Lanzhou Luxury Getaway: Unforgettable TOWO Holiday Hotel Experience
Lanzhou Luxury Getaway: TOWO Holiday Hotel - My Brain Dump on a "Luxury" Escape (and if it's worth it!)
Okay, buckle up, because I just got back from a Lanzhou adventure, and let me tell you, this "TOWO Holiday Hotel Experience"…it's a thing. It’s like, they promised luxury, and well, let’s just say my expectations and reality had a slightly bumpy romance. But hey, that’s what makes a good story, right? And a good review, apparently!
Accessibility: The Great Leveler (Mostly)
First off, the accessibility. A big thumbs up, generally. Wheelchair accessible is a HUGE plus, and the elevators were thankfully working (small victories, people, small victories). I have to applaud them for that. I saw facilities for disabled guests advertised which is comforting, but unfortunately, I never had the need to use them to give a better review on them, I simply saw the option. Accessibility rating: 4/5 (could always be better, but good effort!)
Cleanliness and Safety: The Pandemic Protocol Powwow
Alright, let’s get real. In these post-apocalyptic times (kidding…mostly), cleanliness and safety are paramount. Towo seems REALLY to take this seriously, and I appreciate it. Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Daily disinfection in common areas? Check. Rooms sanitized between stays? Double check! They even had room sanitization opt-out available which is kind of cool (and responsible, I think). Staff trained in safety protocol? Yup, I saw them wiping things down religiously. Hand sanitizer dispensers were everywhere. The hygiene certification felt… legit. Okay, well, it seemed legit. I wouldn’t exactly say I checked for the certification, but good on you for the effort, TOWO. First aid kit, doctor/nurse on call? Good to know… though I'm hoping not to need them, you know? Safe dining setup?? Indeed. They seemed to have everything covered!
The "Luxury" Angle (Where Things Get Interesting)
Now, the "luxury" part. That’s where the story gets, well, interesting. Look, I’m a sucker for fluff. Massages? Spa? Bring it on! TOWO promised all that. The question becomes: is the luxury authentic? Let's dive in…
The Room: Okay, the non-smoking rooms were a must. The air conditioning worked like a charm (thank god, Lanzhou can be a scorcher!). The blackout curtains were a lifesaver for sleeping in. The bathrobes were ridiculously soft. And the slippers? I lived in them. Seriously, I’m probably still wearing one. Free Wi-Fi? Wi-Fi [free]? YES! Thank you, universe! I need to share my Lanzhou Instastories, ya know? Extra long bed was a godsend! I’m tall. View that opens really let the smells of Lanzhou in… I did like the seating area. The desk was okay, did the job. The room was decently soundproof, though not perfect (more on that later). Alarm clock? Useful. The complimentary tea was appreciated. Daily housekeeping was efficient and friendly. The in-room safe box was great. My favorite part? The bathtub. Bubbles, books, bliss. The mirror was great, I saw my smiling face!
The Spa Experience (My Personal Odyssey): This is where I spent a hefty chunk of my budget. I live for spas. The spa/sauna was beautiful, so relaxing. And the massage… Oh. My. God. I got a deep tissue, and it was… transformative. Let me just say, my knots were so deep, they probably had their own zip code before. Seriously. The masseuse was a wizard! Body scrub, body wrap felt amazing too. I mean, the steamroom was a bit… steamy (duh), but invigorating. The experience was AMAZING. The only downside? The high prices. But, hey, you’re paying for luxury, right? Right? Spa rating: 4.5/5 (minus .5 for the price gouging… just kidding, kinda).
