Rizhao's Hidden Gem: Hanting Hotel Ju County Review (You Won't Believe This!)
Rizhao's Hanting Hotel Ju County: Seriously, You Won't Believe This… My Honest (and Slightly Chaotic) Review!
Okay, folks, buckle up, because I’m about to spill the tea (and maybe some spilled coffee) on Rizhao's Hanting Hotel in Ju County. They're calling it a "Hidden Gem." Honestly? Let's see if that gem shines… because my stay was… well, it was a journey. Prepare for a rollercoaster of opinions, because that's exactly what I'm about to take you on.
Keywords: Hanting Hotel, Ju County, Rizhao, Hotel Review, China Travel, Accessible Hotel, Family-Friendly, Spa, Cleanliness, COVID-19 Safety, Value for Money, Amenities, Honest Review, Travel Diary, Chinese Hotels, Shandong Province
Accessibility (Struggling Up the Ramp…)
Right, so, accessibility. This is where things got off to a… shall we say, less-than-stellar start. The website touted "Facilities for disabled guests." Great! I’ve got a friend who uses a wheelchair, so this was crucial. The reality? A slightly optimistic ramp leading to the entrance. It was… steep. Now, I’m no expert on inclines, but I’m pretty sure we could have won a gold medal pushing my friend up that thing. Inside, the elevators were functional, which is a win! But navigating some of those hallways felt like navigating a maze. So, assess carefully if accessibility is a MUST. I'd give this a solid C. Maybe.
On-site Accessible Restaurants / Lounges (Hoping for a Smoother Ride…)
I'm not sure if the restaurants were specifically accessible, but we did get a table in the main dining area. Plenty of space to maneuver, at least.
Wheelchair Accessible (The Struggles Continue…)
See above. Let's just say… improvements are needed.
Internet Access: Wi-Fi… Everywhere! (Praise the Internet Gods!)
Okay, now we’re talking! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms?! YES! And it actually worked! The glorious speed of the internet made me feel like a tech king! Internet [LAN] was also available, if you’re into plugging in. We live in a connected world, and Hanting delivered here. This is a HUGE plus in my book. I had to upload a ton of photos for a work project, and I never encountered any problems. 10/10.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax (Spa Day Dreams… Deferred)
Alright, let's dive into the relaxation options. The description mentioned a Spa. I was SO psyched. I pictured myself getting a full body massage and a body wrap. But when I asked, I was met with a slightly confused shrug. Turns out, the spa was… closed. Apparently, the sauna as well was also out of order. Damn! This was a major disappointment. Also, forget about a pool with a view, the pool was… indoors and not particularly scenic. I guess the steamroom had me at "maybe." I only saw the massage on the menu, but it was closed because everything was also closed.
- Fitness center: I gave the gym a peek, and it was a bit small and basic, but hey, at least it was there.
- Gym/fitness: Yep, it exists.
- Foot bath: Never saw one.
- Swimming pool: Mentioned above.
- Spa/sauna: Refer to my disappointment.
My relaxation plans didn’t work. But hey, at least there were options.
Cleanliness and Safety (COVID-Conscious or Just… Clean?)
Okay, this is where Hanting really shone. The hotel was serious about their hygiene and how to take care of their guests.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Check.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Check.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Double check.
- Hygiene certification: Couldn't confirm, but based on other measures, probably.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Yes, for breakfast particularly.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: They tried.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Seemed like it.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Absolutely.
- Safe dining setup: More on that later.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Yes.
- Sterilizing equipment: I didn't see it, but I assumed it was there.
I felt incredibly safe. They took COVID seriously, which is a massive relief. The staff were constantly cleaning, and I felt confident that they were doing everything they could to keep guests safe. I found this reassuring. HUGE kudos for this!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (Breakfast Buffet Bliss…)
Alright, food! This is where things got… interesting.
- A la carte in restaurant: It was there!
- Asian breakfast: Yes! Definitely Asian breakfast options. Noodles for breakfast? Don't mind if I do!
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Check.
- Bar: I saw one open till late.
- Bottle of water: Complimentary and appreciated.
- Breakfast [buffet]: This was the HIGHLIGHT. This breakfast buffet had everything. From the basic stuff to the amazing, there was so much here. I'm talking noodles, savory buns, and a ton of other dishes I couldn't even name!
- Breakfast service: Excellent.
- Buffet in restaurant: Yes, yes, YES!
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Plenty of it!
- Coffee shop: Yes, a welcome sight on a busy trip.
- Desserts in restaurant: A good selection (though not the best).
- Happy hour: Didn’t see it.
- International cuisine in restaurant: Maybe.
- Poolside bar: N/A
- Restaurants: Several.
- Room service [24-hour]: Yes!
- Salad in restaurant: Check.
- Snack bar: Small.
