Hotels & Tours in Shanghai

[Limewood]

Four of us - two couples going to Shanghai June next for 5 days, any suggestions on Hotels 4star+ near local shops, markets, restaurants etc. and able to get to Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Centre by train or taxi (guess cabs are cheap but traffic may be prohibitive), also suggestions on day tours.

 

[munitalP]

Read a couple of my trip reports re Shanghai. See my sig below.

 

[Limewood]

Excellent trip reports.

I'm looking for business people that may know good hotels near the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Centre, will attend there for 2 days and have 3 spare to do some local day tours, see Viator have some.

 

[Gold Member]

Recommend the grand hyatt (Jin Mao tower) or the Park Hyatt. Both have spectacular views from the rooms and club lounge (GH) and they are a both on a central subway line. Not so sure about tours, but most enjoyed the French Quarter.

 

[KLN]

have always stayed at Sofitel Hyland. right in the middle on the Nanjing Rd Pedestrian Mall. walk to lots of places, and quick taxi's to others. Club Rooms up high are well worth it. easy for trains too.

 

[TheEmu]

I have always stayed on the city side, even if I've had to go over to Pudong repeatedly. I would tend to choose a hotel on overall convenience for your entire stay and whatever other criteria you normally use when choosing a hotel. The Expo site is not difficult to get to from the city, and the event organisers will (should) have plenty of cabs on hand at the end of the day to get you back to your hotel.


There is a Metro stop at the Expo site, but it may be quite a walk to the building you have to get to. Cabs are cheap and plentiful so if you have to be in a conference or trade show all day, cabs are probably a better option because Shanghai in June is not dissimilar to Cairns right now - getting fairly tropical.
Don't worry too much about the traffic chaos - just quiz your concierge for timing and you'll get there. Also get written instructions for the cabbie from him - they won't speak English (Inability to speak English seems to be one of the prerequisites to getting a cab licence in Shanghai!)


The new Intercontinental is very near the Expo site and is showing rooms for around 200AUD/night in June but I've not stayed there and there are a plethora of hotels to choose from. Yes El Guapo, I know what a plethora is!


On the city side, The Westin Bund Centre (my favourite hotel in Shanghai and very highly recommended) starts a 25% discount rate at around 190AUD/night in June. I should be staying there for a couple of nights on my way back to Oz sometime in June - not sure exactly when just yet. The hotel is very well situated for exploring the city area: People's Square, Shanghai Museum, Old City Wall, Yuyuan Gardens, The Bund etc, etc. Sunday brunch at The Westin is usually worth the price of breakfast as they always have some entertainment and events organised.


Also look into hiring a private tour guide for your sight-seeing adventures. They're mostly less than $100/day which is excellent value between 4 of you. They are quite often uni students or graduates and will work very hard for you. Very handy when it comes to organising a day trip away as well, as they will buy all the tickets, direct cabbies etc. Have a look on Private Tour Guides | Synotrip for guides and read some of the reviews.


Concur with munitalP’s TR: Suzhou is well worth the effort - also think about Hangzhou as an alternative day trip - you won’t be disappointed either way, particularly with a good guide. Also concur with his advice re: the Bund Tourist Tunnel and Jing’An temple - avoid!


A Day Pass for the Metro is cheap, cheap, cheap and Metro services are fantastic (especially if you're used to CNS public transport (like TSVs): virtually non-existent) Metro trains run every few minutes and there are 11 lines. It is very well utilised though, so expect plenty of company, day and night! There is very little common-sense or courtesy when getting on - people will just try and push on when you’re trying to get off so be prepared to push back or end up at the next station! But it is a very easy system to use: the carriages are air conditioned and dedicated to each line so the next station lights up on the indicators over the doors (in English) and the next stop and station announcements in Mandarin are followed by the English translation (which is generally better than your average Sydney Central announcer can manage.)

All of the ticket vending machines have an English button on the touch screens which makes them easier to understand than the ticket booth staff, and they have a higher care factor as well... If you get the Metro from PVG into the city on arrival (>10RMB each as opposed to 160ish for a cab) you have to change to the adjacent platform 3 or 4 stops from the airport (WT?!#?) so keep your tired ears peeled and abandon ship when the rest of the crowd does or you’ll very quickly end up back at the airport! :shock:


Shanghai Metro


I love the Maglev! but be aware that the top speed is limited to about 300kph after about 5 or 6 pm, so if you’re arriving later than that (which is usual from Oz) and want the full 430kph experience, you might be better doing the trip on your departure. Its quite easy: cab or metro to Longyang Road Metro station, the Maglev is right beside the Metro station. Look out for the other train heading in the opposite direction at around the 3-4 minute mark of the journey! Closing speed: 860kph!





Sorry for raving on - I really enjoy Shanghai!

 

[Ric]

have always stayed at Sofitel Hyland. right in the middle on the Nanjing Rd Pedestrian Mall. walk to lots of places, and quick taxi's to others. Club Rooms up high are well worth it. easy for trains too.

Plus 1..... Right in the middle of everything and a short walk to the Bund + Fairmont Peace Hotel. Don't miss the "Old Jazz Band" at the Fairmont peace Hotel!!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I love the Maglev! but be aware that the top speed is limited to about 300kph after about 5 or 6 pm, so if you’re arriving later than that (which is usual from Oz) and want the full 430kph experience, you might be better doing the trip on your departure. Its quite easy: cab or metro to Longyang Road Metro station, the Maglev is right beside the Metro station. Look out for the other train heading in the opposite direction at around the 3-4 minute mark of the journey! Closing speed: 860kph!


