My hotel reservation in Guiyang was at a hotel I had stayed at on several previous visits. In the past it had been a great place with fantastic, friendly, helpful staff.

But on this trip, right away it was clear the place had really deteriorated. The new staff at the reception desk were nowhere near as helpful as before, my room was shabby, and to top it off, street repairs with noisy jackhammers made it difficult to sleep. I decided to find a different hotel for the rest of my stay in Guiyang.

Searching available rooms I focused on the general area of my original hotel. in the general area of the first one. I made a (cancel-able) reservation at a hotel two blocks away. The nightly cost was a bit more, but it was presented as a room with a (city) view.

I left my luggage at the original hotel, and walked over to this “possible” new place to scope it out. A lady showed me a room on the 7th floor that was head and shoulders above the first hotel. But when I looked out the window? Meh. Pretty much no view. So I said to the woman “city view? I don’t think so!” So she suggested we look at a room on the 12th floor. Well, a nice view! (sometimes you need to make a point of asking!) See photo.

So I switched hotels.

Later in the afternoon I asked the desk clerk if there was a guest laundry room.
Yep, a self service one.
She said that detergent was available at the front desk.

So latter I brought down a bunch of clothes in a bag. A desk clerk led me to the laundry room.
Self service? Perhaps I just seemed too stupid to figure out how to do it. Or maybe she was just being respectful of an old man.
She loaded the clothes.
She added the detergent, she set the control dials.
I was confused by the last setting screen. “How long will it run?” I asked. “Shall I come back in an hour?”
“No. When the washer is done, we will move the clothes to the dryer and handle that. Come back to the front desk around 8:30 and we’ll have it all ready for you.”
Wow… I really got spoiled!

The desk clerks were all smiles after that. And indeed very friendly any time I was coming or going!