Food and Beverage - A Mixed Bag, Really: Breakfast was a solid buffet. Breakfast [buffet]. They even had an Asian breakfast corner. Asian cuisine in restaurant. Good start! They also had an international cuisine in restaurant for all those picky eaters. Western breakfast was also an option. I'm a sucker for the desserts in restaurant. The coffee/tea in restaurant was good, but the coffee shop was GREAT -- especially in the morning when I needed a boost. The room service [24-hour] was a lifesaver after a long day of sightseeing. And the poolside bar? Well, that’s where the happy hours were spent (and my sanity found). The restaurants were varied, and the salad in restaurant was surprisingly fresh. The soup in restaurant was good. But the A la carte in restaurant pricing felt a bit, well, luxury-taxed… I am sure there are some vegetarian restaurant options. The food was alright, it just didn’t wow me, but hey, I wasn’t expecting Michelin stars. Food & Beverage Rating: 3.5/5
Things to Do and Relaxation Stations Galore:
- The Pool: Okay, the swimming pool [outdoor] was stunning. Pool with view indeed! The water was a perfect temperature, and the whole vibe screams “Instagrammable.” This pool could easily be the only reason to go to Lanzhou and stay at the TOWO!
- The Gym: I'm not one for exercise on vacation but the Fitness center, gym/fitness were quite impressive. It was a good way to sweat out that buffet breakfast, and I felt a little bit better about my food choices after leaving!
- Other Amenities: I did not use the foot bath - but maybe next time.
Services and Conveniences: Your Comfort is Their Command (Mostly)
- The Essentials: Concierge – excellent. Doorman – always there to greet you. Daily housekeeping – on point (and friendly!). Dry cleaning and laundry service were a godsend after a week of hiking. Elevator – thank goodness. Cash withdrawal from the ATM was helpful.
- Businessy Stuff: Business facilities. Meeting/banquet facilities, were available. I didn't need 'em, but good to know they’re there. Xerox/fax in business center… classic.
- Little Extras: Convenience store. Gift/souvenir shop (impulse buys ahoy!). Currency exchange. Luggage storage (essential).
More Ramblings and Imperfections (Because Let's Be Honest):
- The Noise Factor: Okay, this is where TOWO could improve. Some rooms seemed to have a little trouble keeping out the sounds of… life. Traffic, shouting, late-night karaoke (yes, really) – it was all a bit much at times. Soundproof rooms? Debatable.
- The "Hotel Chain" Thing: TOWO feels like a big chain hotel. It’s comfortable, efficient, and polished, but it lacks that unique, quirky character that some smaller boutique hotels have. The "special" factor felt a little manufactured.
- The "Fine Print": There were a few hidden fees that I didn't love (like the optional "gratuity" added to some bills). Always read the fine print, folks!
Getting Around: Airport Transfer, Taxi and Car Parks (Free of Charge – Score!)
- Airport transfer was a smooth operation. The car parks being car park [free of charge], car park [on-site] were a massive plus. Taxi service was easy to hail.
- Getting Around: bicycle parking seemed good.
For the Kids (Or Kid-like Adults):
- Babysitting service and family/child friendly, kids facilities were available.
The Final Verdict (Do I Recommend This Place?)
Okay, so, Lanzhou Luxury Getaway: TOWO Holiday Hotel. Is it worth it? Yes, mostly. It’s a solid choice, especially if you want a reliable, comfortable, and safe stay. The accessibility, the spa (seriously, that massage…), and the pool make it worth the splurge. However, be prepared for a few inconsistencies (the noise!), and maybe check your bill carefully.
My Honest Score: 4/5 stars. Would I go back? Absolutely, but I'd bring earplugs!
Lanzhou Luxury Getaway: TOWO Holiday Hotel - Your Unforgettable Escape Awaits!
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Alright, buckle up, buttercups! This isn't your polished travel brochure. This is the REAL DEAL, Lanzhou edition, from the belly of the beast (or, more accurately, the TOWO Holiday Hotel… which, let’s be honest, might feel like the belly of the beast after a few days). Get ready for a bumpy ride.
Lanzhou, China: Operation Get-Lost-and-Sort-of-Found (and Eat Some Noodles)
(Okay, fine, in my room at the TOWO Holiday Hotel. Yantan High-Tech Zone. Lanzhou.)