Sorry for raving on - I really enjoy Shanghai!

i catch the maglev regularly and it is actually the reverse of what you say... the maglev ONLY operates at maximum speed for two periods per day, between 9 and 1045 am and again in the afternoon between 3 and 445pm. this is more restrictive than it was in the past when there was an additional high speed time, but recently it seems more likely to be at the slower speeds rather than fast. full details can be obtained on the maglev website under the 'timetable' section. still a good ride and worth the trip to experience the higher speeds if you haven't done it before.

 

[Limewood]

Thank so much guys (especially TheEmu2012) absolutely fantastic information, just what we wanted to know.

Will be in 24th out 29th June.

 

[TheEmu]

i catch the maglev regularly and it is actually the reverse of what you say... the maglev ONLY operates at maximum speed for two periods per day, between 9 and 1045 am and again in the afternoon between 3 and 445pm. this is more restrictive than it was in the past when there was an additional high speed time, but recently it seems more likely to be at the slower speeds rather than fast. full details can be obtained on the maglev website under the 'timetable' section. still a good ride and worth the trip to experience the higher speeds if you haven't done it before.

Thanks for the update, MEL_Traveler I haven't taken the Maglev at all this year! Last time I used it was mid-September last year at about midday for the full-strength ride out to PVG . The slower trip into the city, in July was early evening. Also noticed the ticket prices have virtually doubled since I first rode it in 2007 - still a cheap thrill though!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the update, MEL_Traveler I haven't taken the Maglev at all this year! Last time I used it was mid-September last year at about midday for the full-strength ride out to PVG . The slower trip into the city, in July was early evening. Also noticed the ticket prices have virtually doubled since I first rode it in 2007 - still a cheap thrill though!

tickets are 40RMB one way for passengers (need to produce flight itinerary or boarding pass), 50 otherwise (double those for travel in the VIP cabin which is supposed to include a free drink but never does!). They have been that way since late 2008 (November). Given the meteoric rise of the AUD however the actual price of the ticket as gone from just over AUD10 one way (at the Aussie's lowest point of 3.98RMB) to a fraction over $6 now!

 

[Limewood]

The Maglev train goes from - to?

How far is Shanghai airport to city?.

 

[Andyzx]

+1 positive for Shanghai. Stayed at Hotel Indigo, this is further down the Bund, next to the river. Nice, little funky, good size rooms and free wifi but there is construction going on next door so get a room on the river side, nice views. They were going to double glaze the noisy side but not sure if they have done this yet. Taxi was about A$2-3 to get to the other end of the Bund. Recommend the old Shanghai area and a river cruise, town planning museum. Enjoyed the dumplings everywhere and food generally. Dont forget to read the english translations of signs, adds humor to the day.

Airport is about 30 minutes (at night) to the city by taxi, there are trains
Maglev Airport to Longyang Road Station Shanghai Maglev Official Website

 

[TheEmu]

The Maglev train goes from - to?

How far is Shanghai airport to city?.

oneworld

Metro Line 2 and Maglev stations are between T1 and T2 at PVG. Maglev goes from PVG to Longyang Road Metro station where you can step across to the Metro station to go into the city. If you're not staying in the city its probably better to catch a cab from that point as Line 2 goes into town, not Pudong. Print out the hotel's address in Chinese before you leave home, to give to the cabbie.
Have you decided on airline and flights?

Shanghai city map - Google Maps

 

[drron]

When we attended Expo in Shanghai we stayed at the Sheraton Shanghai Pudong which is reasonably close-however it is expensive for those dates.A 4 points is next door.The beauty of both is there is a Metro station underneath.
The Sheraton's Chinese restaurant does a very good Beijing duck.
Also there is a book-6 Shanghai walks which is fantastic if you can get a copy.I thoroughly reccomend their walk through the French Concession-you do it obviously at your own pace and timing.There is a bookshop at the beginning of the French concession walk where you can read the book and take notes-I will post the link to my TR with that info in it.

 

[Limewood]

Print out the hotel's address in Chinese before you leave home, to give to the cabbie.
Have you decided on airline and flights?

Yes we've been doing trips to ASIA for years know the story about english addresses for cabies.

We are departing Cairns the week before, will go CX - PE depart CNS to HKG (direct flight 7 hrs) have 4 days there then Dragonair in Y to SHA.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes we've been doing trips to ASIA for years know the story about english addresses for cabies.

We are departing Cairns the week before, will go CX - PE depart CNS to HKG (direct flight 7 hrs) have 4 days there then Dragonair in Y to SHA.

you going to SHA or PVG? SHA is a nice simple taxi ride to the city (and a very nice uncluttered airport to arrive at given so few international flights). About 20-30 mins and if going to the Bund should be about 50-70RMB depending on the traffic. More if going to pudong.

Departing SHA is also a breeze - usually about 7 mins from arrival curb-side to check-in to the gate! (including check-in, immigration and security).

 

[Limewood]

you going to SHA or PVG?

I think its PVG (not booked yet) and CX seems best bet $2350 in PE CNS/HKG/SHA/HKG/CNS (the HKG/SHA/HKG is in Y) , so pick up few points too.

 

[TheEmu]

I think its PVG (not booked yet) and CX seems best bet $2350 in PE CNS/HKG/SHA/HKG/CNS (the HKG/SHA/HKG is in Y) , so pick up few points too.

I'm sure you're aware that if the booking is for SHA you're going to Hongqiao which is, as MEL_T says, better than PVG, both getting in and out of the airport as well as travelling to and from town. Metro Line 2 (from PVG) also services SHA but recommend the cab in this case - its just quicker and easier.
I've always had quite good experiences with KA (check avatar) clean, tidy, well-kept A330s and friendly-enough, efficient crews. Always in Y.
Sounds like a good trip, Limewood - 2 fun Asian cities and hand-picked companions - looking forward to your TR already!

 

[Limewood]

Just checked can go HKG/SHA same price, thank you.