City Join Hotel Guangzhou Sports Center Shipaiqiao

The room was a bit small, but the location was good. Service was decent too.

There are restaurants and a supermarket within walking distance, and the free airport pickup was handy. Like the other Lavande Hotels, this branch has modern facilities and great service. It may be the best option around the airport. The metro station is the one downside, since it's a bit far away. There's a bus, but the wait can be long, so I'd suggest taking a cab from the station.

There are plenty of bus lines across the street and some good places to eat nearby. The rest was frustrating: the WiFi reception was poor, the room wasn't clean even after I specifically asked the staff to clean it, and noise from other rooms came through because the rooms aren't soundproof. Staff couldn't answer simple tourist questions, like where the nearest booking centre was, where to buy train tickets to HK, or where to exchange money. They also don't speak English, which apparently isn't required of hotel employees?

When I checked out of the Liwan branch after five days, the staff said I hadn't paid a deposit and couldn't return the RMB100 I had asked to pay at check-in. They kept us waiting an hour to check out. Get a receipt or other proof if they ask you for a deposit.