I am trying to decide between the new Royal Le Meridien and the Radisson New World hotels for our stay in Shanghai for March 2007. Each one would be in a club level room ( much more affordable than Westin, Ritz or 4 Season club level).They are fairly close to each other. Can anyone suggest which of these I should pick and why?

Can you share the rate at the Meridian and how you found it? Thanks! I am also considering that hotel and Westin....(see recent related post).

Certainly. The Royal Club room at Meridien is $ 263/night all -taxes,continental breakfast & club privileges included. This is a pre-pay rate without cancellation option. Same room can be booked for $ 301 with cancellation til 6 PM - both on their own web site. By comparison I have a reservation at Westin Grand Deluxe room( bed, breakfast & tax) for $ 350 - not even club level. I am a little disturbed by some negative reviews about Westin on Tripadvisor. Meridien, on the other hand, has excellent reviews.
I read you other posting - it is amazing as I am also booked at the Peninsula in Beijing ( at their winter special rate). Enjoy your trip.

You know I think it is better to somehow find a way to contact the hotel reservations desk directly rather than go through those sites like Starwood. From all that I have read here it would seem that there is more of a chance of getting them to add a few extras or upgrades that way. These Shanghai prices are wild, even compared to Beijing, not to mention SE Asia.

I also read the Westin so-so comments on TA's site..mostly about decor and room size but for those prices...I think Meridien sounds nicer..apparently both locations are good (you read the response to my recent question on this...)

It has been two years since I was in Shanghai. These hotel prices seem so high. Are they normative now for this level of accomodation and service?

I am finding rates of close to $300 and above for the top rated hotels. I agree that it seems totally crazy. I keep reading that it is possible to negotiate prices but how can one do that if you book via the forms on the hotel web sites? I do not want to take the chance of just showing up after a night on the train without a reservation.

I just received a reply from Meridien; the rate they quote is the rate you can get yourself ( the cancellable one). If one is certain it would be a wiser choice to book the non cancellable rate as it is about $ 40/day less. The club privileges include buffet breakfast and free internet among others ( see web site). It is expensive but that is the market in Shanghai as far as I can tell. It is much better priced than other 5 star hotels at that level of service( other than St. Regis which is poorly located for tourists). It is also brand new - hopefully everything still works and is still clean

EKSCrunchy:

I'm surpised that anyone would want to pay 300+ for any hotel in Shanghai..my insiders tipped me on some fine hotels for less than $200 all around town. I've got two cancellable bookings in Shanghai...one at Ramada, very good reviews, at $155 incl. all taxes...very close to Bund and right off Nanjing Lu. The other at Raddison New World. also on Nanjing Lu, a bit further to the Bund, at $190 incl. tax..these are for doubles. If you want to spend big bucks for Meridien and Westin. that's your choice.

Hell, I'm not going to buy the hotels..just want a place to stay for our 4 nights in Shanghai. I've got the Crowne Plaza in Beijing for $135 plus taxes, Hyatt in Xian for $135 all taxes incl., Sheraton in Guilin for $135 all taxes incl.....Having been all through China 22 years ago. believe me, all of the above will be like palace-living for us compared to the substandard places we stayed in in 1984, on high-end tour no less.(Long before the current upgrading changes were even on the drawing board for China)

Stu T. (we'll be in Shanghai, April 7-11, Beijing March 19-April 3, Xian, April 3-5, Guilin 5-7...then off to Japan for two weeks after Shanghai). Maybe we'll see you in China.

EK: That should be Beijing, March 29-April 3.

Stu T.

Tower, you are right. However, you are comparing apples to oranges. You certainly can get any number of hotel rooms in Shanghai for well under $ 200 - but you'll get what you are paying for.
Your room at Radisson for $ 190 is the probably lowest category in the hotel and without breakfast. I am sure it will be just fine. My Meridien room for $ 263 is a CLUB room with buffet breakfast and all the priviliges of the club ( free drinks, snacks all day,free internet, etc). One has to decide what their priorities are.

Paul dear:

I'll take the oranges! I'm a depression kid (b.1929) and I've traveled the world over always finding lovely lodgings at what I consider affordable (for me) prices. Enjoy your snacks and drinks at Club Level...I'm gone all day long exploring and snacking/drinking on the streets for a handful of Yuan. To each his own, kid.

Stu T.

Dear Stu
You are right - to each his own. I am sure you'll enjoy the oranges as that is what you are comfortable with. I, on the other hand, love the apples. Vive la diference!
I too will explore Shanghai most of the day but will also enjoy the club benefits at my own convenience.
It sounds like you have a great trip planned, Stu - enjoy it.
Happy travels to all the " apples & oranges"!

....well said, Paul...if the oranges are sour, I may try the apples one day..

Stu T....

Gentlepeople: I grew up on chinese oranges and apples but still like florida sunkist and sonoma gravensteins best. Baking brie with chopped apples/berries/nuts for this weekend's festivities.

I am not going to China till fall or I would have liked to do a spring GTG in Shanghai. Have fun, dear Fodorites!

Thank you - I am sure I will enjoy Shanghai and the rest of China ( especially the food). It will be quite different from the last time I was there in 1985.

Tower it looks like we will overlap one night in Beijing and in Shanghai. I plan to be in Shanghai from the 9th through the 12th. I do not generally stay at these type of luxury hotels myself but in my, albeit limited, experience, they can actually be a good value in Asia. For the level of service that I imagine will be found at the Pen Beijing I would have to pay a lot more in the US or in Europe. Apples and oranges are both great..the quality of neither one is going to make or break our time in China.. Interesting that the Peninsula Beijing does not compell you to give your credit card when booking....they need it to hold the room after 6pm though.

Since I will be traveling alone I am looking for a higher level of cosseting than usual...hopefully these top hotels, albeit expensive, will have excellent English-speaking concierge services to help me/us out. The Royal Le Meridien seems like the best bet for me as well but with 800 rooms I don't think they will be filling up at that time of year so I will dawdle a bit with the reservations.

Are either of you, Paul or Tower, planning to take the Beijing-Shanghai train? I am planning that and would love to read any comments...

We will visit the "water towns" near Shanghai( Suzhou, Hangzhou & Zhouzhuang) and then take the Yangtze cruise, Xian & Beijing.
From Beijing we will board an Oceania cruise from Beijing to Hong Kong ( 2 weeks).

Do you already have a tour or car booked for the "water towns?" I have been doing some reading on these and have a few questions as to which ones are the best to visit...I think I will post a separate query on this...

I am just a slow mover..planning to spend 6 nights in Beijing and 4 in Shanghai. With trips to Great Wall/Eastern Qing Tombs from Beijing and maybe day trip to a water town from Shanghai. Once I get the hotels and flights nailed down, will look into the side trips...

Here are a couple 2nd-hand information threads I posted earlier:

Hangzhou & Watertowns:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34504115

Crowds at Suzhou gardens:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34505772

EKS..
...>>>it looks like we will overlap one night in Beijing and in Shanghai. I plan to be in Shanghai from the 9th through the 12th.<<<

Possibly Roz and I can meet you in Shanghai for lunch somewhere...maybe somewhere in the French Concession...as we get closer to departure time, let's connect...I have to firm up our lodgings in Shanghai (either the Radisson New World or the Ramada..possibly the Peace...I'll let you know...my e-mail is [email protected])

Stu T.