vaguely… Nantong-ness of it all.
First, Let's Talk about the "Accessibility & Safety" Circus
Okay, look, I’m a sucker for a hotel that claims it caters to everyone. The Starway Hotel gets points for trying, but the execution? Sigh. Wheelchair accessible? Theoretically. Practically? Let's just say navigating some of those elevators and those labyrinthine hallways felt like a slightly terrifying obstacle course designed by a particularly mischievous goblin. However, I have to give props where they're due. Facilities for disabled guests were present, even if they sometimes required a small team of sherpas to properly utilize.
Now, for the safety stuff – which, in this COVID-crazed world, is kind of a big deal. They hammer this point home, which is probably a good thing… It felt like every hallway was patrolled by a security guard, and there were more CCTV cameras (in common areas) than social media influencers at a free avocado toast giveaway. Anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, staff trained in safety protocol… they've got it all. They even had little bottles of more hand sanitizer everywhere, which, as a recovering germaphobe, I wholeheartedly approved of. The room sanitization opt-out available? I’m not sure why you would opt out, but hey, options, I guess.
But the thing that really got me was the Individually-wrapped food options. Talk about overkill! It's like they were expecting an alien invasion or something. I swear, my breakfast sausage came in its own tiny, hermetically sealed bubble! Hilarious, but also a waste of plastic – and it sometimes made the breakfast a little less enjoyable.
My Room: A Fortress of Comfort (Sometimes)
My room? Okay, let’s be honest, this is where the "luxury" part of the name sort of kicked in. Air conditioning? Check. Blackout curtains? Double check! The bathrobes were surprisingly plush, and the slippers were actually comfortable! The coffee/tea maker was a lifesaver for my caffeine addiction, and that complimentary tea was a genuinely appreciated gesture. They also offered free Wi-Fi, which is crucial for anyone trying to do work.
The internet access – wireless was pretty solid, but one time, I needed to use my laptop workspace and it was a nightmare. I needed the internet access – LAN and it was a hassle to connect! I did manage to get it working, though.
But here’s the rub: the soundproofing wasn’t quite up to snuff. I could hear the gentle hum of, I don't know, something from the hallway, and the occasional muffled conversation from the next room. I think I heard someone's children crying for a while as well.
And while we're at it, let's address the bathrooms: They had a bathtub and separate shower/bathtub. Very posh! The toiletries were adequate, and the hair dryer actually did the job. So, overall, a good room!
Food, Glorious (And Occasionally Baffling) Food
Breakfast in the Starway was a mixed bag, to put it mildly. The Asian breakfast options were genuinely delicious – the noodles were some of the best I've ever tasted, and the dumplings were divine. The Western breakfast? Let's just say I have a newfound appreciation for the simple joy of a perfectly cooked scrambled egg. The buffet in restaurant was a bit of a free-for-all, especially during peak hours. It was like a feeding frenzy for the tourists, though that’s a given, right?
I did pop into the coffee shop a few times, and the coffee was actually pretty good, and the desserts in restaurant were an absolute must. They also had a poolside bar, which I didn't visit, but hey. Happy hour? I think they did have one, but I missed it.
The Amenities… and the Slightly Weird Bits
The Starway Hotel has a lot of stuff. Like, a lot. Fitness center? Yep. Gym/fitness? Yep. Swimming pool? Outdoor, with a view! Spa? Absolutely. But what was really funny was the Pool with view. Now, I’ll be honest, the view was… not spectacular. It was more of a view of the neighboring buildings. But! It was a pool. In Nantong. And even if it was a little less "infinity pool overlooking a mountain" and more "slightly chlorinated rectangle," it was still a fun way to spend an afternoon.
They also offered the usual suspects: Massage, Sauna, Steamroom. All very nice, if a little… standard.
I did not take advantage of the Body scrub or Body wrap, because, well, that's just not my thing.
I did, however, spend some time in the Foot bath. And let me tell you, after a day of navigating the city's less-than-perfect sidewalks, it was pure heaven.
"Things to Do" and "Ways to Relax"? Mostly Staying Put.
Honestly, most of my time at the Starway was spent… inside. Between the exhaustion of traveling and the sheer volume of things on offer at the hotel (and the fact that I'm a bit of a homebody), I was perfectly content to stay put.
