Shanghai Tour of 5-Star Hotels

Description:

One of the first international hotel chains to reach Shanghai, the Hilton has established itself in the hustle and bustle of the city's business district. Leisure travelers have easy access to several antique shops and restaurants, with the modern shopping areas of Huai Hai and Nan Jing Roads only a short walk away. With the chain's reputation for service and quality, and its prime location, this hotel is constantly busy.

Description:

Despite some heavy competition, this is still a favorite for many business travelers and world leaders (George W. Bush stayed here during the APEC Conference in 2001). Offering all the luxury and service associated with the Ritz-Carlton brand, the Portman exudes every elegance, from the two-story lobby, with its fiber-optic lighting, laminated stacked-glass sculptures, Indonesian ebony columns, and marble and limestone walls, to rooms that are plush and well fitted with LCD televisions with DVD players, thick duvets, three phones, and all the amenities you could want. Service is as you'd expect -- professional and excellent. The adjacent Shanghai Centre provides one-stop shopping with airline offices, a medical clinic, a supermarket, automatic teller machines, a performing arts theater, upscale boutiques, and a little-known cafe called Starbucks.

Facilities: 4 restaurants; 2 lounges; indoor/outdoor 20m (66-ft.) swimming pool; indoor tennis court; 2 indoor squash courts; indoor racquetball court; 3-story health club and spa; Jacuzzi; sauna; concierge; 24-hr. business center; shopping arcade; grocery; salon; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; same-day dry cleaning/laundry; nonsmoking rooms;...

Our Local Expert Says:

One of Shanghai's marquee hotels. Worth the money

Description:

Stay in luxury at the JW Marriott at Tomorrow Square. This 60 storey wonder is spread over 20,000 square meters of space. In sync with all Marriott properties this hotel too offers maximum comfort to its business and leisure travelers. The 342 rooms offer magnificent views of the city and are equipped with a wide range of facilities. From high speed internet access to hydraulic massage showers, they have it all. Guests can dine at any of the hotel's restaurants on site and burn it off at the pool or fitness club. As they offer babysitting facilities, parents can have a relaxed day out touring the nearby sights.

Description:

With the addition of a sleek new tower annex boasting a slew of trendy designer restaurants, the Himalayan-themed Chi spa, and a second health club and pool, not only is the Shangri-La currently the biggest and boldest hotel in town, it has the best location in Pudong, with unbeatable views of the Bund across the river. All guest rooms in the 36-story Grand Tower are spacious and superbly appointed with more amenities than you know what to do with, including DVD players, fax machines, 32-inch LCD TVs, and safes equipped to recharge your laptop computer. The original River Wing rooms will all be renovated by the end of 2008, at which point the Bund-view rooms here will likely be the most in demand. To top it all off, staff is delightfully friendly and the service is of a high international caliber.

Facilities: 6 restaurants; deli; 2 lounges; 2 bars; 2 indoor lap pools; tennis court; 2 health clubs w/Jacuzzi and sauna; Chi spa; concierge; tour desk; large business center; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; same-day laundry service/dry cleaning; executive-level rooms

Description:

Supposedly the highest hotel in the world, the Grand Hyatt Shanghai occupies the top 33 floors of the 87-floor Jin Mao Building. The dramatic height creates a wonderful panorama of the neighboring Pu Xi District and Huang Pu River. The chic and modern atmosphere, the floor-to-ceiling windows in the guest bedrooms, the Hyatt's five-star attention to detail and fine dining options all make this hotel one of the best Shanghai has to offer.