Cruiser Elite
Enthusiast
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2010
- Posts
- 13,897
Sorry so late continuing posta but bringing a case of Covid home with me from China kinda slowed me down since I returned - so where do I start? Firstly NO foreigners anywhere full stop. - You just do not see any anywhere - just totally devoid but considering visas just opened up and prohibitive cost of air fares well totally understandable but I never considered it would be this way before arriving
Hotels:
Shanghai - I stayed 4 nts at Conrad Shanghai (old Le Meridien right on Nanjing Lu / Peoples Square - WOW - how ordinary - 1st ever say at a Conrad Hotel and was expecting much much more - I could not believe how disappointing it was. It all started at check-in at midnight on Sat Mar 25 - was informed 100% full so no room with king bed only twins - rubbish was response - I am Dia and booked this months ago - after 5 mins fuddling they found me a suite.
Up to room and pillows are like marble slabs - 30 mins later we have this sorted. I just could not believe the lack of English speaking and comprehension skills - seriously the quality of Conrad product experienced was nowhere near what Le Meridien offered in same location pre-Covid. EL F & B offerings for happy hour as bad as any hotel I have ever stayed - breakfast in EL just abominable and main restaurant on Lobby level just a zoo bw 7 and 8:30 - just a zoo. In house ATM has been replaced by a new one where you must scale Passport to activate it - not required at any ATM on street. TBH I was just shaking my head by time I left.
Beijing: Stayed at my usual Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel - after 3.5yrs my old rate of 1,166RMB increased to 1,366RMB for Junior Suite with EL access. All my old contacts at hotel have moved on but Chuck the ex head Concierge pointed me to new Front Office Manager who fixed me up with room rate.
It was after I checked into RBCH that again that the lack of English language and comprehension skills hit home - it is across all hotels - no foreigners for 3 years has meant no requirement for English speaking staff so most have moved on. RBCH soft product so much same as pre Covid except F & B in EL off a tad but still way better than Conrad Shanghai - I always have breakfast in main restaurant on Lobby level so nothing changed there.
Italian Restaurant Fratelli on ground floor totally empty each night - just no foreigners anywhere.
Hotels:
Shanghai - I stayed 4 nts at Conrad Shanghai (old Le Meridien right on Nanjing Lu / Peoples Square - WOW - how ordinary - 1st ever say at a Conrad Hotel and was expecting much much more - I could not believe how disappointing it was. It all started at check-in at midnight on Sat Mar 25 - was informed 100% full so no room with king bed only twins - rubbish was response - I am Dia and booked this months ago - after 5 mins fuddling they found me a suite.
Up to room and pillows are like marble slabs - 30 mins later we have this sorted. I just could not believe the lack of English speaking and comprehension skills - seriously the quality of Conrad product experienced was nowhere near what Le Meridien offered in same location pre-Covid. EL F & B offerings for happy hour as bad as any hotel I have ever stayed - breakfast in EL just abominable and main restaurant on Lobby level just a zoo bw 7 and 8:30 - just a zoo. In house ATM has been replaced by a new one where you must scale Passport to activate it - not required at any ATM on street. TBH I was just shaking my head by time I left.
Beijing: Stayed at my usual Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel - after 3.5yrs my old rate of 1,166RMB increased to 1,366RMB for Junior Suite with EL access. All my old contacts at hotel have moved on but Chuck the ex head Concierge pointed me to new Front Office Manager who fixed me up with room rate.
It was after I checked into RBCH that again that the lack of English language and comprehension skills hit home - it is across all hotels - no foreigners for 3 years has meant no requirement for English speaking staff so most have moved on. RBCH soft product so much same as pre Covid except F & B in EL off a tad but still way better than Conrad Shanghai - I always have breakfast in main restaurant on Lobby level so nothing changed there.
Italian Restaurant Fratelli on ground floor totally empty each night - just no foreigners anywhere.