I’m currently in Shanghai and have been here for almost a month. So I’ve tried a few different ones.

The prices are actually quite low. So also consider just paying for it depending on the nights.

Courtyard Xujiahui. Good location. Convenient to metro line 1, 9, 11. There’s a lot of shopping malls and food closeby. And it’s a short subway ride to French concession and People Square. You get either breakfast at lounge or Momo Cafe. I personally like the breakfast. It’s has a lot of local Shanghaiese breakfast items that taste pretty good. Since I am in Shanghai I didn’t try any western options. The selection is pretty big. The lounge serves basically a full dinner at night and beers/wines until 9 or 9:30. It has a decent pool. The rooms are small but quite nice. Could def pass for a full service Marriott elsewhere. You get bath robes. All toiletries you expect in Asia. Slippers. I got daily fruit plate two bottles of water. And they even have evening turn down!!!

Renaissance Yu Garden. Prime location. Right next to Yu Garden. Just subway ride to Xintiandi or Nanjing Road. You can even walk to the Bund. Many rooms have incredible view of the Pudong skyline. I think the breakfast is only at the lounge? I didn’t ask if I could eat at the restaurant. Rooms are quite nice. The pool is at the top floor. And layout (as with all pools in China) are a bit weird. But overall I would say out of the cat 2-3 hotels I’ve stayed at, it maybe the best pool. Nice lounge chairs with great views. And fitness center is also on top floor.

Renaissance Zhongsan Park. Great location. You are on line 2,3,4 so basically you are a short ride away from the bullet train station (HongQiao) and either airport. You can take it to jinan temple, Nanjin Road West (world’s largest Starbucks), people square, and Pudong. It may be the tallest building on the Puxi side with 58 stories. Rooms start on 28. So the views are incredible. I got a nice corner room with is technically a junior suite. The lounge is quite nice with alcohol until 9;30. I checked out the pool last night and it’s huge. They also have hot tub steam room and sauna. I decided to stay here for a few extra nights.