Lanzhou Railway Station Hotel: Starway's Unbeatable Luxury Awaits!
Lanzhou Railway Station Hotel: Starway's Unbeatable Luxury… or is it? A Messy Review!
Okay, so here's the deal. I just got back from a trip to Lanzhou, and that meant tackling the famed Lanzhou Railway Station Hotel. The promo material practically screamed luxury, promising a sanctuary from the usual travel grind. Did it deliver? Well, buckle up, buttercups, because this review is going to be a bumpy ride… like the Lanzhou train itself, probably.
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First off, accessibility. This is HUGE for me. The website touted wheelchair accessibility, and I was cautiously optimistic. The lobby? Yep, spacious, easy to navigate. Elevators? Check. (Thank god for elevators after a long train journey!) But then… the ramps leading to the outdoor pool? A bit steeper than I'd like. And the access to some of the restaurants? A bit of a maze. They try, bless their hearts, but let's just say it's not flawlessly smooth. (I'm pretty sure I saw a bewildered pigeon attempting to navigate the same tricky ramp… we commiserated.) Score: 7/10… for effort and the genuinely helpful staff who always tried to assist.
Internet? Oh, the internet. "Free Wi-Fi in ALL rooms!" they brag. And… well, it was free. Sometimes. Other times, it was slower than a snail with a hangover. I swear, I could have written a novel in the time it took to load a simple webpage. (And yes, I checked the LAN cable… it was dead. Again.) The Wi-Fi in the public areas faired little better, let's be brutally honest. I ended up relying on my sketchy data plan more than I'd like. Thankfully, the coffee shop downstairs (which, by the way, served decent coffee) had a marginally better connection… and a very understanding barista. Score: 5/10. Needs improvement, folks.
Let's talk Cleanliness and Safety – a big deal these days, right? They really did a good job here. “Anti-viral cleaning products,” “Daily disinfection in common areas,” the whole shebang. I saw staff diligently sanitizing… everything. The staff wore masks… well, mostly. I even saw them sanitizing the sanitizer bottles! (Talk about meta!) They seemed genuinely committed. My room felt clean, smelled fresh, and my germ-phobic heart was, for the most part, at ease. Score: 9/10. Kudos, Starway!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking. Okay, this is where things get… interesting. They have like, a million different options. Several restaurants, a coffee shop, a poolside bar (more on that later), a snack bar… It's overwhelming! The Asian breakfast was… a mixed bag. Some dishes were amazing – those little dumplings, heavenly! – others were… well, let's just say they're an acquired taste. (I bravely tried the congee. Let's just say it wasn't my cup of tea… or, rather, bowl of congee.) The “International cuisine” restaurant had a better menu that I felt comfortable consuming without feeling I was breaking some social convention. But the buffet? Oh boy, the buffet! Huge, with everything from salads to desserts… and questionable-looking mystery meat. I stuck to the tried and true… the fruit. The poolside bar? More like a poolside counter. Tiny, but hey, it served beers. Score: 7/10. Variety is the spice of life, but quality control could use some zing.
Things to do, Ways to Relax… and the Pool! This is where Starway really tries to shine. They've got the works: Fitness center, spa, sauna, steam room… and that pool with a view! I was so excited. Visions of myself, draped in a plush robe, sipping a cocktail, gazing at the city… and I’ll be honest, the view was spectacular! (Even if it was a bit smoggy, you could still see the mountains in the distance.) The pool itself… well, it was a bit more crowded than the website pictures suggested. Lots of kids splashing. Lots of people taking photos. And the water… well, let's just say I probably didn't get my daily dose of chlorine. But, hey, it was a pool! And after that long, dusty train ride, it was heaven. I did try out the sauna, which was blissfully hot. I skipped the body scrub – I'm not quite that luxurious. Score: 8/10. The pool gets a thumbs-up, even if it’s not quite a private oasis.
Now, let's get to the Rooms. I’ll be honest, my room was pretty darn nice. (If you ignore the tiny, slightly-too-firm bed.) Air conditioning? Check. Blackout curtains? Check. Free bottled water? Double-check! They gave me a room with two beds even though I booked a single. I guess the hotel staff were hoping to set me up with a roommate, which I did not enjoy. The bathroom? Fine. Not spectacular. Functional. The internet access still being the problem. Score: 7/10. Comfortable, but nothing that would set the world on fire.
