Shanghai Hongqiao Airport's BEST Kept Secret: Elan Inn!
Elan Inn: Shanghai Hongqiao Airport's Not-So-Secret (but STILL Amazing!) Getaway Review
Okay, so I'm gonna be honest. I've seen A LOT of airport hotels in my time. From the soul-suckingly bland to the downright depressing. But Elan Inn, smack-dab in the heart of Shanghai Hongqiao, well, that was different. And even though everyone seems to know about it now, it still feels like a little slice of oasis amidst the airport hustle. Buckle up, because this review's gonna be a bit of a rollercoaster.
Accessibility & Getting There (Let's Start with the Basics - and the Gripes)
Accessibility? They say they have facilities for disabled guests. Fine, great. But I didn’t personally need them, so I can't give a super in-depth review on that front. (Someone, please shout out in the comments if you have experience! I'm all ears!). Getting to the hotel, though… That's usually a headache. Thankfully, Elan Inn’s airport transfer service is a total godsend. Easy, efficient, and a huge relief after a long flight. Don't even THINK about trying to navigate public transport after a red-eye. Just. Don’t.
Rooms & Creature Comforts: My Sanctuary (Mostly)
The moment I entered my room, whoosh. Instant calm. Okay, maybe not instant. Firstly, the Air Conditioning in the room was a blessing. And for an airport hotel, it felt surprisingly spacious. My room had a High floor, providing a pretty decent view of the comings and goings. And the blackout curtains? Absolute genius. Seriously, they were thicker than my last relationship's trust issues. I happily crashed for 12 hours straight!
The Wi-Fi [free]? Spot on. Super speedy - I had no issues streaming movies or even trying to get some work done (though the giant, plush bed was a major productivity assassin). And the Internet access – wireless was just as strong. No dodgy hotel internet here! They even had Internet access – LAN for those old-schoolers!
Now, a few minor gripes (because, hey, I’m human):
- The bathroom… a little cramped, but spotless. Cleanliness, 10/10.
- The Mini bar? Pretty basic, but the Free bottled water was a lifesaver, especially considering I forgot to drink on the flight.
- Slippers! A small touch, but it makes a HUGE difference after a long day of travel.
- The tv options? The Satellite/cable channels were good, but the On-demand movies were a little… limited. I’m used to Netflix, and the Hotel on Demand movie selection was like going back to my childhood.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Fueling the Traveler
Okay, let's talk food. This is my jam. And Elan Inn delivered! The Room service [24-hour] is a lifesaver for those late-night cravings. Their fried rice hits the spot. Though I had a minor panic at 3 AM when I realised that I had no cash! Luckily, the Cashless payment service was available.
I didn't dig into the full Breakfast [buffet] experience (I was too busy sleeping in!) but a friend of mine said it was actually amazing. They offered a Western breakfast as well as an Asian breakfast, so something for everyone. And from what I saw in the dining areas, I could tell the Asian cuisine in restaurant was authentic, and the same for the International cuisine in restaurant.
I did indulge in the Coffee shop. My god, the coffee was STRONG! Needed that after the long flight.
Things to Do (or Not Do): The Art of Relaxation
The Fitness center was an option, but… let’s be honest. I’m on vacation. I’m not running a marathon. I did briefly contemplate the Pool with view, but it was a bit busy.
There's a Spa/sauna, which I did not try, and frankly, I was too tired, but I have it on good authority that going to the Spa, where had Foot bath and Massage is a pretty great way to relax and unwind.
Cleanliness and Safety: The Pandemic-Proof Oasis? (Mostly)
This is where Elan Inn really shines. They're taking the whole COVID thing seriously. The Room sanitization opt-out available (nice touch!). They offer Breakfast takeaway service with Individually-wrapped food options. I was impressed. And seeing the staff disinfect high-touch areas with **Professional-grade sanitizing services and **Daily disinfection in common areas was reassuring.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
The Concierge was super helpful, the Doorman greeted me with a smile, and the Daily housekeeping kept everything in pristine condition. The Elevator was a must-have, and everything ran smoothly. Even the Luggage storage worked like a charm.
The Quirks, the Good, the Ugly
- The Smell: The hotel has a lovely, fresh scent. It makes you feel like you aren't in an airport hotel.
