Barony Wanyan Hotel Shanghai

The good thing about the Hoade Wanyuan hotel is its location on Pudong Avenue. If work brings you to this part of town, then are aren't too many properties that will cost you less than CNY 350, like this one. Having said that, there's not much else to write home about. The rooms are OK, but the upkeep of the hotel is not up to the mark. The staff don't speak English, which was challenge since I needed some help with getting a taxi late at night. The breakfast was complementary, but only local food was on offer.

Checked in late at night without a problem. Overall impression was that the place had not been well maintained for a long time. The room smelled like an ashtray. There was a cigarette butt on the carpet in the hallway. The room was a suite, but very small bedroom, very small bathroom. A lot of traffic noise through the night did not help. I was offered a different room the next day, but decided to move to a different hotel.

Stayed here on a business trip in July 2012. Check in was quick although no one on reception spoke any English. Fortunately a Chinese colleague had booked my room so after handing over my passport my details were quickly found. Was able to check in at 9am which was nice after an overnight flight from UK. Room was very large with super-king bed. Very firm bed but clean bedding and duvet rather than sheets & blankets. Carpet on floor had a lot of stains which was a bit off putting. Small bathroom, no bath, but shower was fine. Small fridge in room and strange seperate kitchen area which I didn't use but had gas hob, microwave & sink. Large old TV in room but didn't use, wired Internet access worked but was very slow. No WIFI. The 3rd floor should have gym, steam rooms, library, bar etc but all locked up and clearly not been open in months - very dissapointing. 2nd floor restaurant was OK. Had breakfast a couple of times but nothing to write home about - buffet style attempt at western fused with Chinese! Dinner was pleasant enough and reasonably priced by western standards, but not cheap by Chinese. Air conditioning in room was very noisy. Options are no sleep because of the noise or no sleep because of the heat. All in all not a bad experience but should have paid £30 a night more for better or £50 a night more for really quite nice hotel in much nicer area. I paid £52 per night for upgraded room (apparently!) I took English tea bags, coffee, sugar and porridge pots which were a God send. Bought milk from little shop opposite hotel.