Starwood Preferred Guest - Which hotel in Shanghai? [Master Thread]

We are planning our first trip to Shanghai at the end of April. We are Starwood members. Of these three Starwood properties, which one would you recommend the most: The Westin Bund Center, Le Royal Méridien, Sheraton Shanghai Hotel & Residences, Pudong. We are there solely as tourists for 3 nights. I booked on Starwood site, Sheraton is the least expensive property.
Anyone know of better deals. I got Westin Bund for 1750 a night CYN w/breakfast for 2 adults, Le Royal Meridien for 1700 CYN.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I see some people think the Le Royal Meridien and Westin Bund are very similar. Any feedback for recent travelers to both properties?


I'm not sure if you read all the comments, but the stated preferences are more for LRM over the Westin Bund Center. Of course that's also due to upgrades for SPG Plat members to nice suites. You do not want to be in Pudong as a tourist because of traffic.

I've stayed at both hotels, plus the St. Regis over the past 2 years, and my preference is for LRM for location and room over the Westin. St. Regis is stuffier and location is poor.

We're going to Shanghai for vacation in July and I'm selecting to go with LRM on cash & points

I see some people think the Le Royal Meridien and Westin Bund are very similar. Any feedback for recent travelers to both properties?


LRM >> Westin Bund > SR Shanghai

(SR Shanghai should be ashamed and does nor deserve to call itself a SR.)

As bp888 said if you are there as a tourist don't even think about Pudong. Even though taxis are dirt cheap in Shanghai it takes time to get to the Puxi side every time you want to sightsee and everything you'll want to see is on the Puxi side. I strongly recommend the Royal Meridien as the best *wood option. it is perfectly located.

For less expensive SPG option in puxi side, you can also consider Four Points Daning (https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1986).

I haven't stayed in the Westin or St. Regis, but I really loved the LRM. Beautiful new hotel, great staff, and perfect location (really couldn't be more central to everything). As a Gold I got upgraded to a club floor room, and the club lounge is fantastic-- 5 story lounge (very high celings) on the 54th floor with a great view over to Pudong.

Definitely don't stay in Pudong (i.e. St. Regis) unless you plan on spending most of your time on that side of the river; it's further than it seems.

LRM >> Westin Bund > SR Shanghai

(SR Shanghai should be ashamed and does nor deserve to call itself a SR.)

I had a huge, fantastic suite at the Sheraton Pudong, but I was there for business in that area (the lounge on the top floor is also quite good). Wouldn't stay there if going as a tourist.

The Westin Bund's location is good if you have business in the Bund Center. However, the LM is in the middle of the action.

Totally agree.

LRM >> Westin Bund > SR Shanghai

(SR Shanghai should be ashamed and does nor deserve to call itself a SR.)

hey pretty new to Flyer talk so i am not sure if this has been asked.

i am going to shanghai on buisnes for a week and wanted to know the best hotel to stay at. my company will be paying the bill and have a $250 a night limit on a hotel so i can stay at either the st. regis, le merriddian, or westin.


which hotel should i stay at? i like to walk around and see the city, also my first time in shanghai so i would like to see the city.


thanks again for yoyr help

If you would like to see the city I recommend Le Royal Meridien as it is located in Puxi, the side where all the major sights are located. I also like the hotel itself. Try to get a room with access to the club floor as the club is very nice.
The St. Regis is on the Pudong side, convenient for business but little else. Adn the Westin I believe is on the Bund, not quite as well located as the Royal Meridien.

You might want to take a look these threads:

Le Royal Meridien Shanghai [Master Thread] (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starwood-preferred-guest/608051-le-royal-meridien-shanghai-master-thread.html)

Westin Bund Centre Shanghai [Master Thread] (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starwood-preferred-guest/694928-westin-bund-centre-shanghai-master-thread.html)

Which hotel in Shanghai? [Master Thread] (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starwood-preferred-guest/932717-hotel-shanghai-master-thread.html)

Shanghai: St. Regis [Master Thread] (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starwood-preferred-guest/169338-shanghai-st-regis-master-thread.html)

THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO GUYS.

i would like to keep this in the starwood thread as i am a platinum starwood memeber.


i am actually going to do something a little crazy and try to max my stays so i can secure platinum again.

gonna stay in

the westin
le merridian for 3 nights (read some great reviews on it)
sherratton one night
st. regis one night
and back to the westin

any1 think i am nutz ...lol

i get 500 points everytime i check in and all places fit in my budget.

Hi I will be staying in Shanghai for 23hrs while traveling back home to North America from my honeymoon.

Which SPG property do you recommend to stay at so I can see/experience the most of the city's sights and sounds.

I'd recommend the Le Méridien. We stayed there on an overnight connection a couple of years ago. It's got a great location and is a really nice hotel.

I'd recommend the Le Méridien. We stayed there on an overnight connection a couple of years ago. It's got a great location and is a really nice hotel.


