Unbelievable Elan Inn: Hohhot's Hottest Hotel Near the Railway Station!
Hohhot's Hottest? Unbelievable Elan Inn Review: Buckle Up, Buttercups!
Okay, people. Let's be real. Hohhot isn't exactly known for its scenes. But when you're hoofing it through Inner Mongolia, a decent hotel near the railway station is GOLD. And the Unbelievable Elan Inn, well, it claims to be the hottest. Did it live up to the hype? Did it deliver on the "Unbelievable"? Let's dive in, shall we?
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Metadata (simplified): Title: Unbelievable Elan Inn Review: Hohhot's Hottest Hotel? | Description: Honest review of the Unbelievable Elan Inn in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. Accessibility, cleanliness, amenities, and dining options discussed. Keywords: Hohhot Hotel, Unbelievable Elan Inn, Inner Mongolia. Author: AI (but edited by a very opinionated non-robot).
(Okay, Back to the Rant… I Mean, Review!)
First impressions? The Elan Inn looks impressive. Lobby is all gleaming marble and… well, let’s just say it tries to be luxurious. Think a slightly over-eager attempt at modern chic. There's this… thing… a sort of metal sculpture that’s probably supposed to be art but honestly, just looked like it'd fallen over from a strong breeze. But hey, it's a hotel, not a gallery. And at least they had ample staff milling about, which, let's be honest, means someone should be able to help you if you're lost or confused… which I frequently am.
Accessibility - Let's Talk Wheels (and Wobbly Knees):
This is where things get interesting. They tick a lot of the boxes on paper: Facilities for disabled guests listed prominently. An elevator (thank GOD - I'm not climbing endless stairs!), and the front desk [24-hour] promises someone always available to… well, hopefully help if things go sideways. I didn’t personally need wheelchair access, but I did check it out. The main areas seemed decent enough, wide walkways, etc. – though you could tell it was designed more for show than true, dedicated accessibility. It felt like an afterthought, not an integral design element.
Rooms: Your Little Hohhot Haven (Hopefully!):
My room… ah, the room. I opted for a "non-smoking" haven (because, ew). It was, well, functional. Air conditioning blasted (thank you, sweet baby Jesus, because Hohhot can get scorching). Free Wi-Fi in all Rooms! Hurrah! And it actually WORKED. The included Internet access – wireless was a godsend for streaming those bad-movie nights, which I highly recommend. They include a laptop workspace - which I never use, because I work on laptops on my bed, like the animal I am. Blackout curtains, thankfully, were a life-saver because my sleep schedule is that of a grumpy toddler. Free bottled water was a nice touch, because, let's be honest, I'm terrible about hydrating. And the slippers! Yes! Slippers! (I might have taken those…). On the downside, the mirror was a little… well, let's just say it showed ALL the flaws. I'd recommend packing your own, forgiving one.
Cleanliness and Safety: A Nervous Smile (and a Lot of Hand Sanitizer):
This is HUGE right now, isn't it? The Elan Inn tries. They advertise Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, and Rooms sanitized between stays. I saw staff scrubbing things down, and you can tell they were trying. The hand sanitizer stations were plentiful. They had smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher in the room. Safe? Well, as safe as you can feel in a post-apocalyptic world of germs and rapidly-changing international travel rules. They offered the option to Room sanitization opt-out available, however, it felt a little bit counterintuitive? Like, you're trying to convince me it's safe, but I can also choose to not have you clean my room? Odd.
Dining and Drinking (and the Occasional Hangover):
Alright, the food situation. This is where the "unbelievable" started losing a bit of its luster. They’ve got a whole host of dining options, they claim. Restaurants, a coffee shop, a snack bar, and a poolside bar (more on that later)… the Asian breakfast was… well, it's breakfast. The buffet in restaurant was okay, but nothing to write home about. They offer Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, and Western cuisine in restaurant. Honestly? I just wanted a decent cup of coffee. The coffee/tea in restaurant hit the spot at least. I did attempt some noodles one night, and they arrived cold. I asked for them to be reheated, and they arrived, still cold. I gave up. The room service [24-hour] was handy for late-night cravings. I did get a bottle of water on arrival, so at least they had that going for them.
