Changchun's BEST Hotel Near the Railway Station: Starway Hotel Review!
Okay, here's a messy, honest, and hopefully useful review of the Starway Hotel near Changchun Railway Station. Buckle up, it's going to be a ride.
Starway Hotel, Changchun: A No-Frills Adventure (Near the Train Station!)
Alright, so let's get this straight: I'm a person who gets lost in my own house. So, the fact that I needed a hotel near the Changchun Railway Station was a non-negotiable. And the Starway Hotel? Well, it is near the train station. Seriously, I could practically smell the steamed buns from my room. That's a win for accessibility right there! You could say, accessibility is a solid, "yes."
Accessibility & Getting Around (and Not Getting Lost!)
Getting to the hotel was easy-peasy. Airport transfer? Nah, took the train. Car park on-site? Yes, but I didn't have a car (thankfully!). I'm pretty sure there were some disabled features in the elevator, but honestly, my brain was operating on "survival" mode, so I paid more attention to not, ya know, dying. There are also, good things, elevators!
Rooms: My Personal Sanctuary (Maybe)
The room itself? Perfectly functional. Wi-Fi in all rooms? Yep, and it’s free! (I’d say that's a pretty standard thing nowadays). I spent WAY too much time browsing the web, and I did use the complimentary tea, a welcome touch after a long day. Now, the view… let's just say it wasn't the Eiffel Tower. But hey, I needed a bed and a shower, and it had both. Plus, it had a window that opens! Seriously, how underrated is fresh air in hotels? Love.
Cleanliness & Safety: Trying to Stay Alive in a Global Pandemic
Alright, let's tackle the big elephant (or, in this case, the tiny virus) in the room: hygiene. The hotel seemed to go above and beyond on these things… daily disinfection in common areas (check!), room sanitization (I hope!), hand sanitizer everywhere (godsend!). They even had a bunch of signs about hygiene certification and safe dining setups, which made me feel like I wasn’t going to die of whatever strain of… whatever was circulating. I gotta say, the staff wore masks religiously, which, at least, looked reassuring. I’m kinda cynical about these things, but… yeah, they tried. They really did.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Food Game
Listen, I am not a foodie. However, I am a survivalist when it comes to food. Breakfast? Available! Buffet? Yep (with a whole load of precautions). Asian breakfast was available, which meant, at a minimum, something hot. The coffee shop? Yeah, I saw it, and if I'm honest, I didn't brave it! It was all a bit, you know, "hotel-y." The snack bar was a godsend and the bottled water was great!
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter (Or Not)
Room service? 24-hour?! That's a massive win in my book. Concierge? I didn't use them, but they were there. The cash withdrawal machine was a plus, and the elevator was key. But… the gift shop? I think I saw one, but I'm not sure.
Ways to Relax (Maybe After the Train)
Okay, so… ways to relax. Fitness center? I considered the gym. Nope. The sauna? I thought about it some more. Nope!. The spa/sauna? Also nope. I have a feeling I’m missing out.
Things to Do (Beside Watching Trains Leave!)
Well, I didn't do anything except get on the train. So, that’s that. (That's the real truth).
The Quirks, The Imperfections, and the Stream-of-Consciousness (My favorite part)
Okay, here’s the real deal. The Starway Hotel is not fancy. It's not glamorous. It's not the Four Seasons. Hell, I think the room decorations were pretty much… absent. But, and this is a big but, it served its purpose. It was clean. It was (relatively) quiet. It was near that blasted train station I needed to be near. And the Wi-Fi worked!
My main, BIGGEST moment of shock/comedy? The bathroom. It was clean, that’s good. And, the shower worked. But the toilet… it was attached to the wall. I mean, it's a toilet. I don't have to be reminded how to us a toilet, but i'm sitting there, and suddenly I notice how it's attached to the wall. I'm talking, "Is it going to fall off mid-use-and-kill-me?" The entire time. I thought of asking the staff, but then I realised the language barrier would be a thing, and I'd look like an idiot. I risked the experience and all was well.
I'm still not sure about that toilet.
The Verdict
If you need a clean, functional hotel near the Changchun Railway Station, and you’re not expecting the Ritz-Carlton – this is totally fine. It’s not a dream, but it got the job done! Would I stay there again? Absolutely! Because I know the train is nearby (and the toilet will stay on the wall… hopefully).
