Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Novotel Nanjing East Suning - Your Dream Nanjing Escape!
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits? Novotel Nanjing East Suning: My Nanjing Dream…Or Did I Over-Dream? (A Rambling Review)
Okay, so I just got back from Nanjing, and the Novotel Nanjing East Suning… well, it's still swirling around in my head. The glossy brochure promised “unbelievable luxury,” and honestly, the website photos? Stunning. But as we all know, reality… it's got a mind of its own. Let’s just say my dream Nanjing escape was a little more, shall we say, “textured” than advertised. Buckle up, because here’s the unfiltered truth, with all the rambling and chaotic tangents you've come to expect, and maybe a few unexpected sighs.
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(Deep Breath. Here We Go!)
First impressions? The lobby is pretty impressive. High ceilings, gleaming surfaces – the classic Novotel aesthetic. Check-in was… well, “contactless” in that I had to point and nod at some screens, which, after a 20-hour travel day, felt more like being interrogated by a robot than welcomed. But hey, technology, right? (Plus, the doorman did manage a warm greeting, and that always helps).
Accessibility: The Good… and the Slightly Less Good.
I'm not wheelchair-bound myself, but I always pay attention to accessibility features. This is the 21st century, people! And I gotta say, the Novotel mostly delivers. Elevators? Check. Ramps? Mostly. The website claimed Facilities for disabled guests, which is great. Didn't specifically check them out, but the layout seemed promising. Accessibility is a HUGE plus for me, and it seemed to be seriously considered in this hotel. Major points there.
Rooms: My Haven (Mostly)
The rooms? Generally, pretty darn nice. Air conditioning? Absolutely, thank heavens. Blackout curtains? Essential for beating jet lag. The bed was… comfortable. Not amazing, but perfectly adequate. I especially appreciated the complimentary tea and free bottled water. Little things like that make a difference after a long flight. Wi-Fi [free] was reliable, which, as a travel writer, is basically a lifeline. The Internet access – LAN feature? Not sure I used it, but hey, options! The desk was actually large enough to work on, the seating area was decent, the reading light was bright, and the TV options… well, they were there. Did I mention the mirror? Yes. It was there.
Here’s a weird observation: I swear the alarm clock on the first night was trying to kill me. Kept going off at the wrong time with ear-splitting beeping, and I swear it had a built-in conspiracy meter that showed me the "truth" of the illuminati, but thankfully the wake-up service eventually delivered on time the next day.
Cleanliness & Safety: Smelling the Roses (and Sanitizer)
This is where the Novotel really shines. They're clearly taking hygiene seriously. Daily disinfection in common areas? Check. Hand sanitizer everywhere? Yep. Staff trained in safety protocol? Seemed like it. I saw signs everywhere encouraging physical distancing of at least 1 meter. The room itself? Rooms sanitized between stays, definitely felt squeaky-clean. Anti-viral cleaning products? Probably. I’d give it a solid A+ on this point. I needed to feel safe and secure, and I did.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Food, glorious… food? (Mostly Glorious)
Alright, let’s talk food. This is where things got interesting. The Breakfast [buffet] was… enormous. Seriously, the scale of it was overwhelming. Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, all the usual suspects. I’m talking buffet in restaurant, a la carte in restaurant, and options for alternative meal arrangement. The coffee/tea in restaurant was serviceable, but not the best, I'll admit. The juice, however, I feel like was not fresh. I suspect the food was prepared in bulk and stored for a long time.
I did try the Asian cuisine in restaurant, and it was pretty good. Some tasty desserts in restaurant were available. The poolside bar was a nice touch, and the snack bar came in handy. The restaurant was mostly clean and organized, with sanitized kitchen and tableware items.
I think I'm generally a person who loves to eat, but the sheer volume of food left me feeling stuffed and mildly guilty. Don’t get me wrong, the food was… fine. But "unbelievable luxury” in the food department? Eh. Maybe I was expecting too much.
Ways to Relax & Things to Do: Spa Day, Anyone?
Okay, this is where the Novotel almost redeemed itself. Almost. The spa? Beautiful. Sauna, steamroom, the works. I indulged in a much-needed massage, and it was heavenly. Seriously, the masseuse worked wonders on my travel-weary muscles. The body scrub and body wrap also tempted me, but alas, time was fleeting. The pool with view was stunning, and the swimming pool [outdoor] was perfectly refreshing. The fitness center was well-equipped. The gym/fitness area was also top-notch. I mean, I barely used it, but I looked at it longingly. The fact I just knew it was there made me feel healthier, even if I ate 5 plates of that buffet.
