Need Quick Help with Shanghai Hotels
 

Hi, I tried to book JW Marriott with asiarooms.com, but that's booked up, unfortunately.

In terms of the luxury hotels under $200 in Shanghai, I can't really think of too many other options. A lot of these are in Pudong, it seems.

Also, I'm having a hard time choosing between locations. I took a look at Trip Advisor. Prices below are approximate.

1. Near Bund

Astor House (about $65)
Seagull (rec. by NYT)

I took a look at the map, and these are near Huangpu road. They seem to be a little out of the way, no?

2. Between Renmin Square and Bund

Ramada Plaza ($100+)
Sofitel Hyland ($100? some not so good reviews for this one)
Park (Guoji) at Renmin Square (same as above): I forget how much this one is

Fodor's likes Ramada Plaza, but other reviews seem lukewarm.

3. French Concession

Jinjiang
Okura Garden (website shows no availability)
Ruijin ($105, Trip Advisor likes this one, but lukewarm reviews elsewhere)

Which one offers the best price/value/location combo?

I'd not mind paying a little extra for Okura Garden, but since I'm leaving on Thursday I can't afford to wait to book yet another hotel if this is not available through asiarooms. I'd rather book something I know I've a good chance at getting.

Thanks!

Hilton Hotel located in the popular Jin An Temple area is very nice. At this time of the year, you should be able to get it for US$200 or less. You could just call Hilton's US toll free number for reservation.

There is a subway station at Jin An Temple (or Jin An Shi). It is about 4 miles or so due west of the Bund. Of course Hilton is near that station.

Equatorial Hotel, located in the same area, is quite acceptable.

I took a quick look and it looks like the cheapest is 1260 CNY for Hilton.

I think that I want something a little further East though.

Westin Hotel is near the Bund, but it could cost more than $200.

Ritz-Carlton is located about 1 mile east of Jin An Shi or about 3 miles due west of the Bund. JC Mandarin is located opposite to Ritz. JC Mandarin (5 star) probably has the cheaper rate.

I believe Hilton has the price/value/location that you are looking for.

We stayed at the Peace Hotel, which is on the Bund. I don't understand traveling to a foreign country only to stay in a branch of a US hotel. There are plenty of Marriotts, Hiltons and Ritz-Carlton (or is it Ritzes-Carlton) in the US. I would recommend something unique and special, like the Peace Hotel, which should be less than US$200 per night.

Er... I can totally understand why one would want a hotel that's managed by an international chain! That's because they've proven to be capable of maintaining standards for a long period of time, which local Chinese operators definitely cannot.

Hotel XYZ may be great when you visited it 12 months ago, but there's absolutely no guarantee that it'll be the same today.

And there are many hotels run by foreign chains that are unique and locally-favored, like the Sheraton in Suzhou. And there are others that were originally built and operated by locals, but is now run by a foreign chain, like the China Hotel in Guangzhou which is run by Marriott now.

Peace Hotel (north building) is a landmark hotel located right at the Bund. You probably can get it for around $100, but you will also read mixed reviews.

Park Hotel, another landmark hotel, is located on Nanjing Rd across from People's Sq and a subway station. Again, you will read mixed reviews about this hotel. Rate should be around $100. I consider Park Hotel to be right at the city center area.

Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel located on Nanjing Rd East is worth your consideration. It is rated Chinese 5 star, relatively new. I read good reviews. This hotel should not be compared to the Howard Johnson in the US.

Well, chains aside, the Marriott was on offer at asiarooms.com for $160 (if I had been able to book it). Given the rooms are on the 38th floor and up and the hotel is at Renmin Square, I really don't think that I can do better (if the hotel is available at that price).

I thought about the Peace Hotel, but the mixed reviews gave me pause.

I can book Ruijin Guesthouse through asiarooms.com for $105. But despite the positive reviews I've read online (TripAdvisor, for example), I remain skeptical. I'm not sure if this is worth $105.

This is the strategy I'm leaning towards.

Book first night at Park Hotel ("Guoji"), basically Marriott's neighbor. If I can get this through asiarooms.com, I should be paying less than $80.

