Shanghai Hotel Advice
 

Hi!

I'm going on a trip to Shanghai with partner and mother in August, and wanted to ask for advice on which hotel to choose. We would obviously need two rooms, and a hotel that is relaxing as well as with a good location (pool and outdoor area would be great.)

I'm HHonors Gold, IHG Plat, Accor Gold and Club Carlson Gold - so would also prefer to use my status for this stay for upgrades.
I was looking at the two Hilton hotels in Shanghai, how is the newest one in Hongqiao. Is the location ok? Is it better to go for the older Hilton?
How about the Intercontinental Expo?
I've stayed at the Howard Johnson Business Club before, which was very nice.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated. It's too much of a jungle of hotels right now.

=)

The Howard Johnson is not in a good location and IIRC has no pool. There might be a few outdoor tables for drinks and food. There is a lounge for coffee, newspapers, but it does not offer breakfast or evening appetizers.

Shanghai is obviously a big city. Not many hotels have outdoor areas and many of the pools are indoor, although I recall several hotels in the French Concession area that are set in gardens, although not any associated with the brands you list. The new Peninsula on the Bund also has some outdoor space, but it is quite expensive.

On my first trip with my partner to Shanghai, we stayed at the Radisson hotel in the French Concession. It is set inside a compound that includes lits of green space and what I recall was separate buildings used by some Chinese elites. It's a great location, a short walk to the French Concession where one can explore all the old alleys. I quite liked it.

I also believe there is a pool at the hotel.

Some images: http://www.google.com/search?q=radis...kCHOrb14FPBFZg

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Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

The New Hilton is pretty nice but a bit off the track - it is however near Gubei / Hongmei Lu - a street with restaurants and bars where many expats go to. The old Hilton is better located IMO.

Shanghai is blazing hot during the summer but it is also very damp and cold during the winter. For this reason there are few if any hotels with outdoor pools. In your situation, I'd stay at the Hilton on Hua Shan Road. It's centrally located, walking distance to fantastic restaurants and the French Concession shops/streets for walking and offers a decent level of service. The Hongqiao Hilton is too far away to be appealing unless you enjoy cab rides to get anywhere interesting.

Another choice would be the Intercontinental Puxi. It's definitely not in as nice an area as the Hilton but it is only 3 subway stops away from People's square and the actual facilities are better than the Hilton with an entire building devoted to executive floor guests and a fantastic lounge for breakfast and cocktails. I stayed there over New Year's and as a Plat got a 1 bedroom suite with soaking tub. Staying in Pudong is akin to staying in New Jersey. :D

I would choose the Portman based on its pool alone (half indoor, half outdoor, and fabulous lawn area). I sort of like Gubei (Hongqiao) because it feels a bit less urban than other parts of Puxi, but it is a bit of trek going back and forth between there and town. My second favorite pool (Mandarin City) happens to be in Gubei just south of the Carefour.

In addition to the Portman, the Purple Mountain comes to mind, but that place might as well be on Mars. In any event, the Portman's pool is really nice. I used to be a member of their gym (barter deal), but now I can only avail of the their facilities when I have guests staying there; I'll be sure to let you know the next time an opportunity knocks.

I'd also be surprised if one or more of the newer hotels in town doesn't have an outdoor pool.

In any case, if anyone can think of a nicer outdoor hotel pool than the Portman's, I want to know about it.

The New World Hotel in Changning (across the street from Zhongshan Park) is a decent location and has a nice, large outdoor pool. There are strangely no photos on their own website, but a couple (one two) floating around elsewhere.

As far as the nicest pool in general goes, my vote is for the one in the Shimao Riviera Garden complex. Last I checked, public admission was 120 RMB.

the JW Marriot at Tomorrow Square has an indoor and outdoor pool - I remembered suddenly as they had great weekend pool parties there :cool:

Congrats OP, I'm officially making this thread the official Shanghai hotel thread. I've updated the FAQ accordingly.

Since you mentioned you were a Club Carlson Gold, you may wish to consider the Radisson New World (on Nanjing Road) as well. No green space on the physical property, but if you cross the street you will end up in Peoples Park. Definitely make a point to wander around this park if you have the chance.

I have stayed in this Radisson multiple times and have not had an issue.

The location is between the Le Meridien and the JW Marriott. This particular area is great for people watching, museums and so forth. I have not stayed in the Marriott property, but the Le Meridien property was lovely (at least it was when I stayed there the year it opened).

Other hotel options (with good pools):

Puli Hotel: centrally located downtown next to small park, nice outdoor seating, good rooms & amenities, infinity pool (indoor).

Peninsula: located on the Bund, best spa in town, nice pool with outdoor terrace.

Hyatt on the Bund: quality pool and spa, decent location (north-Bund), nice bar at top floor.

Intercontinental Expo: i know its out of the way in Pudong, but i have a soft spot for this hotel. A great spa and swimming pool (very private, usually no-one there), outdoor seating area, and great river views from the gym.

And i'd choose the Shanghai Hilton over Hongqiao Hilton anyday, unless i had business in that part of town.

Ended up booking the Radisson New World.
http://www.radissonblu.com/newworldh...s/family-suite
Read a lot of positive comments, and I've visited the top floor last time I was in town:) says the room is 105 sqm with two separate bedrooms, so perfect!
Cancellable until the day before, did I fail? :D

There's a western four star property across the main road from Fudan University (not convenient for subway) that looks new and attractive with lots of outdoor space and IIRC an outdoor pool. It tends to get a lot of university business, including international academic conferences. My guess is that it's a Crowne Plaza, but i'm not sure, with maybe five hundred rooms.

Fudan also has several Chinese hotels/conference centers right on campus without swimming pools, etc., sort of local three-star properties without a lot of English spoken fluently. IMO these are not appropriate for foreign individual tourists and I'm not sure whether they're easily bookable by the general public or individual foreigners.