But then there was the lack of relaxation and the way the staff just seemed to ignore me when I tried to use the pool (I am apparently not a good swimmer). It was a very mixed bag.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things… and the Not-So-Little Things
Daily housekeeping was excellent. My room was always impeccably clean (thank goodness). I was grateful for the dry cleaning and laundry service, since I needed to not smell after sitting on a plane for 20 hours. The concierge was helpful with some of the local information, and the currency exchange was pretty standard.
I, unfortunately, needed the doctor/nurse on call due to slight cold I had. The guy was very nice and helped me feel better. I also used the luggage storage service, because I had a bunch of stuff. The convenience store had snacks, which was really great. Cash withdrawal service was available, but I didn't use it for a while.
For the Kids: Family Friendliness
I didn’t travel with kids, but I noticed they had Kids facilities. The website boasts babysitting service (which, considering my experience with the pool, might be useful). The hotel is definitely Family/child friendly, with some Kids meal options. So, good for families, it seems!
Other Random Thoughts & Imperfections:
- Internet: While the Wi-Fi [free] was generally good, there were a couple of frustrating times when it dropped out. Minor, but annoying.
- Pets: Doesn’t seem like pets allowed. So good for people with allergies, bad for people with pets.
- Smoking: Smoking area available.
- Meetings: They have Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, and even Seminars. If you're here for work, it seems well-equipped.
- Car Parking: The Car park [free of charge] was a huge bonus.
The Verdict: Unbelievable Luxury?… Questionable.
Look, the Novotel Nanjing East Suning is a good hotel. It’s clean, reasonably comfortable, and the spa is pure bliss. The staff were, on the whole, helpful. But “unbelievable luxury”? Let’s just say my expectations were a bit higher.
It's a solid, reliable choice with some definite highlights. Just temper your expectations a bit, and you’ll probably have a perfectly pleasant stay. My dream Nanjing escape? Well, maybe I'll dream a little differently next time. Maybe I’ll visit the pool on a different trip. And maybe next time, I’ll stick to the massage and skip the never-ending buffet. 7.5/10.
Escape to Comfort: Fultondale's BEST I-65 Hotel!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! This is NOT your polished, perfectly-coiffed travel itinerary. This is the REAL DEAL. My messy, gloriously imperfect, and probably caffeinated-fueled attempt at a Novotel Nanjing East Suning adventure. Let’s go!
Novotel Nanjing East Suning: My Brain’s Diary (November-ish, 2024 - or whenever I actually get around to doing this)
(Please Note: I am assuming access to a magical travel portal AND a bottomless bank account. Reality will likely be… less dramatic.)
Day 1: Arrival & The Great Noodle Hunt (Jet Lag Edition)
- 6:00 AM (Beijing Time - which is apparently our time zone, who knew?): Wake up in a hotel miles over. The alarm, the sun, something. I'm pretty sure I haven’t slept. My brain is currently a scrambled egg. The good news is the jet lag should peak any minute now. My stomach is rumbling with a vengeance.
- 7:00 AM: Attempt breakfast at the Novotel. Google tells me there's a decent buffet. Hope. Pray. Cross fingers for a coffee stronger than dishwater. (I'm looking at you, hotels from the 90s.) I have to eat something, otherwise, it is going to be a very long day.
- 8:00 AM: Coffee consumed. The buffet, a dazzling display of… stuff. There's a tiny, inscrutable dish that might be pickled radish. Or possibly a miniature alien. I take a gamble. It’s… surprisingly delicious. Result!
- 9:00 AM: The room. The lovely room. The room where I plan to stay and never leave. I am so done. (But I'm not, I have to be a tourist, and that means, out I go)
- 10:00 AM: Venture out. The Great Noodle Hunt Begins! Nanjing is famous for its noodles. And I shall find them. Specifically, I shall find the best noodle. And photograph it, and Instagram it, and then probably eat it. I'm walking out of the hotel in the general direction of… somewhere. Probably.
- 11:00 AM: Lost. Utterly, beautifully lost. Google Maps is my frenemy. I'm pretty sure I'm walking in circles. Also, are those… pigeons? And is that a… giant red lantern? Yes. Yes, it is. China, in 2 hours.
- 12:00 PM: FOUND the noodle. Yes! Stumbled upon a tiny, bustling little noodle shop. The aroma is intoxicating. Pointed and gestured wildly (my Mandarin skills are… nonexistent). Got myself a bowl of the stuff. First bite: My eyes rolled back in my head. This is the best noodle. Ever. (Until the next one, of course.)
- 1:00 PM: A very serious nap. Hotel. Room. Bed. Needed.
- 3:00 PM: The afternoon sun wakes me up. Time to do some tourist-y.