Day 1: Arrival and Noodle Nirvana (and an Ode to the Towel)
- 1:00 PM (ish): Landing in Lanzhou. The airport is… well, it’s an airport. Nothing particularly special, unless you count the sheer volume of people shuffling about. Immediately, the sensory overload hits. The air hums with a low thrum of energy, the scent of something vaguely spicy and something else… well, I can't quite place it yet. Maybe future adventures will tell.
- 2:30 PM: Check-in at the TOWO. First impressions? It’s… clean. And beige. Beige everywhere. The lobby smells vaguely of industrial cleaner and something floral. Not bad, not great. The elevators are… functional. Thank goodness. Dragging my suitcase (which, let's be honest, is probably overpacked with "just in case" items I'll never use) around would’ve been a workout.
- 3:00 PM: Room. Okay, the room is…beige. Surprise! But hey, it has a window. Praise be. And a working AC. (Crucial, people, crucial.) The towel situation… hmm. Let's just say the towels are… thin. REALLY thin. Like, almost transparent. I’m starting to suspect they're made of recycled cotton candy. I’m already mentally preparing myself for post-shower shivering. But hey, at least they’re clean, right? (Deep breaths, self.)
- 4:00 PM: The Great Noodle Hunt Begins! Okay, so Lanzhou is FAMOUS for its beef noodles (牛肉面, niú ròu miàn). I read about this…I dreamed about this. After a quick (read: slightly stressful) negotiation with the concierge (my Mandarin is… rudimentary, let's be generous), I got directions to a local noodle shop. The walk there was an adventure. The sheer number of scooters, bicycles, and people crisscrossing the streets is mind-boggling. At one point, I'm pretty sure a chihuahua, which was much smaller than I expected for China, almost took me out. Dodging traffic here is a contact sport.
- 4:30 PM: NOODLE TIME! Oh. My. God. It was… religious. The broth, the noodles, the tender beef, the chili oil… It was a flavor explosion. My soul did a little happy dance. I slurped, I sweated (the chili was spicy), I practically inhaled every last drop. This, my friends, is what life is all about. (Also, I think I may have slightly over-ordered… I am still full.)
- Post-Noodle Mental Rundown: Okay, I almost choked on that chili. I need to pace myself better tomorrow. The beef was tender and flavorful. Absolutely worth the journey. And the little old lady who was making the noodles? Absolute art, she was basically Picasso with wheat flour. 10/10, would slurp again.
- 6:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Resting. Planning for tomorrow. (Mainly, how to conquer the language barrier and find more noodles… and possibly, a thicker towel.)
- 7:00 PM: Shower (and towel… contemplation). The towel situation remains a problem. Maybe I should bring my own tomorrow. Or steal one of the extra face towels (kidding!… mostly).
- 8:00 PM: Attempting to decipher the TV situation. It's all Chinese programming. I get the impression people are watching something with fast cars. I watch for three minutes, and I am completely lost.
- 9:00 PM: Collapse into bed. Jet lag. Exhaustion. And the afterglow of noodle bliss.
Day 2: Yellow River and Mountain Climbing… Or, the Attempt Thereof
- 8:00 AM: Wake up. Surprisingly, I slept through the night! Thank you, delicious noodles. Okay, towel. We’re still on thin ice, you and I.
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. The hotel breakfast is… an experience. The buffet is a sea of bewildering… "things." I tentatively try some… "noodles." (Different noodles. More experimentation is required!)
- 10:00 AM: Getting ready to get out of here. Okay, first the hotel lobby is confusing. Too many entrances. Finding the door is an Olympic event. So, I get outside.
- 11:00 AM: The Incredible, Unforgettable, and Mostly Humiliating Adventure Near the Yellow River. I decide to visit the Yellow River (黄河, Huáng Hé). I've read about it. See pictures. It's an iconic landmark! I find a bus… get on the wrong bus. Get off the wrong bus. Have a mini-meltdown and try the next bus. Arrive somewhere vaguely near the river. The place is packed with people, I am completely the wrong person, and I am wearing sensible hiking boots. Find the path, which is full of… hills. These are not hills, they are mountains, and I am not prepared. After some time, I decide to turn around.
