Unbelievable Datong Hotel Deal: Thank Inn Shanxi Review!
Unbelievable Datong Hotel Deal: Thank Inn Shanxi Review!
Unbelievable Datong Hotel Deal: Thank Inn Shanxi Review – A Whirlwind of Noodles, History, and… Well, Let's See!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Datong, China, and I'm here to spill the tea – and maybe some chili oil – on the Thank Inn Hotel Shanxi. The "Unbelievable Deal" part of the title had me intrigued, so I went in, ready to be charmed or, let's be honest, mildly disappointed. And the truth? It was a mixed bag, a culinary adventure, a culture clash, and a surprisingly good night's sleep all rolled into one. Here's the brutally honest, slightly chaotic, and hopefully helpful review you crave:
Metadata & SEO Bait (Before We Get to the Goods):
- Keywords: Datong Hotel, Thank Inn Shanxi, Shanxi Province, Chinese Hotels, Budget Hotel, Datong Travel, Wheelchair Accessible, Free Wi-Fi, Datong Attractions, Hotel Review, Cleanliness, Affordable Travel, Travel China, Datong Accommodation, Restaurants in Datong, Spa in Datong, Family Friendly Hotel
- Focus: This review prioritizes the experience, honesty, and practicality needed for travelers.
(Deep Breath) Let's Dive In!
Accessibility: (Uh, Sort Of)
Okay, so "Unbelievable Deal" probably doesn't translate to "Luxury Wheelchair Paradise". The hotel technically offers facilities for disabled guests, a nice touch, I’ll give them that. But real talk? Navigating the lobby felt a little… complicated. Everything felt a little bit tight. I didn’t see any ramps, per se, and the automatic doors seemed to have a mind of their own. It's maybe a cautious, "check with the hotel directly to get a full picture," type of situation, before booking.
On-site Accessible Restaurant/Lounges:
Hard to say, really. Didn't see anything obviously accessible.
Wheelchair Accessible:
See above. Potentially accessible, but do your due diligence! Check those details directly with the hotel.
Internet Access: Glorious, Free Wi-Fi!
Thank goodness! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms (and I mean all rooms – even the ones that looked like they'd been recently renovated) was a lifesaver. Especially considering my limited Mandarin skills and the general internet strangeness of China. Downloading maps, checking train schedules, and bragging about my amazing (and probably slightly questionable) noodle consumption on social media? All possible thanks to the glorious free Wi-Fi. It was pretty fast, too. No complaints there. There was also Internet [LAN], but honestly, who uses those anymore?!
Internet Services:
Nothing fancy. Basic internet, which is all you really need.
Wi-Fi in Public Areas:
Yes, the Wi-Fi was pretty solid everywhere. Even… shudder … in the sometimes-crowded breakfast area.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: (Mostly In-House)
Okay, this is where things get interesting. The Thank Inn, as far as I could tell, wasn't exactly a resort. Amenities were limited.
- Fitness Center: Existence unconfirmed. Didn’t see one, didn't ask, didn’t care (too busy eating noodles).
- Pool with View, Sauna, Spa/Sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool: (LOL) Nope. Strictly a "get-your-head-down-and-explore-Datong" kind of place. Forget the pampering. This is about survival.
- Massage: Now, this is where it got interesting. I did see a sign advertising Massage services, and it made me think… maybe. Maybe there were some hidden gems here. But I didn't partake. Maybe next time.
There were a few quirky things, though. A little zen garden with a slightly wonky pagoda (a bit of a "found art" vibe), and a small terrace.
Cleanliness and Safety: (Pleasantly Surprising!)
Look, I'm not gonna lie, when you see "budget hotel" in China, you brace yourself. But the Thank Inn really surprised me on this front.
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hygiene certification, Rooms sanitized between stays, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Staff trained in safety protocol: Tick, tick, tick, and tick. They were serious about cleanliness. Plenty of hand sanitizer everywhere. The door-cards were disinfected before I could get my hand on them.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: They asked if I wanted to have my room cleaned (and disinfected) daily. I felt really comfortable with this safety-minded approach.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Always a good sign, especially in a well-worn budget place.
They had CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property. I didn't feel unsafe at all. They also had a fire extinguisher and smoke alarms, which is always reassuring.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: (Noodle Nirvana!)
This is where Thank Inn shone. The food! Oh, the food! Even though it wasn't the focus, there were some serious wins here.
- Restaurants: There were several restaurants on site, and the staff was absolutely amazing and so accomodating!
- Asian breakfast: The buffet was, well, it was an experience. Don't expect croissants. Expect noodles, savory porridge, and things you probably won't recognize, but trust me, try it all. I lived on the breakfast for a lot of the trip!