Services and Conveniences. This is the part where Starway flexes its muscles. 24-hour room service (more on that later!), a concierge, a gift shop, laundry service, dry cleaning… they’ve got almost everything. The staff are generally helpful and eager to please. The concierge helped me book a taxi and gave me a bunch of helpful tips about navigating the city. The food delivery service was handy for some quick snacks and drinks in the evenings. The convenience store was a total lifesaver for last-minute essentials (and late-night chocolate cravings!). Score: 8/10. They’re trying very hard and doing a good job.
Anecdote Time! (24-Hour Room Service Edition) Okay, so… I'd been on a train all day. Exhausted, starving, and craving some comfort food. I ordered room service at like, 11 PM. (The menu was extensive!) I ordered dumplings. It took forever to arrive. And when it did arrive, they weren't dumplings, but some kind of… fried, chewy doughy thing. (I think it was a language barrier issue.) I was so hungry I ate it. Maybe it was the train-induced delirium, but it was pretty good. Then, at 3 AM, I woke up with the most violent stomach cramps. I'm not blaming the hotel, necessarily… but I'm not not blaming the hotel. (I will never look at fried anything the same way again!)
For the Kids: Though I did not have children, I did observe the children's facilities. They had a play are, which I thought was brilliant.
Getting Around: They offered airport transfer and taxi services.
Overall: The Lanzhou Railway Station Hotel is a mixed bag. It tries to be luxurious, and in many ways, it succeeds. But it’s not perfect. The service is good, the amenities are plentiful, the location is convenient, and the cleanliness standards are high. But the Wi-Fi is spotty, some of the food is questionable, and the accessibility isn't quite up to par. It’s a good hotel, not a great hotel. It's a place to rest your head, rejuvenate (sort of), and maybe get a slightly questionable late-night snack. Would I stay there again? Maybe. If I were stranded in Lanzhou and needed a place to crash? Absolutely. Just… maybe pack some snacks. And download some movies beforehand. Final Score: 7.5/10. Room for improvement, Starway, but you're definitely on your way!
Fethiye's Flamingo Paradise: Pet-Friendly Luxury Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups! This isn't your polished, corporate-approved travel itinerary. This is the real deal. My Lanzhou adventure at the Starway Hotel is a chaotic symphony of noodles, dust, and questionable internet connections. Let's dive in, shall we?
Starway Hotel Lanzhou – My Lanzhou Love Affair (and Occasional Hateship)
Day 1: Arrival and the Noodle Nosedive
- Morning: The Great Train Heist (or, Finding the Hotel)
- Okay, so the train from Beijing was a journey. Let’s be real, it was a slow-motion torture chamber of snoring, smuggled durian (the smell… oh god, the smell), and someone’s kid who just would NOT stop playing the same tinny video game music. My brain felt like scrambled eggs by the time we pulled into Lanzhou Railway Station. Finding the Starway? A quest worthy of Indiana Jones. The directions online? Useless. Google Maps tried to send me through a brick wall. Finally, after a solid hour of asking anyone and everyone (and battling the local dialects, which are a whole other level of linguistic gymnastics), a kind old lady practically dragged me there. Bless her heart.
- Anecdote: I swear, I saw a goat wearing a tiny backpack during my hotel search. Or maybe it was exhaustion. Honestly, the lines between reality and hallucination were blurred at this point.
- Impression: The hotel itself? Underslept and slightly… dusty. Let's call it "rustic charm." The lobby smelled faintly of boiled cabbage. I’m not sure how I felt about the lobby smell, but I was more concerned about a good shower.
- Afternoon: Lanzhou Lamian – The Religion of Noodles
- Forget the hotel – I needed food. Lanzhou is all about Lamian, hand-pulled noodles, and trust me, it's NOT a suggestion, it's a command. I ventured (a bit shakily) out in search of the holy grail of noodle soup.
- The Discovery: Found a tiny, bustling local joint – barely any English spoken, which is always a good sign. The noodles? Heaven. Pure, unadulterated, slurp-tastic heaven. The broth? Deep, rich, and soul-cleansing. The chili oil? A fiery kiss from the Lanzhou gods. I may have burned my tongue, but I didn't care. I practically inhaled the entire bowl.
- Quirky Observation: The speed at which the noodle chefs work is mind-boggling. They pull, stretch, and twist the dough like they're conducting a noodle symphony. It's mesmerizing. And the way they slurp the noodles? A cultural performance art. I tried to emulate, but I think I just ended up spraying myself.
- Emotion: Pure, unadulterated JOY. I could have cried tears of happiness. I'd gladly eat noodles while on my knees begging in front of whoever the cook was.