- 12:30 PM: Lunch. After navigating the chaotic street-food scene (again, the Mandarin is lacking!), I find some tasty street food. Everything tastes amazing, and the price is right.
- 2:00 PM: I want to go to more museums and experience more cultural events. I decide to stay at the hotel and enjoy the AC.
- 7:00 PM: I finally decide to leave my room and go to the lobby. There is a large conference going on. Loud and bustling, to say the least.
- 8:00 PM: Dinner. More noodles! (I’m sensing a pattern). This time, the chili oil is a bit much, but I soldier on.
- 9:00 PM: Back in the (beige) room. This time, I'm armed with my own extra-thick, super-absorbent towel. Victory! The world is a better place.
- 10:00 PM: I'm reading the guide book. Turns out, I did not miss much today.
Day 3: The Great Departure… and the Last Noodle
- 8:00 AM: Another day, another adventure. The hotel breakfast is tolerable today. I see other guests. I am not alone. But I am not going to talk to them.
- 9:00 AM: I have to check out. I have to say goodbye to the world.
- 10:00 AM: Almost time to go. I am going to have to go back to the airport.
- 11:00 AM: I have to eat my last noodles. Now.
- 12:00 PM: Finally, the airport. Goodbye, Lanzhou. (And farewell, oh-so-thin towels.) Until next time, noodle heaven!
Important Takeaways:
- Language: Learn some basic Mandarin phrases. Seriously. It’ll save your sanity. And some helpful phrase for getting around.
- Noodles: Eat. All. The. Noodles.
- Towel Situation: Be prepared. Pack your own. Or embrace the cotton candy-esque experience.
- Pace Yourself: Things move fast. Embrace the chaos.
- Embrace the Unexpected: You will get lost. You will misunderstand. You will laugh (hopefully). That's the fun of it.
Lanzhou: A whirlwind of flavors, sights, and a slightly annoying beige… and, absolutely, a trip I wouldn't trade for anything. Now, I need a nap.
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Lanzhou Luxury Getaway: Unforgettable TOWO Holiday Hotel Experience - FAQs (and My Ramblings)
So, like, is this TOWO Holiday Hotel *really* worth the hype? Or just a bunch of bougie fluff?
Okay, deep breaths. Hype? Absolutely. Worth it? Depends. Here's the deal: the pictures? They’re *stunning*. The reality? Well... it's Lanzhou. It's not exactly known for its cosmopolitan energy. This place *tries*. Really, really tries. The lobby is all marble and hushed whispers – almost intimidating, actually. I walked in with my suitcase, looking like I’d wrestled a yak (long flight, okay?), and felt *vastly* underdressed. But then… the *room*. Oh, the room. Think breathtaking views of the Yellow River, a bathtub bigger than my actual kitchen, and a bed that swallowed you whole. Yeah. Worth it, at least for that first, glorious hour before the jet lag hit and I started questioning all my life choices.
But here’s the thing: the service is… inconsistent. One minute you're being showered with compliments and complimentary fruit (delicious, by the way, especially the pomegranate!), and the next, you're trying to explain in broken Mandarin that your air conditioning is blasting arctic air and your translator app just died. Not ideal. But hey, even luxury hotels have their off days, right? Or at least, that's what I told myself, shivering beneath three down comforters at 3 AM.
What's the food situation like? Michelin star vibes or more... buffet blues?
Food, ah, the eternal struggle. The TOWO's main restaurant, *The Jade Dragon*, is where you want to be. Sort of. The ambiance is, again, impeccable – soft lighting, elegant tables. The menu? A beautiful, glossy book of culinary dreams. The reality? Mixed. The Lanzhou beef noodles (obviously, a must-try) were divine – honestly, the best I had in the entire city. The other dishes? Hit or miss. I had one plate of something that looked utterly glorious, sounded amazing on the menu… and tasted vaguely of disappointment. Like someone had forgotten the salt. Or, you know, *flavor*.
