Tianjin's Hidden Gem: Italian Style Street's BEST Hotel! (Hanting Hotel Review)
Tianjin's Italian Dream (and Hanting Hotel: The Good, The Okay, and The "Whoa, Did I Just See That?") - A Review You Can Actually Trust
Okay, so you're thinking about Tianjin, huh? Smart move. This city is a total chameleon, and Italian Style Street? That's where the magic REALLY starts. And if you're looking for a place to crash while you're soaking up the pasta-shaped atmosphere, well, Hanting Hotel on Italian Style Street is… it's definitely a hotel. Let's unpack this, shall we? Prepare for a seriously unvarnished review. Buckle up, buttercups!
First Impressions (and the "Where's the Pizza?" Moment)
Finding the hotel was easy peasy. Right on Italian Style Street? You can't miss it! But lemme tell you, the first thing I thought wasn't "Ciao, Bella!" It was more like, "Hmm… where's the authentic pizza? And is that a slightly faded neon sign?" Don't get me wrong, the building itself has potential. Classic, historical, and full of that faded grandeur that makes you feel like you've stumbled into a Fellini film.
Accessibility & Peace of Mind (Thank Goodness for the Elevator!)
- Wheelchair Accessible: Hallelujah! Plenty of space to maneuver. The main entrance is easily accessible, and there's an elevator that actually works. Big win.
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: I didn't personally need any, but I saw they're available. This is always a plus, making it inclusive to everyone.
- Air conditioning in public area - Not overly cold.
- Elevator: Yeah, that's a lifesaver, especially after a long day of exploring.
- Desk: Well, that's a nice touch even if it's just to put your luggage.
- Convenience store - In case you forgot your tooth paste.
- Cash withdrawal: Saves you making a trip to the ATM.
- Doorman: They open the door for you.
- Safety deposit boxes: Just in case.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Always someone to talk to.
- Luggage storage: Easy peasy.
Cleanliness and Safety (The Soap Saga)
Anti-viral cleaning products: Good, good. Necessary in these times.
Daily disinfection in common areas: Check! Peace of mind, folks.
Rooms sanitized between stays: Double check!
Hand sanitizer: Abundant. I mean, they practically force it on you, which is fine by me.
Hygiene certification: Okay, I'm assuming they have it.
Staff trained in safety protocol: They seemed professional.
Smoke alarms & Fire extinguisher: Obvious, yet important.
Room Sanitization: The "Opt Out" Option: Okay, I didn't opt out, but the fact that you can is reassuring. Plus, I'm pretty sure they went overboard with the cleaning products. My nose tingled for an hour after I walked in! (In a good way, mostly.)
The Soap Situation: This is where it gets interesting. The soap dispensers… let's just say they had a mind of their own. I couldn't get soap out of one. Then, the other one blasted me with a full, foamy eruption. I'm still not sure which, but it was definitely an experience.
Rooms: Comfort & Character (Or Lack Thereof)
Air Conditioning: Absolutely. Crucial for those humid Tianjin summers.
Wi-Fi [Free]: Yes, and it actually works! Major thumbs up. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! I’m talking about it.
Internet access – wireless, internet, internet [LAN]: No problem.
Non-smoking rooms: Big tick.
Blackout Curtains: Essential for sleeping in, or hiding from the world, whichever you prefer.
Additional toilet , Separate shower/bathtub & Toiletries: Basic, sufficient.
Complimentary tea & Coffee/tea maker: Morning ritual secured.
Mini bar & Bottle of water: Well, they're there.
Mirror & Hair dryer: Essential again.
Socket near the bed: Thank the heavens.
Wake-up service: Pretty sure I didn't need to rely on anyone.
The Bed: Is It a Bed? Look, the beds are… functional. They're not the cloud-like havens you dream of, but they do the job. I slept. That's important.
The View: Is It a View? My view was… of another building. No sweeping vistas here, folks. But honestly, I was mostly out exploring.
Room Decorations & Room decorations: Pretty basic. Don't expect any fancy artwork.
Dining, Drinking, & Snacking (The Buffet Battle)
Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, and Breakfast [buffet]: The buffet situation was… an experience. Think mountains of food, some of which looked amazing, and some of which made me question my life choices.
Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop: Fine to have, but I did take my coffee from the street.
Restaurants: A la carte, I'm assuming but I didn't.
Snack bar: Well, there's a coffee machine, but I didn't notice a snack bar.
Poolside bar: No.
Room service [24-hour]: Good to know it's there.
Breakfast takeaway service: This is convenient.
Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Goodness gracious.
Individually-wrapped food options: Perfect for now.
Alternative meal arrangement: Good.
Desserts in restaurant: Haven't looked.
Soup in restaurant: Haven't looked.
Vegetarian restaurant: Haven't seen it.
Bottle of water: There is a bottle in my room.
Happy hour: I didn't look for it.
Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant, and Salad in restaurant: None.
Daily housekeeping: Yep, they make the bed.
The Buffet "Mystery Meat": Now, I eat everything. But even I was hesitant about some of the, um, unidentified items on the buffet. It's a gamble. Choose wisely.
The Coffee: Stronger Than Espresso: The coffee was strong. Like, "wake you up and keep you awake until next Tuesday" strong. Fair warning.
Services & Conveniences (The Helpful & the "Huh?")
Cashless payment service: Cool.
Concierge: The concierge was super friendly and helpful. Big points for that!
Dry cleaning & Laundry service: Convenient.
Ironing service: Good for business travelers.
Currency exchange: Okay, can be convenient.
Daily housekeeping: Yes, they tidy up.
Luggage storage: Essential!
Front desk [24-hour]: Always someone around if you need something.
On-site event hosting, Indoor venue for special events, Outdoor venue for special events, Audio-visual equipment for special events, and Wi-Fi for special events: I didn't see for events, but good to have.
Meetings, Meeting/banquet facilities, and Meeting stationery: Business stuff is available.
Convenience store: Great for a midnight snack.
Invoice provided: Pretty much.
Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Good for now.
The "Xerox/Fax in Business Center": Okay, I didn't personally use it, but it's there if you need to send a fax in the year 2024? Seriously?
The "Spa" is Not a Spa (or is it?): I saw mention of a "spa". However, I didn't see any spa areas. This is probably something to clarify at the front desk. Don't picture fluffy robes and cucumber slices. Maybe? I don't know!
Things to Do & Ways to Relax (Or Don’t Get Your Hopes Up)
Fitness center, Gym/fitness: Good to know it's there.
Massage, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Foot bath, Body scrub, Body wrap, and Swimming pool: I didn't find some of those.
Swimming pool [outdoor] & Pool with view: I didn't see a view.
The "Pool with a View" Myth: The website mentioned it. I went searching. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Either I missed it (highly unlikely!) or the view is really underwhelming.
**For the Kids (Mostly
Alanya's Most Stunning Penthouse Duplex: Breathtaking Views Await!
Alright, buckle up, buttercup, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned travel itinerary. This is the chaotic, beautiful mess of a trip I actually took to Tianjin, staying at the Hanting Hotel in the Italian Style Street district. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions, questionable decisions, and way too much instant coffee. Here we GO!
Day 1: Arrival and Immediate Panic (Plus, Noodles)
- Time: Let's say… late. Flights are rarely on time, are they? Landed in Tianjin, immediately regretted my choice of carrying a ginormous suitcase. Seriously, what was I thinking? This is China, not a runway!
- Transportation: Taxi from the airport. The driver seemed… enthusiastic, which I interpreted as "likely to drive like a bat out of hell." He wasn't wrong. We weaved through traffic like a silk scarf in a hurricane.
- Destination: Hanting Hotel Tianjin Italian Style Street. Found it! Or rather, they found it. The hotel. Nice enough, clean, typical budget hotel – not the Ritz, you know? But the location? Chef's kiss. Right in the heart of the Italian Style Street. Pretty, but I feel like a total tourist already. Ugh.
- Check-In: Pretty smooth. The staff, bless their hearts, spoke enough English to get me sorted. The room? Functional. Bed? Firm. But hey, at least it had air conditioning and a small window opening up a view.
- Lunch (or rather, Emergency Food Acquisition): Starving. Found a tiny noodle shop down the street. Ordered something that looked vaguely safe. Turns out, it was… delicious! A spicy broth with noodles. I’m pretty sure I slurped it down like a vacuum cleaner. Good fuel for surviving the jet lag.