Services and Conveniences: They had pretty much everything you could ask for, including a Concierge, Dry cleaning, Laundry service, and luggage storage. The Doorman was always super friendly. The elevator was… well, it was an elevator. You get the idea. Car park [free of charge]? Score!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: They have an A la carte in restaurant, which I did not use, and they have a Room service [24-hour] service, which makes you wonder if you should bother leaving the room at all!
Now for the Quirks:
- The "Shrine" sign. I saw it and laughed!
- The language barrier. Okay, this is a general comment, and less about the hotel itself, but communication can be tricky in Nantong if you don't speak Mandarin.
The Final Verdict: Should You Book?
Alright, here's the hard truth. The Starway Hotel Wuyi Rd. is not perfect. It's not flawless. It's a bit quirky. But it's also comfortable, well-equipped, and reasonably priced (though you have to check the rates on their website). Is it "Unbelievable Nantong Luxury"? Maybe… it's "Pleasantly Surprising Nantong Comfort".
I'm not going to give it an overly polished review and call it a masterpiece. But I am going to give it an honest assessment!
Unbelievable Nantong Luxury: Starway Hotel Wuyi Rd. Awaits! – The Honest Edition
The Pitch (Because, I mean, this is a review, isn't it?):
Tired of the same old boring hotel experiences? Craving a little adventure without sacrificing creature comforts? Then the Starway Hotel Wuyi Rd. in Nantong might be for you!
Here's the deal: You get:
- Clean and Safe: COVID safety protocols are on lock!
- Comfy Rooms: Blackout curtains and comfy slippers are real!
- Good Food (Seriously, try the noodles!)
- Indoor Venue for Special Events (though I didn't go there)
- A genuinely interesting experience!
Book now and get a free… well, let's just say, a free good time!
(Disclaimer: good times may vary depending on your tolerance for slightly quirky hotels and your ability to navigate a buffet line.)
Click here to book your Nantong adventure today!
Amboise Escape: Luxury at Best Western Le Vinci Loire Valley!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's meticulously planned travel itinerary. We're talking existential dread meets questionable street food, all from the supposed comfort of the Starway Hotel Nantong Wuyi Road. Buckle up.
The Great Nantong Adventure: A Messy Chronicle
Day 1: Arrival and the Quest for Sleep (Or At Least, Decent Coffee)
- 14:00 - China Time: Landing in Pudong, Shanghai. (Oh joy). Let's be honest, the airport, even the fancy ones, are soul-sucking until you get some sleep. Immediately regretting the economy class decision. My back already feels like a crumpled map.
- 15:30 - The Shanghai Subway Shuffle: Navigating the Shanghai metro. It's like being a sardine in a washing machine, but hey, at least the air conditioning works. Trying to act like I know where I'm going. Failing spectacularly.
- 17:00- Train to Nantong. (A miracle of modern engineering or a glorified metal tube? The jury's still out). The train is packed. Kids are screaming. The air smells vaguely of instant noodles. Oh, the Romance!
- 19:30 - Arrival, Nantong Station…and an Unexpected Taxi Encounter. First impressions: smog and a chaotic symphony of horns. Finding a taxi is like winning the lottery, except the prize is a surly driver who clearly doesn't understand English (or maybe he does…). I swear he took the "scenic route" (which involved more honking and questionable turns).
- 20:30 - Starway Hotel: Checking In. More like, checking out life choices. The lobby is… well, it's a lobby. Nothing spectacular, nothing horrendous. Just a lobby. Praying the room isn't haunted and has hot water. Also, praying the hotel Wi-Fi works, because my brain is powered by caffeine and badly-downloaded podcasts.
- 21:00- Room Debriefing and the Search for Sustenance: Room is… decent. Clean enough. The bed looks promising, especially after that train journey. But before I can collapse, the growling of my stomach tells me I need FOOD. The hotel restaurant? Probably avoid. Time to brave the Nantong streets!
- 21:30- The Culinary Catastrophe (or Triumph?): Wandered. Found some street food. I don't know what I ate. Looks like a little soup. It was… intense. The broth tasted like umami's angry cousin. There were things I couldn't identify. But it was cheap, hot, and I survived. Victory!
- 22:30 - Exhaustion and the Netflix Abyss: Back in the room. Collapsed on the bed like a sack of potatoes. Netflix. Goodbye, world. At this stage, I'd probably watch paint dry.
