Novotel Guiyang Downtown

The location and service were both top-notch, and my room was tidy and clean. The non-smoking room really was smoke-free, which was a relief. Vegetarians should ask for the veggie burger in the restaurant on the 3rd floor. It’s layers of grilled vegetables with melted cheese in a burger bun, not a lentil, falafel, or soy patty, and it was delicious. There were some drawbacks for me as a non-Chinese speaker. The front desk can arrange tours only for Chinese speakers. For the free airport shuttle, you need to call ahead and confirm, and it helps if someone who speaks English is around. The receptionist had trouble understanding me when I called from the airport and couldn’t find my reservation, so she asked me to call again in 10 minutes before she could send the shuttle. I took a cab instead. It also seemed my email request for the shuttle, sent before I arrived in Guiyang, had never reached the hotel. It’s great value for money. If you speak Chinese, you’ll be well looked after, but without Chinese you may run into issues arranging the shuttle or booking English tours.

The room was clean, the hotel staff at reception and in the restaurant were very nice, and the location was handy, with KFC downstairs and shopping just a short walk away. But there was no air conditioning from midnight until morning, and I couldn’t sleep well. I’d planned to stay five nights, but moved to another hotel after two.

It’s rated four stars, though it felt more like a three-star hotel to me. The lobby smelled musty, the rooms were old, and the whole place needs a makeover.

It’s not cheap, but this is a good business hotel all around.