Unbelievable Nanjing Getaway: Elan Inn Near Longmian Ave Metro!
Unbelievable Nanjing Getaway: Elan Inn Near Longmian Ave Metro! – My Unfiltered Take
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because I'm about to spill the delicious, slightly-salty, and occasionally-burnt tea on my recent stay at the Elan Inn near Longmian Ave Metro in Nanjing. Keywords, you say? SEO, you holler? Fine, fine, I’ll sprinkle those in there. But first, let's just breathe. This wasn't just a hotel stay; it was…an experience. A messy, wonderful, slightly-confusing experience.
(SEO Keywords in the mix! - Nanjing Hotel Review, Elan Inn Longmian Ave, Accessible Hotel, Nanjing Spa, Free Wi-Fi, Clean Hotel, Good Breakfast Nanjing)
First Impressions & Accessibility – A Mixed Bag (Mostly Pleasant):
Landing at Elan Inn, I was immediately struck by the… well, the size. It’s big. Like, "where's the reception desk?" big. Finding the entrance was a mini-adventure itself, but hey, more steps to get my daily quota in, right? (And yes, the car park [free of charge] was genuinely appreciated. Score one for my budget.)
Now, Accessibility. This is something near and dear to my heart. The Elan Inn says it has Facilities for disabled guests. I had the feeling they tried. The elevator was thankfully present (essential, considering the High floor option I foolishly chose!), but navigating the hallways felt a bit like a maze, and the ramps to the (multiple!) entrances weren’t exactly…Olympic-grade. Still, I'm giving them points for effort. And the Elevator? Absolutely crucial. No, I don't need to climb stairs after that crazy walk to the entrance.
Rooms: Cozy, Cleanish, and… the Case of the Missing Outlet:
Got to my Non-smoking room (thank goodness!), and Air conditioning blasting like a blizzard. Yay! The Blackout curtains were a godsend for battling the Nanjing sunshine, and the Bed was comfortable enough. Pretty sure I sank into it after a long travel day! The Free Wi-Fi was a lifesaver. Seriously. Internet access – wireless and Wi-Fi [free] are essential for an always connected person like I am, but the Internet access – LAN made me laugh a little. Who uses those anymore? (Shakes fist at the past)
Now, here's where things got…interesting. I needed to charge my phone. And then I realized…I couldn’t. All the outlets were occupied or conveniently obscured, leaving me scrambling. (I need my phone, okay?) Eventually, after some frantic rooting around, I found ONE Socket near the bed. Thank the travel gods!
Cleanliness? Rooms sanitized between stays and Daily housekeeping gave me some peace of mind. The bathroom was… well, it was clean. Let's leave it at that. The Private bathroom was a must. The Shower function was okay, and the Toiletries were…generic. But hey, after a long walk around Nanjing, even generic is good. I did appreciate the hair dryer.
Food, Glorious Food (And Some Glaring Misses):
Okay, confession time: I'm a foodie. And the food situation at the Elan Inn was…a roller coaster. Breakfast [buffet]? Yes, please! The Asian breakfast options were delightful, and the fresh fruit was a beautiful start to the day. (I might have snuck a few extra pastries…don't judge). The Coffee/tea in restaurant helped me get up and running.
Then, there were the Restaurants. The main restaurant offered both Asian cuisine in restaurant and International cuisine in restaurant, offering the familiar and a little bit of adventure. I loved that they offered Vegetarian restaurant options. I tried the Pad Thai once and it was a wonderful and simple meal. The Desserts in restaurant were a good start, but nothing to write home about. The Coffee shop was convenient for a caffeine fix.
And then there was the Snack bar. I wasn't expecting Michelin stars, but the quality was… variable. (Let’s just say my stomach had a few…moments.) The Room service [24-hour] was a lifesaver a couple of times when I just wanted to hunker down. The Bottle of water was a nice touch.
Relaxation & Recreation: Spa Dreams (and a Slightly Underwhelming Reality):
Now, Spa/sauna is my jam. I was so excited, I dreamt of soaking in a Pool with view, and then hit some Gym/fitness activities after, before chilling in the Steamroom. I really needed to scrub something out of this travel experience. I loved the idea of treatments such as Body scrub and Body wrap and the foot bath.