- Evening: Hotel Room Shenanigans and Wi-Fi Woes
- Back at the Starway. The air conditioning sounds more like a dying walrus than a cooling system (the room being sweltering in general, I am sure you could understand my feelings), but I collapse into bed. The Wi-Fi, predictably, is a cruel mistress. Half the time it connects, the other half it taunts me. I may have sworn at the router a few times.
- Impression: The bed? Surprisingly comfortable. The sheets? Questionable. The view from the window? Mostly other buildings. But I'm too exhausted to care.
Day 2: The Bizarre and the Beautiful (and More Noodles)
- Morning: The White Pagoda Mountain – Attempted Enlightenment (and Stair Climb)
- Okay, so this was supposed to be a "spiritual experience." The White Pagoda Mountain is a pretty famous landmark, apparently offering stunning views of the city.
- The Climb: The climb was… intense. Seriously. It felt like climbing Mount Everest, but with more chain-smoking locals judging my lack of fitness.
- The View: The view was stunning. Once I reached the top, I was panting, sweating, and questioning all my life choices. But the vista was something else. Lanzhou unfurled before me, a sprawling grid of concrete and mountains, with the Yellow River snaking through it. Worth the effort. Kind of.
- Anecdote: I bought a bottle of water from a vendor at the top. He was selling it for the equivalent of $5 USD. Tourist trap? Absolutely. Did I buy it? Of course. I was desperate.
- Opinion: The pagoda itself? Pretty cool. The crowds? Less cool.
- Afternoon: Another Lamian Intervention
- I’m not ashamed to admit it: I needed another noodle fix. I can't explain it, but it may be the best thing that has happened to my life. This time I went for a spicy, rich beef noodle. It was even better than the first. I'm starting to suspect I could live on noodles alone. (Please don't hold me accountable for those words.)
- Emotion: Pure, unadulterated happiness.
- Evening: Staring at the Ceiling
- The Wi-Fi still hates me. Did some attempts to read a book, but, the reading material made me more tired, and I was too tired to look at the window as well…
- Impression: What a day. Need to sleep.
Day 3: The River, The Dust, and The Departure… Hopefully
- Morning: Yellow River Stroll (and Sticking My Foot in It)
- Decided to take a walk by the Yellow River. It's a vast, muddy, surprisingly powerful river. I was mesmerized by the way the light played on the water.
- The Moment: I somehow managed to get too near the edge and slip. My shoe went in. The water was cold, and… well, let's just say the experience was not as aesthetically pleasing as I'd hoped. I was wet, muddy, and suddenly questioning my life choices again.
- Anecdote: I swear, an old man saw me and just started laughing hysterically. I couldn’t even be mad.
- Opinion: The river is impressive, but I highly recommend wearing waterproof shoes.
- Afternoon: Last-Minute Noodle Farewell and the Great Escape
- One last noodle bowl. It was a ritual at this point. The broth was like a familiar hug, and the noodles were my best friends at this point.
- The Departure: The train station felt like a chaotic, beautiful dream. Saying goodbye to Lanzhou was bittersweet.
- Emotion: A mix of relief and nostalgia. I'll miss the noodles, the dust, the questionable internet, and the constant adventure. Lanzhou, you were… something else.
- Evening:
- Heading to the next city with a heart full of memories.
The Starway Hotel – Final Verdict
It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn't perfect. But it was my basecamp for this messy, beautiful adventure. The Starway Hotel was a portal to the reality of Lanzhou. So, would I recommend it? Well… if you like adventure, a few questionable smells, and a good dose of "authentic" experience, then ABSOLUTELY. But pack your own Wi-Fi, and maybe a pair of waterproof shoes.
And for God's sake, EAT THE NOODLES!
Luxury Ho Chi Minh City Escape: Binh An Home's Deluxe District 1 Haven
Is this place actually *good*? Because the words "unbeatable luxury" usually translate to "slightly above acceptable with a price tag that'll make you cry."
Alright, let's get real. "Unbeatable luxury" ? Honey, prepare for a sliding scale of expectations. It *is* better than sleeping on a bench in the Lanzhou train station, which I have a memory of. A *vivid* memory. But... luxurious it ain't necessarily. Think "slightly less terrifying" than other options near the station. The beds are clean usually (praise Allah), the AC *might* work (fingers crossed!), and the water... well, the water comes out of the tap. That's a win in my book sometimes.
My first time? Oh god. I stumbled off the train, bleary-eyed and reeking of instant noodles. The lobby? Gleaming! Gorgeous! The staff? They practically *bowed*. I thought, "YES! I've finally made it!" Turns out, the gleaming lobby was a masterclass in illusion. The room... not so much. But hey, clean sheets! So, yeah, good? Relative. Realistic? Absolutely.
