Holiday Inn Express Shenzhen Luohu
Shenzhen, China |
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A disgruntled taxi driver reacts to my paltry request to be transported to a hotel not two
kilometres from where the taxi stand is located. He should be a little upset. The driver must have
had to wait an hour for his turn at the taxi queue for a customer who potentially could have asked
to be driven to Shenzhen Bao'an Airport, which is ten times the distance. But instead, I ruin his
day.
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I wasn't supposed to be in China as my main destination at time of stay was Hong Kong, across the
border. But I was a little curious and accommodations in Hong Kong are a little expensive, so I
decided to try a unique blend of Western expertise and Chinese hospitality at the Holiday Inn
Express Shenzhen Luohu, minutes from customs. One thing that I can trust whenever I'm in a
faraway place such as China is international branding - that way, there'd be a local office back
home in Canada to hear any concerns I could have, while staying within their hotel chain.
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For around half the price of what you would expect to pay in Hong Kong for a comparable room, I was
given a neatly designed and maintained room with a view of a supermarket of some sort. The hotel is
located on a back street, but getting to where you're going is a simple matter of hailing a taxi or
walking a block away to the adjacent main arterial. The location is especially convenient if you
know Mandarin or can read a map written in Simplified Chinese characters.
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Internet access is free, but can be a little slow at times considering the state of the connection
at peak times of the day. The television provides a few channels that are the norm for Mainland
Chinese, apart from an international news channel. The bathroom with shower is a welcome sight as I
felt quite groggy from the long train journey from Hong Kong - and then there was the incident with
the taxi driver.
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Heed the sign that's beside the tap, inside the bathroom: If you need to drink local water, either
boil it sufficiently or purchase a drink either at the hotel restaurant downstairs or at the store
nearby.
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My stay at the Holiday Inn Express Luohu Shenzhen was about four nights, so there was plenty of time
to keep in touch, get in touch, and explore the area. Some people on the street seemed a little
unhappy, or even disturbed by my portly figure, but that is what you can expect in some places.
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I believe the strongest point of this property was the free hot breakfast that was served during my
stay. It's really interesting how a western breakfast along with Chinese offerings could be served
under such an eclectic decor. There was a modern look to this part of the hotel, with plenty of
seating to relax or mingle with others.
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Check-in and check-out service was pleasant, inviting and simple. You do need to listen clearly due
to an understandably heavy accent or two, but it was a very interesting experience.
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