- The Staff: Always, always smiling and helpful. It really makes a difference when you’re weary from travel.
- The Vibe: It's not a party hotel. It's not trying to be. It’s a place to actually rest. And in Shanghai, that’s priceless.
Final Verdict: Absolutely Recommended!
Okay, so Elan Inn isn’t perfect. But it's pretty darn close. It’s clean, convenient, the staff are wonderful, and it genuinely feels like a sanctuary. Would I stay there again? Absolutely. In fact, I’m already planning my next trip. If you're looking for a stress-free pre- or post-flight experience in Shanghai, this is THE place to be. Just book ahead! Because the word is out, and this not-so-secret gem is rapidly gaining popularity. Go. Enjoy. And tell them I sent you! (Just kidding. Unless…?)
Escape to Paradise: Zoe's Waterfront Haven in Samosir, Indonesia
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into my glorious, utterly chaotic, and probably slightly disastrous trip to the… uh… Elan Inn Shanghai Hongqiao Airport Beidi Road Shanghai China. (Yeah, roll that off the tongue, won't you?) Let's just call it "Shanghai Shenanigans" for now.
Shanghai Shenanigans: The Absolutely Unreliable Itinerary (For the Easily Stressed)
Day 1: Arrival & Existential Dread in the Laundry Room (and Maybe Shanghai?)
- 06:00 - 08:00 AM (roughly… don't judge me): ARRIVAL! Theoretically. Actually, it'll involve me wrestling my suitcases into a semblance of order, battling jet lag, and internally screaming at the sheer number of passport control lines. Let's hope I remember to pack my "I'm lost but I'm trying" face.
- 08:00 - 09:00 AM (ish): The Great Airport-to-Elan-Inn Odyssey. This depends. Is there public transport? Am I brave enough to navigate it? Will I get scammed? (Probably.) Pray for me. I'm picturing myself, utterly bewildered, clutching a phrasebook and emitting small, panicky noises.
- 09:00 AM (more or less): Check-in at the Elan Inn. Okay, let's see… Beidi Road… Hongqiao Airport… Oh, dear god, I hope it's not too far. Fingers crossed the lobby isn't filled with aggressively enthusiastic timeshare salesmen.
- 10:00 AM (or whenever I get a decent nap in): Room Reconnaissance & The Laundry Room Crisis. Okay, so here's where things get real. First, the room. Is it clean? Does it look like a serial killer's lair? (Praying for the former.) More importantly, where the HELL is the laundry room?? Because after a 20-hour flight, I'm fairly certain my clothes are capable of independent thought and may stage a coup d'état. (Okay, maybe not, but you get the idea.) This could be the moment I embrace the joy of hand-washing socks in the sink. Or… shudders… the laundromat, which I'm convinced is the gateway to a black hole that sucks in all the good socks and never gives them back.
- 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM: (Possibly lunch, maybe not): A tentative Poke outside, maybe. If the sun isn't too blinding, if the air isn't too smoggy, and if I haven't succumbed to an overwhelming desire to sleep horizontally for a full 12 hours. I will attempt to locate some food. Noodles? Dumplings? Something edible, and preferably not deep-fried. This is where the fear of cultural faux pas sets in. What if I accidentally order… a cat? (It could happen, okay?)
- 02:00 PM - 05:00 PM: NAP TIME. Deep, glorious, jet-lag-induced nap time. Because, let's be honest, I'm going to need it.
- 05:00 PM - Late: Mild panic about going out alone at night. Look, I'm no Indiana Jones. I'm more of a "Netflix enthusiast" type. So, if I decide to venture forth, it will likely involve me wandering the streets, utterly lost, clutching a map and muttering, "Where are the dumplings, dammit?" (I will find them.) There will be the inevitable moment of feeling overwhelmed by the sheer Chineseness of it all. The crowds, the noises, the smells… it's going to be a sensory overload. But hopefully, also wonderful.
Day 2: Shanghai Shenanigans - Getting Lost (Gloriously) and the Quest for Coffee
- 07:00 - 08:00 AM: Wake up, possibly disoriented. Assess the damage from yesterday. Is the jet lag still kicking my butt? Did I actually manage to brush my teeth?
- 08:00 - 09:00 AM: Breakfast situation. Is it included? Is it edible? Will I be forced to consume congee (which, let's be honest, I suspect will either be bland or spectacularly weird)?