- A la carte in restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant: It was pretty good, but the other local restaurants in the area were fantastic, and I highly recommend getting out there!
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: They had amazing teas!
- Snack bar, Coffee shop, Bottle of water, Breakfast takeaway service, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant: All good options for the hungry traveller. Sometimes the service was a bit slow, but hey, you're on vacation!
Services and Conveniences: (The Usual Suspects)
- Daily housekeeping: Yep, they kept my room spick and span. They even folded my pajamas!
- Luggage storage, Laundry service, Ironing service: Standard stuff, all available.
- Cash withdrawal: This was a lifesaver. They had a cash machine. Always handy.
- Concierge: A guy at the front desk who tried his best to help me, despite the language barrier.
- Elevator: Yes! Essential.
- Car park [free of charge]: Plenty of parking. Awesome!
- Air conditioning in public area: Essential, especially in summer.
- Invoice provided: They printed a receipt immediately.
- Food delivery: I didn't use it, but apparently they did.
- Convenience store: Right in the lobby. Perfect for midnight snack runs.
For the Kids: (Hmm…)
- Family/child friendly: I'm not sure about "kid-friendly." Not much in the way of activities. Maybe a good option for a traveling family who are going to be out and about?
Access:
- Check-in/out [express]: Pretty quick, and easy.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Always there, to help with any questions.
Available in all rooms:
- Free Wi-Fi!
- Additional toilet: Excellent.
- Air conditioning: Needed!
- Alarm clock: Standard.
- Bathrobes: (If available, ask)
- Bathrooms phone: I did not see it but I would be happy to have a phone in the bathroom!
- Blackout curtains: Hallelujah!
- Complimentary tea: YES!
- In-room safe box: Essential.
- Non-smoking: Good to know.
- **Private bathroom
- Shower: Of course.
- Slippers: Yes.
- Sofa: Yes.
- Toiletries: Basic, but adequate.
- Wake-up service: Always a life-saver.
- Window that opens: Fresh air!
Getting Around:
- Airport transfer: I didn't need it, but I'm sure they'd hook you up.
- Car park [free of charge]: Always nice.
- Taxi service: Available. Easy to get a taxi.
The Core Experience: My Noodle-Fueled Adventures
Let's be clear: The Thank Inn isn't the Ritz. It's a functional, clean, and conveniently located hotel that prioritizes practicality over luxury. It's perfect if you're planning on spending your days exploring Datong's incredible history and filling your belly with mountains of noodles.
My room was small, the decor was basic, but it was clean, had a comfy bed, and— blessedly—excellent air conditioning. The Wi-Fi was a godsend. I spent hours
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Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into my potential trainwreck of a Datong adventure. This isn't going to be some polished travel brochure; this is gonna be a real experience, and let’s be honest, probably full of wrong turns, questionable food choices, and me weeping dramatically at some ancient wall.
The Thank Inn Shanxi Datong Pingcheng District Gucheng Yuhe Xi Road Datong China – A Starting Point (Hopefully)
Right, so the plan (and I use that term loosely) is to base myself at the Thank Inn. It seemed centrally located, budget-friendly (important, because let's face it, my bank account is basically a tumbleweed rolling across a desert), and promisingly clean. I'll let you know how that last part works out later. The pictures looked nice, but you know how that goes with hotels…
Day 1: Arrival, Street Food, and the Great Wall (Maybe?)
- Morning (Slightly Disastrous Arrival): Okay, so the flight… let's just say I'm pretty sure the baggage handlers used my suitcase for a particularly rough game of volleyball. Inside, everything's in a weird order now (hello, melted chocolate situation!), but hey, the important thing is I eventually got to Datong. Then, the thrilling ride to the hotel! Praying the taxi driver doesn't get lost.
- Afternoon (The Foodie Gauntlet): Street food is the name of the game! My stomach is both excited and deeply, deeply terrified. I'm thinking lamb skewers (because, when in Datong!), maybe some baozi (the steamed buns), and possibly, if I'm feeling brave, some of that infamous douzhi (fermented bean drink). Wish me luck. I'm already envisioning a scenario where I end up huddled on a curb, clutching my stomach, and regretting every life choice that led me here.
- Late Afternoon/Early Evening (The Ramparts…of…Hope?): Originally, the plan was to conquer a chunk of the Great Wall. Specifically, the section at Datong. However, I'm already feeling a bit jet-lagged, and my legs are protesting the thought. If the weather cooperates and I'm feeling ambitious (a rare combination), I'll venture there, but honestly, I might just collapse on the bed and binge-watch something instead. The allure of a comfy bed is strong. Either the wall, or the bed, and the bed is winning.