Ways to Relax (because, you know, travel is so relaxing…):
They've got a swimming pool [outdoor] and a pool with view, the latter with a nice view of… the city. It’s a city, it’s not the Maldives, but it was still a nice place to hang out for a few hours. They have a Fitness center and a gym/fitness for the gym, but, let's be honest, I mostly used it to watch other people work out. They have a Spa, a Spa/sauna, but I didn’t bother with any of those. My relaxation method involves Netflix, a large bag of chips, and a comfortable bed.
Service and Conveniences: The Good, the Bad, and the Confusing:
The concierge was… hit or miss. Some staff members were incredibly helpful, going above and beyond. Others? Let’s just say their English skills weren't quite up to par. The luggage storage came in super handy. They had a convenience store that was great for buying the absolute necessities (instant noodles, more water). Cash withdrawal was easy with the ATM. They offered dry cleaning and laundry service, thank the sweet lord. The daily housekeeping was efficient. The elevator worked. All of the basics were covered.
The Quirk Factor (Because Every Hotel Has One):
Okay, this is where the Elan Inn gets interesting. There was… a lot of beige. Everywhere. Beige carpets, beige walls, beige curtains, even the beige… everything. It was so beige that I started to think my vision was going wonky. At one point, I swear I saw a beige ghost. Then there was the sheer lack of instructions on anything. How to order room service? You’re on your own. How to use the TV? Figure it out, Sherlock! It added a bit of quirky adventure, I suppose.
The Verdict: Unbelievable Sometimes…
Would I recommend the Unbelievable Elan Inn? Honestly… it depends. It's a solid, modern hotel. It ticks a LOT of boxes. It's clean, mostly safe, and the Wi-Fi is good. The location near the railway station is incredibly convenient. But it’s not mind-blowing. It’s not going to set your soul on fire. It’s… beige.
If you're looking for a comfortable, convenient, and mostly reliable place to crash in Hohhot before or after your train, then yeah, the Unbelievable Elan Inn is probably a good choice. Just don’t expect a total luxury experience. Just try not to get lost in all the beige!
Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars. Could be better, could be worse. Definitely beige.
Catania's BEST Kept Secret: Stunning B&B & Design Haven!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups. This isn’t your polished Lonely Planet guide. This is me – me, a slightly disoriented but utterly enthralled human – in the belly of the Mongolian beast: Hohhot, China. And let me tell you, it's been a ride. Specifically, a train ride, starting and ending at the Elan Inn Hohhot Railway Station. Prepare for chaos, beauty, and probably a few existential crises, all fueled by instant noodles and a burning desire to find a decent cup of coffee.
Day 1: Arrival – And the Glorious Struggle for a Decent Bed (and a Bathroom that Doesn’t Smell Like the Back Alleys of Ulaanbaatar)
- 7:00 AM (Or So): Arrived at Hohhot Railway Station. Let me tell you, "station" is an understatement. It's a sprawling, echoing, slightly overwhelming monument to… well, I'm not entirely sure what. Efficiency? Chaos? A masterful blend of both? The sheer volume of people is staggering. I swear, I saw a family of five navigate the ticketing area with what looked like a live goat. The only thing missing was Moses parting the Red Sea, but hey, I got my ticket for Inner Mongolia!
- 7:30 AM: The Elan Inn! Aha! That's where my dreams of a soft place to land would come true. Or so I thought. Booking was a breeze online. Finding the actual hotel… let's just say I spent a good 20 minutes wandering around, muttering to myself in a mixture of bewildered English and increasingly desperate Mandarin, before finally spotting a tiny, blinking neon sign that might as well have said, "Welcome to your humble abode of questionable cleanliness!"
- 8:00 AM: Checked in. The lobby smelled faintly of disinfectant and despair. The room? Well, let's just say the pictures online had been… generous. The bed was a slab of concrete covered in a vaguely lumpy quilt. The bathroom, as mentioned, held a certain… fragrance. But hey, a roof over the head. And, thankfully, the wifi worked.
- 9:00 AM: The quest for coffee! This became my personal Holy Grail. Ended up circling the station perimeter like a caffeinated vulture, eventually settling for a questionable, lukewarm concoction from a street vendor. It tasted faintly of burnt rubber, but it had caffeine, and at this point, that was all that mattered.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Wandered the surrounding area. The city is a fascinating mix of old and new. Gleaming skyscrapers loom over ramshackle hutongs. The street food… well, the street food is amazing. I tried some kind of savory pancake thing that tasted like pure, unadulterated deliciousness. Also, a near-miss with a scooter. Note to self: look both ways, and then some!
