For short trips, I think the difference between second class and first class is trivial. For longer trips, I usually avail of air travel. That having said , I agree with jiejie that the direct bus is the best option for red if he doesn't spend night 1 in Shanghai because it takes an hour to get from pvg to the train station, and it's a bit daunting for first timers.

If I ended up opting for night one in Shanghai I would likely stay in Xintiandi. How long would it take to reach the train station from that area? If I go straight to Suzhou I agree I'll use the bus.

There are no XTD hotels on Line 10. (I work there and used to live there, so I know it well.) From the Andaz or Langham, you need 10 minutes to walk to the subway, 6 minutes waiting for the subway, and 25 minutes on the subway. I specifically picked the Yu Garden Ren for my mom because it is right on Line 10...though she ended up using taxis most of the time. I'm not a huge fan of the area because few people live or work there, but the view from her room was quite nice, and there are some decent restaurants nearby now. If you were actually staying in Shanghai to visit Shanghai on night 1, I would recommend a hotel in Jing'an or the French Concession, but for transit purposes, the Ren is extremely convenient.

ETA: If you want to stay in Jing'an, the Shangri-La, Swiss, and Puli are all pretty close to Jing'an Si Station (Line 2).
Edit 2: Apart from rush hour, Line 10 is far more civilized than Line 2.

I have points I can use at Hyatt hence the Andaz is more likely.

The Andaz is pretty solid, and I belaboured the walk point a bit too much upthread (a ten minute walk is chalenging for some seniors, such as mom). Message me if you want to grab a bite to eat on night 1.