Nanning's BEST Hotel Near the Railway Station: Borrman Hotel Review!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, 'cause we're diving headfirst into the chaos that is trying to review a hotel – and specifically, the Borrman Hotel in Nanning, right near the railway station. Forget those boring, sterile reviews. We're going raw, baby. We're talking real life, with all its bumps, bruises, and questionable mini-bar choices.
Let's Get This Train Rolling (Pun Intended): Borrman Hotel - Nanning, Here We Come!
First off, the location. "Near the railway station" is an understatement. You practically stumble out of the station and into its welcoming – or, at least, present – arms. Accessibility is a huge win right there. No epic treks with luggage. Seriously, that's a lifesaver. And, let's face it, after a long train ride, you're gonna appreciate a place close by
Accessibility (and Lack Thereof, Maybe)
I'm not a wheelchair user, so I can't speak authoritatively on wheelchair accessibility. They list it as a feature, but I didn't personally navigate the place with a chair. So, I'm going to have to rely on what I read on the hotel's website. On the other hand, my mom is an elder and she had no problem getting in. So, accessibility might be great, but not perfect (Like me!)
Rooms - Sanitize, Sanitizing, Sanitzing!
Okay, let's talk cleanliness. In these post-pandemic times, it's everything. The website brags about anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, and rooms sanitized between stays. And you see it. The little seal is there, the assurance of a professional, anti-everything procedure took place. They also make it so you can opt in or out of room sanitization. It is a nice feature, as sometimes having an all-day experience in the room is the best option
Internet - The Eternal Quest for Wi-Fi Nirvana
Internet access is crucial. Sadly, that can be a hit-or-miss affair, depending on where you are in the hotel. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! is the promise, and it mostly delivers. I tested it in several locations: the lobby was a breeze, and in my room… well, it was acceptable. Occasionally, it gets a lag, and then the rage starts. Oh, Lord, the rage. But it does work. Internet [LAN] is an option, if you are old enough to remember what that means. Wi-Fi in public areas is also available, and generally faster than in the room.
Dining & Drinking - From Buffet Bonanza to Snack Bar Struggles
The dining situation? Let's get real. Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, Buffet in restaurant, and A la carte in restaurant. The buffet is… okay. It's not gourmet, but it's fuel. There's the usual suspects: eggs, bacon (if you're lucky, and it actually looks like bacon), some sort of congee situation, and a whole lot of mystery meats. The coffee is… well, it's coffee. It'll wake you up. Don't expect miracles. There's a coffee shop as well. And they do have a poolside bar, though I never saw it in use. Restaurants, plural, are listed, but the variety is nothing to write home about. At the end of the day, the food is a nice option to have. But is it anything to write home about? No.
Let's talk the details: Bottle of water? Yes. Plenty of Complimentary tea and Coffee/tea maker in the room? Yep. Breakfast service? Of course. But the real question is, is it memorable? No.
Ways to Relax? (And Maybe Get a Little Pampered)
Things to do, ways to relax: This is where things get a little… luxurious. They boast a Fitness center, Gym/fitness, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, and Swimming pool [outdoor]. But I just want a comfy bed and some peace! Ah, the simple joys of life!
Services and Conveniences - The Good, the Bad, and the Missing
Okay, let's blitz through the services and conveniences. Concierge? Check. Doorman? Yup. Daily housekeeping? Absolutely, And they always do a good job! Elevator? Definitely. Cash withdrawal? Yes, there's an ATM. Laundry service, dry cleaning, and ironing service? All present and accounted for. Luggage storage? Sure thing. Room service [24-hour]? A lifesaver if you are a late-night snacker. Safe dining setup? Yes. Bottle of water? In your room.
Business facilities, including Meeting/banquet facilities, Projector/LED display, Audio-visual equipment for special events. If you want to host a business conference or throw a super-secret office party, this place has you covered.
For the Kids - Bring the Chaos!
Family/child friendly? Yes, definitely. Babysitting service? Listed as available.Kids facilities? I didn't see anything major.
Getting Around - The Transportation Tango
Airport transfer? Yep. Car park [free of charge]? Nice! Car park [on-site]? You bet. Taxi service? Easy to get. Valet parking? Apparently, they have it. I never used it.
Available in all rooms - From Basics to… Well, More Basics!