- 4:00 PM: Visit the Presidential Palace of Nanjing, a must-see. Probably. I am already tired and want to rest. The thing is really big. Take pictures of the beautiful architecture.
- 6:00 PM: Feeling a little peckish and a little overwhelmed. Back to the hotel. Dinner. It’s a good thing there is a hotel restaurant. They make amazing food and I do not have to deal with language barriers.
- 7:00 PM: Head back to the room. Write a journal of the day.
- 8:00 PM: Bed.
Day 2: The City Walls and More Noodles (Maybe with Tears?)
- 7:00 AM: Okay, so I skipped the breakfast. The jet lag is real today. Feeling slightly nauseous. Coffee. Stat.
- 8:00 AM: Finally made it to the breakfast room! Still, the buffet is a wonderful chaos of choices. I'm feeling adventurous today, so I will eat the pickled dish again.
- 9:00 AM: Attempt to conquer the Nanjing City Wall. It's… huge. Seriously, you could get lost up there. And probably would. Stunning views, though. Seriously, the entire city just spreads out before me. It's a little breathtaking.
- 10:00 AM: Got to the top. All is well.
- 11:00 AM: Walk down the side.
- 12:00 PM: Noodle hunt round two! I am on a quest. Today, I bravely venture into a new noodle establishment. This time, the language barrier is even worse. But I persevere. Point and gesture and somehow end up with a steaming bowl of… something. It's… spicy. Very spicy. And my face is now the color of a tomato.
- 1:00 PM: Panic-eat the rest of the noodles. They're actually amazing. My mouth is on fire. I consider crying. Because that's what happens when you're a delicate flower like myself.
- 2:00 PM: Retreat to the hotel for a long drink of Water (and maybe a little sob).
- 3:00 PM: The hotel. The hotel. The joy. The comfort.
- 4:00 PM: The room’s window. See the world from different eyes.
- 5:00 PM: The hotel. My safe place.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. I think I will eat the noodles.
- 8:00 PM: Journal, bed, and maybe some anti-inflammatory meds for my fiery, noodle-ravaged tongue.
Day 3: Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum & The Reality of Packing (The Bitter Truth)
- 8:00 AM: Back to the buffet!
- 9:00 AM: The Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum. Supposed to be beautiful and moving. Prepared for marble and history.
- 10:00 AM: The climb. So many steps. My calves are screaming. And I am, let's face it, a little out of shape. But the view from the top? Worth the lactic acid build-up. Definitely a 'wow' moment.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch near the mausoleum. Found a little tea house. It was fantastic.
- 1:00 PM: Back to the hotel. It is time to pack. The moment you realize you have too many clothes and not enough space.
- 3:00 PM: The real moment of truth. What you thought you would bring, and what you actually do. This is the moment where you decide what to keep.
- 5:00 PM: I now question my packing abilities.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at the hotel. I deserved it.
- 8:00 PM: Bed
Day 4: Leaving… with a Vow (and a Mild Headache)
- 7:00 AM: Last breakfast. Try to savor it. This time, I'll brave the unfamiliar.
- 8:00 AM: Check out. Goodbye, Novotel. Farewell, Noodles. You’ll be missed.
- 9:00 AM: Taxi to the airport. Traffic. Of course. Because life.
- 10:00 AM: Airport. Security. The usual chaos.
- 11:00 AM: Waiting.
- 12:00 PM: I am on a plane.
- 1:00 PM: Flight to somewhere. Bye Bye Nanjing!
- Somewhere around the end of the day: The headache. The joy the memories. The memories will bring the joy! Can't wait to go again.
Post-Trip Ramblings (Because, Let’s Be Honest, That’s Where The Real Drama Lives)
Okay, so the trip wasn't perfect. I lost my phone (found it later… in my sock drawer). I ate something that probably shouldn't have been eaten. I almost cried over spicy noodles. But you know what? It was real. It was mine. And I wouldn't trade it for a perfectly-filtered Instagram feed of someone else’s trip to Nanjing. Next time, I’ll learn some actual Mandarin. And maybe pack less… stuff. And definitely avoid the super-spicy noodles. (Or maybe not. They were good.)
Luxury Getaway: Hampton Inn Texarkana - Your Texarkana Escape!
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits... Or Does It? My Novotel Nanjing East Suning Reality Check!
So, the Novotel Nanjing East Suning... is it *actually* luxurious? Like, James Bond-level luxury? Spill the tea!
What about the location? Is it actually 'convenient' or just another hotel that's miles from everything?
The food! Tell me *everything* about the food! Is the breakfast buffet worth the hype (and the potential calories)?
And the amenities? Did you get to experience the pool/gym/spa? Were they as luxurious as advertised?
Overall impression? Would you recommend this hotel?
