Dezhou High-Speed Rail? This Hotel is SHOCKINGLY Close!
Dezhou High-Speed Rail? This Hotel is SHOCKINGLY Close! - A Messy, Honest Review
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the tea on the hotel conveniently located right by the Dezhou High-Speed Rail station. This isn't your perfectly polished, corporate-speak review. This is me. Raw, unfiltered, and after a surprisingly decent stay, probably a little over-caffeinated. Let's go!
First Impressions: Proximity is EVERYTHING!
Seriously, people. This hotel is ridiculously close to the train station. Like, walk-out-the-door-and-you’re-there close. That alone deserves a medal. After a six-hour train ride from…well, let's just say somewhere far, far away, being able to stumble into a room without traversing a city was pure bliss. That, honestly, saved my sanity. More on that later.
Accessibility & Getting Around: (Mostly) Good, With a Few Stumbles
So, let’s talk accessibility. The website promised facilities for disabled guests. The elevator was present and accounted for (praise be!), and I spotted a few ramps. However, I didn't explicitly test the wheelchair accessibility. I did notice some door widths and maneuvering space that might cause issues. More specifics about ramp gradients and bathroom accessibility could be immensely helpful!
Getting around outside the hotel was…well, that's Dezhou. Not exactly a bustling metropolis with streamlined public transport. I took a taxi from the train station, and it wasn’t a problem. Airport transfer? I don’t think so. You’re going to have to settle for a taxi or some kind of ride-sharing application. Car parking? Free! Always a win. The car park was on-site, which was handy. But no car power charging station was available, which is a bummer for all the eco-conscious travelers.
Rooms: Comfort and (Mostly) Functionality
The room itself? Pretty standard. Clean, with all the essentials. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! (Hallelujah!). Actually, forget “standard.” It had all the listed features! Air conditioning, a desk, a mini bar, and my personal favorite: slippers! Nothing says "welcome" like a pair of fluffy slippers. (Though, let's be real, the carpet situation could use a refresh, but I'm not complaining.) The blackout curtains were a lifesaver during those long, jet-lagged nights. There was even an alarm clock, which I didn’t use because I'm that tech-savvy.
The Bathroom - My Inner Monologue
The bathroom was functional, and I could definitely wash up! Additional toilet? Yes sir! The separate shower/bathtub was a great feature, although I didn’t test it out!
Internet – A Surprisingly Speedy Connection
Seriously! Free Wi-Fi! And it worked. Unlike some hotels where you’re wrestling with a dial-up connection in the 21st century. The Wi-Fi in the public areas was also pretty reliable, which was great for a quick social media check.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Culinary Adventure (More or Less)
Alright, let’s talk food. Breakfast was included. Let me repeat that, Asian Breakfast was included! It was… well, it was breakfast. A buffet (with the usual suspects) was on offer at the restaurant, a coffee shop was available, and I could even get coffee/tea in the restaurant. Everything was fresh, clean, and well-presented. There was a vegetarian menu available.
The Poolside bar looked inviting. The Snack bar offered a decent selection. I didn't hit the limit of how much food I could take in, but I wasn't disappointed either!
Cleanliness and Safety: Feeling Safe-ish
This hotel clearly takes safety seriously. Things were sanitized. Hand sanitizer stations were everywhere. Staff trained in safety protocol. My room was supposedly sanitized between stays. I appreciated the daily disinfection in common areas. They even had Anti-viral cleaning products. I saw CCTV in common areas adding to the sense of security. So, overall, I felt a lot safer here!
Things to Do / Ways to Relax: A Mixed Bag
I was so excited to check out the Fitness center! However, my excitement was crushed. It wasn't as spick-and-span as I was expecting. There was also a Spa/sauna, and that would have been relaxing, but by the time I was recovered enough to go down the hotel hallways, I could not muster the energy to do so!
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
The concierge was helpful (though, let's be real, my Mandarin isn't great). Daily housekeeping. The luggage storage was a lifesaver, and the doorman was always there to greet you with a smile.
For the Kids:
I didn't bring any kids, but the hotel had some facilities, but it was unclear what kind.