- Afternoon: Wandering and Confusion: Wandered. Wandered aimlessly, feeling like a goldfish in a human-sized bowl. The cobblestone streets of the Italian district are stunning! The architecture is so beautiful, it practically screams "Instagram me!" I took photos, of course. But I also felt a pang of… loneliness? Is that weird? Maybe it's the jet lag talking.
- Evening: Dinner and Cultural Immersion (Sort Of): Found a restaurant with a menu that mostly had pictures. Pointed. Ordered. Received something… interesting. It tasted good. I think. The waiter, bless his heart, tried to explain what it was. I nodded, smiled, and pretended to understand. The experience… was exhausting and delightful all at once. The local beer was cold though, and I'm pretty sure that helped.
- Bedtime: Crash. Sleep. A very hard bed. Not ideal. I’d give it a 6.5/10.
Day 2: The Opera and the Coffee Crisis
- Morning: Coffee Catastrophe: The hotel coffee? Undrinkable. Officially launching a crisis. I NEED COFFEE. Desperately. Wandered the streets in a caffeine-fueled panic. Found a tiny café run by a smiling woman who spoke even less English than I speak Mandarin (which is basically none). Order of business: Coffee. And lots of it.
- Mid-Morning: The Tianjin Opera House: So, I’m not one for the opera. Never have been. But… it seemed like a "cultural experience," right? The building is undeniably gorgeous. The opera itself? Well… it was… an experience. The singing was fantastic, the costumes were dazzling, and I have no idea what was going on with the plot. But hey, I survived! And the photos turned out great.
- Lunch: Street Food Adventure: Abandoned the search for Western food and embraced the glorious chaos of street food. Found a vendor selling… dumplings? Spring rolls? Meat things on sticks? Yes, to all of it. My stomach feels adventurous.
- Afternoon: Double Down on the Opera Experience: Okay, here’s where I went full-on bonkers. Maybe it was the jet lag, maybe it was the surprisingly good food… But I went back to the opera. I know, I know. Why? I have no clue. I went, I enjoyed, I took more pictures.
- Late Afternoon: Trying to Find a Quiet Corner The streets were getting noisy, crowded. I wanted peace. But… where?
- Dinner: Trying to be healthy, totally Failing: Found a restaurant. I was trying to be 'healthy'. Tried to order the veggie dishes, but I’m pretty sure I ended up with something meaty. Well, at least it was tasty!
- Evening: Trying to Learn, Failing Hard: Tried to remember Mandarin words and phrases I picked up on my flight. Ended up in a mess. But I kept thinking of the beautiful things that I saw.
- Bedtime Exhausted. I can't feel my feet.
Day 3: Departure and the End of an Era
- Morning: Last Gasp for Coffee: Find the cafe, say my goodbyes.
- Morning: Last Wander Through the Streets: Spend an hour just wandering and taking a moment to soak in those streets.
- Lunch: Final Meal: This time, ordered something that was tasty and looked normal.
- Packing: Attempted to repack suitcase, failed.
- Transportation: Taxi to the airport. Last drive with a person who likely drives like a maniac.
- Departure Goodbye Tianjin!
- Reflections: Well, that was… something. Chaotic, beautiful, confusing, delicious, sometimes lonely… But isn't that life? Tianjin, you were an experience. And that Italian Style Street? Definitely worth the trip. I didn't understand much, but I'll remember it forever.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hanting Hotel - Italian Style Street, Tianjin (Plus My Two Cents!)
Alright, folks, let's talk about the Hanting Hotel smack-dab in the middle of Tianjin's Italian Style Street. You see those charming buildings and think, "Romance!" Well, buckle up, because it's a bit of a rollercoaster. I've stayed there, and trust me, this ain't always Fellini.
1. Is the Hanting Hotel *actually* IN the Italian Style Street? The pictures are so... dramatic.
Yes! It *is* technically on Italian Style Street. Right in the thick of it. Which is GREAT... and also, kinda overwhelming. Think of it like this: you're in a postcard. And sometimes, you're *living* in a postcard- and that can feel awesome, but sometimes, it feels like being stuck in a very pretty play that never ends. You step out the door and BAM! cobblestone, gelato stands, and what feels like a thousand selfie sticks. So yeah, the location? Top marks for atmosphere. Zero marks for avoiding the crowds.