- Evening (Dinner, Doubt, and Despair): Dinner options are a mystery. I'm thinking I'll try to find a local restaurant, maybe try a hotpot, or something authentically spicy. I really hope I don't accidentally order something that's sentient. Then again….maybe a chat with the locals will be nice!
- Emotional Moment: "I am alone in a foreign land…"
Day 2: Yungang Grottoes and Temples - A History Lesson (Maybe I'll Remember Some of It)
- Morning (The Yungang Grottoes – Stone Carvings of Awe): Alright, time for some serious history. The Yungang Grottoes are supposed to be amazing. I'm going to stare at Buddha sculptures for a good long while and try to come away with some philosophical insights. Let's be realistic though, I'll probably be mostly thinking about how my feet hurt. The guidebooks promise serenity, the reality is more likely to be crowds and the faint smell of incense.
- Quirky Observation: "How long did it take to carve all these things?"
- Afternoon (More Temples!): After the Grottoes, I'll try to visit a temple or two. I have no idea which ones, but I'll wander around, marvel at the architecture, and try not to accidentally offend anyone with my complete lack of cultural knowledge. Hopefully, I can get some proper photos, with the right angle and lighting and all that.
- Evening (The "I Need a Nap" Phase): Dinner will probably involve more noodles, or maybe some dumplings. Honestly, at this point, I'm just going to eat anything edible. Time to recharge for the next day's adventure!
Day 3: The Hanging Temple and the Long Walk (or the Taxi Ride of Doom)
- Morning (Getting To The Hanging Temple): Okay, this is the big one. The Hanging Temple! This temple is hanging on a cliff. One look at the path through the landscape makes one's stomach to churn. The taxi ride there will be key. Praying the driver knows the way and speaks enough English for me to communicate "STOP! I think I'm going need to vomit!"
- Afternoon (The Hanging Temple - A Messy Affair): Finally, inside, the magic will begin. I'm going to try not to be overly dramatic and, you know, survive. I'm not usually that afraid of heights, but I've heard this temple is intense. I'll try to channel my inner zen, take a deep breath, and not accidentally fall off.
- Emotional moment: "It's just a building, just a building…"
- Evening (Datong City Farewell): If I still have energy, I might try to get one last meal from one of the local restaurants. I am still uncertain whether I will leave early or stay late. After the adventure, I might start thinking about the next adventure, or just going home.
Day… Wherever I'm Going After Datong?
- A Few More Days of Adventure!:
- The Aftermath: After Datong, I'll be recovering for a few hours with a bottle of water. With a bit of luck, I will have some pictures to remember this adventure.
- The Next Adventure: The next stop is still up in the air, but I'm already thinking about what comes after. Maybe some more temples, more street food, and hopefully, a good night's sleep. The journey continues!
Important Imperfections and Rambles:
- The Language Barrier: My Mandarin is limited to "你好" (hello), "谢谢" (thank you), and "Where is the bathroom?". This should make for some interesting communication. Or utter chaos. I'm betting on the latter.
- The Food Fear Factor: Okay, I am not the most adventurous eater. But I'm trying to be! I will document every questionable food choice, every moment of stomach-churning anxiety, and every delicious bite.
- The Navigation Nightmares: I'm terrible with maps, and my sense of direction is famously unreliable. I'm fully expecting to get lost at least once. Probably multiple times. This is a given.
- The Emotional Rollercoaster: I'm prone to bouts of homesickness, moments of incredible wonder and joy, and occasional existential crises. This trip will be a wild ride, both physically and emotionally.
So, there you have it. My tentative, messy, and probably hilarious itinerary for my Datong adventure. Stay tuned for updates, and wish me luck. I'm going to need it.
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Okay, Spill the Tea: Is this Datong Hotel Deal Really "Unbelievable" or Just… Okay?
Let's be real, "unbelievable" is a *strong* word, yeah? But for the price – and let’s get to that in a sec – it was pretty darn good. We're talking the Thank Inn Shanxi. I was expecting a total dive, honestly. My expectations were set to 'barely functional,' you know? Think: questionable stains, maybe a cockroach or two. But the deal? I snagged it for, like, peanuts! So, on the "unbelievable" scale, it's probably more in the "surprisingly decent for next to nothing" category. More on that later, too, naturally. It was Datong, after all. It wasn't the Ritz, or anything.
So, Price. Gimme the Deets. How Cheap Were We Talking?!
