Tianjin Elan Inn: South Railway Station's BEST Hotel? (You Won't Believe This!)
Tianjin Elan Inn: South Railway Station's BEST Hotel? (You Won't Believe This! - A Deep Dive)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to tell you about the Tianjin Elan Inn: South Railway Station. And yes, the "You Won't Believe This!" bit is totally warranted. Because honestly? I went in expecting… well, let's just say low expectations. This isn't the Ritz, people. But what I found was… intriguing. Let’s get messy with this review, shall we?
Accessibility & The Lay of the Land (Mostly Good, With A Few Stumbles)
Right off the bat, "South Railway Station" means you're next to the train. Super convenient for travelers, duh. Getting there? Easy peasy. The Airport transfer is a lifesaver, especially after a long flight. Now, Elevator, big plus for us lazy folks. Facilities for disabled guests are listed, which is great, but I didn't personally test them (though, I did notice wide hallways, which is generally a good sign).
Okay, here's where it gets a little… real. See, I’m not a fan of a lot of walking. And while the hotel itself is pretty maneuverable, navigating the surrounding area (shops, restaurants) might be a challenge for someone in a wheelchair or with mobility issues. Think about it. Maybe call ahead and ask about specific accessibility details for the surrounding streets. (Hey, full disclosure, here. Not everything is perfect. Life isn't a brochure.)
Cleanliness, Safety, and the Great COVID Shield (They're Taking It SERIOUSLY!)
This is where the Elan Inn really shines. Honestly, the measures are… well, bordering on obsessive. Which, in this day and age? I'm here for it.
- Anti-viral cleaning products? Check.
- Daily disinfection in common areas? Check.
- Rooms sanitized between stays? Check.
- Staff trained in safety protocol? Check.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter? Seems to be attempted.
- Hand sanitizer? Everywhere.
- Individually-wrapped food options? Yes! Thank you, Elan Inn!
I even saw someone spraying down the elevator buttons! (Okay, maybe slightly over the top, but you know what? I felt safe.) Rooms sanitized between stays are the best thing ever.
The whole Safe dining setup thing is pretty impressive. It’s not just a quick wipe-down of tables; they've clearly put serious thought into it.
The Room: My (Mostly) Cozy Cave
Alright, let's talk about the actual room. I snagged a Non-smoking room (thank goodness). The Air conditioning was a godsend. Blackout curtains were essential for getting some sleep after a long day (and they worked!). Big thumbs up. The Bed? Comfy enough. Not the most luxurious I've ever slept in, but definitely decent.
The Wi-Fi [free] was, well, adequate. It's not lightning-fast, but it worked for basic browsing and email. Internet access – wireless is a staple! And I'm not even going to mention that Free bottled water because, let’s be honest, it's a godsend!
Complimentary tea, a nice touch for those early mornings.
Bathrobes and Slippers? Score!
*Desk, *I even got some work done.
Hair dryer and Ironing facilities? Essential.
Laptop workspace? Pretty convenient
Mini bar was pretty empty. What else is new?
Additional toilet. Never know when you need it, don't you?
Food, Glorious Food (and Drink… and Snacking!)
This is a big category, so let's unpack it slowly.
- Restaurants (plural!): Yes!
- A la carte in restaurant, Breakfast [buffet] and Buffet in restaurant? Got it!
- Asian breakfast? YES! Finally some authentic food.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant? YUM!
- Western breakfast? Also available!
- Breakfast takeaway service, the best thing to ever happen!
- Coffee/tea in restaurant and Coffee shop? YES YES YES!
Now, here’s a funny story… I decided to have breakfast in my room one morning. Breakfast in room! So luxurious! The Breakfast in room option was… well, let’s just say it wasn’t the best breakfast ever. I’m talking about dry bread and cold eggs (though, you know, I did enjoy their coffee!)
- Bar? Yes!
- Poolside bar? Yes! Perfect for a happy hour cocktail and chatting with friends.
- Snack bar? Excellent for a quick bite.
Relaxation and Entertainment: More Than Meets the Eye (Or Your Tired Eyes)
Okay, so you're tired. You need to unwind. What's the Elan Inn got?
- Swimming pool [outdoor] and a Pool with view: Nice for a dip and some sun (if the sun’s shining).
- Fitness center: I'm not a gym rat, so I gave this one a miss (but it was there).