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- Title: Starway Hotel Changchun Review: Near Railway Station, Honest & Messy!
- Keywords: Changchun Hotel, Starway Hotel, Railway Station, China, Review, Clean Hotel, Affordable, Changchun Accommodation, Near Train Station, Hotel Review, Accessibility, Wi-Fi.
- Meta Description: A brutally honest review of the Starway Hotel near Changchun Railway Station. Find out if it's clean, safe, and worth your stay (or not!). Highlights accessibility, cleanliness, and quirks.
- Alt Tags (for the images): "Starway Hotel Changchun exterior," "Standard hotel room," "Hotel lobby," "The all-important bathroom" "Train passing by."
- Categories: Travel, Hotels, China, Changchun, Hotel Reviews, Budget Travel.
- Tags: Changchun, Starway Hotel, Train Station, Review, Hotel, China, Accommodation, Travel, Budget Hotel.
Final Thoughts: I'm not sure the hotel is fancy, but the staff seemed nice. I wouldn't be afraid to go again. The toilet, though, is still a little bit of a mystery…
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Alright, buckle up buttercups, because you're about to get a real taste of my trip to the Starway Hotel Changchun Railway Station. This isn't some perfectly curated Instagram post, this is the messy, real deal, complete with questionable dietary choices and the crushing weight of jet lag. Consider yourselves warned.
Day 1: Changchun, We Meet Again (Maybe?)
6:00 AM (Beijing Time) - The Great Departure: Ugh. Actually, even worse than "ugh." I'm pretty sure my soul still resides in the Beijing airport. That initial flight… let's just say the complimentary in-flight peanuts were the highlight. Landed in Changchun – which, by the way, I’ve somehow ended up in again! Like, it’s not a place I DREAM of, you know? More like a “Well, here we are again, huh?” kind of situation.
6:30 AM - 7:00 AM - The Train Station Tango: Okay, so the airport shuttle was a solid 2/10. The driver looked like he hadn't slept since the fall of the Qing dynasty, and the air conditioning seemed to be on a personal vendetta against me. Then, the glorious, chaotic joy of the Changchun Railway Station. Think a thousand people, all simultaneously trying to get somewhere important, all while wielding enormous luggage and a general air of "I'm done with your nonsense." I loved it immediately. Or at least, I found myself amused.
7:30 AM - Hotel Arrival and the Questionable Lobby Coffee Ritual: Checked into the Starway Hotel. It's… a hotel. Cleanish. The room is, uh, well, it exists. Let's put it that way. The lobby coffee, however… Let's just say it tasted like regret and sadness. I'm pretty sure it's brewed from the tears of disappointed tourists. Yet, you know what? I drank it. Needed the caffeine.
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - The Great Nap of Judgement: The day's events are a blur because I crashed for about three hours. Jet lag had well and truly taken residence. I woke up feeling simultaneously refreshed and like I'd been run over by a bus.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM - The "Accidental" Food Adventure: Decided to venture out for lunch. Found a tiny local place around the corner. Pointed at a menu I couldn't read (a genuine skill I seem to have mastered). What arrived? A steaming bowl of something… I think it was noodles. With a meat I couldn't identify (mystery meat! My favourite!!). The first bite was a revelation. The second, a pause. The third, I was hooked. It was spicy, savoury, and probably not entirely safe for Western stomachs. But who cares? I ate the whole damn thing. Totally worth the risk.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Strolling the City… Maybe?: Attempted a stroll around the area. Immediately got lost. Completely, utterly lost. But in a good way. I love getting lost. Found a small park with old men playing mahjong, a group of teenagers huddled over phones, and a woman screaming into her phone at the top of her lungs. (Classic.) The energy of this city is… something. It’s not smooth or polished. Its got something messy and authentic to it.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Dinner, Drink, and Realization: Back to the hotel to find a restaurant nearby. Ended up at a karaoke bar. That was…an experience. Let's just say my singing voice sounds a lot better in my head. The waitresses were friendly, the food was so-so, but everyone in the room seemed to be having the best night of their lives. It hit me. Maybe, just maybe, I'd be okay in Changchun. Maybe, despite the questionable coffee and the near-death experience of getting lost, this was going to be good.