The breakfast buffet… well, let's just say it's vast. *Staggeringly* vast. There was everything from fresh-baked pastries (amazing!) to congee of dubious origin (avoid). I spent most of my time staring at the spread, paralyzed by choice. My advice? Stick to the noodles, the fresh fruit, and the pastries. And maybe bring your own emergency supply of marmalade. Just in case.
Okay, but the *location*? Is it actually in the middle of nowhere, or... somewhere exciting?
Right, so Lanzhou itself isn't exactly known for its vibrant nightlife. Let's be honest. The TOWO is pretty much on the riverbank. Not *in* the middle of nowhere, per se, but let's call it 'comfortably secluded'. You're close to the iconic Iron Bridge (definitely Instagrammable) and some of the markets. But honestly, you're probably going to spend most of your time *in* the hotel. Which, depending on whether you're a hermit or a social butterfly, is either a huge plus or a giant sigh of boredom.
I, personally, spent a lot of time in my room. Looking at the river. Ordering room service (that dumplings! Delicious! Even better than my apartment's ones). Reading a book (or, let's be real, scrolling through my phone). There's a strange peace to be found in the relative quiet. But if you ARE looking for a bustling city vibe... well, you're in the wrong place. Though, considering the jet lag, perhaps "peace" is exactly what's needed.
What's a day at the TOWO *actually* look like? Give me a play-by-play!
Alright, buckle up, because it's a rollercoaster of luxury and minor mishaps. Okay, picture this: 9:00 AM, I wake up (finally) – the soundproofing is *amazing*. The sun is streaming through the curtains, highlighting the dust motes dancing in the air (okay, maybe not *quite* perfect). 9:30 AM, I contemplate ordering breakfast in bed. Realize I need to be up for the noodles. 10:00 AM, I conquer the breakfast buffet, armed with a plate of noodles and a look of grim determination. 11:00 AM, I try to use the gym. Give up after five minutes because… effort. 11:05 AM, I retreat to the pool. Which is lovely, except I misjudged the sun and ended up looking like a lobster for the next three days. (Note to self: pack more sunscreen.)
Afternoon: Nap. Read a book. Stare at the river. Contemplate life choices. Fail at ordering something in Mandarin and end up eating more dumplings. Evening: Dinner at The Jade Dragon (see above). Maybe a cocktail at the Sky Bar (the views are incredible, even if the cocktails are a little... bland). Bed. Sleep. Repeat. The End. And you know what? It's exactly what I needed. Even with the hiccups, and the sunburn, and the language barrier struggles. The best part? Waking up to that view. Pure. Bliss.
Should I pack a phrasebook? What about luggage?
YES. Pack a phrasebook. Or download a *good* translation app. Or bring a friend who speaks Mandarin (jealous!). The staff *tries* to speak English, bless their hearts, but sometimes there's a communication breakdown. I spent a solid ten minutes trying to explain to room service that I wanted a *diet* coke, not a regular one. ("Diet" in Chinese is... well, it doesn't sound much like "diet"). It ended with me miming the size of my waistline. It was... memorable.
As for luggage? Pack what you normally would for a luxury trip. The dress code is casual-chic, you *can* get away with jeans, but remember, you're trying to be sophisticated. The room is spacious, so you can bring a few extra outfits, and you know, your lucky socks, which you always need.
And a good hat. Never underestimate the power of a good hat, especially when you're battling the sun and trying to look nonchalantly fabulous. (I failed, spectacularly.)
Okay, the one thing I really *want* to know – the spa? Worth it?
Oh, the spa. Okay, here's where I get REALLY passionate. Because the spa at the TOWO… is AMAZING. Like, truly, ridiculously, unbelievably good. That's the part I spent the most money on. I had the "Signature Massage", which involved hot stones, aromatherapy oils, and the most skilled masseuse I have *ever* encountered. I swear, I think I actually levitated off the table. It was so relaxing, so transcendent, that I almost missed my dinner. I evenHotels With Kitchenettes