- 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM: THE ATTEMPT AT SUCCESSFUL EXPLORATION! See, this is where I try to be a "cultured traveler." It'll probably involve me consulting a travel guide, picking a landmark or two that I'm "totally" (read: vaguely) interested in, and setting off with the utmost of naive confidence.
- I am aiming to see something cool. Probably the Bund, or the Yu Garden, or something historically significant. Maybe I will take a metro, maybe a cab. Hopefully, I won't accidentally end up in a karaoke bar singing off-key.
- The Coffee Emergency: Okay, this is crucial. I function on caffeine. I need coffee. My biggest fear is running out of coffee. So, somewhere in this time slot, I must find a decent coffee shop. I envision myself wandering the streets, my eyes peeled, my inner caffeine monster screaming, until I find a haven of freshly brewed, dark, life-sustaining liquid. This is the mission. The quest. The reason I'm even out of bed today.
- 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM: Lunch. Hopefully, not an epic fail. Praying for edible food that doesn't involve me accidentally consuming an unidentifiable body part.
- 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM: GETTING LOST, and loving it? This is where the magic happens. This is where I embrace the chaos. I'll stray from the planned path, stumble upon hidden alleyways, and probably get hopelessly lost. That's the fun of it, right? I might encounter some weird and wonderful things. Maybe I'll buy a bizarre souvenir. Maybe I'll try to communicate with a local using my terrible Mandarin. Maybe I'll just sit on a park bench and watch the world go by.
- 04:00 PM: The Great Coffee Round Two (if necessary). Because let's face it, a girl (or a guy) can never have enough coffee.
- 05:00 PM - Late: Return to the Elan Inn. Collapse. Reflect on the day's adventures (or misadventures). Possibly order room service (if available, and if I'm brave enough). Maybe watch some TV. Maybe cry a little. Probably plan for a day of more caffeine tomorrow.
Day 3: The Shopping Extravaganza (or, I'm Broke!) & Farewell Shanghai
- 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM: Breakfast. Another round of "Is it edible?" Pray for something palatable!
- 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Attempting to Shop. If there's anything I want to buy, I'll find it. Also, I will get ripped off. Haggling is not my strong suit. I will probably end up paying an exorbitant price for a knockoff handbag (which I will still love).
- 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM: Lunch. (Fingers crossed it's not the cat.)
- 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM: Last-minute scramble. The last wander through the streets. Final moments of reflection and regret.
- 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM: Packing. Realizing I bought way too much stuff. Attempting to cram everything into my already-overstuffed suitcase. This will also involve a whole lot of questioning my life choices.
- 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM: Dinner. A final farewell meal. Maybe try something adventurous. Maybe play it safe & find something familiar.
- 08:00 PM - 09:00 PM: Preparing for Departure. A whole lot of checking and rechecking. Passport? Check. Boarding pass? Check. Sanity? … Maybe not.
- 09:00 PM - The Death March: Back to the airport. This is where the exhaustion kicks in. The anticipation. The slight tinge of sadness that your trip has come to an end. But also, the relief that you're finally going home.
Post-Shanghai Thoughts:
- The Verdict: Did I have fun? Probably. Am I glad to be going home? Absolutely. Will I go back? Who knows. The world is uncertain!
- Most Likely to Happen: Getting lost. Drinking too much coffee. Eating something weird. Regretting several purchases. And, of course, coming back with a million amazing stories.
This is just a suggestion, mind you. The real itinerary will probably be 50% this description, 50% sheer, unadulterated chaos. Wish me luck. And send coffee. Lots and lots of
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Elan Inn at Hongqiao Airport: The Truth (and Maybe Some Regrets)
Okay, spill. What's the BIG deal about Elan Inn? Everyone raves... is it *really* that good?
Alright, alright, settle down. The hype? It's… partially justified. Look, let's be real. If you're stuck at Hongqiao, which, let's face it, is a fate worse than a delayed layover (and trust me, I know delays), Elan Inn *is* a lifesaver. Think weary traveler to... well, almost-human traveler. It's clean, it’s convenient, and the price… usually, doesn’t make you weep. BUT, and this is a HUGE but, it's NOT a luxury hotel. Don't go expecting fluffy robes and a pillow menu. More like, "clean sheets and, *maybe* a decent shower if you're lucky."