Day 2: The Ice Sculptures and the Crumbling Empire (of My Sanity)
9:00 AM - The Breakfast Debacle - or, Why I Carry Instant Oatmeal Now: The hotel breakfast – let's say it wasn't much better than the coffee. Greasy, questionable meats, and the kind of fruit that looked like it had seen better days. From now on, its instant oatmeal in the hotel room. I've learnt my lesson.
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM- The Ice Sculpture Spectacle: Okay, this was the highlight of the trip so far. The Ice Sculpture Festival. Holy. Mother. Of. God. Think colossal ice sculptures of everything and anything. They were incredible. Seriously incredible. I would pay to see them again. The sheer artistry was mind-blowing. The scale was enormous. Saw some kids slide on the ice. Almost did it myself! The cold was bone-chilling, though, so layers, people, layers!
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Finding the Puyi's Palace: This was a bit of a letdown. Puyi's Palace, the last emperor's residence. It was fascinating, don't get me wrong, but it was also…well, pretty run-down and a little sad. The history is tragic, and the building reflects that. It’s a reminder of a certain time. The guides there were kind but I don't think they were into my questions.
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Shopping Frenzy (and Regret): Went to a local market to buy some souvenirs. I spent way too much money on jade pendants – a purchase I may or may not regret later.
7:00 PM - Dinner, with a Side of Melodrama: The day was a slog. Ate something… I don't even remember what. The world felt heavy. The jet lag, the unfamiliarity, the sheer number of people all around… It all just started to hit me. I watched some television. Then ate some snacks I bought.
8:00 PM - The Midnight Rambles and the Questionable Taxi Ride Home: I was restless and couldn't sleep, so I went walking around. Walking under the streetlights, the city seemed changed. A taxi home – the driver didn’t speak any of my language. We made motions to get home and he dropped me a few blocks away.
Day 3: Leaving Changchun…And Maybe Part of My Heart?
9:00 AM - The Final Hotel Breakfast (and the Final Regret): Against my better judgment, I went back for the hotel breakfast. Mistake. A big mistake.
10:00 AM - The Great Packing Debacle: Packed my bags. Realized I'd bought too many things. Started to wonder if I should stay.
1:00 PM - The Airport (And the Unexpected Farewell): Headed back to the airport. Stood on the bus and saw the city go by. Changchun. I think I'll miss it. Sort of.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM - Flight Back: The flight was uneventful. I slept most of the way.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Departure: Goodbye Changchun.
Overall:
Changchun isn't perfect. It's chaotic, quirky, and at times frustrating. But it's also real. It's full of life, and it's a place where you can have some seriously unexpected experiences. And maybe, just maybe, you'll end up loving the place. Even if it's in a messy, slightly melancholic, and utterly honest kind of way. Would I go back? Probably. Do I have unfinished business there? I’m not sure. But I know that a small part of me will always remember this messy, wonderful trip. Now, off to unpack and try to figure out what I bought at that market… wish me luck.
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Changchun's Starway Hotel: Before You Book (and Possibly Regret) - An FAQ (Kinda)
Is the Starway Hotel *actually* the best hotel near Changchun Railway Station? Seriously, is it? Because my train arrives at 3 AM and I'm prone to travel meltdowns.
What are the rooms *actually* like? I’ve seen photos. Are they deceiving? Give me the REAL deal.
Is it clean? Because I’m a germaphobe. And I have a weird thing about dust bunnies.
Breakfast. Tell me about the breakfast, please. I need sustenance! And coffee. Lots of coffee.
Is the staff friendly? Or do they treat you like another tired, train-weary tourist?
Anything else I should know? Secret tips? Hidden dangers? Give it to me straight!
- Earplugs are your friend. Trains whistle. Early. Often. Construction happens. Always.
- The wifi is… fickle. Don’t expect to livestream your entire trip. (Good for your sanity, maybe?)
- Bring your own snacks! The vending machines *might* be stocked… but don’t bank on gourmet options.
- Embrace the chaos. Seriously. Lower your expectations. Go in knowing it’s not a luxury resort. Think of it as an… *experience*.
- Oh, and one more thing about the shower: If you hear a strange gurgling sound, *RUN*. Just kidding! (Mostly).
