Harbour Plaza Hotels in Shanghai

After staying for a few days, I had a strong sense of déjà vu, feeling like I was back at one of the Metropark hotels in Hong Kong, operated by the same group. This is a genuinely detailed review, meticulously summarizing the pros and cons, starting with the disadvantages. 1. **Price vs. Space (Pros & Cons Intertwined):** The biggest downside is also its greatest strength: the price. For a hotel advertised as 5-star on Trip.com, staying for only 300-400 RMB means you inevitably compromise on room size and the overall comfort of your stay. The room types are incredibly simplistic, essentially falling into just two categories and three types. It uncannily replicates the spirit of Hong Kong's private 'nano-flats' and subdivided 'coffin homes' style residential hotels. Many reviews briefly mention the small size, but let me elaborate: a room advertised as 22 square meters doesn't actually *feel* like 22 square meters. This is due to its embedded design, which significantly reduces the perceived space. Many elements suggest it was originally intended as a serviced studio apartment. For instance, a 22 sqm room manages to cram in a built-in double-door refrigerator, a 70-80cm thick floor-to-ceiling enclosed wardrobe, and a 30-40cm thick floor-standing storage cabinet. This latter piece alone eats up nearly half of the shower room's space, making the square shower very tiny. It also features a countertop that appears designed for an open-plan kitchenette (complete with a built-in range hood; though the stovetop has been removed, the sink remains), and built-in double-door upper and lower cabinets. Being able to get out of the 1.5-meter bed from three sides is already a rare luxury. It's truly a perfect, if emotionally challenging, recreation of the Hong Kong 'nano-flat' experience – 'small but perfectly formed,' as the saying goes. Furthermore, the glass-top sofa table cheapens the feel and isn't practical for laptop use. I overheard other guests in the elevator joking about it being a 3-star experience, which isn't entirely fair. After all, by 5-star room standards, aside from a bathtub (which simply wouldn't fit) and the absence of a rain shower, it does provide an iron and ironing board, a private safe, a fridge-freezer, and a decent-sized bay window sofa table. A hotel swimming pool is also available. Considering the spaciousness of the lobby and its exterior decor, it barely warrants a 4-star rating. So, this first point truly embodies both a disadvantage and an advantage. 2. **Noise Issues:** The soundproofing is generally poor, and the noise isn't from outside the window, but from within the building. Since the shared corridors are quite close to the room doors, the sound transmission is, let's say, noticeable. I also suggest avoiding room numbers ending in '33' (e.g., 303, 313, 323...). I only discovered from the fire escape plan that the wall at the head of the bed is directly adjacent to two elevator shafts. What I initially thought was a constant humming sound, like a subway train, turned out to be echoes from the hotel's high-speed passenger elevators moving up and down the shafts. This didn't necessarily affect my sleep, as it varies for individuals. However, the recurring sound of water rushing through the pipes near the kitchenette area, both from units above and below, was indeed constant. In such a confined room, these two echoing noise sources definitely indicate a need for better noise control. Now, onto the advantages: 3. **Transportation and Location:** This hotel is part of a mixed-use development project seamlessly connected to the subway station, combining a hotel, office building, shopping mall, and parking facility. The underground mall, which seems to have opened recently, still has many vacant units. A helpful tip: at Zhenru Subway Station Exit 1, instead of going straight up, look for a mall entrance to the left of the underground elevator. From the mall's central atrium, you can walk directly underground to the hotel's main entrance. The ground-level exit is also just 10 meters opposite the hotel's main door, making its location incredibly convenient. 4. **Nearby Amenities:** The hotel is just across the road from Zhenru Global Harbor, a large shopping mall that offers extensive dining and entertainment options. Additionally, within a 30-second walk (about 20 meters) from the hotel's main entrance, you'll find a 24-hour convenience store and takeout lockers, among other services. 5. **Ideal Guests:** This hotel is particularly well-suited for regular office workers and pragmatic business travelers, as well as tourists who aren't overly particular about luxury experiences. It's also a good fit for budget-conscious families, given the availability of a swimming pool, or simply for overnight guests whose priority is a convenient location and easy access to transportation.