Shanghai - The Bund

[seanpodge]

Whispers floating around that a railway station linking the national HSR system will be built adjacent to PVG a la Hongqiao at SHA. Also whispers if / when this happens Maglev will be closed down. As much as I love 430kmh on Maglev direct links to HSR network at PVG would be sensational.

HSR would be a lot more practical. They could do a link from PVG to Shanghai Station to SHA. Faster than Line 2.

 

[EestiTiger]

I have stayed in Marriotts at both People's Square and in Pudong. Each had their pros and cons. I actually enjoyed Pudong more as it wasn't seen by the locals as a tourist area and accordingly, there were a lot less touts / scammers. Easier to get around without the crowds on the bund / people's square too. Each to their own

 

[amaroo]

I have stayed in Marriotts at both People's Square and in Pudong. Each had their pros and cons. I actually enjoyed Pudong more as it wasn't seen by the locals as a tourist area and accordingly, there were a lot less touts / scammers. Easier to get around without the crowds on the bund / people's square too. Each to their own

Thinking of trying the Ritz Carlton Pudong this time.

 

[Chief Wiggum]

I stayed at Les Suites over Xmas and would stay there again for sure. Hotel itself well appointed and good service. I spring for a River View suite and it was amazing views across out the river to Pudong. Really amazing.

Location wise is the only slow ght negative I would give. If you plan to use subway a lot, which you should, cheap, easy, clean, reliable. Then Les Suites is kinda in nowhere land about 15kins walk from either two stations.

If you plan your days and go out, do stuff and come back in the arvo then no problems. If you want to dash off to here and there and then back to hotel in between... not so convenient. Minor factor but worth noting.

Having said all that the easy acces to Bund and the views means I would stay Les Suites again when return, or any of the others along Bund. Ferry terminal right opposite Les Suites for easy access to Pudong area.

 

[jase05]

Thinking of trying the Ritz Carlton Pudong this time.

Do it, you won’t be disappointed. Stayed there for 2 nights last June and it was amazing. Had a Bund view room and we were lucky that the smog was pretty much non existent for the whole time and the views were superb. Amazing roof top bar which has stunning views aswell

 

[amaroo]

Do it, you won’t be disappointed. Stayed there for 2 nights last June and it was amazing. Had a Bund view room and we were lucky that the smog was pretty much non existent for the whole time and the views were superb. Amazing roof top bar which has stunning views aswell

Cheers. I think we will - have stupidly booked our trip to coincide with the first two days of Golden Week. LOL, should make an entry in the Travel mistake thread.

 

[amaroo]

Any views on the PuLi hotel? Thinking about splitting our 5 nights with 3 at the PuLi (really two given we won't arrive until around midnight) and 2 at Ritz Carlton .... seems like it's the best of both worlds, and the best way to avoid the massive crowds that is Golden Week.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Any views on the PuLi hotel? Thinking about splitting our 5 nights with 3 at the PuLi (really two given we won't arrive until around midnight) and 2 at Ritz Carlton .... seems like it's the best of both worlds, and the best way to avoid the massive crowds that is Golden Week.

Sure. The Puli is a lovely hotel. But pretty much the same as any five star hotel, you could be anywhere in the world. There's nothing distinctly Chinese or Shanghainese about them.

For tourists I always recommend somewhere part of history - the Astor House, Waldorf, or even the Peace Hotel.

 

[gojun]

I usually stay on the Huangpu side at either the Grand Central or the Central Hotel, located next to each other, across from Nanjing Road. Located near 3 train lines and easy to get around and 10-15 minute walk from the Bund.

I know a place that serves up some decent Xiao Long Bao, Shanghainese people call them Xian Rou Tang Bao, for cheap, 10RMB for 1 serving of 6! Also a nice quiet laid back whisky bar with a great owner, who knows a lot about his whisky. If anyone is interested in either place, let me know.

Only downside to staying near Nanjing road is plenty of scammers asking foreigners "massajee? I have pretty girls" but once I start speaking Mandarin, I'm ABC, they leave me and my friends alone, lol.

 

[amaroo]

Sure. The Puli is a lovely hotel. But pretty much the same as any five star hotel, you could be anywhere in the world. There's nothing distinctly Chinese or Shanghainese about them.

Sounds perfect - just booked it and the Ritz Carlton.

 

[amaroo]

Getting close now. All restaurants booked and now concentrating on tours. Have 28 pages of suggestions from the concierge - will post some of the better ones for anyone else looking at this thread.