Louis

How about trying Jin Jiang Hotel (north building) on 59 Mao Ming Rd South by calling Utell - an international reservation system. Utell's US toll free number is 800-448-8355 (7/24). If Jin Jiang is full, Utell can book you into other available hotel room.<BR><BR>Jin Jiang Hotel North Building is a Chinese rated 5-star hotel.<BR><BR>Good luck.

win

Hi :<BR>Tks for the prompt reply. Yes, JC Mandarin, hilton, Shangrila,Grand Hyatt Portman Ritz,Westin (the brand new one) Jinjiang, Sheraton Grand Tai Ping yang etc etc are fully booked!!!<BR>My agent just called to say they found Rainbow Hotel and Cypress....<BR>Are these hotels at a good location ? We are not choosy now....just needed a decent hotel at a safe location but then I think Shanghai is pretty safe, isn't it?. We are still coming in this saturday and have a confirmed return on 15th. I suppose the 3 star and below <BR> should still be available but I hate to think of the services accorded. Under the circumstances &quot;Beggars aren't choosers&quot;<BR>

win

Hi:<BR><BR>It's me again. No sight of hotel confirmation yet but we have an offer of a friend's apartment at Lujiajui which is pretty near Grand Hyatt. Looks like we will be staying there for 2 nights.<BR>Anyway, I would like to thank Andrea and Louis for your help and also to Marina for 'allowing' me to hook on to your message. I've learnt something here tho' that hotels DO get booked up when there's a convention/fair or tournament so in future I'll book my room real early. Like Andrea I was really surprised by the occupancy rate. <BR>I'll be off to the airport in a couple of hours. Thanks once again.<BR>

Marina

We finally settled on Radisson hotel following Andrea's suggestions. Thank you, everybody. Still trying to decide about hotel in Lijiang, so if you have any input, please let me know.

Pooh

How about Sofitel Hyland and Ramada Plaza off of Nanjing.. I want a bit more of an &quot;on the pulse&quot; type of stay in Shanghai and wanted to stay on Nanjing East (is that advisable for travelers looking to find excitement and nightlife in Shanghai?)<BR><BR>Any suggestions would be great. Also, I am traveling with my girlfriend, who I am not yet married to. I heard that there might be problems with that?? I am chinese (living in America and my girlfriend is Chinese - living in china - not shanghai). Please help.<BR><BR>-Pooh

Kathy

We stayed at the Hotel Sofitel and were quite pleased. Breakfast was a complete buffet and the location is difficult to beat. Center of Nanjing pedestrian walkway. The subway is one block away (toward the river) and we took that to the Oriental Pearl Tower. Missed the Hyatt which was a huge mistake! We walked the streets off Nanjing and enjoyed seeing the contrast and shopping in some of the markets. The Wu Garden area is great for shopping. Not sure if I got the spelling right on that, my map shows a Yu Yuan Garden but I think we were told Wu. It is a park which used to be someone's home or villa really...around this is the fantastic shopping market. We bought 4 eagle kites for $10, not in boxes but they work great. So many things. We loved Shanghai and will go back.

Patty

I just returned home a few days ago and I know this is too late for win, but in case anyone else needed this information - of the hotels than Andrea mentioned, the ones with the closest subway access are:<BR><BR>Hilton &amp; Equatorial (Jing An station / metro line 2)<BR><BR>Okura &amp; Jin Jiang (Shan Xi station / metro line 1)<BR><BR>Regal International East Asia (not to be confused with Regal Shanghai East Asia which is farther out) - sorry can't remember the name of this station but it's on metro line 1 and very close to the hotel<BR><BR>All of the above 5 properties are within 1-2 blocks of metro stations.<BR><BR>The next closest hotels would be:<BR><BR>Ritz &amp; JC Mandarin (either Jing An or ShiMen Rd station on metro line 2 - about the same distance either way)<BR><BR>The less convenient one as far as subway access would be Radisson Plaza Xing Guo (there's also another Radisson in Shanghai but I forget where it is) - closest station would be Chang Shu station on metro line 2 - my best guess is it's about a 15 minute walk.<BR><BR>Sofitel and Hyatt also have convenient subway access. Sofitel has the advantage of being right in the middle of the pedestrian section of Nanjing Rd and close to the Bund. And nothing else in Shanghai can compare to the Hyatt in terms of service, amenities, facilities, and gorgeous view which more than compensates for its location IMHO. Yes, tunnel traffic crossing to/from Puxi can be pretty bad, so I recommend the metro whenever feasible.<BR><BR>The St. Regis has the best breakfast buffet I've tried in Shanghai but it's too out of the way for most visitors.<BR><BR>Certain times of the year can be very difficult to secure rooms at the top hotels in Shanghai due to all of the conventions and events held there. When I can't find availability, I use my elite frequent guest membership (Starwood, Hyatt, Marriott, etc.) to guarantee reservations. So that's an option if you have top tier in any of those programs.<BR><BR>BTW I would love it if anyone who has stayed at the Four Seasons or Westin can give a review. Thanks!

Patty

Pooh,<BR>I have a business associate who sometimes brings his girlfriend along (she is mainland Chinese) and he hasn't had problems. From what I understand though, it's officially illegal, but it seems that many places turn a blind eye.