I'm assuming you mean:
Le Royal Meridien at 789 Nanjing Road East, Shanghai ,SHA 200001 China
T: (86)(21) 3318 9999

since there is another Le Meridien but it's located further from the center of the city. Please let me know.

Also does this property have a lounge?

I'm assuming you mean:
Le Royal Meridien at 789 Nanjing Road East, Shanghai ,SHA 200001 China
...
Also does this property have a lounge?
That's the one. I don't recall if they have a lounge, but the pool was nice with a great view.

I would personally stay in the Bund, there are two SPG properties there but I haven't stayed at either. My stays in Shanghai were not at Starwood properties much to my distress but the Bund is a great area with plenty of things to do and see and reasonably well connected transport-wise.

The Westin Bund Center, Shanghai (https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1379)

I think the Le Royal Méridien Shanghai (https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1945) is quite close by.

I think the Le Royal Méridien Shanghai (https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1945) is quite close by.
It's actually at People's Square, which we think is a better location than the Bund. It's about a 10 minute walk or about two subway stops between them.

Assuming I stay at Le Royal Meridien. Any recommendations on places to walk around and interesting places to eat for both dinner and breakfast?

I want to make the most of the trip by getting a quick experience of China.

There are already several threads on SPG in Shanghai, including (but not limited to):

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starwood-preferred-guest/932717-hotel-shanghai-master-thread.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starwood-preferred-guest/608051-le-royal-meridien-shanghai-master-thread.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starwood-preferred-guest/694928-westin-bund-centre-shanghai-master-thread.html

The above have all been recently posted to (see the last few pages of each thread).

As for "visiting Shanghai" tips, see the China forum:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china-613/

Both properties are great. Both room designs are modern as well. Le meriden is a lot taller with better view of the people's square. Hence, the lounge has better view as well compare to the westin's lounge. Both properties offer breakfast in the lounges and Lobby cafe. Le meridien has better selections of Liquors whereas westin's lounge offers better food selection including Ice cream during cocktail time. For breakfast, trust me, westin beats Le meridien. You will love the yougert selections in the westin. For traffic, both properties are very close to subway stations respectively.

For shopping, they are both very convenient. Or take # 2 subway, Jinan Temple, East Nanjing Rd., People's Square, West Nanjing Rd. and Lujiazui Stations are great places to go.

If you planned to pay a visit to the bund, unfortunely, the bund is closed on the shanghai side. You will have to go to the pudong side, which is right next to Lujiazui station.

Assuming I stay at Le Royal Meridien. Any recommendations on places to walk around and interesting places to eat for both dinner and breakfast?
The People's Square area is very good for walking around. Just be prepared for all the hawkers on Nanjing Road. Watches? Pens? Massage?

In our month in Shanghai, we found good food pretty much anywhere we went. I'd suggest the Lonely Planet Guide.

Hey Guys

Need some help.

I am a platinum member and going to shanghai on business for 10 days. I have stayed at the le royal merridian and had a great time. rooms were great and the club floor was the best part.

I would like to hop from hotel to hotel to earn more stays this time around and wanted to get some feedback from people who stayed in the other Starwood hotels there. Which ones have club floors that offer breakfast and free internet?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Hey Guys

Need some help.

I am a platinum member and going to shanghai on business for 10 days. I have stayed at the le royal merridian and had a great time. rooms were great and the club floor was the best part.

I would like to hop from hotel to hotel to earn more stays this time around and wanted to get some feedback from people who stayed in the other Starwood hotels there. Which ones have club floors that offer breakfast and free internet?

Thanks in advance for the help.

You have many properties to choose from, they are all spread around town (decide if you stay in Pudong side or downtown side). I usually focus on the ones near my meetings venue, since moving from one end to the other in Shanghai is not very smooth.
The best one for me has been the Westin near the Bund. Sometimes overpriced though.

I only have experience of the Westin Bund Center, but had two fantastic stays there a couple of years back; upgraded to the largest suite I've ever seen despite complete lack of status at the time.

Good location - walking distance to some of the trendiest bars and restaurants and of course to the Bund itself. Friendly and helpful staff, and I'd definitely stay there again.

We had a great time at the LRM. Even though you've been there before, I recommend at least another night or two in your hotel hop.

You have many properties to choose from, they are all spread around town (decide if you stay in Pudong side or downtown side). I usually focus on the ones near my meetings venue, since moving from one end to the other in Shanghai is not very smooth.

This has to be the understatement of the century :)
I second the vote to stay near where you need to be in Shanghai- otherwise you will spend all your day in the car!

I have stayed at most SPG properties in Shanghai for a total of 50+ nights. Most SPG properties in Shanghai, if not all, have club floors and offer free breakfasts for platinum. Besides LRM, I like the club floors of St Regis and Westin.

