Introduction to Shanghai
Chicago O’Hare American Airlines Flagship Lounge
American Airlines ORD-PVG 777-200 Business Class
Le Royal Meridien Shanghai Hotel Review
The Westin Bund Center Shanghai Hotel Review Part 1
The Westin Bund Center Shanghai Hotel Review Part 2
The Hongta Hotel Shanghai Review
Twelve at Hengshan Shanghai Hotel Review
Four Points by Sheraton Shanghai Pudong Hotel Review
My Experience on the Shanghai Maglev Train
The Sights and Sounds of Nanjing Road and the Shanghai Bund
The Sights and Sounds of the Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai
The Sights and Sounds of the French Concession in Shanghai
The Sights and Sounds of Pudong Shanghai
The Sights and Sounds of Qipu Lu (Cheap Road) in Shanghai
Scam City: Shanghai Edition
The Various Restaurant Eats in Shanghai
The Various Street Foods in Shanghai Part 1
The Various Street Foods in Shanghai Part 2
The Various Street Foods in Shanghai Part 3
Shanghai Pudong Airport First Class Lounge
Shanghai Pudong Airport Dragonair and Cathay Pacific Lounge
American Airlines PVG-ORD 777-200 Business Class
I booked the Le Royal Meridien Shanghai on a corporate rate which was 626 CNY ~ $100 USD. Since I booked the hotel on spg.com, it is points earning eligible even though I booked a low corporate rate.
I took the Maglev train from Pudong Airport to Longyang Road station for 40 CNY ~ $6.45 USD one way. The Maglev train is super-fast and it only took 7 minutes! From Longyang Road Maglev station, I rode down the escalator and followed the signs to the nearby Longyang Road metro station. I bought a metro pass for 3 CNY ~ $0.48 USD and used it on Line 2 to People’s Square. From People’s Square metro station, the hotel is literally in front of you once you walk out. All you need to do is cross the street and enter the hotel on the corner of Jiujiang Rd and Xizang Middle Rd.
It is a two-step process to get to the front desk reception area. In the main lobby, you must take a set of elevators up to the 11th floor (Main Lobby) and then walk out to the reception area.
I used a Suite Night Award on the Le Royal Meridien Hotel a week prior to checking in and was confirmed in a Junior Suite. I asked the front desk agent if there were better suite upgrades available and unfortunately she said it was sold out. I chose the 500 Starpoints Platinum welcome amenity and she advised me there was a lounge available for evening appetizers and breakfast. I asked for a 4pm late checkout and it was granted.
The junior suite was quite large. I don’t mind junior suites since I mainly travel alone and it’s just an extra wall or door that’s in the way. The living room was nicely appointed and decorated.
The executive desk had a smartphone attached in its own holster just in case you need to rent a mobile phone for the duration of your stay. That was the first time I have ever seen a hotel owned smartphone in the room.
The minibar area contained a coffee maker, tea, and an electric hot water machine.
The junior suite is divided in the center by a lone swivel TV. The junior suite is so large that a wall partition can be installed in the center so it could be converted a one bedroom suite.
The bedroom area contained a King size bed with a small plush chair.
There are two entrances to the bathroom which is located nearby the door entryway and in the middle of the Junior Suite. The bathroom was decorated nicely in marble with Cinq Mondes amenities and the bathtub even contained a rubber ducky.
I decided to partake in the evening appetizers at the Club Lounge. The Le Royal Lounge looked like a huge grand fine dining restaurant and decorated nicely with art and books. Pardon the bad lighting in the pictures, but it was pretty dim in the buffet spread area and I didn’t want to use flash.
There was a huge selection of food which consisted of sushi, cold meats, bread, fruits, cheeses, Peking duck crepes, samosas, and calamari.
I selected a little bit of each and especially loved the sushi and Peking duck crepes.
If you aren’t in a mood for Chinese food in Shanghai, I would highly recommend making a meal out of the large international selection in the Club Lounge. I had breakfast in the same Club Lounge and surprisingly with the same staff as the previous evening. Breakfast consisted of Chinese fried dough sticks, fruits, breads, pastries, salad, multi-grain congee, dim sum, tomatoes with cheese, fried rice, and baked beans.
I had a little bit of everything and it tasted great. The congee was bland, but that was my fault for not adding in extra ingredients.
When I finished taking pictures of the Club Lounge and food, the attendant advised me that pictures were not allowed. That was great timing because I had just finished taking all the pictures I needed. The strange thing is that I didn’t get bothered by the staff about taking pictures the previous day.
The service was top notch during check-in and at the Club Lounge. I highly recommend this hotel if you want to be in the city center of Shanghai and they really take care of Platinums. I took advantage of the late checkout and headed to the next hotel since I was hotel hopping SPG properties. I will leave you with this spectacular view of Shanghai from the Royal Club Junior Suite.