Marsha

I have just returned from a trip to Shanghai having stayed at the Four Seasons. I have stayed at the Ritz on prior trips and now prefer the 4 Seasons. We booked into a 4 Seasons room which was 635 sq. meters. It had a king bed, couch and chaise and chair- very well done and comfortable. Both breakfast and lunch buffets were very well done. I thought the concierges had a bit of difficulty responding to some of my questions but on the whole the entire stafff was most accomodating and friendly. I would highly recommend this hotel.

Patty

Thanks for your review, Marsha! Would you care to mention any specific reason(s) why you prefer the Four Seasons over the Ritz - rooms, service, dining, atmosphere, location? Thank you.

win

Hi everyone,<BR><BR>I'm back...since the thread still generates interest, I would like to add something here.<BR><BR>I discovered that there are a few local tour companies operating out of the Shanghai Stadium. There were some day trips to areas just outskirts of Shanghai like Wuzhen, Suzhou, Nanjing etc etc. and also trips to further places (sorry unable to read this brochure as they are all in chinese). Our guide spoke in Mandarin and I'm not sure if they hv specific guides who spoke english. The cost is RMB 125 for the tour incl. entrance fee. We left at 9 am and returned to Shanghai at around 6 pm.<BR>Take the MRT to the SHANGHAI STADIUM and use the underpass to access the Stadiium. I saw REgal shanghai East Asia hotel just next to the bus station at the stadium. <BR><BR>Don't worry Pooh, by all means bring yr girlfriend...Shanghainese are very liberal...saw some youngsters fondling and kissing in broad daylight at a restaurant so.....<BR><BR>A friend took us to this restaurant/bar called THE DOOR at 3F, No. 1468 HongQiao Road Tel : 021-62953737 <BR>It is a very unique place...how shall I describe it...uumh....it is a huge mansion of some rich people of the past and lots of antique in there. Upstairs, theres a live band (only available on Fri/Say/Sun) that plays chinese traditional music that my friend puts it at 'intoxicating'. They have some mini opium beds for you to lie or sit. The lighting and decor takes u back to the opium days of China. Believe me, u hv to be there to experience. We liked it so much that we went back on a weekday to discover that the 'live band' is not on and the atmosphere changes dramatically. It must be the music that makes a difference. (In case you wonder, NO I dont work for THE DOOR!!!!)<BR><BR>Should anyone be interested in traditional Shanghainese food, try BO PU restaurant....it is housed in a traditional ~read old 2 storey shop and very small. I've counted that they were only 7 tables in there. Good food at very reasonable prices. The phone no is : 021-62587193 The address is in chinese so unable to decipher but I'm sure yr concierge will be able to help.<BR>It is at SHIMEN YI Lu<BR><BR>The other one we were taken to is Jie Shi Restaurant...again very small and cramp but gives you a very old Shanghai feel....it is like...hey, I'm in China feel. Tel : 62829260 They hv a branch at Xintiandi. Good food too. Their branch at Xintiandi charges higher.<BR><BR>For more upmarket shanghainese food, try Jade restaurant. There are 4 Jade restaurant in shanghai but I was told the one serving Hunan and shanghai food is the best. Anyway, we dined at this one and loved the food but we never went to the other 3 so could not compare. There's also a good restaurant on the 8th floor of the Grand Theatre. Good ambience but not so good food. <BR><BR>Cantonese dim sum at The Grand Hyatt is very good and we also ate at ZEN chinese cuisine at Hong Kong Plaza Tel : 63906390 This one is operated by Hong Kongnese <BR><BR>Theres another ZEN Cantonese Cuisine Restaurant at Heng Long Plaza66, opposite JC Mandarin and this is operated by shanghainese serving similar food. This is more fusion with Cantonese and Japanese.<BR><BR>My husband and I are going back again on 15 Dec for a week (on business)before making our way to Hong Kong thru christmas and hopefully I'll hv more info to post here.<BR><BR>See you.<BR><BR><BR><BR>

win

Pooh,<BR>Sofitel Hyland is pretty good location as you can walk along the road all the way to the Bund. HengShan Lu is where lots of F&amp;B outlets are and I saw a HENGSHAN Hotel right there. If you chose Hong Kong Plaza (serviced apartment), the Xintiandi where F&amp;B outlets are is just at the back, MRT station in the building and Pacific Shopping complex connected to it. I suppose you will be able to move around easily once u hv a MRT station nearby and they are not very packed except for times where the people rush to and from work.<BR>It is getting pretty wet when I left last Friday and my Shanghai friend says it is getting colder too.

win

Patty :<BR><BR>We are platinum card holders of Hyatt Hotel and that still does not guarantee us any room. Begin to wonder the 'priviledges' of being a member. Some things just doesn't work in China..period. <BR>Win

Patty

Win, I believe Hyatt only 'guarantees' for Diamond level members. I've been able to get rooms at both the Hyatt and St. Regis (Starwood property) in Shanghai and a few others elsewhere in China when they were supposedly sold out. You still have to reserve it 48-72 hours in advance though depending on the chain, it won't work for last minute reservations.

Barbara

How about the Four Seasons in Shanghai? Does anyone have any comments or opinions about the location and rooms there?