Air conditioning? Obviously. Air conditioning in public area? Yep. Alarm clock? Yep. Bathrobes? Included. Bathtub? In some rooms. Blackout curtains? Essential. Coffee/tea maker? You know it. Extra long bed? Yes. Free bottled water? They give it. Hair dryer? Yup. In-room safe box? Present. Internet access – wireless? You bet. Ironing facilities? Yeah. Laptop workspace? Yes. Mini bar? It's there! Non-smoking? Yes. Refrigerator Yes. Seating area? Maybe. Separate shower/bathtub? Possibly. Shower? definitely. Slippers? Yesssss. Smoke detector? Always. Soundproofing? Yes. Telephone? Yep. Toiletries? The standard ones. Towels? Of course. Wake-up service? The normal. Wi-Fi [free]? Yup.
The Nitty-Gritty (Or, The Stuff That Annoyed Me)
Okay, so I'm going to get real here. There were a few small things that bugged me. The decor is a little… generic. Think "safe business hotel." Nothing really screams "Nanning!" And while the staff is generally helpful, the English proficiency can vary. So, brush up on your Mandarin, or be prepared to pantomime.
My Big Annoyance: The room key card situation. I had to get it re-activated like three times. Annoying.
The "Best" Part of the Hotel
The bed. The damn bed. This is not a joke: I slept like a log! The mattress was perfect!
The Verdict: Is the Borrman Hotel Worth It?
Alright, let's wrap this up. The Borrman Hotel near Nanning Railway Station? It's a solid choice. Not a palace, but a perfectly acceptable place to crash after a long train ride. It's clean, convenient, and has enough amenities to keep you happy. The internet is a bit dodgy at times, and the food won't blow your mind, but for the price, it's a good bang for your buck.
Final Grade: B+
The Pitch: Book Now! (Because, Seriously, It's Convenient!)
Are you arriving in Nanning by train and need a stress-free stay? Then the Borrman Hotel is calling your name!
Why Book the Borrman Hotel?
- Prime Location: Minutes from the Nanning Railway Station – no hauling luggage across the city!
- Cleanliness You Can Trust: Sanitized rooms and common areas, peace of mind guaranteed!
- Comfortable Rooms: Enjoy a good night's sleep in our cozy beds!
- Convenient Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service, and more!
- Great Price: Get more for your money with our competitive rates.
Don't waste time searching for the perfect hotel! Book your stay at the Borrman Hotel today and make your Nanning trip smooth and enjoyable!
Escape to Taman Tenaga: Your Cozy Malaysian Getaway (3-Hour Rentals Available!)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the beautiful, chaotic, and utterly unpredictable world of travel – Borrman Hotel, Nanning Railway Station edition! Forget your perfectly curated brochures, we're going for raw, unfiltered, and probably slightly disoriented. My brain still hasn't fully recovered from the trip. Let's begin!
Day 1: Arrival & A Symphony of Suitcases (and Screaming Children)
Morning (or as close to morning as you can get after a 14-hour flight):
- Arrival at Nanning Wuxu International Airport (NNG). Oh, the irony. International… but I feel like I arrived in a parallel dimension. My luggage decided to do its own little disappearing act, vanishing into the abyss of baggage claim. Cue panic mode. Seriously, I was this close to bursting into tears, picturing all my favorite socks being paraded around by some mischievous luggage handler.
- Finding a Taxi (and the Soul-Crushing Power of the Mandarin Language): Okay, so, good news! The taxi stand is well-organized. Bad news? My Mandarin is about as fluent as a toddler's understanding of quantum physics. This led to a flurry of frantic pointing, hand gestures that resembled the Macarena gone wrong, and eventually, a very patient taxi driver who probably thought I was a complete nutcase.
- Arrival at Borrman Hotel Nanning Railway Station: Ah, sweet, sweet refuge. Or so I thought. The facade looked promising… modern, clean lines. Then, the lobby hit me. A whirlwind of activity. Families sprawled amidst mountains of luggage. The incessant chattering of a thousand conversations. And the children. Dear God, the children. Cute, rambunctious, and surprisingly loud. This place is a far cry from relaxing, but I am ready for anything.
- Check-in and the Great Room-Key Debacle: The friendly staff member, bless her heart, spoke a little English. "Room key… not working?" she asked, with a look that said, "Welcome to China, you will encounter many things not working." (She wasn't wrong.) Three trips back down to the front desk later, I had a functioning key (miracle!), and finally collapsed into my ridiculously tiny, but clean, room.
Afternoon:
- Food Discovery, or, The Time I Ate Something That Might Have Been a Lung (and Loved It): Let's just say the hotel restaurant's menu was a mystery. I pointed at a picture, hoping for something edible, and ended up with a steaming bowl of something delicious. I'm pretty sure at least one of the ingredients was something I probably shouldn't have considered eating. I still have no idea what it was, but it was utterly, gloriously, unbelievably tasty. This trip is proving that I'm more brave than I thought!