- 12:00 PM: Back to the Elan Inn to collapse. This is the point where my ambition took a backseat to the overwhelming need for a nap. Before I go down for a nap - need to get my laundry done, if it is even feasible to do so.
- 1:00 PM: Attempted to do laundry. The laundry bag was dirty, the coins dispenser didn't work, and my clothes has no air, but I managed.
- 2:00 PM: I finally slept.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. Decided on a small restaurant. My Mandarin skills were tested to their limits. The waiter looked at me like I was speaking Martian. Eventually, with a combination of pointing, gesturing, and a desperate plea for "something not spicy," I managed to order a plate of what turned out to be… dumplings. Glorious, steaming dumplings. (And yes, they were spicy.)
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Sat on my bed and wondered how the heck I was going to survive this trip. Watched a ridiculous amount of Chinese TV, and got incredibly distracted by how everything was dubbed. Felt a surge of homesickness, quickly drowned in a package of instant noodles and a questionable documentary about the mating rituals of Mongolian gerbils.
- 9:00 PM: Attempt the shower. Don't expect too much out of it.
Day 2: The Temple and the Train (Or, Finding Serenity and Then Immediately Losing It Again)
- 8:00 AM: Woke up. The smell has faded. Success!
- 9:00 AM: Visited the Dazhao Temple. This was actually pretty spectacular. The architecture is stunning, the atmosphere more peaceful. The chanting, despite my inability to understand a word, had a calming effect. It's the one thing that makes me want to keep going in this trip.
- 11:00 AM: Had lunch in a local restaurant and tried their famous lamb. I'm unsure if I liked it.
- 12:00 PM: Came back to the hotel and packed my bags.
- 1:30 PM: Made my way to the station.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Train. I was not sure where I was going.
- 4:00 PM: Arrived.
Observations/Rambles:
- The People: The people of Hohhot are incredibly kind and helpful, even when I'm sputtering unintelligible phrases at them. They also seem to love staring. I caught one little boy staring at me for a good five minutes, which made me, in turn, stare back at him. He eventually giggled and ran away. Priceless.
- The Food: Beyond the dumplings and the street pancakes, I'm convinced the food here is going to ruin my waistline. It's rich, it's flavorful, it's… addictive.
- The Language Barrier: Oh, the language barrier! It's a constant source of both frustration and amusement. I've learned a few basic phrases. Mostly, it involves pointing and hoping for the best.
- The Elan Inn's Charms: The Elan Inn is growing on me, in a weird, Stockholm-Syndrome sort of way. It's the imperfections, the slightly dodgy smell, the fact that it's mine, I guess. I'm starting to love it.
Emotional Reactions:
- Frustration: Definitely. At times, the lack of fluent communication and the general chaos of the experience leaves me wanting to scream.
- Exhilaration: Often! The sheer energy of the city, the novelty of everything, the fact that I'm actually doing this is incredible.
- Awe: The temple, the food, the sheer scale of the country… I find myself constantly overwhelmed by the beauty and strangeness of it all.
- Homesickness: It hits in waves. Sometimes, I just want a cup of properly brewed coffee and a chat with someone who understands what I'm saying.
- Resilience: I refuse to give up.
Imperfections:
- I have no idea where I'm going next.
- I probably ate something that will disagree with me later.
- I'm pretty sure my laundry is still damp.
- My phone is about to die.
Conclusion:
Hohhot, you are a beautiful, chaotic, slightly smelly… and utterly captivating place. This Elan Inn is my questionable home base, a launching pad into an adventure that's already more than I bargained for. Stay tuned. I have a feeling this is only the beginning.
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Unbelievable Elan Inn: Hohhot - FAQs (and my inner monologue)
So, is this Elan Inn really "Hohhot's Hottest"? Like, seriously?
What's the actual location situation like? Close to the station?
The rooms... Comfortable? Modern? What's the vibe?
Food! Breakfast? Anything edible?
Any major downsides I should know about?
Would you stay there again?
Is there a gym or other amenities?
