Have you considered the Okura Garden Hotel? I stayed there twice last year on business trips, in a Garden View room. It is in the old French Quarter and incoporates the former French Club building. Rooms are OK. Very helpful staff. Good food. The gardens will be nice in the spring. Near the subway; walking distance to markets and shopping.

I am very interested in the Okura Garden, although there were some less-than-great comments about it on another related post here. I wondered about the service issues, if the staff would give good treatment to a solo traveler as opposed to the Japanese tour groups which may form a large part of their client base. I am glad to hear that you had a good experience there.
Their rates seem a bit high..I am getting quotes in the range of $245. US plus tax for the garden view room.

I know you didn't ask about this hotel-- BUT The Shangra-la Pudong is fabulous!! I would stay there again in a heartbeat!!!!! Beautiful room- incredible bathroom. Fabulous views- I didn't want to go to sleep.Ask for a room on a high floor.Best breakfast and dinner buffet anywhere. Wonderful location - great pool, etc., etc., etc.I stayed at the Peninsula Beijing and the Shangri-la was even better.

Yes, The Shangri-La is high luxe, but not under $250? And have to cross the river to get to popular local restuarants and shopping.

I ruled out the hotels in Pudong. I've loved ShangriLa's in other places but it sounds like just too much trouble time-wise to be so far from most of the action. Did you take cabs to get around from there? Glad you enjoyed; it does sound superb!

I'm booked at the Westin in a couple of weeks and thinking of switching to Le Royal Meridian. However I'm hearing some strange things about the bathroom -- there are no walls? The walls are glass? I like my privacy while taking a shower (etc!). Can anyone elaborate on this?

I stayed at Le Meridian for 3 nights from March 1st. It's one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in. Staff gives you almost "too much " attention. You are greeted every 50 feet by several staff members, welcomed back to hotel, etc,etc.
The bathrooms are unusual but very cool. There is a glass divider between the room and bathroom but if you want privacy just lower the electric screen and you have total privacy. The shower is also unusual but very nice. It's a rain-shower from the ceiling ( you stand on the floor of bathroom = not in the tub). It works very well. If you can do splurge on a club level room - the club is a nice, quite area with great views, internet, snacks, drinks, etc. The hotel is also better located than Westin. Overall a great experience. Good luck

Paulchili..welcome back...so glad you enjoyed the hotel and, hopefully, your entire trip. I am booked there in early April. Did you have a chance to see the pool and if so, how did it look? Or feel? Long enough for lap swimming?

Any eating tips or anything else you want to share when you have time?

Welcome back, Paulchili! I love those bathrooms. We had a similar one at the St. Anne in Quebec City, a remodeled hotel in 2-200 year-old houses linked together, except there was no screen on the glass divider.

Do tell us about your experiences when you have time.

I am still in Hong Kong - flying home tomorrow. Will file a note about my experiences in Shanghai/China after I "recover" from the trip ( 2 months long)

PS - I did not use the pool so I cannot comment. Loved the food - most memorable ones were South Beauty, Bao Lu & Guyi Hunan. Missed on some others as I got sick of all places eating at Shangri La's Gui Hua Lou!( for the night time view of the Bund) and was "out of commission" for a couple days.

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