However… the Sauna was… not quite as luxurious as I'd hoped. The Spa itself was decent. The Swimming pool [outdoor] looked inviting, but I didn’t have time to jump in. I did like that they provided a Massage. But if you're expecting something truly spectacular, rein in your expectations. Some areas felt a little…tired.
Safety & Cleanliness: Feeling Safe (Mostly):
I did appreciate the effort. They've got CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property. They have Fire extinguisher and Smoke alarms. The Security [24-hour] gave me peace of mind, and the Front desk [24-hour] was useful. Hand sanitizer was everywhere, and the Staff trained in safety protocol was good to see.
Honestly, I felt pretty safe. Seeing the Anti-viral cleaning products being used was reassuring.
Overall Vibe & Final Verdict:
The Elan Inn is not perfect. But it's unbelievable in the sense that it's a sprawling, ambitious, sometimes-slightly-flawed hotel that tries to do everything. It has heart, it has convenience, and it's generally a good base for exploring Nanjing, and is definitely a hotel, I would consider staying at again.
Would I recommend it? Yes, but with a few caveats. If you're looking for pure luxury, maybe look elsewhere. But if you want a clean, convenient, reasonably priced hotel with some good amenities and a decent location near the Metro, the Elan Inn is worth a shot. Just bring a power strip, a good attitude… and maybe your own spa robe. 7.5/10 Gold Stars!
Iowa City's HIDDEN Gem: Highlander Hotel's Unbelievable Luxury!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to descend into the glorious chaos that is my potential trip to the Elan Inn near Longmian Avenue Metro Station in Nanjing, China. This isn't your glossy, perfectly-polished travel brochure. This is me – tired, perpetually hungry, and armed with a questionable sense of direction. Here we go…
Nanjing, Here I (Maybe) Come! - A Stream-of-Consciousness Itinerary
Day 0: Pre-Trip Panic & Procrastination (aka, The Night Before)
- Time: 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM (or whenever I stop doomscrolling and actually pack)
- Location: My apartment, somewhere in the world with a distinct lack of feng shui because, let's be honest, I'm not exactly a minimalist.
- Activity: The Great Packing Debacle. I’m staring at my suitcase, and it's looking at me, judging. I'm a chronic over-packer. "Just in case" is my middle name. I probably need to pack more clothes and shoes than I should.
- Emotional Reaction: Mild panic mingled with the intoxicating scent of impending freedom (and a healthy dose of "did I even buy a travel adapter?"). Wait… where is my passport?! Oh god, I should have checked earlier.
- Quirky Observation: My cat seems to know something's up. He keeps giving me this judgy side-eye, like he's thinking, "You're leaving me and for what? Foreign food? Rude."
- Anecdote: One time, on a trip to… well, let's just say "somewhere in Europe," I brought three pairs of hiking boots "just in case." I didn't hike. At all. The boots are still gathering dust in the back of my closet. Learning experience? Nope.
Day 1: Arrival, Metro Madness & Hotel Hijinks
- Time: Dawn (or whenever the train/plane/blimp I'm taking actually lands). 6 AM is the plan. The plan rarely survives me.
- Location: Nanjing Lukou International Airport (hopefully) and, eventually, the Elan Inn Nanjing Jiangning Longmian Avenue Metro Station.
- Activity: Assuming I survive the flight/train/blimp, my brain is already frying. The first challenge? Finding the damn airport express train. Then hopefully, the metro system is not too difficult. Then, the ELAN Inn.
- Means of Transportation: Whatever got me here, taxi, metro. Pray for me.
- Emotional Reaction: A cocktail of jet lag, adrenaline, and the desperate need for a caffeine injection. I will locate coffee. I will survive.
- Quirky Observation: Will I be able to decipher Chinese characters on the metro? Will I accidentally get on the wrong train and end up in… the Forbidden City? (Okay, maybe not.) But you get the gist.
- Anecdote: Once, in a foreign country (again, details are fuzzy), I got hopelessly lost in a massive train station. I wandered for what felt like hours, clutching my luggage and muttering about "the sweet embrace of my hotel room." It was less "sweet embrace" and more "sweaty and lost."
- Hotel Check-in: The Moment of Truth.
- Okay, real talk: lodging.
- The Elan Inn: Seems clean enough from the pictures. I'm not looking for a palace, just a bed, a shower, and hopefully, no bedbugs. Okay, that's a LOT to ask for.
- Problem number 1: Language barrier. My Chinese is… non-existent. Great. I will rely on hand gestures and the universal language of "point and pray."