2. What are the rooms *actually* like? The reviews are… conflicting.
Okay, here's the real talk. The rooms... they're Hanting rooms. Which, if you've stayed in a Hanting before, you know what that means. Cleanish. Functional. Basic. Don't expect luxury. I mean, you're NOT getting a private balcony overlooking the canal, okay? You might get a (tiny) view of... well, another building. Or a sliver of the street. Think: a functional space to crash after a day of exploring. My bed? Fine. Pillows? Probably borrowed from another hotel in a pinch. The bathroom? Clean enough. The whole aesthetic? Let's just say it prioritizes "practical" over "Pinterest-worthy." Don't go expecting Instagram-ready interiors. You *want* to take a photo? Go outside.
3. Is the hotel *noisy*? Italian Style Street is, well, lively.
Yes. Oh, GOD, yes. Bring earplugs. *Especially* if you're on a lower floor or facing the street. It's not just the chattering tourists and hawkers; there's the constant rumble of traffic, the occasional street performer belting out a questionable opera number, and the incessant clatter of those charming cobblestones being rolled over by the world. Honestly, I swear I heard a full mariachi band at 3 AM one night. (Okay, maybe not, but it felt like it.) If you're a light sleeper, you have been warned. This is NOT your zen retreat. This is a *vibrant* place to sleep. Probably.
4. What about breakfast? Is it any good?
Breakfast... is included. And let's be honest, you're not exactly getting a Michelin-star experience. It's the usual Hanting buffet. Think lukewarm congee, questionable pastries, and a vague assortment of… things. It’ll fill your stomach, sure, but it won't exactly *inspire*. My advice? Get a proper coffee from a nearby cafe. I mean, there are better options... all *around* you. The location is king here. Breakfast? Not so much.
5. What are the nearby food options? Tell me about the GOOD STUFF!
This is where the Hanting wins! You're surrounded by deliciousness! It's a veritable feast for the senses! From the gelato stands I mentioned (OMG, the pistachio!), to the numerous restaurants offering authentic Italian, Chinese, and all sorts of tasty things. Explore! Get lost! That's the joy of Italian Style Street. And it's NOT just Italian. There are plenty of local cheap eats – tiny dumpling shops, noodle stalls… just wander a bit and you'll stumble upon culinary gold. Seriously. Explore! The streets are alive with flavor. Don't just eat at the hotel.
6. Is the staff helpful? Do they speak English?
The staff... well, they're trying. English proficiency? Varying degrees. Be patient. A phrasebook or translation app will be your friend. They were polite enough, and did their best to help. But don't expect them to be fluent in Shakespeare. Smile, be polite yourself, and embrace the challenge. Communication is half the fun, right? (Sometimes... maybe not after a long day of travel.)
7. What's the *best* thing about the Hanting Hotel in Italian Style Street?
The location. Hands down. You're *in* the action. You step outside and *bam!* you're immersed. Forget waiting for taxis or figuring out public transport. You're right there! Ready to explore. Wake up, wander, eat, explore, then stumble back to a (hopefully) quiet-ish room. That's the biggest draw, the thing that redeems all the slight imperfections. It’s *convenient*. It's like being in a movie set… the good, the bad, and the slightly dusty. Sure, it's not perfect, but it’s an unforgettable experience.
8. So, would you recommend the Hanting Hotel? (Real talk!)
Okay, here's the brutally honest answer. If you're looking for a budget-friendly place to crash in a prime location, and you're not overly fussy, then *yes*. Go for it. Just bring earplugs, and manage your expectations. If you're after luxury, tranquility, or flawless service, look elsewhere. You'll sacrifice a little on the comfort, but you'll gain a location like no other! It's a trade-off. But for the sheer experience of being right in the heart of Italian Style Street? For me, it was worth it. (Even with the questionable pastries.) I'd probably go back. But this time, I'm bringing heavy-duty earplugs. And maybe a noise-canceling machine. And possibly a therapist. Just kidding... mostly.
9. Any insider tips? Things the reviews don't tell you?
