Shanghai Hotels

[anchew]

Has anyone stayed at one of these hotels in Shanghai?

• Sofitel Shanghai Hyland;
• Pudong Shangri-La Shanghai; or
• the InterContinental Shanghai Pudong

What do you guys think of these hotels?
Which one is better?

 

[Ric]

Can't fault the location of the Sofitel Hyland!

 

[anchew]

Sofitel Shanghai Hyland:

Hotel Sofitel Shanghai Hyland - Luxury hotel SHANGHAI - Official Web Site

505 Nanjing Road East , 200001 SHANGHAI, CHINA - Google Maps

 

[Masonic Phantom]

Has anyone stayed at one of these hotels in Shanghai?

• Sofitel Shanghai Hyland;
• Pudong Shangri-La Shanghai; or
• the InterContinental Shanghai Pudong

What do you guys think of these hotels?
Which one is better?

Hi Andrew,
The Pudong Shangri-La is what I would recommend, in Horizon Club level.
Pudong Shanghai Hotel | Rooms and Suites | Pudong Shangri-La Shanghai

Cheers M.P.

 

[KLN]

Hi Andrew,
depends on what side of the river you want to stay at really.

we always stay at Sofitel Hyland. the Club Sofitel Rooms up higher are excellent. haven't been the last 2 F1 races, but went the 5 before that. staying there in April this year too. access too train station is also good, and right in the middle of pedestrian precinct. taxi's all know where it is, and easy walk to the Bund.

 

[Diesellife]

Sofitel for the location.
SRL for the experience.

I also stayed in the FS a couple of times and enjoyed it.

Final advise: Plan what you want to do in Shanghai and choose somewhere within the area. Taxi is relatively cheap and convenient in Shanghai...but catching one might not be during the busy hours!

 

[gpr49697]

my vote is for pudong shangrila. make sure you get riverview room. Buffet restaurant is also amazing.

 

[anchew]

Thanks everyone. Shangri-La it is then.

 

[Masonic Phantom]

Hi Again Anchew,
I don't think you will be disappointed with your choice

Cheers & Regards Gary.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Has anyone stayed at one of these hotels in Shanghai?

• Sofitel Shanghai Hyland;
• Pudong Shangri-La Shanghai; or
• the InterContinental Shanghai Pudong

What do you guys think of these hotels?
Which one is better?

Not a simple decision - are you going for business or pleasure?

Do you want to stay in the old section (Puxi) or the new section (Pudong) - remember Pudong virtually did not exist 20 years ago.

If you are intent on doing a lot of sightseeing in Shanghai then Puxi much better.

Do you have an iPhone? You can download free App by name of ESH - its a comprehensive map of Shanghai subway - brilliant - and so simple to use.

You can take subway all the way from Pudong Airport into downtown - but trains only run from 9:00am til 4:00pm which is a bummer - or take the Maglev (433kmh) down to Longyand Rd Subway station then connect to normal subway.

Taxi from Pudong Airport to downtown RMB200+ - subway RMB8 max. Do not be at all worried about using subway - a 10yo could use it and totally safe.

Several hotel options on Nanjing Lu (main walking street in downtown) - Sofitel, Le Royal Meridien, Radisson Ne World - if you want a REAL experience stay at Shahais most famous hotel - newly revamped Peace Hotel right on the bund. I had a bad\ experience in Sofitel 10 years ago - will never stay there again.

PM me if you need further info. FWIW - they could not pay me enough to stay in Pudong - Puxi forever for me.

 

[straitman]

I notice that nobody mentioned the IC.

Is there a reason :?:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I notice that nobody mentioned the IC.

Is there a reason :?:

I think it is fine - but it is in Pudong. If you stay in Pudong any length of time and you want to look around Shanghai - you will spend half your day in taxis - thats if you don't use subway.

Shanghai traffic can be disastrous - biggest draw back for taxis in Shanghai is if it rains - it gets impossible to find one then.

 

[VirginiaF]

Just back from a week in Shanghai staying at the Puding Shangri-La. It's a great hotel (even though the stay was in the old River Wing). Had a nice, clean, spacious room with an amazing view across the river towards the Bund (why oh why did Sydney want to destroy its old buildings/skyline?). I didn't even bother closing the curtains to sleep at night. The service was ok - not what you would expect in terms of an overwhelming customer experience. The front of house desk and concierge were a little blunt, and the room cleaners often forgot to replace used eating utensils. With the FINA swimming championships on, security was tight with metal detection screening at all entrances 24x7.

The food was also OK - the supposedly highly rated buffet breakfast in the Yi Cafe on the second floor was expansive in terms of cuisine choices, but they were nothing startling, and given the price, options in the Super Brand Mall and IFC Mall next door and across the road respectively were much more favourable. The (also highly rated) Jade 36 bar was small, and smoke filled, so, despite the view, I didn't think it had much to offer at all, either. The aforementioned malls were very handy to have close by. You certainly have everything at your fingertips, be it food or shopping - the IFC Mall has many of the high end fashion brands, but note, the pricing is not all the cheap, especially given that most of the goods originate from China. I guess there is the cost of prestige that is factored into the price. One factor favourable to the hotel is the close proximity top the Lujiazui metro stop across the road, no more than a five minute walk away. The metro system is easy to navigate, although more stops and lines would bring it closer to Paris in terms of coverage, but rush hour can bring on a Tokyo-esque crush in the cars.

The two Hyatts - the Grand in Jin Mao Tower and the Park Hyatt in Shanghai World Financial Centre look like amazing choices (although, obviously the room rates are a little more expensive) in terms of the architectural experience. If anything, high tea in the latter is a Shanghai visit must do. I would certainly check out these two on hotel pricing engines to see if there are any deals for during your visit. There is also the Ritz-Carlton, located next to the IFC Mall. But, as mentioned in previous posts, the downside is Pudong. It is a lovely location - the streets are wide and you get a feeling that it is less polluted - and the vistas are to die for (question - just how many river craft ply back and forth each day?). It is definitely closer to the airport, and for doing business, I suspect that the location is fine. But during rush hour, the two lane river tunnels do not cope well. Road rules seem to be non-existent so progress can be very frustratingly slow.

As for the InterContinental - it too is on the Pudong side - but not near the river, and so lacks the experiential advantages of the Pudong Shangri-la and Pudong Hyatts. I did note the location of the Soffitel - right in the middle of Nanjing Lu East and close to a metro station.

So for leisure, I would probably opt for a Puxi side hotel (like the Soffitel and Le Royal Meridien in Nanjin Lu East, or further down Nanjin Lu West at People's Square, the impressive J.W. Marriott), although I did note some boutique hotels in the French Concession and Jing'an Districts which looked like good choices located well away form the hustle and bustle of Shanghai CBD.