Novotel Shenzhen Watergate

The room had no musty smell, and the bed was comfortable with plenty of pillows. The towels had frilly edges. It's an older hotel, but service was pretty good overall, especially at the front desk and from the cleaning aunty on the Elite Floor.

The location and cleanliness both deserve four stars, and the suite of front desk staff spoke a little English and made an effort to smile, which we appreciated. The hotel is old, but our room was spacious. The bed, though, was so soft and sunken that our backs hurt. Breakfast was average. A young chef didn't seem to know how to fry an egg properly and was very cold toward us. When he looked busy, I tried making my own noodles. He came over with an unfriendly expression, as if I'd done something wrong, and didn't say anything even after he finished the bowl. On our last day, a more senior chef was much warmer and welcoming. Smoking is clearly prohibited, with fines for breaking the rule, but we saw a Chinese guest smoking in the breakfast area near staff. Nobody stopped him until we reminded the staff twice. When they finally asked him to stop, he got angry before putting out the cigarette. Room: 3.5 stars. Cleanliness: 4. Location: 4. Service: 3.

The building is older, but it's spotless and well looked after. The carpeted rooms were clean, the Chinese-style breakfast was a nice touch, and the staff were eager to help. Novotel is conveniently located and a solid option for a comfortable stay.

A roomy, cozy place for a business trip, with a breakfast buffet I really enjoyed. It's close to the old town, where there are plenty of good restaurants and food. The front desk staff were very helpful and spoke fluent English.