China Travel Forum

[Adrian]

I'll be travelling with my boyfriend to Shnghai in late April.I would like to know which hotel would you guys recommend?I'm totally clueless,it's my first trip to Shanghai.I prefer somewhere close to shopping and clubbing area but not too expensive like maybe S$120 per night?by the way,where can I go shopping for knock-off and where is the best place to club?we're planning to stay for about 5-6 days,where is the must see and must go?oh,and what the weather like during that time of the year?

[Robin]

We just came back from our trip to Shanghai. On our last night, we stayed at the Charms Hotel, located at Jiujiang Rd which is paralled next to Nanjing Rd (pedestrian mall) just behind from the Ramada Plaza (Nan Xinya). For a double standard room, it costs $60/night only, including one breakfast (good buffet selections). It caters to a lot of Europeans. Ask for a non-smoking room, it is nice and comfy. Next corner westside is a busy but elegant restaurant called SuYo. It has fish tanks on the first floor full of different kinds of seafood. At the entrance, two or three red dressed ladies awaits for the customers to come in. Then they accompany them to the second floor through the escalator. The second floor dining area is huge, and gets very busy by 6pm. The food is very delicious.
Before that, we stayed at the Ramada Plaza Shanghai (Nan Xinya) located on Nanjing Rd (pedestrian mall). It costs us $110 (no breakfast). Although a little pricey, the hotel is very luxuriously decorated.
The Sofitel and Howard Johnson hotels are nearby going east towards the Bund.
Tip: Most hotels have an English speaking clerk. Before you go anywhere, ask them to write the name of the place you are going to, or what you want to say when getting a train ticket or bus ticket, or just simply taking a taxi to a restaurant. You can just show the writing (in Chinese characters) of what you want to say and do. We did this and it worked out really good. Also, bring your hotel business card or keyfolder so you can tell the taxi driver where to take you.

[ellyse]

I'd say that Seventh Heaven Hotel on Nanjing Lu pedestrian street might be a good choice for you. The best rooms are still within your budget. I presume you'll be gone by the 1st week of May?
Knock-off shopping is done at the Xiangyang Lu market.
Nightlife: Xintiandi, Tongren Lu, Hengshan Lu, Maoming Lu, Julu Lu (in rough order of preference)
The weather will be good for sightseeing, not too hot nor too rainy.
Must-sees will depend on what you're usually more interested in seeing/doing. One man's meat is easily another's poison.