- Soup in restaurant: Check.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Unsure.
- Western breakfast: Some, yes, but the Asian options were far superior.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: Limited.
Services and Conveniences (Swiss Army Knife of Hotel Services)
Hanting seems to have it all.
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: Probably.
- Business facilities: Yes.
- Cash withdrawal: Didn't need to.
- Concierge: Yes.
- Contactless check-in/out: Available.
- Convenience store: Check.
- Currency exchange: Yes.
- Daily housekeeping: Excellent.
- Doorman: Yes.
- Dry cleaning: Check.
- Elevator: Yes.
- Essential condiments: Probably.
- Facilities for disabled guests: (See Access & Accessibility).
- Food delivery: I ordered some takeout.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Small, but it exists.
- Indoor venue for special events: Yes.
- Invoice provided: Yes.
- Ironing service: Yes.
- Laundry service: Check.
- Luggage storage: Yes.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: Yes.
- Meetings: Yes.
- Meeting stationery: Probably.
- On-site event hosting: Yes.
- Outdoor venue for special events: Possible.
- Projector/LED display: Likely.
- Safety deposit boxes: Yes.
- Seminars: Yes.
- Shrine: No idea.
- Smoking area: Yes.
- Terrace: Possible.
- Wi-Fi for special events: Probably.
- Xerox/fax in business center: Yes.
For the Kids (Family-Friendly Vibes?)
- Babysitting service: Available, but didn't use it.
- Family/child friendly: Generally, yes.
- Kids facilities: Didn’t see anything specific.
- Kids meal: Unknown.
Access (Another Look)
- CCTV in common areas: Yes.
- CCTV outside property: Yes.
- Check-in/out [express]: Yes.
- Check-in/out [private]: Possibly.
- Exterior corridor: Yes.
- Fire extinguisher: Yes.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Yes.
- Hotel chain: Yes.
- Non-smoking rooms: Yes.
- Pets allowed: No.
- Proposal spot: Doubtful.
- Room decorations: Basic.
- **Safety/security feature
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. This isn't your perfectly-polished, sterile travel itinerary. This is me, flailing through Rizhao, China, fueled by questionable street food and the overwhelming desire to find a decent cup of coffee. And this is what happened.
Rizhao Rumble: A Week of Sun, Sand, and Existential Dread (Mostly Kidding… Mostly)
Hotel Base of Operations: Hanting Hotel Rizhao Ju County (God, I Hope the Bed's Comfortable)
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Noodle Debacle
- Time: 1:00 PM
- Event: Arrived! Finally. After a godawful flight. The bus from the airport was… let's just say "intimate." Packed tighter than a sardine can. And the air conditioning? Non-existent. Sweaty, grumpy me finally tumbled into the Hanting. Room's… fine. Cleanish. Hopefully the shower doesn't go from ice cold to molten lava in two seconds flat.
- Quirky Observation: The lobby smells suspiciously of disinfectant and… instant noodles. Intriguing combination, China. Intriguing.
- Emotional Reaction: Mostly relief. Just…relief. And a gnawing fear of jet lag.
- Later:
- Time: 2:30 PM
- Event: Lunch. Found a little noodle shop a few blocks away. Looked promising. The menu, however, was in Chinese characters I couldn't decipher. Pointed vaguely and hoped for the best.
- Anecdote: Oh, the noodles. Picture this: a bowl of what appeared to be perfectly innocent, steaming noodles. Then… the spice. Oh, the spice! My mouth was a volcano. Tears streamed down my face. The lovely old lady running the place just laughed. She offered me a glass of water, but I'm pretty sure it was the only thing keeping me from exploding into a cloud of chili-infused smoke. This may be the start of a love-hate relationship with Chinese cuisine.
- Opinion: I think I need a digestive system transplant.
- Minor Category: Laundry. Did some laundry in the sink. The bathroom has a strange habit of getting the whole shower floor wet.
Day 2: Beach Bliss (Kind Of) and the Case of the Missing Sunscreen
- Time: 9:00 AM
- Event: Headed to the beach! Rizhao’s famed for its coastline, so expectations were high. The water was…well, it was there. A little murky, but hey! Sand! I love sand!
- Emotional Reaction: Initially, pure joy. The sun, the sea… bliss. (Then I realized I'd forgotten my sunscreen.)
- Quirky Observation: The seagulls here are particularly aggressive. I swear, one tried to snatch my (imaginary) French fry.
- Later:
- Time: 12:00 PM
- Event: Sunburn! The sun, in its infinite cruelty, decided to roast my fair skin. My nose is currently the color of a ripe tomato.
- Anecdote: Found a local pharmacy and attempted to ask for sunscreen. My attempts at Mandarin were, shall we say, less than successful. After much pointing, miming, and desperate gestures involving my increasingly red face, I think I got the message across. Fingers crossed.
