Hotels

Whether you're here for a week or a year, most people will need a hotel or some form of accommodation, even if it is just until they find an apartment. The good news is that hotels in China are relatively cheap compared to say, Europe, where it isn't uncommon to pay 200-300 Euros for a hotel room for a night. In Shanghai, that gets you quite a nice 5 star brand like Westin, Hilton or Marriott to name a few. There are hotels to cover most budgets and here, I have listed just a few to get the ball rolling. I highly recommend Trip Advisor as a good way to find your accommodation and then book on whichever platform has the best deal. Trip Advisor always indicates which platform has the best price, but the platforms to check are usually Agoda, Booking.Com, Hotels.Com, Expedia, Trip.Com and you can sometimes get a good deal booking directly with the hotel itself.

These are just examples of what's possibile in Shanghai. Where you stay will ultimately depend on the purpose of your visit, your budget and what part of town you want to stay. I live in Shanghai, so my first hand experience of hotels is somewhat limited apart from the off staycation, but I have had friends stay and often share their feedback with me. Most of these hotels are centrally located. There are a lot of options available further out which are great, but I have focused on the more central options to avoid having to worry too much about transportation. Shanghai is usually a very walkable city, although in July and August, it can be hard walking around in 40 degree heat.

Budget Hotels (less than 500 RMB per night)

Campanile Hotel Jing'an (Wulumuqi Road)

This hotel is a favourite with a good friend of mine whenevr he comes to stay. It is just a few minutes walk from bustling Jingan Temple / Nanjing Road West where you can find lots of shopping malls, restaurants and bars. It's strictly no frills, but it is clean and comfortable for the price. They have other locations around town, including one on Huaihai Road and one near The Bund. This location is priced at around 500 RMB.

Address:
No.425, North Wulumuqi Rd,200040 Shanghai, China
上海市静安区乌鲁木齐北路425号

Hanting Seasons Hotel Shanghai Jing'an Temple
This is probably the only hotel here I have no knowledge of, but wanted to include one Hanting hotel because it is one of the popular budget chains along with Home Inn. Worth a look if you are on a budget, especially as the location is a good one, but don't expect too much. Cost around 400 RMB per night.

Address:
No.105 Wanhangdu Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai China
静安区万航渡路105号

Mid-Priced Hotels (500 RMB to 1000 RMB per night)

Jin Jiang Hotel
Reasonably priced and well positioned close to the busy Huaihai Road, not too far from Xintiandi. Priced at around 700-800 RMB.

Address:
161 Changle Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200020 China
上海市黄浦区长乐路161号

Crowne Plaza Nanjing Road
This is a very centrally located hotel in People's Square, part of the IHG chain. One entrance is on the busy (and touristy) pedestrianised part of Nanjing Road East and the other entrance is on Jiu Jiang Road which is where your taxi will be able to drop you. You can walk towards The Bund or walk west along Nanjing Road for more shops and restaurants. If you like being right in the center of the action, this could be a good option. The hotel itself is not that new, so bear this in mind when deciding. Price around 800 RMB.

Address:
700 Jiujiang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200001 China
上海市黄浦区九江路700号

Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Hotel On The Bund 
Roughly 900-1000 RMB per night, this is by the Yu Gardens and just a short walk to The Bund.

Address：
159 South He Nan Road, Huang Pu District, Shanghai 200010 China
上海市黄浦区河南南路159号

SSAW Hotel
I used to live in the apartment complex behind this small, older hotel and it was one of the hotels I recommended to guests coming for my wedding many years ago. Location-wise, it is just a stone's throw away from Yu Gardens to the east and the begining of the busy Huaihai Road to the west. It's also very convenient for Yu Gardens subway station (line 10) which goes to Hongqiao airport. Price around 700 RMB. The price reflects the location more than the hotel and its facilities, but if you want something quite centrally located, this isn't a bad choice. There's nothing in the immediate vicinity, but shops can be reached after a short 5-10 minute walk.

Address:
No.839 Renmin Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200010 China
黄浦区人民路839号

High End Hotels (up to 2000 RMB per night)

Mandarin Oriental (Pudong)
This is one of my favorite hotel chains. It is in Pudong which means it is slightly less convenient for most of the attractions in Puxi, but it's definitely a good choice if you have to be on that side of the river. Around 1500 RMB.

Address:
111 Pudong Road South, Shanghai 200120 China
上海市浦东新区浦东南路111号

Shanghai Edition Hotel
Another of my favourites at the higher end, you're looking at around 2000 RMB depending on the time of year, located close to the Crown Plaza on Nanjing Road East which is pedestrianised and very popular with tourists. The hotel itself has several bars and restaurants, some with great views of the city. There's a roof garden and the Punch Room, Yone Restaurant and Bar has spectacular views, great place to impress a date and there's also Shanghai Tavern on the ground floor.

Address:
199 Nanjing Road East, Shanghai 200002 China
黄浦区南京东路199号

Luxury Hotels (3000 RMB or higher per night)

Bvlgari Hotel
If you really want to splurge, Shanghai definitely has a few options to choose from including the relatively new Bvlgari Hotel, opened in 2018, which will set you back around 5000 RMB per night. It's slightly away from the main busy spots, around the Suzhou Creek area, but the Bund can be reached in about 10 minutes by walk. In warmed weather, you're going to want to check out the rooftop bar.

Be sure to use the Chinese address when traveling to this hotel because there's another road in Shanghai that is sometimes spelled exactly the same way in English although it is different in Chinese (陕西 vs 山西).

Address:
Lane 108 North Shanxi Road, Shanghai 200085 China
上海市静安区山西北路108弄

Peninsula Hotel
Opened in 2009 and located right on The Bund, The Peninsula is a great option for those who want to be close to The Bund. In the summer, you can enjoy a bite and some drinks at Sir Elly's Terrace while enjoying spectacular views of the Huangpu River, Suzhou Creek and the Pudong skyline. Prices are from around 3000 RMB per night.

Address:
No. 32 Zhong Shan Dong Yi Road, Shanghai 200002 China
黄浦区中山东一路