Day 2: Lost in Translation & the Yangtze River
- 07:00 - Rising (More like, dragging myself out of bed): The hotel curtains aren't great, a little light gets in. But hey, I'm awake! (Questionable life choices are starting to look GOOD)
- 07:30 - Breakfast at the Hotel (Attempted): The buffet is… a buffet. Lots of things I don't recognize. Played it safe with a boiled egg. Safe is good.
- 09:00 - Nantong's Center. (Or, Where Did My Sense of Direction Go?): Decided to be adventurous and take the bus. Mistake number…too many to count? Spent a good hour wandering around in a haze of cigarette smoke and puzzled looks. Tried to ask for directions at a store… which was basically pantomime. They were very patient with my hand gestures, though! I think I saw the Yangtze River.
- 12:00 - The Lunch Gamble: Found a small restaurant. Pointed at pictures on the menu. Ended up with something involving… tripe. It wasn't the worst thing I've ever eaten. Probably.
- 13:30- Yangtze River Views: Stood at the riverfront for a solid 2 hours in a daze. The water is an ugly brown. But the immensity of it, the history, is mesmerizing. Took some bad photos. Contemplated my life.
- 15:00- Back to The hotel. Nap time!.
- 19:00 - The Night Market: Went to a Night Market, the smell of noodles, skewers, and unidentifiable deep-fried delicacies! Trying the local snacks, found something that looks strangely familiar, and it was delicious!
- 21:00 - Hotel room, another Netflix night.
Day 3: Embracing the Absurd (and the Potential for Food Poisoning)
- 08:00 - Regret/Coffee: Wake up. Coffee at the nearest place, I hope it's good.
- 09:00- Nantong Museum: It's beautiful! But I'm not the biggest museum person.
- 12:00 - A Food Fight (Metaphorically): Tried to order lunch with a friend. Ordered for both of us but there was a mix-up. It was funny until we had to pay.
- 13:00 - Resting and Remembering: I just laid on the bed, looking out the window. Recalling all the things I've seen. This trip has been crazy.
- 16:00 - Last Night: Went out. I think it was a bar, I don't remember that much.
- 22:00 - Sleeeping: The trip comes to an end.
Day 4: Departure & the Aftermath
- 06:00 - Wake up. (Again).
- 07:00 - Last Breakfast: The buffet… again. Survived.
- 08:00 - Check Out: The hotel staff are efficient, if not overflowing with warmth.
- 09:00 - Travel Back: Back to Shanghai.
- 15:00- Airport: Waiting to go home.
- 20:00 - Arrived!
Post-Trip Musings:
- Did I know what I was doing? Absolutely not.
- Did I enjoy it? Yes, in a weird, masochistic way.
- Would I go back? Eventually. Maybe. After I recover from this trip.
- The Starway Hotel? It was a place to sleep. Nothing more, nothing less. Like life. You make do.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 “I survived” badges.
(Disclaimer: This itinerary is a highly dramatized representation of my experience and may not reflect the actual timeline of my trip. Food poisoning, lost luggage, and existential crises are always a possibility. Travel at your own risk.)
Hotel O Purwokerto: Taman Andhang Pangrenan's BEST Kept Secret!
Unbelievable Nantong Luxury: Starway Hotel Wuyi Rd. - The Messy Truth (and Maybe You'll Love It)
Okay, spill it. Is the Starway Hotel Wuyi Rd. in Nantong *really* luxurious? Like, actual marble fountains indoors?
Alright, alright, let's be honest. "Luxury" in China can mean *anything*. Remember that time I thought "luxury" meant a free packet of instant noodles? Yeah, I was young and foolish. So, no, I didn't find marble fountains. (Though my imagination ran wild imagining one in the lobby - picture myself, a total mess after a long flight, gracefully dipping a hand in, feeling superior... a girl can dream, right?). The lobby *was* quite grand, though. Think shiny floors, and a chandelier that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. It gave off a vibe, a *pretension* of luxury. Less "Versailles," more "Upscale Holiday Inn with extra polish." But hey, the polish was nice, and the staff *tried* really hard. Which leads me to...
The Staff... Were they, you know, helpful? Fluent in English? Because my Mandarin is about as good as my interpretive dance skills.