Book second night at Okura Garden. There's a special rate of 888 RMB (not sure if taxes are included) that I thinik I qualify for.

Why not book both at Okura, you ask? Because the special rate only starts the second night of my stay in Shanghai (and then I leave for Taipei).

I'm not too excited about switching hotels for a two-night stay. But then I'll be able to be closer to the Bund on the first night and be in the French Concession the second.

In the meantime other suggestions are welcome. I'll have to wait until the evening (in US) to call Shanghai.

Don't switch -- way too much hassle for a 2-night stay. A taxi between the Bund and French Concession is quick and you'll have no problem seeing both areas with one hotel.

Okura is a true 5 star hotel run by the Japanese. You can't go wrong with it and it is in the heart of old French Concession and close to a subway station.

If you can get JW Marriott for $160 on the 34th floor, go for it by all means. This hotel is only about 2 years old.

Park Hotel and Okura are only a few miles away. As far as tourists are concerned, Shanghai is really a compact city. But traffic is really a big problem.

Well, the whole problem is that I can't book JW Marriott at $160. The rack rate looks to be something like 2700 CNY (I think).

I'm not too excited about switching. Park Hotel (< $80 a night) seems cheap if I can get it, but I'm concerned that if it's unacceptable I'll be miserable.

So moving to Okura for a second night seems like a reasonable hedge.

So that's my thinking, but obviously appreciate comments.

In that caee, stay at Okura by all means.

It's funny how I just pulled up this old thread I started and the last comment from Stevan recommends the Ruijin Guesthouse.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34713819

I had completely forgotten about it.

We stayed at the Sofitel Hyland for 3 nights last year and had no complaints. The location is excellent and the staff is very helpful. I would have no qualms about staying there again.

Peace/Park/Astor/Ruijin/Jin Jiang (not Jin Jiang Tower) are all land mark hotels built about 70 years ago. I believe they are all Chinese run. The question with these hotels has always been if maintenance is up to date. That's why they don't charge,in general, over $150-$200 during high season.

If you want to be sure, stay at Okura.

By the way, Sofitel Hyland (as mentioned by the other poster) run by a German company is very acceptable.

I must admit that I can be kind of cheap and stubborn, actually. Since the special rate for Okura doesn't start until my second night, I'll probably just stay there for one night.

I could try to book Okura for the first night through asiarooms.com, but I think the rate is around $160.

The rate for Sofitel Hyland is about $125 on asiarooms.com (I think -- didn't check again).

I'll probably end up being stubborn enough to stay in Park for the first night ($87 on asiarooms.com, I think).

Obviously all of this is contingent on my getting Okura at the special rate of 888 RMB, which I'll find out in a few hours.

I should have booked Marriott early and I'd have been done and not be in this mess right now.

If you have not done it, I would try Marriott and Westin's US toll free reservation. You may be pleasantly surprised with the rates.

I guess there's no harm in calling, but do you think that they'll actually offer me a rate better than the website's?

I'll call and find out.

I thought that Marriott's website was running a promotion a few days ago, but asiarooms.com was still offer. I was surprised that the rooms were snapped up so quickly. Or maybe I just misremembered.

Just my luck -- I called Marriott's number and the rack rate is 2500 CNY on Dec. 20 and 1380 CNY on Dec. 21 (without taxes). The website shows the same. They must have sold out of the special for Dec. 20, I think. The cheapest one available is some sort of deluxe room.

On the other hand I suppose I can think about staying at Park and moving next door to Marriott for the second night.

My experience has been that there is no one place where consistantly you get the lowest rate. If you are looking for the lowest rate, you have to check all avenues and do it for each trip.

You have nothing to lose by calling them.

Unless there is something going on at this time in Shanghai, in general, room rates in Dec and Jan are the lowest of the year in Shanghai or in China.

I have never been to Marriott, but I know for sure it is not quite next door, or even next next door to Park. It could be a 5-10 minute walk.

I checked Westin. Both web and phone call show 1745 CNY as the lowest rate I can get. I thought that the web flashed 1380 CNY, but then it disappeared. I don't know if I did something wrong.

asiarooms.com offers $223.