- Opinion: Next time, I’m bringing a hazmat suit and a lifetime supply of sunscreen.
- Minor Category: Found an "English" coffee shop. The coffee was, let's say, "interpretable." The pastries were… interesting.
Day 3: Diving Deep (But Really Just a Fish Market)
- Time: 10:00 AM
- Event: Visited the local fish market. The sheer volume of seafood was astounding. Live crabs scuttling around, buckets of wriggling fish, and… the smell. Oh, the smell. A glorious, pungent symphony of the sea.
- Anecdote: I witnessed a fishmonger expertly decapitate a… well, I’m not entirely sure what it was, but it involved a lot of splashing and sharp implements. I think I may have developed a sudden and unexpected aversion to seafood.
- Emotional Reaction: Mostly a mixture of fascination and… mild nausea.
- Opinion: Fish markets are definitely an experience. Whether it's a good experience is debatable.
- Later
- Time 1:00 PM
- Event: Spent the afternoon walking around the beach.
- Minor Category: Lost my phone! Panic set in quick, but it was found later after calling my brother.
Day 4: The Temple of… What Was It Called?
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Event: Visited a local temple. Beautiful architecture, incense smoke billowing everywhere. The atmosphere was… serene.
- Quirky Observation: The locals seemed very invested in the fortunes of some ducks.
- Anecdote: Tried to light a joss stick and nearly set my hair on fire. Learning curve, people, learning curve.
- Emotional Reaction: Found a moment of peace, which was much needed.
- Opinion: I should have brought more matches.
- Later
- Time: 2:00 PM
- Event: Tried to order food, and failed. The restaurant was closed.
- Minor Category: I found a grocery store and bought some chips and juice!
Day 5: Doubling Down: The Karaoke Catastrophe
- Time: 8:00 PM
- Event: Karaoke night! My friend had convinced me it would be “fun.” I should have known better.
- Anecdote: The karaoke bar. Dimly lit, filled with cigarette smoke, and the most off-key renditions of pop songs I've ever heard. Then, it was my turn. I opted for a classic - "Livin’ on a Prayer." My voice… well, let’s just say it shattered glass. The audience… mainly stared.
- Emotional Reaction: Humiliation. Pure, unadulterated karaoke-induced humiliation. Followed by a strange sense of liberation.
- Opinion: Karaoke is pure evil. But also… kind of addictive?
- Later
- Time: 10:00 PM
- Event: Ate some street food. It was… good. I think.
- Minor Category: I found a new friend, his name is John. Cool guy.
Day 6: A Day of Rest (And Trying to Find Decent Coffee… Again)
- Time: 10:00 AM
- Event: Slept in. Needed it.
- Quirky Observation: The hotel room AC is starting to sound like a dying dinosaur.
- Emotional Reaction: Surprisingly, a sense of quiet contentment.
- Opinion: Coffee, coffee, where art thou?
- Later:
- Event: Walked around downtown.
- Minor Category: Packed my bags. Ugh.
Day 7: Farewell, Rizhao (and Hello, More Noodles?)
- Time: 8:00 AM
- Event: Breakfast. My last chance for noodles? Maybe. I’m strangely addicted.
- Anecdote: The taxi ride to the airport was… eventful. Let’s just say the driver had a very heavy foot. I may or may not have clutched my stomach in terror for the duration.
- Emotional Reaction: A bittersweet mix of sadness to leave.
- Quirky Observation: The Rizhao airport has a distinct lack of gift shops. Missed opportunity.
- Opinion: I'll be back, Rizhao. Eventually. Maybe with a hazmat suit. And industrial-strength sunscreen.
- Minor Category: Flight, here I come.
So there you have it. My Rizhao experience. Messy, imperfect, and utterly unforgettable. And, yes, my stomach is still recovering. But would I do it again? Absolutely. In a heartbeat. (After a very long nap, and a very strong cup of coffee.)
Escape to Swanage: YHA's Coastal Gem Awaits!
Hanting Hotel Ju County: The Rizhao Rhapsody (Or, Why My Wallet Wept…and My Soul Found Joy?)
Okay, spill the tea. Is Hanting Ju County *really* a hidden gem? Like, are we talking buried treasure or just a slightly less-than-average rock?
Alright, alright, buckle up, buttercups. "Hidden gem" might be a *slight* exaggeration. More like a… well, let’s just say it's a diamond in the rough, but the rough is made of slightly-questionable polishing techniques. Ju County itself? Charming! Hanting? It's got *potential*. Picture this: you're on a budget, you *need* a roof, and you accidentally stumbled into Rizhao. That's where Hanting Ju County comes in. For the price? Absolutely worth it. Luxurious? Nah. Memorable? Oh boy, yes. Mostly for the reasons you *didn't* expect.