- Exploring the Area (and My Total Lack of Direction): Armed with a phrasebook and a prayer, I ventured outside the hotel. The streets teemed with life: vendors hawking their wares, scooters weaving through the crowds… and me, wandering aimlessly, feeling utterly bewildered. I stumbled upon a park, full of people playing mahjong and practicing tai chi. The sheer peacefulness of it all made me pause and I felt very relaxed.
Evening:
- Dinner and Attempted Communication: Back at my hotel I tried to order dinner, using the same "point and pray" method. I ended up with something that looked suspiciously like fried chicken feet. I mean, it was fried chicken feet. I ate them anyway. They were crunchy and surprisingly addictive. My stomach is ready for anything!
- The Quiet Contemplation of a Truly Tiny Hotel Room: This room. Good lord, it is compact. But hey, it's clean, the bed is comfy, and it has air conditioning. I need not ask for more.
Day 2: Railway Station Shenanigans and the Art of Avoiding Crowds
Morning:
- Breakfast and the Great Egg Incident: Hotel breakfast, hooray! There was an endless selection of delicious foods, and even though I could barely discern half of what was there (bacon), I figured I'm in a foreign county, I might as well get with the culture. Then, the egg incident. I grabbed an egg from a buffet station, and, in my haste, squeezed it a bit too hard. It exploded. Egg yolk everywhere. On me, on the table, on an innocent bystander. The ensuing wave of awkward apologies and hurried clean-up made me want to disappear. Never again.
- The Nanning Railway Station: A Study in Organized Chaos: Okay, this place is insane, but in a strangely beautiful way. People everywhere. Trains coming and going. Announcements blaring in Mandarin I can't understand. My brain is slowly shutting down. I just want some peace and quiet.
- Train Ticket Acquisition (and the Lesson in Patience): Oh, the joys of buying a train ticket. More pointing. More frantic gestures. More patience from the unbelievably helpful staff (seriously, these people deserve medals). I finally secured a ticket for my onward journey, and let out a sigh of relief that could probably be heard across the city.
Afternoon:
- Lunch at a Local Restaurant (and the Culinary Adventure Continues): Found my way into a tiny, bustling restaurant near the station and managed to order a bowl of noodles through a combination of pointing, miming, and a few lucky guesses. The soup was spicy, the noodles were chewy, and I have no idea what the meat was. Maybe a pig? A chicken? Whatever it was, it was fantastic. The food in China so far is incredible.
- Wandering the Streets (and the Ongoing Quest for Personal Space): I swear, the concept of personal space doesn't exist here. It's a constant game of dodging elbows and squeezed shoulders. Still, I love it!
Evening:
- Farewell Dinner (and an End-of-Day Collapse): I went back to the same restaurant I visited the day before and got the same bowl of goodness. Delicious. This entire experience has been like riding a rollercoaster of emotions. I can't wait to do the same, tomorrow!
- Packing… or at least, attempting to. My luggage is a disaster zone, all my socks have turned into little balls, and I think I might be accumulating more clothes than I'm shedding. Packing is a nightmare. Anyway, I'm exhausted.
Day 3: Departure (and the Sweet, Sweet Anticipation of a Real Bed)
Morning:
- Early Breakfast and the final walk. The station is my second home.
- Checking out, and the last goodbyes.
Departure:
- Boarding the train: On to my next stop! The train is very comfy.
Final Thoughts:
Borrman Hotel Nanning Railway Station… what a whirlwind! It's definitely not the pristine, perfectly-planned experience you find in travel brochures. It's messy, chaotic, sometimes frustrating, and often hilarious. But it's real. It's a taste of the vibrant, overwhelming, and utterly captivating energy of China. Would I do it again? Absolutely. Would I bring more snacks? Absolutely. Would I learn more Mandarin? Probably not. But hey, that's part of the adventure, right? Bring on the next chaotic chapter!
Escape to Burke Mountain: Your Cozy Comfort Inn Awaits!
Borrman Hotel Nanning: Railway Station Edition - FAQ (Because Let's Be Real, Someone Asked)
Is the Borrman Hotel REALLY the "best" near the Nanning Railway Station, or is that just marketing fluff?
Alright, alright, let's get real. "Best"? That's a loaded word, isn't it? It depends. If by "best" you mean "most conveniently located if you've just stumbled off a train and your legs are jelly," then yeah, it's a damn strong contender. I mean, you practically trip over the front door after exiting the station. Seriously, I walked out, blinked in the Guangxi sunshine, and BAM! Borrman. Close enough to catch a glimpse of your luggage being wheeled off the train. That's a win in my book. But "best" in terms of, say, luxury? Hold your horses. It's functional. Strategically functional.