I'll think about it more.

I exaggerated a little -- it looks like Park and Marriott are within 500 m of each other. They're both on the square. Should be a very quick walk between the two.

Expedia has the St. Regis for $178 for both 12/20 and 12/21. It's part of the Starwoods group, and should be nicer than the Westin.

Travelocity has the Hilton for 1090yuan for 12/20 and 12/21. It seems like you do get choices.

I hate sites like asiarooms.com that you have to wait for a reply. Takes too much time.

Isn't St. Regis in Pudong?

I don't like to wait either, but it does look like asiarooms.com tends to give the best rate. So far the turn around time has been 1 work day, but since I'm leaving on Thursday I don't really have much time left to play these games.

I'll take a look at the Hilton again. Thanks. I think that it's a little too far west, as I mentioned, but 1090 yuan sounds like a good price.

Oh you're right. St. Regis is in Pudong. Sorry about that.

I would grab that Hilton rate mentioned by rkkwan! 111op, you have done your home work. You probably have a map of Shanghai. Try to locate Hilton on the map. It is really a very very desirable location in Jin An Shi (Jin An Temple) area. As I mentioned before, there is a subway station there. I would urge you to re-consider in light of the Hilton rate.

Ok, I'm checking now.

How did you get the 1090 CNY, rkkwan? It's showing up as 1260 CNY for me (without taxes).

This is making me want to pull my hair out.

For comparision the cheapest rate for Hilton on asiarooms.com is $146.

Do you know Shanghai well, lxc? Do you refer the Hilton's location to Renmin Square?

111op: I think you need to review your perception of Hilton being too far west.

I know very well all these areas that you are considering to stay. Hilton is located also in the old French Concession. It is no more than about 2 miles due west of People's Sq. And Hilton is also about 3 miles from Okura. If you draw a circle with the center at People's Sq and a radius of 3 miles, you will cover all the hotels we mentioned here and the tourist places. (not St Regis).

People's Sq is Renmin Sq

Again, Hilton is located in the Jin An Shi area about 2 miles due west of People's Sq where Park and Marriott are located.

111op - I just checked Travelocity. The 1090 yuan rate is gone now... Oh well.

Thanks. I got caught up in something else. I guess I can call Okura in a few minutes to see what the deal is. Reservation department comes in at 8:30.

It's silly to worry about $50-$100, but I guess that's me. It's ok to pay up for things, but I always dread the feeling of getting the most for my money.

Thanks for humoring me and for helping me out.

I think that I see what might have happened, rkkwan. You probably used 1 person for Travelocity. I just checked the rates on hilton.com -- and it's 1090 CNY for 1 but 1260 CNY for 2 (lowest rates).

In the end this is what I did.

I just sent asiarooms.com a request to book Park Hotel at $70 (standard room). The rack rate is 698 yuan. I'll need to wait for a confirmation, but I suspect that this won't be a problem. When I called the hotel there seem to be plenty of rooms available.

I called Okura Garden last night to book a room at a special rate of 888 yuan for the second night.

I was actually thinking of booking Marriott for night #2. It seems like I should have a good chance getting this through asiarooms.com for $160 (as the website shows availability at a lower rate). But I think that I'm going to pass for now unless someone tells me that the views at Marriott are worth it.

It seems like moving to Marriott from Park would be easier than moving to Okura, but I figured that we'll want to be in the French Concession area anyway.

Ideally I'd not have wanted to move and would have booked Marriott for two nights if that were available.

Thanks to everyone for your help!

The views at the Marriott from a corner room are wonderful!

Would you know what the differences between the standard ("quality") room and the corner rooms are?

For Dec 21 the website offers the quality room at 1380 yuan and the deluxe corner at 2500 yuan.

I suspect that if I sent my request to asiarooms.com all they can do is book me at the standard room.

They couldn't fill my request at $160 for Dec 20-22, but I suspect it's Dec 20 that's causing the problem.

Anyway, I've to move hotels the second night. Do people think it's worth trying to get Marriott for $50 more than Okura?