I realize this topic has been covered, but some of the posts are older and some websites are out of date. I am sending the rotten kid to China for a wedding and, if you can imagine, she is willing to accept the coach award (at 140k miles I might add) rather than the Bs/1st award (at 110k miles) as the Bs award arrives 1 day before her Chinese speaking friend. Prefer Coach from STl? Can't be my kid! She is quite nervous about navigating Shanghai not speaking the language so I have determined the 2 onsite hotels are the Ramada and the Dazhong although I have come across other names. A confirmation that these are the 2 current onsite hotels would be appreciated and any opinions as to which is better would also be welcome or any other suggestions. I have spg points, but the car services seem pricey and it might make more sense to keep her at the airport for less than 24 hours.

As an aside, have her take toilet paper and get a hotel card?

Huh? Is this "rotten kid" 12 years old? Central Shanghai is not all that difficult to navigate. Plenty of people around that can manage some English. Plenty of signage in dual language. Streets, subways, etc. It would be a kinder parental service to get her the Biz Award, and book a central hotel that is close to lots of restaurants, shops, malls, etc. She can taxi from airport to hotel. Then if she needs advice, help, etc., get it from the hotel concierge, who certainly will speak English.

She's heading for Shanghai, not Timbuctu. Time to grow up.

Taking toilet paper? Are you serious? A pack of tissues in the purse, sure. If she feels the need for toilet paper, then we can assure her that it can be purchased in Shanghai. The Shanghainese graduated from corn cobs a long time ago.

LOL I agree and thx for reply, but I'm determined to save those extra miles and get the high end ticket. Honestly, she's been all over, but the bride has told her it will be hard to navigate alone so she's unusually cautious. Read somewhere tp was an issue on a website which I did not find odd as we took tp to the old Soviet Russia. Like I said, doing this from the net and not sure what is current info.

Motel 168 between T1 and T2 would be my choice for a newbie visitor. Also walking distance from the 24h Burger King outlet at T2 so ideally suited for teenagers.

I'm still keeping my habit of booking my usual 150 RMB PVG area hotel for early flights out but then I know the family that owns it rather well. Otherwise, normally stay in Lujiazui for noontime departures, a comfy trip by taxi or a combo of lines 9 & 2 and the Maglev.

Again, my thx. Motel 168 showed up on older posts, but not on current websites. Apparently, it may be part of Dazhong.

There are two hotels in between T-1 and T-2 at PVG.

http://cache.virtualtourist.com/4/42...anghai_Shi.jpg
http://cache.virtualtourist.com/4/42...anghai_Shi.jpg

Ramada is off site.

Makes more sense to stay in the area that the event is being held. The airport hotels are remote from the city.

Absolutely, but a Chinese friend arrives pvg next day and they are taking the train together as the event is some distance away from Shanghai. Appreciate advice as friend could just stroll over to hotel lobby when he arrives and Ramada would be dumb. Also confirms hotel names which has been confusing in my hunt.

Ease hotel is better of the two.

Could walk 5 minutes to arrival area and meet inbound friend. Makes
things very easy.

Isn't it too boring staying at a hotel for 24 hours? Can take the metro line # 2 to downtown. It just need 7RMB and less than one hour. Too many choice for hotels, restaurants, malls... Surprisingly so many people there. Shanghai is super large city with more than 20 million people

While I don't want offend you, the bride, or your daughter, some bassackwards thinking is taking place here... stating with the (extremely overpriced) Ramada being onsite.

Please post more, in order to permit us to provide better guidance.

I highly doubt your daughter will have issues getting to central Shanghai to find her hotel. if anything it would be a good experience and definitely better than living at the airport where there is nothing to do. There are plenty of people in Shanghai that can understand English, lots of English/Engrish signs and the city is quite safe. Use common sense and if she doesn't have it, she will likely survive nonetheless.

For those of us who enjoy watching airplanes take off and land AND enjoy drinking adult beverages there is a "sky bar" in between the two on airport hotels with a great view of the runways at Pudong.

We all gave suggestions here. OP's daughter know which option is better for herself.

I want to thank all for their posts. I now have Plan A and Plan B with better information.

Although most of the people addressing an obvious Shanghai newbie in English would do so in hope to rip her/him off.

Be it fake brand products, an overpriced illegal taxi, the traditional art student/Tea house schemes or the fake Buddhist monks who nowadays populate touristy areas of Pudong asking for "donations"