The Quirks and Imperfections – Because Let’s Be Real
Now, for the real talk. This hotel isn’t perfect. The TV channels were a head-scratcher. Some of the staff's English skills weren't great, but that's part of the charm, right? And the lighting in the room? A little too…dim. I would have preferred to read in the bed.
My Overall Verdict: Would I Stay Again?
Absolutely. The location alone makes it a winner. While I don’t think it’s the fanciest hotel in the world, it's exceptionally comfortable. If you're arriving or departing from Dezhou by train, this is a no-brainer. It's clean, convenient, and the staff are genuinely trying their best. I’d happily stay again, especially if I can get back to the spa! Now I have to go catch my flight! I give this hotel 4 stars out of 5.
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Okay, buckle up buttercup. This isn't your sterile, perfectly-planned itinerary. This is real. This is me, staring at a budget hotel near a high-speed rail station in Dezhou, China, trying to make some sense of things. And probably failing spectacularly.
The Dezhou Debacle: A Hot Mess of Travel (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the… Well, Never Mind)
Day 1: Arrival and the Hanting of Horrors (and Possibly Delicious Noodles)
- 14:00 - Beijing West to Dezhou East, High-Speed Rail (G107). This is where it all started. The promise of sleek travel, the thrill of zooming past the endless beige landscape… sigh. The rail ride was fine, predictably efficient. The problem? My stomach was already screaming for something other than airplane peanuts (which, let's be honest, are just tiny, disappointing rocks).
- 16:00 - Arrival at Dezhou East Station. Confusion and the Hunt for the Purple Hotel. Okay, so the station is HUGE. Like, Olympic-sized-stadium-huge. And my sense of direction? Utterly useless. After a sweaty, panicked sprint through a maze of screaming vendors and bewildered tourists (mostly me), I finally found the exit. Now, the Hanting Hotel. I thought I'd booked a Hanting… it looked like the pictures on the app… but the reality? Let's just say the pictures were… generous.
- 16:30 - Check-in. The Battle with the Automated Machine. I kid you not, the check-in machine looked ready to eat my soul. My Mandarin is… well, let's say it's "enthusiastic." After much button-mashing, confused gestures, and a near-breakdown, I think I managed to secure a room. The desk staff, bless their weary souls, just watched me with a mixture of amusement and pity.
- 17:00 - Room Inspection. Mild Panic. Okay, it's… clean. Sort of. The fluorescent lighting is a bit harsh. The bed looks… functional. The air conditioning sounds like a disgruntled vacuum cleaner. I’m beginning to understand the appeal of "hotel room as a neutral emotional space." This is a challenge.
- 17:30 - Quest for Food! The Noodle Nirvana (Maybe). My stomach is now staging a full-blown rebellion. Google Maps suggests a noodle shop nearby. Hope springs eternal! This is what I live for.
- 18:00 - Noodle Shop Discovery, and the Language Barrier Dance. The noodle shop smells AMAZING. It's packed. The menu is entirely in Chinese characters. I point at a picture of something that looks vaguely noodle-ish and cross my fingers. The server, a teenager with the patience of a saint, gives me a sympathetic smile. This could be the saving grace.
- 18:30 - Noodle Nirvana Achieved (Probably). HOLY MOTHER OF NOODLES. This is… incredible. The broth is rich and savory, the noodles are perfectly chewy, and there’s a hint of chili that makes my face tingle in the best possible way. I'm going to eat ALL of this. (Later, I'll realize I ordered the “extra spicy” version. Lesson learned: always err on the side of caution.)
- 19:30 - Back to the Hotel. The A/C Battles Again. The vacuum cleaner is still at it. I'm exhausted. I'm slightly paranoid about bedbugs (irrational, I know). I'm probably going to binge-watch cat videos until I fall asleep.
- 20:00 - The Great TV Remote Mystery and the "Channel Surfing" of Despair. This remote is a technological marvel. Or, at least, a marvel of utter incomprehensibility. Nothing works. I will die here. Watching static. Alone.