(The LRM is probably the best bet, unless your business is in the outskirts of Shanghai. It's located in the center of Shanghai, at People Square(where 3 metro lines intersect) and off Nanjing East Road(one of the two main shopping roads in Shanghai, and a side door of the hotel is on this walking street part of Nanjing E Rd). From there you can walk to the bund in 10-15 minutes. And the main East-West Elevated Highway is about 5 minutes taxi away. -- Not really what OP is asking for. Wrote this earlier by just reading the thread title)

Last 2 visits I have stayed at the Pudong Sheraton and had great upgrades. They have large suites with an interesting bathroom arrangement (tub out in the middle of a large bath with separate shower etc.) However, as others have said for Shanghai a lot has to do with where you are needing to be since traveling distance around the city can be slow with traffic and currently Expo construction.

I stayed in the St Regis twice, for about a week each time, spring-summer 2008. It's a bit out of the way in a more residential area of Pudong, but I liked it. Taxis are cheap and plentiful. The hotel has a residential feel with many long-term and repeat business customers, although the clientele is mixture of nationalities (including affluent Chinese) and business/tourist travelers. However, it's not a young/hip place and I didn't notice a lot of families with children. Their SOP seems to be to give Plats nice suites (although some suites miss the great views of city lights possible from many of their rooms and in most of these one bedroom suites, the huge bathroom is accessed from the living room) and use of the executive lounge at the top of the hotel, with a very nice breakfast (although the front desk also gave me coupons for the big buffet breakfast in the lobby restaurant), all day free coffee/tea/soft drinks/beer/wine, and early evening very generous free food (including some cooking demo every day such as pan seared fresh fish) and free full bar service. I also got a nice bottle of European wine and a box of chocolates with a note from the manager as a welcome gift; I'm not sure whether this was SPG Plat amenity or due to AMEX FHR. Good toiletries and endless supplies of complimentary bottled water. A regular complained that the new manager (a wonderfully enthusiastic woman from Australia) was scaling back on the executive lounge amenities.

1.a. Westin Bund Center
1.b. Shanghai LRM
3. Sheraton Hongqiao (only b/c of a pretty good Club Floor)*
4. Sheraton Pudong
5. St. Regis
6. 4pts by Sheraton Pudong
7. 4pts by Sheraton Daning


Sheraton Pudong is a nicer hotel than the Sheraton Hongqiao, but the location could not be worst.

Stupid decision to stay in Pudong unless oyu have to for work.

Sheraton Hongqiao is pretty crappy but they treat Plats pretty well. The location is good if you are venturing west of Shanghai. Restaurants in Hongqiao are good. Close to Hong Mei Lu Pedestrian Street.

I'm not in love with either of the locations of the LRM or WBC but the hotels themselves are in a class above (way above) the other *Starwoods in Shanghai.

It's a shame there is not Starwood property in Xuhui (French Concession/Huai Hai Road Area) or Jing An (near the Portman). I wish Starwood would buy the JC Mandarin on Nanjing Road across from the Portman. Could do a lot with that property.

Previously lived in Shanghai for 4 years and will have about 75 nights this year in Shanghai alone.

Hey Guys

will be going to shanghai for 10 days and wanted any update on club floor lounges.


I’m a Platinum member and have stayed in 4 hotels in shanghai

1. Le royal meridien- best Club Lounge. great breakfast buffet, great view.

2. St Regis- didn’t like the club floor , no real selection for breakfast

3. Sheraton honggio - club floor was ok not a great food selection

4. 4 point pudong- no club floor



i guess what i am asking is has the meridian lost its touch???? haven’t been there in 6 months and wanted to know anyone experience.

also has anyone recently been and the westin bund hotel? do they have a club floor and if so is the breakfast any good?

also as a platinum member what are my better chances of getting upgraded? i am hotel hopping to make status again and would like to try all of them. but if anyone has any recent bad experience i would like to hear about it before i book my stays.


thanks again for your feedback.

Since you are hotel hopping, you should also try the 4 points Daning. They do not have club lounge, but usually upgrade the Plats to Jr. Suite or Full size suite (which is huge 2 rooms with LR plus pull out sofa, Dining room table etc.), and free breakfast at their restaurant. They also give you coupons for Happy Hour in the Tapas bar, plus a 15 minute massage coupon at the spa. ^

I've stayed in the St Regis a couple of times and liked it very much. Try the lounge in the evening, not just for breakfast. I was impressed by their evening food and beverage presentations as well as the views. I had good upgrades to wonderful suites every time and received nice welcome gifts (wine and chocolates). The 4 pm checkout was never an issue. I was also given free coupons every time for the big breakfast buffet downstairs every morning, in the all day dining international restaurant just off of the lobby. There isn't a separate club floor at this property, just executive lounge access; the top floors of this building are tiny.

There's much more info on this in the other threads.

Ranking Executive Club Lounges:

1. Shanghai LRM
2. Westin Bund Center
3. Sheraton Pudong
4. Sheraton Hongqiao
5. St. Regis

Thanks for the replies.