Sofitel Properties in Shanghai

Facilities: Perhaps due to its location, there were no children's toiletries or single duvets, only children's toothbrushes and toothpaste. Frankly, this is quite uncommon in today's five-star hotels. The windows were sealed, leading to poor ventilation, and as many reviews mentioned, the air conditioning was quite noisy. Environment: It's a bit far from the North Bund, about a 15-minute walk to the river. The area around it has the former internet-famous 1933. Hygiene: Acceptable. There were many foreigners, so I'll leave that to your own judgment. The exterior window glass was quite dirty, which really affected the view from the upper floors. Service: During check-in, the executive benefits were not proactively explained, nor was there any mention of a complimentary room upgrade for consecutive stays (even if it's fully booked and an upgrade isn't possible, they could at least explain). I only found out about the happy hour later when I asked. Overall, for this price point, you might consider high-end Huazhu or Atour 4.0; they might not be worse. The lead of ordinary foreign-brand five-star hotels is clearly diminishing.

The Sofitel Shanghai Hongqiao is in a great location, not far from Hongqiao High-Speed Railway Station and the airport. The hotel has a European style, is spacious and bright, and is very well-maintained. The staff at the front desk, in housekeeping, and at the restaurants are all very friendly. The lady at the front desk even upgraded my room when I checked in! There's a Hualian shopping mall nearby, which is convenient for dining and everyday necessities. The breakfast is standard five-star, a good mix of Western and Chinese options, and the quality is excellent. The hot dishes change slightly every day, and they taste great! The hotel has a shuttle service, just remember to book it in advance. I'd definitely come back again; it offers good value for money!