- 20:30 - Actually, The Cat Videos Are Great. Okay, this is fine. This is life. This is peace.
Day 2: The Dezhou Deluge (More Noodle Delights, Possibly Too Much Walking)
- 07:00 - Breakfast… if you can call it that. The included "breakfast" at the hotel is… um… interesting. A bread-like substance, a questionable beverage that tastes vaguely of dirt, and some kind of pickled vegetable that I'm too afraid to identify. I might just skip it.
- 08:00 - The Planned Sightseeing. (Hah!) Honestly what was I thinking?
- 09:00 – The Unexpected Shopping Trip. The Hanting Hotel is a bit… isolated. But, miraculously, I notice a small, bustling local marketplace. This is great news, or maybe a trap.
- 09:30 - The Market. Sensory Overload. Oh. My. God. This place is a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, and smells. There are vendors hawking everything from live chickens to piles of fragrant spices, all competing for attention. I’m completely overwhelmed. I get distracted by a particularly cute puppy. I forget why I'm there. Then I remember: I came to buy some tea, and maybe a dragon fruit, because, you know, health.
- 10:30 - Tea and Dragon Fruit, The Bargaining Game: I engage in what I consider to be a masterful display of bargaining skills for the tea. I'm probably getting ripped off. But I don't care, I'm in DEZHOU.
- 12:00 - Lunch at the Noodle Shop. The Return of the Spicy Deliciousness. Back to the noodles. Obviously. This time, I manage to order the less spicy version. Still incredible. I consider asking for the recipe.
- 13:00 - A Long Walk. "Exploring" (Getting Lost). Armed with a vague sense of direction and a full stomach, I set out to "explore" the area. Which, in my case, translates to "wander aimlessly and probably get lost." I walk. And walk. It is hot, and the sun is now my eternal enemy.
- 13:30 - The Museum of Life and Disappointments. I visit some local tourist site, which turns out to be closed. I'm not even surprised.
- 15:00 - I surrender to the hotel, and to the A/C. I'm defeated. I'm hot. I'm tired. I need a nap. The Vacuum is Calling!
- 16:00 - Coffee from the 7-Eleven. The Perfect Ending.
Day 3: Departure and the Eternal Quest for Clean Sheets.
- 08:00 - Breakfast (again). Back to the bread-like substance and the dirt-adjacent beverage. I'm starting to develop a strange fondness for the pickled vegetables. I think maybe this is a Stockholm Syndrome situation.
- 09:00 - Check-out. The Hanting's Revenge. The check-out process is… surprisingly easy. Maybe they're just as eager to see the back of me.
- 09:30 - The Dezhou East Railway Station… one last time. Farewell, Dezhou. You were challenging, confusing, and occasionally delicious.
- 10:00 - High-Speed Rail to Beijing. Escape! The promised land!
- 12:00 - Beijing… and the start of the next adventure (whatever that may be).
Final Thoughts:
This trip wasn't perfect. It was messy. It was unpredictable. It was full of minor frustrations and moments of utter absurdity. But… it was also real. It was mine. And sometimes, that's all that matters. Also, I'm still thinking about those noodles. Seriously, where can I get that recipe?
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Dezhou High-Speed Rail: My Train-Wreck (But in a Good Way... Mostly) FAQs
1. Okay, Seriously: How Close *IS* This Hotel? Because the Website Lied Last Time...
Alright, buckle up, because this is the MOST important question. Forget the fancy train schedules and seat classes. The hotel is, and I'm not even joking, practically *on* the station. Picture this: you stumble out of the train, slightly discombobulated from the high-speed travel (and maybe a quick nap), and BAM! The hotel is right there. No exaggerated claims of "walking distance" that turns into a sweaty, luggage-dragging odyssey. We're talking "grab your toothbrush and be in your room in under five minutes" close. Seriously, I'm picturing it now... I once stayed there, and the hotel lobby smelled faintly of freshly baked bread (and train exhaust, lets be honest). Glorious. That's the kind of proximity that makes a long journey feel… less long.