Location, Location, Location! Is it *really* inside the airport?
YES! This is its superpower! Technically, it's IN Terminal 2 (which is, let's be honest, the far superior terminal), very close to the departure gates. I once, and I'm not proud of this, *slept* through an alarm at Elan Inn. Thought I missed my flight... panicked... then remembered, "Oh, right, I'm two minutes from the boarding gate." Pure. Bliss. Saved me from a full-blown airport meltdown. (That's a real possibility when you're running on three hours of sleep and instant noodles, trust me.) Navigation is EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZY!
What's the deal with the rooms? Are they tiny? Like, coffin-sized tiny?
Okay, the rooms… they’re functional. Think… minimalist. Think… efficiently designed. Think… not a place you want to spend a romantic weekend. They are compact, yes. But *coffin-sized* is a bit dramatic. They're manageable. You get a bed (usually comfortable enough), a small desk, and a bathroom that gets the job done. Don’t expect to be doing yoga in there, unless you're a highly-skilled contortionist. My BIGGEST GRIPE: the lack of storage. Like, where do I put all these souvenirs and the 3 extra shirts I bought from a vending machine at 3AM?! (Don't judge.)
My flight lands at 3 AM. Can I actually CHECK IN at any time?
YES! This is the beauty of it. It's 24/7. You can stagger out of baggage claim looking like a zombie extra from a low-budget horror film, and they'll take you in. They've seen it all. I swear, the front desk staff at Elan Inn deserves sainthood. Hours of sleep, and the ability to deal with jet-lagged, hangry people. Bless them. You just walk right in. Check-in and collapse. It is genuinely wonderful. That said, try to book online ahead if possible, they do fill up.
What about food? Are there any restaurants *near* the Elan Inn?
Alright, prepare to have a moment of existential dread. The *near* is... tricky. There ARE places to eat in Terminal 2, but "near" is relative. Within the airport itself, there are restaurants, fast food options, and convenience stores. Don't expect a Michelin-star experience. It's airport food. Get used to it. I once survived on instant noodles from the 24-hour convenience store for an entire day. Delicious, nutritious? No. Filling? Yes. And sometimes, that has to be enough.
Is the noise level bad? I'm a light sleeper. HELP!
This, my friend, is the gamble. Airport hotels are inherently noisy. You'll hear planes taking off and landing. You might hear the chattering of excited (or, often, disgruntled) travelers. The doors… well, they're not exactly soundproof. This is not a zen retreat. You'll have to make peace with the sounds of travel. And if you are like me and only use your noise canceling headphones? Then you'll be golden (mostly).
What's the Wi-Fi like? Because let's be honest, a bad connection is a deal-breaker.
The Wi-Fi is… usually okay. Not blazing fast, not fiber-optic amazing, but functional. Enough for streaming, checking emails and occasionally uploading that selfie you just *had* to take. (guilty). It can be unreliable during peak hours, which is entirely to be expected, but it's typically available, and that is always a blessing.
Is it expensive? Tell me honestly!
Compared to a five-star hotel downtown? No. Compared to sleeping on a bench? Yes. The price fluctuates, and it depends on the time of year and how far in advance you book. But it's generally a reasonable option. Usually, you're paying for convenience. The time saved from trying to find alternative accommodation and the literal seconds to the gate are totally worth it. I'd say plan on spending a bit more than you *think* you should, just in case. But it's usually cheaper than taking a cab across town and back.
Okay, you've mentioned a few issues. Would you stay there again?
Ugh. Yes. Mostly. It's not perfect, far from it. But the convenience factor is just… unbeatable. Especially when you're bleary-eyed and travel-worn. Plus: that "I can roll out of bed and walk to my gate" feeling? Priceless. There's a certain *relief* to it. Like, "Oh, thank god, I don't have to deal with the hellride of city traffic or a train." So, yeah, I'd stay again. I'd probably complain the whole time, but I'd stay. And I'd secretly be grateful for it. (See? I'm flawed!)
Give me your most honest Elan Inn anecdote, good or bad!
Okay, strap in. This is peak Elan Inn. I had a connecting flight from Beijing throughThe Stay Journey
