La Waterfront Shenzhen

Loud disco noise until 01.30 am, doors slamming until 02.00. Dreadful "service" at breakfast - begging them to bring the cornflakes (almost the only thing edible by Westerners in the morning) before my bus came to pick me up at 07.10 was an enraging failure. Pointing to the empty usual location for the cereal bowl, taking the waiter to Reception to get the english-speaker to explain I wanted cornflakes, all failed. All the chinese breakfast stuff was served early - spicy pickled spinach, black eggs. But coffee ? Cereal ? NOT AVAILABLE. Room door would not lock on leaving, I had to wait 20 minutes while the technician dismantled and repaired it before I could leave. Musty smell in room. Windows not air and noise-tight. Lock on window to terrace not secure, while a sign recommends to "lock the window for safety". I had to move the desk to block the window.

Since my first review I've stayed in this hotel another 3 times. Staying in rooms in all 3 of the buildings.The newly refurbished rooms in the 3rd building are genuinely western standard. (ignoring the lack of soap, which is apparently a local bylaw, crazy). The area is nice enough plenty of restaurants, ranging from KFC to local Chinese places. The nearby western style mall even has a coffee shop. However the service at the hotel is terrible. Considering the size of the place you would have thought it would think they would have one person who could speak a few words of English. My top tip if you want a laugh is to go find the chess rooms in the basement. These can be hired by the hour and have there own reception. The guy on the desk nearly fell off his chair when we accidentally walked into the room.

Currently staying at this hotel. Room is quite clean, but tired in places with marks on wall and carpet. Non-smoking room, but smells of smoke. Room (one of the better ones i think) comes with a large plasma tv, a computer (all in Chinese), intermittent wifi and no soap in the sink. An all round odd combination, but of a similar standard to travel lodge in UK. Oh and the staff are eager to help, but speak no english.