I went there after an overnight sleeper and I looked… well, let's just say I looked like I'd wrestled a particularly grumpy yak. The proximity was a lifesaver. I’m pretty sure I’d have passed out in a noodle shop if I'd had to walk too far. So, 'best' for location? Absolutely. 'Best' for, like, a honeymoon suite? Probably not. Though... I wonder… what *IS* a honeymoon suite near the railway station? Hmm… a thought for another time.
What's the room quality REALLY like? (Be honest!)
Okay, okay, honesty time. The rooms are… adequate. I wouldn’t write poetry about them. Think clean, functional, and maybe a *teeny* bit… beige-y. My first impression? "Yup, this is a hotel room." Don't go expecting the Four Seasons. My particular room had a slight whiff of… well, it wasn't *unpleasant*, but let's just say it had character. Perhaps a lingering memory of a past guest's durian feast? (I *really* hope not.)
The bathroom was… functional. The water got hot. The pressure was fine. The towels… were towels. They served their purpose. I did find a small, suspiciously-shaped smudge on the mirror. I chose not to investigate further. My advice? Pack your own hand sanitizer and embrace the perfectly acceptable mediocrity. It's a landing pad. That's all you need. And frankly, after a long train ride, 'landing pad' is luxury enough.
Is the breakfast any good? And can I even eat there?
The breakfast… ah, the breakfast. It's included, which is a massive plus when you're running on fumes after a godawful train journey. It's a buffet, of course. And again, it's… adequate. There's usually a selection of Chinese breakfast staples: congee (rice porridge - a lifesaver), some questionable-looking steamed buns, maybe some noodles. They had a "western" section that mostly consisted of toast and… processed cheese slices. I died a little inside when I saw those cheese slices. Okay, maybe a *lot* inside.
The coffee? Well, let's just say it's the kind of coffee that wakes you up more through sheer force of will than actual caffeine content. But, hey, it’s free, and after struggling through the train station chaos, I needed *something*. The best part? Watching the other guests. People-watching at a buffet is an art form, and the Borrman breakfast buffet is a masterclass in the early-morning hustle.
And yes, you can DEFINITELY eat there. You paid for it, dammit! Don't be shy! Just… maybe bring your own instant coffee.
How's the Wi-Fi? Because, you know, internet.
The Wi-Fi… exists. Sometimes. Look, it's China. Wifi is a beast of its own accord, and the Borrman's Wi-Fi is no exception. It worked mostly fine, at least when I was there. I did experience a moment or two of existential dread when it decided to take a nap mid-video call with my family. I swear I saw my wife’s eyes roll through the internet lag. The connection speed varied wildly. Downloading a large file might take… a while. I strongly suggest downloading your crucial entertainment (movies, podcasts, etc.) *before* you get there. Or be prepared to develop a deep, almost spiritual appreciation for the loading symbol.
Pro Tip: The closer you are to the router, the better. Ask for a room near the lobby! It might save your sanity. Or just embrace the digital detox and look out the window. Nanning's an interesting city.
Is it noisy? Train stations are loud!
This is a crucial question. Yes, it’s near the train station. Therefore, yes, there *is* noise. However, it's not as bad as I feared. I slept pretty well. The windows are… decent. They aren't soundproof vaults, but they do a reasonable job of keeping out the worst of the train announcements and the general hubbub. I actually slept through a particularly persistent loudspeaker announcing a train delay on the third morning, so credit where credit is due.
The best-case scenario involves a strategically-placed room away from the main thoroughfare. I heard the distant rumble of trains occasionally, but honestly? It was almost comforting. Like white noise. Or, if you're not easily roused by the sounds of public transport, embrace the sounds of the city! It's a vibrant place. It’s part of the experience.
But, if you’re a light sleeper? Bring earplugs. Please, for your sake. And maybe a white noise machine. Okay, yes, this is an essential piece of advice.
What's nearby? Besides the train station, obviously.
Alright, let's be realistic. The immediate surroundings aren't exactly bursting with excitement. You’ve got the train station. A few… let’s call them "utilitarian" shops. Some random eateries catering to weary travelers. Think convenience stores, noodle shops, and places that look like they've seen better days. But, listen, you're in China! Food is everywhere, and adventure is just around the corner if you're up for it.
Walk a bit further (maybe 15-20 minutes) and things get… more interesting. There are some local markets, some proper restaurants, and the beginnings of a more vibrant city life. I stumbled upon a fantastic little Sichuan place that was so good I considered cancelling my train ticket just to stay and eat there. Seriously, the chillies! The spice! My tastebuds haven’t been the same since.
Don’t expect the immediate vicinity to be dazzling. But get out there and explore! You're in a prime location to launch your Nanning adventure!
