Ni Hao Hotel (Dezhou Laoling Debaiguangchang)

For context, we were in Laoling on business and ended up staying here almost a month in total spread over two visits and many bookings. The good: Quick check-in. Staff spoke basic English. They provided one extra desk and chair on our second visit (but not on our first which was for 18 days). Very good value rooms. The suite is fairly spacious (but doesn't even come with a desk or chair which seems like a basic omission). The location next to the biggest mall in Laoling. One member of staff was very helpful when we left something behind after our first stay. Laundry room is very helpful (note that you don't need detergent, it's automatically added!). The bad: They flatly refused to give us an extra desk on our first visit despite doing so on the second so we had to buy it ourselves. They wouldn't program our key cards to be valid through more than one booking, and often even when renewed they still didn't work. There was nowhere to hang anything in the bathroom. The WiFi was very slow. The toilet was hugely annoying, flushing once and splashing you as soon as you sat down (why I have no idea!) and then again as soon as you stand up. The ugly: Staff, including management, were unhelpful to the point of ridiculousness both before and after we arrived. Communication, even though we speak Chinese, was incredibly frustrating, and we were extremely angry by the time we arrived. It's the worst experience I've ever had at a hotel in China and it really spoiled our entire stay.