- Problem number 2: Room expectations. Will my room look anything like the photos?! Will I have a window? A view of a brick wall? This is going to be thrilling.
- Once settled: NAPTIME. Jet lag is a beast.
- Okay, real talk: lodging.
Day 2: Nanjing Culture Blitz (and the inevitable food coma)
- Time: whenever-I-wake-up-times.
- Location: Confucius Temple (Fuzi Miao) area, hopefully Xuanwu Lake. Maybe I should just go to the food market?!
- Activity:
- Confucius Temple: I want to explore a bit of history, get a feel for Nanjing's past. I'll wander the streets, soak up the atmosphere. The food stalls will be a challenge.
- Xuanwu Lake: Okay, let's aim for something scenic. A stroll around the lake, a moment of peace. I'll probably fall asleep on a bench.
- The FOOD: This is the MOST important part. I'm here for the food! I'm hoping to find some proper Nanjing dishes.
- Emotional Reaction: Excitement mixed with the faint fear of spicy food. I'm not a huge fan of chili. Fingers crossed.
- Quirky Observation: I wonder if they sell those little bamboo steamer baskets for the street food? I need a cute basket!
- Anecdote: I once tried to order street food in a language I barely knew. The vendor gave me a look that clearly said, "Lady, what are you even saying?" I ended up getting… something. It was delicious! But I still have no idea what it was.
Day 3: Tomb-Raiding (aka, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum & Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum)
- Time: Early (because crowds). Also, the weather in Nanjing is unpredictable.
- Location: Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum.
- Activity: History, history, and more history. Hopefully, I'll be respectful of the history and maybe learn something!
- Emotional Reaction: A strange mix of anticipation and slight dread. I love history, but I am also a notorious wanderer. This will be a test of my staying-on-track skills.
- Quirky Observation: I wonder if there'll be any cool souvenirs in the gift shops? I'm a sucker for a fridge magnet.
- Anecdote: I once visited a mausoleum in… let's say, "somewhere else." I got completely distracted by a squirrel. I chased it for a solid 15 minutes. In a mausoleum. I'm not proud.
Day 4: Return to the ELAN Inn and Wrap Up (and food coma)
- Time: The final day. I'm exhausted and probably need to plan how to get back home.
- Location: The ELAN Inn and hopefully a nice restaurant nearby.
- Activity: Last-minute souvenir shopping, packing, and trying to eat all the delicious food before I leave.
- Emotional Reaction: A mix of sadness and relief. Going home is nice, but I'm so ready for some new adventures.
- Quirky Observation: Did I learn any Mandarin? Probably not. Do I know how to say "more dumplings, please?" Absolutely.
- Anecdote: On my way home, I always think that I will bring gifts to my loved ones, but it'll pass when I am in the airport.
Food Notes: Because, Let's Be Real - It's All About the Food
- Must-Try Dishes: I'm looking at the local cuisine, so I want to try duck blood soup, salted duck, and all the dumplings I can get my grubby hands on! Also, all the things with chili.
- Potential Disaster Zone: Anything that looks like a "mystery meat" situation. Also, spicy food. I'm a wimp.
- Emotional Reaction: Hunger. Pure, unadulterated hunger.
And That's That!
This itinerary is, let's be honest, more of a suggestion than a rigid plan. Things will go wrong. I will get lost. I will overeat. But that's the whole adventure! Wish me luck, and maybe, just maybe, I'll come back with some actual good travel stories (and not just tales of me being embarrassingly incompetent). Wish me luck!
Luxury Escapes Await: Uncover The Star Hotel's Hidden Gem in Yeonggwang-gun!
Unbelievable Nanjing Getaway: Elan Inn Near Longmian Ave Metro! - (Help, I Need a Nap)
Okay, spill. Is this Elan Inn REALLY as "unbelievable" as the name screams?
The Location - Seriously, You Mentioned It. What's the Deal with Longmian Ave Metro? Is it Convenient?
The Rooms: What's the Vibe? Cleanliness? Anything to Fear?
Food, Glorious Food! Are There Decent Eats Nearby?
What's The WIFI Like? Because, You Know, the Internet is Important.
Anything I NEED to be Prepared For? Any Dealbreakers?
Would You Stay Again? Be Honest!
The Bathroom - Let's Get Down to Brass Tacks. What's the Shower Pressure Like?