- Spa/sauna? Yes, please! And yes, I did try the Sauna. Perfect after a long day!
- Steamroom: Not for me, but available!
- Massage: Yes, of course! A massage after a big day is a good thing.
- Body scrub and Body wrap: If you're that kind of person, you're in luck.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
- Concierge: Helpful for getting around.
- Cash withdrawal and Currency exchange: Useful.
- Daily housekeeping: Excellent!.
- Dry cleaning and Laundry service: Good.
- Meeting/banquet facilities, Indoor venue for special events, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Audio-visual equipment for special events: If you need those kinds of things this hotel has you covered.
- Room service [24-hour]? Score!
- Luggage storage: YES!
- Convenience store: Never know when you need a snack
- Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests.
- Doorman, Front desk [24-hour].
- Smile and Security [24-hour].
For the Kids (And the Kid in You)
- Babysitting service
- Family/child friendly
- Kids facilities?
- Kids meal
Things I Loved (The Good Stuff!)
- The Cleanliness. Seriously. It was impressive.
- The Convenience of being near the train station.
- The Breakfast.
- The Staff. Mostly friendly and helpful.
Things That Could Be Better (The Honest Stuff!)
- The Wi-Fi. A bit spotty at times.
- Some of the room decor was starting to show its age (a few scuffs and dings).
- The surrounding area, while accessible to the railway station, could have a few accessibility options.
The Verdict: Is Tianjin Elan Inn: South Railway Station the BEST? (Maybe!)
Look, it's not perfect. It's not the fanciest hotel in Tianjin. But, for the price, and given the current world climate, the Elan Inn is a really solid choice. The focus on cleanliness and safety is fantastic, and the location is unparalleled if you're traveling by train. The staff are generally helpful, the facilities are good, and overall, I had a positive experience.
Who Should Stay Here?
- Train travelers! Duh!
- Anyone looking for a clean, safe, and conveniently located hotel.
- People who are okay with a bit of "no frills" in exchange for peace of mind.
Who Should Maybe Look Elsewhere?
- Luxury travelers looking for top-tier amenities.
- Anyone with serious mobility issues who needs to be absolutely sure of accessibility in the surrounding area.
The Unforgettable Anecdote: The Sauna Surprise
Okay, I have to tell you about the Sauna. I was exhausted after a train ride and decided to treat myself. The Sauna… was empty when I walked in. BLISS. I sat, I sweated, I melted. And then, another guest
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Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your sanitized, perfectly-planned itinerary. This is life, Tianjin-style, Elan Inn, South Railway Station, warts and all. Prepare for a rollercoaster… probably mostly going sideways.
Tianjin Tantrums & Triumph: A Totally Unorganized Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival, Awkward Encounters, and Questionable Noodles
14:00 (ish) - Arrival at Tianjin South Railway Station – The Great Wall of Luggage. Okay, first impressions? MASSIVE. And I mean, mammoth. Trying to navigate the sea of bustling humanity, dodging rogue suitcases that clearly have minds of their own, and wrestling with a suitcase that seems determined to stage a rebellion is a sport in itself. Found the Elan Inn eventually – the sign’s a bit… subtle. And did I mention I'm already sweating? Beautiful.
14:30 - Check-in Disaster and Room Review: The check-in process – ah, the check-in process. Let's just say my Mandarin is more "lost puppy" than "fluent speaker." A charming older gentleman behind the desk, bless his heart, spoke zero English, and after much pantomiming, sign language, and pleading gestures, We get the key. The room…let's just say it's "compact." But hey, it's clean (ish). And the bed? Surprisingly comfortable.
15:00 - Scavenging for Supplies and a First Culture Shock: Needed water. Desperately. Wandered out into the alleyways and, well, the sensory overload was intense. Street vendors hawking things I can't even identify alongside tiny, chaotic shops crammed with, well, everything. Found a 7-Eleven (thank the heavens!), which almost felt comforting, until I realized I had to navigate the entire store just to find the water, and all the labels are in… Chinese. Managed to buy a bottle of Nongfu Spring (purely based on the picture of a little bear). Victory!
17:00 - Noodle Quest and Culinary Confusion: Okay, so I was feeling adventurous. Found a tiny noodle joint tucked away. The menu? Mandarin calligraphy. Pointed at a picture of something vaguely resembling noodles and a smiling server who, bless her heart, also spoke zero English. What arrived? A bubbling cauldron of… stuff. Noodles, definitely. Something that looked suspiciously like diced chicken feet. And a broth that tasted like… something. I'm still not sure what. A culinary baptism of fire, if you will. The noodles were good, though. Really good. The chicken feet? Meh. Let's just say I’ve had enough protein.