Let's get down to the basics. What's the location situation like?
Truthfully? It's… okay. It's in Ju County, not exactly Rizhao City's glittering beachfront. You'll need a taxi (or a very determined pair of legs) to get anywhere interesting. I'm talking the fish market, the park with the questionable statues, the karaoke. The whole shebang. But, and this is a big but, Ju County feels *real*. Less tourist trap, more genuine slice of life. You'll be amongst locals, not a horde of fellow travelers. And that, my friends, has its own charm, even if it requires a little extra effort. Just… learn some basic Mandarin, or be prepared to mime aggressively. My experience with the front desk woman involved a lot of pointing and grunting. And I was quite hungry so I needed some of their instant noodles at the end of the day.
The room? The glorious room! What's it *really* like? Spill the details!
Ah, the room. The place where you'll spend your nights, contemplating the mysteries of life (or just binge-watching that show you'd been putting off). Okay, so, don’t expect the Ritz. Think… cleanish. And for the price, you can not complain. The bed? Firm. REALLY firm. My back was screaming after the first night, but hey, at least it's not a saggy mess, right? The bathroom? Functional. The shower? Let's just say the water pressure *varies*. One minute you're getting a gentle drizzle, the next you're being waterboarded. But it's clean, and that's what counts! There's this weird smell in the air after a shower, like wet cardboard. But hey, it could be the essence of Ju County, who knows? And the air conditioning? It worked eventually. After a lot of fiddling. And the TV? Well, it had channels, but I couldn't understand a lick of Mandarin, so... it was mostly background noise. I was just happy there was a window and a general feeling of safety. Which leads me to…
Safety? Is the area sketchy? Should I bring a bodyguard?
Relax. No need for bodyguards. Ju County felt incredibly safe. Even wandering around late at night, I never felt uneasy. The locals are friendly, albeit a little curious about the (presumably very lost) foreigner. I felt safer here than I do in certain areas of my own city. The hotel staff are, on the whole, polite and helpful, even if communication is sometimes…challenging. Seriously, bring a translation app, you will need it. And possibly a picture of what you want, or be prepared to point a lot. At least they *try*. That's the main thing, right? Try.
Okay, let's talk value. Is this a money saver or a money pit?
Money saver, absolutely! This is where Hanting Ju County shines. You get a clean, functional room, in a safe area, for very little money. You're not going to be disappointed. You *might* be surprised. But hey, if you're looking for budget accommodation in a less touristy area, you truly cannot go wrong. I consider it a win!
The Breakfast, the food! Fill up your stomach and tell me about it!
Breakfast? Oh, that's where things get interesting. (Or possibly, disastrously delicious). It depends on the day. But there's always *something*. One day, it was a buffet of mystery meats and congee that looked like baby barf but tasted…well, I'm still not sure. Some days, there were sad-looking pastries that were probably from a week ago. But you know what? I ate it. I ate it all. I remember this *one* breakfast. It was a Monday. The lights in the room were flickering, and the air smelled faintly of stale cigarettes. I remember a lady at reception looking extremely unamused. I pointed at the buffet thingy and there was meat, some noodles and…I could not tell what was inside the meat. I think it was…a challenge. It was cooked, anyway. And I was hungry, so I ate. Later that day, my stomach protested, but hey, it's all part of the adventure, right? The hotel, at least, always offered free water. Which was very very welcome!
Anything in particular that truly, really screwed up your stay? Let's be honest here.
Okay. This is where I delve into the trenches of truth. Right. So, the Wi-Fi? Spotty. Like, dial-up internet in 2024 spotty. Prepare to be disconnected, to rage, to potentially throw your phone across the room. I wanted to upload pictures, update the world, or just watch a show! It was a disaster. The signal would come and go. I literally stood in the hallway, trying to leech some signal from the router. I'd finally get a few bars, then the signal would disappear. It was frustrating. But, hey, it forced me to unplug, to actually *experience* Ju County. So, maybe, just maybe, it was a blessing in disguise? That's what I'm telling myself. That’s it. The wifi was abysmal. Prepare your own mobile hotspot, or prepare to go off the grid!
Would you recommend Hanting Ju County? Who is this hotel for?
Would I recommend it? Absolutely, with caveats. If you’re a budget traveler, an adventurous soul, or someone who just needs a no-frills place to crash in Ju County, go for it! This is for people who don't mind a little…character. If you demand luxury, pristine perfection, and flawless Wi-Fi, RUN. Run far, far away. This is for the traveler who embraces the unexpected, who finds joy in the absurd, and who's not afraid of a slightly questionable breakfast. It's an experience. A slightly bizarre, slightly flawed, and ultimately, quite endearing experience. It's the kind of place that will give you stories to tell for years. Would i goBook a Stay
