This hotel is perfect for students and it's truly special.
Check out this guide to staying at the Sheraton Shanghai Waigaoqiao Hotel for just over CNY 200 per person and enjoy a great experience!
💰Average cost per person
The standard room originally costs CNY 980+/night.
🏘️Room type/layout
As a Platinum member, the hotel usually upgrades guests to a suite. The river view suite is 100㎡, with a spacious and well-designed layout and a great view. Although I couldn't get an upgrade this time because the hotel was full due to an event, my previous experiences have been great. The welcome fruit is also very interesting. This time it was a "traffic light" combination, and last time they even gave a whole dragon fruit in the suite.
🛌Amenities/facilities
1. Swimming pool and leisure area: The infinity pool on the 6th floor is great, with a glass canopy that lets in light, making you feel like you are swimming into the clouds when you do backstrokes. There are few people in the changing room and sauna, and sometimes you can even have the whole place to yourself. The swimming pool is 1.2 - 1.5m deep and provides free swimming equipment. It is open until 10pm. The only inconvenience is that you have to walk a short distance outdoors to get to the swimming pool after putting on your swimsuit.
2. Sky Lounge: Platinum members and above can have dinner at the Sky Lounge on the 51st floor. Although there are not many dishes, it is enough to fill your stomach and you can enjoy the beautiful view from above.
3. Lobby bar: The lobby bar has a retro charm, with Chinese-style screens and crystal chandeliers. You can take photos in a cheongsam and get the feel of a classic Chinese film.
However, the hotel's facilities are a bit old. For example, the bathtub shower leaks, the sofa is quite old, and the decoration style is old-fashioned. But the good thing is that the furniture is well maintained.
🧹Soundproofing/hygiene
The rooms are clean, the items are neatly arranged, the bedding is clean and comfortable, and the bathroom has no peculiar smell. Although the facilities are old, the hygiene is still very good. The soundproofing is also good, ensuring a quiet resting environment.
💗Other tips
1. Dining:
- Happy Hour: Although you need to queue for 1 hour, it is best to book a time in advance. The dishes are rich and the lounge private rooms are quiet, making it very suitable for chatting and gatherings.
- Afternoon tea: Afternoon tea is quite standard, with white fungus soup, various bread combinations, egg tarts, etc.
- Lounge meals: The lounge used to be good, but now the quality has declined slightly, probably due to cost control. There are six hot dishes including staple foods, such as noodles, chicken nuggets, stuffed fried gluten, king oyster mushrooms, Orleans chicken, oyster sauce beef, and green vegetables.
- Breakfast: Breakfast has always been mediocre.
- Nearby food: The Song Gao in Gaoqiao Old Street nearby is delicious, and Zhengxing Restaurant is also worth a try.
2. Transportation and surroundings: The hotel is located at the terminal station of subway Line 10, a 10-minute walk away. It takes about 1 hour to get to Lujiazui and Nanjing Road, which is more suitable for friends who are not in a hurry and like to relax. The surrounding area is relatively quiet and there are few commercial facilities, with only one KFC. It is recommended to bring your own snacks, or take a taxi 2km to Gaoqiao Ancient Town for food.
3. Service: The front desk staff are very friendly and respond quickly. Whether you are checking in or asking questions, you can get enthusiastic and thoughtful service.
In general, the Sheraton Shanghai Waigaoqiao Hotel is affordable, offers generous suite upgrades, has a unique high-altitude view, and provides good service. It is very suitable for those who want to stay at hotels to accumulate points, business travelers, and couples who want to experience a high-altitude river view at a low cost. Although the facilities are a bit old and the surrounding businesses are lacking, the overall value for money is still very high.