19:00 - The Bed, the Wifi, and the Existential Dread (Movie Time): Back in the lovely, compact room. Wifi is surprisingly strong (phew!). Now I'm watching a chinese movie, and I have no idea what's going on, but the actors are very dramatic. Very, very dramatic. The bed is calling. Tomorrow, the adventure continues… hopefully with less chicken feet.
Day 2: Temple Troubles, Market Mayhem, and the Great Scarf Conspiracy
08:00 – Breakfast Blues and Coffee Conspiracy: The Elan Inn breakfast "buffet" (very generous use of the word "buffet") consists of congee, some suspiciously colored buns, and tea: the hotel's coffee situation is bleak. I went across the street and found a little cafe and managed to order, after much gesticulation, a cup of something that resembled coffee. Then I found my way to the metro.
09:00 - Temple of Great Compassion Exploration: The Temple of Great Compassion made me feel so calm. It was a very nice place with nice architecture and I liked it.
11:00 - The Market: A Sensory Assault Okay, this market. It's a swirling cyclone of humanity, smells (some delightful, some… not so much), and a cacophony of noise that almost drowned out the sound of my own heartbeat. I attempted to navigate the stalls that sells everything, from dried seafood to knock-off designer handbags. I felt like I was in a treasure hunt. Except I wasn't looking for treasure. I was lost.
12:00 - Scarf Scramble and a Bargaining Battle: Saw this scarf. Beautiful silk, vibrant colors. The vendor? A hawk. "Five hundred yuan!" he boomed, eyes gleaming. "Too much!" I countered, channeling my inner haggler. The negotiation was a performance art. We laughed, we argued, we dramatically walked away… then came back. I finally got it for, um… a price I’m still not fully sure. But the scarf is gorgeous, and it was fun.
13:00 - Lunch: The Dumpling Delirium: Found a dumpling shop. It was glorious. Juicy, flavorful, and the kind of comfort food that makes you forget you're potentially eating chicken feet broth.
14:00 - Back to the Inn - Post-Market Meltdown: Back at the hotel. I'm exhausted. My feet hurt. The scarf is a triumph, though. Definitely worth all that haggling.
15:00 - The Great Existential Nap. I need sleep. Lots of it.
19:00 - Dinner: Repeat of Noodles (with Less Dread?) Went back to the noodle spot. This time, armed with a few (very basic) Mandarin phrases. Got the noodles again, but added some chili oil for extra spice. Feeling good.
Day 3: Travel & Departure (Or, The Great Railway Escape)
08:00 - The Morning is Here. The sun is shining. Breakfast is… well, it's breakfast. And I need to get to the train station…fast
09:00 - The Great Railway Escape: The train station chaos is nothing compared to the market. I found my way to the platform, fought my way onto the train, and now I am… finally moving.
11:00 - Goodbye, Tianjin! (Hopefully. Or at least, goodbye for now).
Final Thoughts (and Mild Panic):
Tianjin? It's a whirlwind. It’s chaotic, it’s confusing, it’s beautiful, and it’s… a bit overwhelming. I feel like I've been thrown into a washing machine and haven't quite come out clean. But honestly, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I have a scarf, a memory of chicken feet, and a story to tell. And that, my friends, is what travel is all about. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a nap. And maybe a translator.
Is Tianjin Elan Inn: South Railway Station ACTUALLY the best hotel near the station? (Because, seriously, expectations are LOW.)
Okay, brace yourselves. "Best" is a relative term, alright? When you're talking about hotels *near* a train station – and I mean, practically *AT* it – you’re not exactly aiming for the Ritz. But here's the thing, and I’m still processing: YES. Kinda. Look, it's not the Waldorf. It’s not even the… uh… the slightly-less-crummy-than-usual chain hotel. BUT. The price is ridiculously good. Seriously, my wallet started singing showtunes. And for what you get? Believe it or not, it punches above its weight. I stayed there last month, and I went fully expecting a moldy room and a questionable breakfast buffet. I prepared myself for battle. (Mostly with an extra bottle of hand sanitizer.) But… it wasn’t HORRIBLE. In fact, it was… decent. And sometimes, decent is a damn miracle.
