Legendary poster
Nov 6, 10, 8:42 pm
First post and first review . . .
Booked a Pointbreaker for this hotel for 2 nights in September to check out the World Expo. I am a PC Plat and got upgraded to a standard room in the new wing. Paid an additional 50 USD per night for club lounge access for 2 people (or 30 USD for 1 person).
Building
The hotel had a newly remodeled lobby with excellent decor, located in the old wing. The new wing was recently added, and sports upgraded rooms, club rooms, and suites. I never got to check out any of the rooms in the old wing. The indoor swimming pool and work out room were on the second floor in the old wing. Work out room was limited, and the swimming room was medium-sized.
Rooms
The new wing rooms were finely finished with modern decor. The bathroom was on the larger side for a standard room, housing a separate shower stall and oversized bathtub. The king-sized bed was comfortable and the pillows and sheets were ample. There was a glass work desk, a work chair, a and sofa chair. TV was a standard 32" LCD TV. The side of the room facing the exterior consisted of several planes of glass. They even went overboard on the shiny window curtains. The minibar was impressive, as all the soft drinks and most of the beers were complimentary (limit of 2 per each selection per night). Several complimentary water bottles were placed around the room every day. An apple, an orange, and a banana were also on the glass work desk, replaced every day free of charge. You are allowed 2 garments for complimentary pressing each day. WiFi and Ethernet were complimentary in the new wing.
Club Lounge
The hotel has two club lounges: one in the new wing and one in the old wing. All guests with club lounge benefits are able to access either lounge. The club lounge in the new wing was located on the 9th floor and required key elevator access. The layout was good with an outdoor patio and second floor computer and meeting room. WiFi was complimentary and the seats and tables were comfortable. The breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktail were subpar. Breakfast only consisted of your normal danishes, sliced meat, fruits, breads, and drinks. Eggs can be cooked to order free of charge. Afternoon tea and evening cocktail were somewhat limited with buffalo wings, egg rolls, sushi rolls, shrimp cocktails, fruits, drinks, and unlimited alcoholic beverages. Only 1 person worked the breakfast shift and 2 people worked the afternoon tea and evening cocktail. The waitresses were helpful, but they were always on the move.
The old wing club lounge was 2 stories situated on the penthouse of the hotel's old wing. I never got to experience the afternoon tea or evening cocktail at the old wing's club lounge, but the breakfast was much better, surprisingly. The breakfast featured an array of hot food, including egg rolls, vegetables, dim sum, rice porridge, sausages, bacon, and pancakes. Eggs can be cooked to order free of charge. The selection of sliced meats and danishes were also better, and the service was much better with 3 waitresses. It seemed awkward to me that the old wing club lounge had better food and service than the new wing, and I was disappointed that I didn't get to check out the afternoon tea and evening cocktail at the old wing club lounge.
Concierge and Help Desk
Helpful. The Concierge wasn't bogged down into selling us overpriced tours for a commission. Their English wasn't that good, but they were friendly and helped out where they could. Help Desk could have done a better job explaining to me the benefits and features of my room. I had to figure out myself that Internet was complimentary in the new wing and that both club lounges were accessible.
Bottom Line
Definitely worth the 5k points as a Pointbreaker, but in terms of normal award bookings, which are 25k, you're better off going with one of Shanghai's three InterContinental hotels, which are all 30k. Club lounge access is worth the additional charge if you use the lounge in the old wing. Definitely a good stay for leisure travelers since services are ample and in-room complimentary amenities are plentiful. Be sure to book a room in the new wing, where Internet is complimentary and the rooms are much better. But stay away from the new wing's club lounge. This CP is, by far, better than any CP I've ever stayed at in the U.S, which is to be expected out of a CP in Shanghai. So it's nothing out of the ordinary.
Rating 3.5/5
Booked a Pointbreaker for this hotel for 2 nights in September to check out the World Expo. I am a PC Plat and got upgraded to a standard room in the new wing. Paid an additional 50 USD per night for club lounge access for 2 people (or 30 USD for 1 person).
Building
The hotel had a newly remodeled lobby with excellent decor, located in the old wing. The new wing was recently added, and sports upgraded rooms, club rooms, and suites. I never got to check out any of the rooms in the old wing. The indoor swimming pool and work out room were on the second floor in the old wing. Work out room was limited, and the swimming room was medium-sized.
Rooms
The new wing rooms were finely finished with modern decor. The bathroom was on the larger side for a standard room, housing a separate shower stall and oversized bathtub. The king-sized bed was comfortable and the pillows and sheets were ample. There was a glass work desk, a work chair, a and sofa chair. TV was a standard 32" LCD TV. The side of the room facing the exterior consisted of several planes of glass. They even went overboard on the shiny window curtains. The minibar was impressive, as all the soft drinks and most of the beers were complimentary (limit of 2 per each selection per night). Several complimentary water bottles were placed around the room every day. An apple, an orange, and a banana were also on the glass work desk, replaced every day free of charge. You are allowed 2 garments for complimentary pressing each day. WiFi and Ethernet were complimentary in the new wing.
Club Lounge
The hotel has two club lounges: one in the new wing and one in the old wing. All guests with club lounge benefits are able to access either lounge. The club lounge in the new wing was located on the 9th floor and required key elevator access. The layout was good with an outdoor patio and second floor computer and meeting room. WiFi was complimentary and the seats and tables were comfortable. The breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktail were subpar. Breakfast only consisted of your normal danishes, sliced meat, fruits, breads, and drinks. Eggs can be cooked to order free of charge. Afternoon tea and evening cocktail were somewhat limited with buffalo wings, egg rolls, sushi rolls, shrimp cocktails, fruits, drinks, and unlimited alcoholic beverages. Only 1 person worked the breakfast shift and 2 people worked the afternoon tea and evening cocktail. The waitresses were helpful, but they were always on the move.
The old wing club lounge was 2 stories situated on the penthouse of the hotel's old wing. I never got to experience the afternoon tea or evening cocktail at the old wing's club lounge, but the breakfast was much better, surprisingly. The breakfast featured an array of hot food, including egg rolls, vegetables, dim sum, rice porridge, sausages, bacon, and pancakes. Eggs can be cooked to order free of charge. The selection of sliced meats and danishes were also better, and the service was much better with 3 waitresses. It seemed awkward to me that the old wing club lounge had better food and service than the new wing, and I was disappointed that I didn't get to check out the afternoon tea and evening cocktail at the old wing club lounge.
Concierge and Help Desk
Helpful. The Concierge wasn't bogged down into selling us overpriced tours for a commission. Their English wasn't that good, but they were friendly and helped out where they could. Help Desk could have done a better job explaining to me the benefits and features of my room. I had to figure out myself that Internet was complimentary in the new wing and that both club lounges were accessible.
Bottom Line
Definitely worth the 5k points as a Pointbreaker, but in terms of normal award bookings, which are 25k, you're better off going with one of Shanghai's three InterContinental hotels, which are all 30k. Club lounge access is worth the additional charge if you use the lounge in the old wing. Definitely a good stay for leisure travelers since services are ample and in-room complimentary amenities are plentiful. Be sure to book a room in the new wing, where Internet is complimentary and the rooms are much better. But stay away from the new wing's club lounge. This CP is, by far, better than any CP I've ever stayed at in the U.S, which is to be expected out of a CP in Shanghai. So it's nothing out of the ordinary.
Rating 3.5/5