China - Portman Ritz carlton or JW Marriott in shanghai
squishedsmurf
Jul 27, 12, 1:20 pm
Hi.
I have 2 club rooms booked at the Ritz Carlton for a stay in Shanghai soon, my problem is there is a slightly better deal on an exec suite at the JW Marriott for slightly less.
The suite isn't really important but more interested in which hotel has the better club lounge offerings/facilities during canapés and cocktails. Any advice on this or any thoughts on both hotels in general.
Previously stayed at the peace hotel on last visit but wife would like outdoor pool, the reason for above choices.
mediator
Jul 27, 12, 2:16 pm
You mean the Ritz Carlton in Pudong? Then I prefer RC over JW, due to location and view.
squishedsmurf
Jul 27, 12, 2:35 pm
No, sorry I mean Portman Ritz Carlton which is in Puxi!
mediator
Jul 27, 12, 7:34 pm
No, sorry I mean Portman Ritz Carlton which is in Puxi!
Location wise, Portman RC is closer to two major shopping plaza, US Consulate but JW Marriott is closer to the Bund. However the Portman is very dated (over 20 years, I think), JW Marriott is relatively new.
mediator
Jul 27, 12, 8:39 pm
No, sorry I mean Portman Ritz Carlton which is in Puxi!
And welcome to FT!
moondog
Jul 27, 12, 10:47 pm
Location wise, Portman RC is closer to two major shopping plaza, US Consulate but JW Marriott is closer to the Bund. However the Portman is very dated (over 20 years, I think), JW Marriott is relatively new.
Dated or not, I still love the Portman. I would choose it over the JW for the location and the restaurants.
moondog
Jul 27, 12, 11:08 pm
Previously stayed at the peace hotel on sat visit but wife would like outdoor pool, the reason for above choices.
The Portman's pool is my 3rd favorite in Shanghai (#1 and #2 are located in apartment complexes).
Jamoldo
Jul 28, 12, 10:09 am
Portman for location (the JW is by no means bad whatsoever in this respect), though it's dated, and was when I was there last (3 years ago). JW is much newer, well maintained, and a lovely property.
mnredfox
Jul 29, 12, 9:56 pm
RC Puxi on Najing Road is in a great location.
moondog
Jul 30, 12, 1:05 am
RC Puxi on Najing Road is in a great location.
Just as an FYI to those who don't know Shanghai well, RC Puxi = Portman. If I'm not mistaken, Shanghai Centre was John Portman's first project in Asia. The hotel (in the middle) launched as the Portman Shangri-La, and then switched over to the RC flag in 1997. People (most importantly, taxi drivers) have referred to the entire complex as the "Portman" throughout. During the Shangri-La era, it was the best hotel in Shanghai, hands down. IMO, RC/Marriott messed things up by making the property more family oriented (which was never its purpose), but at least they didn't relocate it. As both myself and mnredfox have stated, the location is hard to beat; Jing'an is far better than People's Square or the Bund because modern Shanghai was built around it.