TRIPLE WARNING! This Guesthouse's "Good" Reviews? Total BS.

[Dr. Guadalupe Homenick]

Hey, friends who are planning to visit Wutong Mountain in Shenzhen, pay attention! Be careful with this homestay (a small inn run by local residents), as I had a really unpleasant experience and it left me extremely frustrated. I wrote a review but got backlash from them… This is my first time giving a negative review and the first time I felt so strongly compelled to share my issues with all of you.

• About half a month ago, my friend and I booked this homestay on "Meituan," which is a popular app in China used for booking food, accommodations, and movie tickets.

  • We were originally planning a "May Day" holiday trip (an important public holiday in China when many people travel) with our kids to relax at Wutong Mountain, one of Shenzhen's famous mountains known for hiking and sightseeing.
  • The place had relatively high ratings and positive reviews, making it a choice we thought was good for us.
  • However, upon arrival, my God, the scene was a disappointment beyond words, miles apart from what the photos depicted.
  • My original review would have been around 800 words, but Meituan only allowed up to 500 characters, leaving me trimming down the content repeatedly to submit the review finally.

• My stay was booked for May 1st and 2nd, while my friend's stay did not begin until the 2nd.

  • We had all made our booking reservations more than half a month in advance!
  • Surprisingly though, the owner replied to my negative review claiming that, "If you feel poorly served, why add a room last minute?"
  • How could they make assumptions on adding a room suddenly? Quite perplexing, right?
  • Instead of reflecting on their own shortcomings, they even dared to reply nonsensically back to me. Most hilarious of all, below their response, there seems to be an official response template they're referring to ("Sample responses when replying to guest complaints"), wow!

• This leaves me to truly question whether reviews claiming positives are falsified…

• In terms of detailed complaints, I initially intended to include pictures to highlight how this accommodation responds to genuine visitor feedback, but unfortunately, Meituan doesn't seem to display responses to negative reviews very clearly, depriving viewers of insight into customer treatment.

Pay extra close attention! Here is an essential reiteration about common pitfalls I experienced in this stay alarmingly:

• Terrible soundproofing: Clear audibility of neighbors' talking and movements, good luck with getting restful sleep!
  • You can either bring noise-canceling earplugs or consider changing your accommodation if you're sensitive to sounds.
• Loads of mosquitoes and bugs: Given its near-mountain location, mosquito swarming is already more prominent and it appears no particular measures are taken by this establishment.
  • Bring powerful mosquito repellent or opt for a lodge with screened windows and satisfactory anti-mosquito arrangements detailed in reviews.
• Poor concierge service: Our "concierge" here refers to the staff working at the homestay. Expectation of quick response times may lead to frustration with their delay in addressing your concerns and lack of follow-through.
  • Before check-in, reach out and test platform response efficiency and then address critical matters face-to-face during your stay.
• Facilities showing wear: These pictures may look decent, but the actual conditions are noticeably aged and uncomfortable in use.
  • Review other visitors' real-life pictures to avoid being misled by promotional images alone. Check reviews for discussions regarding the age of facilities.
• Misrepresentation of facts: Like in my case, they shifted the blame away from themselves despite it being their shortcomings causing issues.
  • Keep communication records and file complaints with booking platforms against unfair treatment. When reviewing feedback, watch out for lodging's aggressive responses, indicating red flags.

Hopefully, my experience helps you in some way.

Wutong Mnt # Wutong Homestay # Wutong Travel Tips # May Day Wutong # Travel Lodging # Lodging Trap # Shenzhen Travel Tips # Wutong Route

[Barry Kuphal]

What's the name of the guesthouse? I'm thinking of staying there for a night tomorrow.

[Joanne Swift]

It's in the second picture, check the circled area. Definitely one to avoid.

[Ken Fahey]

I didn't manage to photograph many of the issues at the time. The central AC was incredibly dirty, covered in a thick, black layer of dust, and it felt like it was just blowing dust everywhere when on. The ceiling was also moldy, with large, dark patches – at first, I thought it was a cluster of insects, but a closer look revealed it was mold. Even the 'fresh' bedsheets had several unidentified oily stains. I'm usually very easygoing and not picky about accommodation when I travel, but it's rare to find a guesthouse this sloppy and unclean. I swear on my reputation, not a single word of this is an exaggeration.