This is where things get *interesting*. "Helpful," absolutely. They were relentlessly *eager* to help. Bless their hearts. English fluency, however... let's just say we communicated through a combination of frantic pointing, desperate Googling of phrases on my phone, and a whole lot of charades. I spent a good ten minutes trying to explain I needed more coffee (and the look on the poor bellhop's face when I dramatically mimed the "caffeinated jitters" was priceless!). They brought me a pot of green tea. Close enough! One sweet woman, bless her, offered to buy me a SIM card from a nearby shop. Pure gold. Totally worth it. Plus, they *always* smiled. And a smile can go a LONG way, especially when you're lost in a city you don't understand. It was charming. And sometimes, ridiculously funny. Like, the time I tried to order room service...
Room Service! Tell me *everything*. What did you order? Was it edible?
Oh, room service... *sigh*. This is where the "luxury" façade started to crack a bit. I was knackered after my journey. I felt like a zombie. I had my sights set on a magnificent bowl of noodles. Or at least, something resembling noodles. The menu? A work of art... of questionable translations. "Pan-fried delicious," "Stewed delicacy," you get the idea. So I went with "Pan-fried delicious," because, well, delicious sounded promising. It arrived… Well, let’s just say it wasn’t *exactly* what I’d pictured. The presentation... let's not talk about the presentation. The noodles, after the food arrived, they were *weird*. But honestly, after a 14-hour flight, a questionable meal is better than *no* meal. I ate it. Slowly. And, you know what? It wasn’t *awful*. It was an experience! A slightly greasy, slightly confusing, but ultimately memorable experience. Plus, the service was *fast*. I didn't have to wait on the telephone call.
Okay, let's talk location. Is this hotel actually *convenient*? Or am I going to spend half my trip in a taxi?
Wuyi Road, huh? Alright. Depends on what you're planning to do in Nantong. The hotel itself is a bit out of the bustling central area. Taxis? Available. Cheap. Relatively easy to navigate (because, honestly, you just point and smile). During my visit, I wanted to see the Haohe River, and that was only a short taxi ride. Which was great, because, well, the river is beautiful. And that time, I actually saw the street market. As for proximity to major tourist attractions? I don’t know. I kind of just wandered around. So, depends on your priorities. If you want to be in the heart of the action, maybe this isn't *perfectly* situated. But if you want a bit of peace and relative quiet, while still being able to access things, it's decent. I’m lazy, so I thought it was fine.
The Rooms! What were the rooms like? Clean? Spacious? Did they have a bathrobe? (Because, you know, robe).
The rooms. Ah, the rooms! Were they clean? Yes, *mostly*. I'm not a germaphobe (mostly). And hey, the bed was comfortable (critical!). The bathroom was… standard. Sufficiently stocked with the usual toiletries. Did it have a bathrobe? Yes! A glorious, fluffy, *perfect* bathrobe was in my room. It was… the highlight. I spent a good portion of my stay lounging in that robe, feeling like a queen. (The "queen" part was probably related to the fact that I was watching Taiwanese dramas on the TV, but, hey, don't judge). The room itself was… well, not exactly palatial, but perfectly adequate. Decent size, comfortable enough. A bit generic, in that slightly sterile hotel-room way, but hey, what do you expect? It was somewhere to sleep.
Okay, the Big Question: Would you go back? Honestly.
You know what? Maybe. Honestly, yeah, maybe. It wasn't perfect. It wasn't the pinnacle of luxury. There were definitely some "lost in translation" moments. The food was… an adventure. But the staff were lovely, the robe was amazing, and it was perfectly functional. And the price? Probably a bit on the cheap side. I'm a sucker for a bargain. So, yes, I'd consider it again. It had a certain charm, a certain… *je ne sais quoi* that made it memorable. Plus, I still have the photo of me in the infamous robe. That, my friends, is gold.
Anything else I should know? Like, any hidden gems? Or, any *massive* deal-breakers?
Okay, hidden gems… hmm… There's a little tea shop *nearby*. Find it. Worth it. Beyond that? Not really. Massive deal-breakers? Hmm… depends. If you *require* perfect English, this might be challenging. If you're expecting five-star perfection, you'll be disappointed. If cleanliness is *your* top priority, make sure to bring your own wipes, if you are that fussy. If you’re looking for a truly immersive, authentic experience… you know you are in China. But, If you like a place that tries, that aims for luxury, and that's cheap, then you can enjoy this place. Hotel Search Site
Comments
Post a Comment