2. Are the High-Speed Trains Actually... High-Speed? Or Just Speedy?
Oh, they are high-speed. No, seriously. You'll feel it. It's like being in a super-efficient, slightly vibrating metal tube. You can *almost* order a cappuccino at 300 kilometers per hour, though they don't quite have that yet. My first time, I remember looking out the window and thinking "Whoa, is that a blur or a building?", and now I'm starting to feel nostalgic for all the things that felt exciting. You’ll zoom past fields, towns, and occasionally see the fleeting glimpse of a bored-looking cow. And then, *poof* you're there. It's a little bit mind-bending, really. Don't blink! You might miss the whole scenery!
3. Booking Tickets: Is it a Digital Nightmare? Or... Slightly Less of a Digital Nightmare?
Okay, let's be real. Booking online in China isn't always a walk in the park, but the High-Speed Rail ticketing system is… manageable. I recommend using a service like Trip.com or Ctrip (that aren't always the easiest to navigate, but they are better). Be prepared for a few hiccups. Maybe a slightly dodgy translation, or a CAPTCHA that seems designed to infuriate (those darn Chinese characters!). But, the overall experience is better than queuing at a traditional ticket office on a hot and crowded day. Trust me; I’ve done that. The sheer waiting! Just allow some extra time and remember the golden rule of travel: patience is a virtue… and, potentially, a lifesaver! Actually, getting a local to help can be the best option. They've mastered the art!
4. What's the Seating Like? Is it Cramped Like a Budget Airline?
Compared to a budget airline? Oh, heavens, no! The seating is surprisingly decent. You have options. "Second class" is perfectly acceptable, with enough legroom to stretch out a little (unless you're really tall – then, well, good luck!). First-class is… well, it's first-class. More space, possibly a slightly fancier meal, and often a quieter atmosphere. The legroom is a game changer for me - I like to stretch out. I once inadvertently kicked the person in front of me, but it was easily rectified by a tiny apology and a quick shuffle. It's all part of the experience!
5. Food on Board: Edible or Avoidable? (Be Honest!)
Look, I'm not going to lie. The food on the train isn't winning any Michelin stars. But, it's… functional. You can get pre-packaged meals, or sometimes, a hot meal is available. Expect your standard train offerings: rice, a mystery meat, slightly limp vegetables. But after a long journey, you're grateful for whatever comes your way! I always pack snacks. I always pack ALL the snacks. And enough water. Water is your friend, especially when traveling. It's a crucial element. Just… don’t expect a culinary revelation. Think of it as fuel…for your journey and, in my case, for my grumbling stomach.
6. How Punctual Are These Trains? Because I Have a Connecting Flight!
Generally, the High-Speed Rail is pretty darn reliable. Much more punctual than, say, the local bus that I once took to visit a friend. However, "generally" is the operative word. Stuff happens. So allow ample time. Seriously, don’t count on landing at your desired destination precisely on the minute. It's China. Life happens. There could be fog, a traffic jam, or, let’s be honest, a random panda uprising (kidding… probably). I'd say build in at least an hour's buffer for any tight connections. Better safe than frantically running through an airport, right?
7. What's the Vibe at the Station? Chaotic? Calm? Full of People Saying Loudly into their Phones?
Okay, let’s go with… bustling. Lots of people, lots of movement. The station is usually clean, modern, and air-conditioned, which is a major win. You'll hear announcements in both Mandarin and English. And yes, there will be people talking loudly into their phones. It's part of the experience. Embrace it! Be prepared for a little bit of a crowd during peak travel times (holiday season, etc.). And don't be surprised if you spot a few people taking selfies with their luggage. I once saw a man arguing with a very polite station attendant because he thought the train was actually a giant shoe. It was interesting to say the least! The station also has shops and restaurants, but often, the prices are hiked up. So, buy your snacks *before* you get there!
8. Is it Safe? Are There Guards and Security?
Yes! Generally, the High-Speed Rail is very safe. There are security checks at the station (similar to airport security), and guards on board the trains. The train itself is secure and you'll feel pretty safe. Keep your valuables close, as always, but I've always felt secure, which is a great thing. You should be fine.
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