Jia Shanghai

Our room was clean, the staff was friendly, the breakfast was good...this hotel is a good option for people coming to Shanghai to do visa stuff at the US consulate. Of interest to vegetarians, it's also within a few minutes walk of two great vegetarian restaurants (If Vegan and Vegetarian Lifestyle).

I had heard good things about this hotel from friends who had visited Shanghai a few years ago, and who recommended I stay here. Unfortunately I found it a bit of a let down, especially considering the nightly rate - which is on the higher end for a 4-star in Shanghai. I'll say to begin that the hard product is not too bad. The rooms are spacious and the beds very comfortable. The bathroom is clean and the housekeeping seem to be quite thorough. The decor is a bit cliche at this point and a point regarding 'form over function' can be made, however overall it is not bad. It's the amenities and staff that really let this place down. The staff are consistently unhelpful and behave as if they are at a local Chinese hotel (the type that costs $30/night) rather than a foreign-friendly 4 star hotel. They ignored my special request and then claimed the hotel is fully booked when I asked for a room transfer - clearly false as I never saw more than one other guest during my 3 day stay. The climate control system is largely non-functional (of course you're 'not allowed' AC during the winter but the heat blew way too hot even on the lowest temp. I had to open the window to keep things balanced). While the location is good, I would highly recommend considering another hotel while you're in Shanghai.

Great hotel-firstly the reception desk all spoke English which is not always the case. The rooms were fine and we slept well. Breakfast was standard but nicely set out. The really good thing is the location-it is pretty central-near Peoples Square and the Bund, in the middle of the shopping malls and it is by a metro station so its easy to get to and from.