What's the deal with the rooms? Are they… clean? (Deep breath…)
Alright, let's be honest. Cleanliness is *the* question, right? After a long train ride, you're vulnerable. You're tired. You're dreaming of a fluffy white towel and a bed that doesn't smell like sadness. And yes, the rooms *are* generally clean. Like, "surprisingly clean" clean. I'm talking, floors swept (though I'd still wear slippers!), the bathroom… well, the bathroom was passable. The shower pressure was… okay. Not a power wash, mind you, but you could get wet. I actually had a… *moment*… where I saw a tiny, TINY speck of… something… on the bedspread. My first instinct was to burst into flames. But then I took a breath, looked closer, and it was… just… a tiny piece of fluff. Crisis averted! Mostly. Look, cleanliness is subjective. I'm not going to say it's sterile. But you *can* survive. You won't get leprosy. Probably.
Breakfast. The dreaded hotel breakfast. What's the damage at the Elan Inn?
Okay, prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions. Hotel breakfast… you know the drill. So, breakfast at the Elan Inn? It’s… an experience. It's a buffet, of course. And the word "buffet" here is used… loosely. We're talking a selection of… things. Some things were recognizable. Some things… weren't. I saw some… I *think* it was congee. And some kind of… fried dough thing. Look, I'm not a food critic. I'm a hungry traveler. And honestly? It wasn’t *terrible*. I managed to cobble together a plate of… *something*. The coffee was… well, it was hot and brown. That’s about all I can say. The best part? It's included in the price! I was so proud of my plate-building skills. The emotional takeaway? Lower expectations. Embrace the mystery. You’ll survive. Maybe even enjoy it… in a "this-is-so-bad-it's-good" kind of way.
How's the location REALLY? Is it actually convenient for the South Railway Station? (Or is it a cruel, deceptive lie?)
Okay, listen up. The location is… *the* thing. It's the reason you're even considering this place, right? And YES, it's seriously convenient. We're talking, like, practically *inside* the station. Like, you could stumble out of bed five minutes before your train leaves and *maybe* make it. (I wouldn't recommend it, but it's theoretically possible.) It's a lifesaver if you have an early train or a late arrival. No dragging your luggage through the freezing cold or the pouring rain. It's a godsend. The only real downside? The constant train noise. You'll hear it. Sometimes. (More on that later.)
Any tips for surviving the night? Noise levels, etc.?
Okay, the noise… yeah. The trains. They *are* loud. And they run… all night. I mean, ALL NIGHT. I'm a light sleeper, so I packed earplugs, which were absolutely essential. Consider yourself warned: bring earplugs. Seriously. And maybe a white noise app on your phone. It's not constant, like a jackhammer right beside you, but you do get… *thumps*. And whistles. And the occasional… *shriek*. (Trains, apparently, shriek.) Aside from the train noise, it's pretty standard hotel fare at night. The usual door slams and the occasional loud conversation in the hallway. So, yeah… earplugs are your friend. Trust me on this.
What about the staff? Are they nice? Helpful? Do they speak English? (Prayers for the latter.)
The staff… alright. They’re… *present*. The English skills vary, let's just say that. Some spoke a little, enough to handle the basics. Some… not so much. Pointing and smiling became my primary communication tools. (Works surprisingly well, actually!) Overall, though, they were perfectly pleasant. Not overly friendly, not overly helpful, but not rude either. They did their jobs. They got me checked in. They took my keycard. They pointed me in the direction of the breakfast buffet. And that was, honestly, all I needed. Don't walk in expecting concierge service. Walk in expecting efficiency. And, hey, a smile or two goes a long way, right? (Even if I had to supply it myself, sometimes!).
Any major downsides I should be aware of? Like, REALLY aware of?
Okay, the train noise. I've said it before, but it bears repeating. It's a thing. A *big* thing. Earplugs! Stock up! Seriously. Also… don’t expect luxury. This is a budget hotel, plain and simple. Don’t expect fluffy towels. Don’t expect a fancy gym. Don’t expect a spa. You *will* get a bed, a room, and a bathroom. And that’s about it. (Which, honestly, sometimes that’s all you need, right?). It is what it is. Accept it. Embrace the budget-ness. You’ll survive.
Would you stay there again? (Honest answer, please!)
Okay, so, the ultimate question. Would I stay there again? Here’s theSmart Traveller Inns