How close *is* this darned place to the train station, anyway? I’m talking REAL close. Because I'm dragging a trunk the size of a small car.
Oh, honey, you're in luck! We're talking practically *vomit-on-the-doormat* close. I'm serious. It's like... you trip, you fall, you're there. Maybe a five-minute shuffle, tops, depending on your luggage-wrangling skills (I have *none*). Seriously, it's one of the *best* things about this hotel. After a 20-hour train ride, believing you've arrived at the Pearly Gates would be understandable. This hotel's as good as the Pearly Gates that aren't there.
I remember once – oh, the *pain* – I was hauling approximately 30 pounds of dried noodles (don’t ask) and a suitcase that weighed more than my small dog. I could *see* the hotel entrance. Then I saw a flight of stairs. My will to live almost disappeared. But yeah, the proximity is a godsend. Just... be prepared for potential stair-related trauma.
What kind of amenities are we talking about? Free Wi-Fi? Actual working outlets? (Seriously, it's a basic human right!)
Okay, let's decode the amenities. Free Wi-Fi? *Maybe*. It might work. It might not. Don't bet your entire digital life on it. Sometimes, it's like trying to connect to a ghost.
Actual working outlets? Another coin toss! Bring adaptors, international plugs, and a sense of humor. Because, honestly, you're gonna need it. The worst moment for me? Arrived after a trip. Immediately my tablet was out of battery! The outlet? Broken. I had to walk around for about 30 minutes just to find a working one to charge it. I finally did, and after that? I could connect with the outside world, once again.
Now, *some* rooms have a mini-fridge, which is a massive win for cold water in this desert climate. Just, uh, check it before you put anything in there. I once found something… I *think* it might have been a forgotten yak jerky. Let's just say it wasn't a pleasant discovery.
Is the breakfast worth getting up for? Or should I just hit a street vendor and risk my stomach's happiness?
Oh, the breakfast. This is the big question, isn't it? My advice? Temper those expectations, darling. It's... *a* breakfast. Usually, you've got some congee (rice porridge), some questionable pastries, boiled eggs that look like they've been around since the Ming Dynasty, and maybe, just *maybe*, a sad little banana.
Look, it’s fuel. It'll keep you going. But is it gourmet? Is it an experience? Absolutely not. I'd say, if you're a picky eater or have a sensitive stomach, explore local options. The street food *can* be amazing. Find a place with a queue that's longer than your patience allows, that means it's probably good. Just listen to your gut. Literally.
I remember one time, I was *starving*, and the breakfast buffet was...depressing. I took a pastry, and it tasted like sadness. So, I went around the corner and found a noodle stall. Best noodles of my life! So, judge accordingly.
How's the noise situation? I need sleep. I repeat, I NEED SLEEP. Between train rides, my sanity is hanging by a thread.
Noise? Honey, welcome to Lanzhou! It's a city that never sleeps. The train station is perpetually buzzing. The hotel, being right next to it, is also perpetually buzzing. Expect horns, shouting, and the general chaos of a major transportation hub...basically, a soundtrack of the apocalypse. Especially if you get a room facing the street. I once stayed in a room next to a karaoke bar. Trust me, it was a *real* experience.
Bring earplugs. Good ones. The kind that block out the sound of a herd of elephants stampeding through a Tupperware factory. Or, if you're like me, you can embrace the chaos. Eventually, the sounds will become part of your white noise. Just try not to dream of trains. Also, ask for a room on an upper floor, away from the street. That's the best you can do.
I learned that lesson the hard way. I spent a night wide awake, wondering if I was going to die due to sensory overload. Earplugs are now a travel essential!
Is there anything *good* about this place? Seriously, need a little hope here.
Yes! See, I'm not a complete cynic. The location? Unbeatable, as we've established. The staff, for the most part, are friendly and trying their best, even if communication can be a *tiny* bit challenging. Also, and this is a big one: hot water. Most of the time. And the price? Generally, it won't bankrupt you.
Honestly, it's a safe and relatively clean place to crash after a grueling journey. I've stayed in far, far worse. I once booked a place in rural France, and I'm still getting over that experience! This hotel, at least, offers you the essentials. If it's your first time in China, the whole experience is an overload. But in comparison to what you could expect, as long as there's running water and the internet works, you're in decent stead.
Think of it this way: it's not the Four Seasons. But it *is* a warm bed, a hot shower, and a respite from the glorious, glorious madness ofInfinity Inns