Okay, I'm going to admit something: I'm terrible at remembering actual numbers. I booked this trip a while back. But I *think* it was somewhere in the ballpark of… I don't know… maybe $15 a night? Per night, yeah. It might have been a bit more, it might have been less. But the important thing is it was CHEAP. Like, "buy a random trinket from a market" cheap. Cheap enough that I practically felt entitled to complain about *everything*. Which, trust me, I did. And will continue to do. For that price, I'm fairly certain they were *paying* me to stay there... almost.
Let's Talk Room. Was it a Dungeon? A Closet? Or Just… a Room?
Alright, the room. Here's the thing. It wasn't palatial. Far from it. Picture a room… a *tiny* room. Like, the kind of room where you have to strategically place your luggage so you can, you know, actually walk around. The bed? Hard. Like, REALLY hard. I'm pretty sure it was made of concrete, or maybe just a plank of wood with a thin sheet thrown over it. I swear, my back was screaming for mercy by the third night. And the pillows? Thin. Like, you could probably fold them up and slip them into a wallet. But (and here's a HUGE but), it was CLEAN. Surprisingly so. I’d expected dust bunnies the size of small dogs, but nope. Which was a massive win, honestly. I've stayed in places where you could write your name in the dust on the furniture. So, a small, slightly uncomfortable, but generally clean room. Not glamorous, but liveable, and for the price, I certainly wasn't complaining... *much*. Though, I still moaned and groaned to my friend after the first night. "My spine… it feels like it’s been through a war."
Okay, Back to THAT Bed – How Did You *Actually* Sleep On It?
Sleep? That’s a strong word. I *attempted* to sleep. Mostly, I tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position on that… that torture device they called a mattress. I'm a side sleeper, naturally. But on that bed? Forget it. It was like trying to cuddle a brick wall. So, I’d flip over, try to sleep on my back. Which resulted in the aforementioned back ache. Eventually, I just gave up, and decided to treat the whole thing as a unique cultural experience. I mean, *somebody* had to experience the hard bed life in Datong, right? So I was that person! Also, earplugs. Essential. The walls weren’t exactly soundproof. You could hear *everything*. Including the guy in the next room snoring like a rusty chainsaw. Seriously, earplugs. They saved my sanity. And possibly my hearing. I'm not exaggerating. The snoring was EPIC. And I think there was some construction going on nearby at like, dawn. So... earplugs, eye mask... and a whole lot of acceptance.
What About the Bathroom? Was it… Functional?
The bathroom. Let’s just say it served its purpose. The shower was…interesting. Think: water pressure that sometimes threatened to disappear completely. And, on a few occasions, water that decided to alternate between freezing cold and scalding hot without any warning. I almost yelped when a blast of ice cold water hit me. I think the only reason I didn't fully lose it was because I’d been steeling myself for this very eventuality. Datong in general! The water, though. It did its job. The toilet flushed (mostly). There was a sink. It was clean enough, and that's all that really mattered to me. I didn't go in expecting luxury, to be honest. If I did, I would have been thoroughly disappointed, more so than I was regarding the sleeping arrangements.
Forget the Room, What About the Location? Was It Convenient?
This was a definite win! The location was actually pretty good. It was within walking distance of *some* of the main sights, which was a huge plus, because taxis can be… well, let's just say navigating Datong's traffic can be a *adventure*. Plus, the area around the hotel felt safe. There were plenty of shops and restaurants nearby – mostly local ones, which meant cheap eats and, bonus, authentic food! I'm a big fan of authentic food! There was a noodle shop around the corner that was AMAZING. I ate there, like, every day. Seriously, if you stay there, go to the noodle shop. You will not regret it. Just ask for the spicy one. It's life-changing. Okay, maybe not *life-changing*, but pretty darn good. It’s a solid B+. The noodles, not the hotel. The hotel was, like, a C+. But the noodles… mmm…
What About the Staff? Were They Helpful? Or… Nonexistent?
The staff? Ah, yes. They were… present. Let's go with that. The language barrier was definitely *there*. My Mandarin is… let's call it "basic." Their English was… less than basic. But they were friendly and helpful, at least to the extent that they could be. They always greeted me with a smile, which is always a good start. And when I needed something – like, desperately needed to find a shop that sold a charger because I had drained my phone by taking pictures of the breathtaking Yungang Grottoes, which, by the way, you *HAVE* to see – they did their best to point me in the right direction. It was a bit of a comedy of errors, involving frantic gestures and pointing at maps, but we got there in the end! It wasn't the Ritz. It wasn't the Four Seasons. But they tried, andLuxury Escape: Xianyang's Shell Hotel Near Sanyuan Bus Station!
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