3 Day Shanghai Stay - Sky Fortune Boutique Hotel

[John U]

We are complete strangers to China and have a 3 night stay in Shanghai after our Majestic Princess Cruise in March.

We are booked into the Sky Fortune Boutique Hotel as part of our package, but it looks a bit remote from the main Shanghai sights.

Has anyone got any knowledge of this hotel from a tourist point of view please?

Cheers

John & Jennifer

 

 

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[Keith1010]

John and Jennifer, I have not stayed at this hotel but if you have not done so already you might also want to look at the reviews for the hotel on trip advisor at:

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com

 

Keith

[John U]

John and Jennifer, I have not stayed at this hotel but if you have not done so already you might also want to look at the reviews for the hotel on trip advisor at:

 

www.tripadvisor.com

 

Keith

Thanks Keith, we’ve already done that, the hotel seems reasonable enough, but most of the reviews are from businessmen and consequently business rather than tourist related.

[Keith1010]

John U....That makes sense. Hopefully you will get some responses here.

 

Keith

[brunello22]

While the hotel looks lovely, I wonder why Princess chose a location so far away from the main sightseeing area. Looking at the map, I did not see a metro station that close to the hotel either, which would take you into the center of everything.

 

Are you able to cancel the hotel portion of the package or is that not an option?

[Ashland]

Sorry they have put you so far from the city center. If you can change this we've stayed 3 times at the Grand Central Hotel...amazing hotel and location just off Nanjing Road and a quick easy walk to the Bund and an easy close Metro station. Our favorite hotel will be going back again in October.

[ROCruiser]

It does look a little far away from most tourist sights, except Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. Are you flying out from there? Most International flights fly out from Pudong Airport. I would change the hotels if at all possible and try to stay near Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street area or at least a hotel closer to one of the metro stations. It wouldn't matter much if you are with a tour group with transportation but if you are on your own that could be make a difference.

[mking8288]

As part of an escorted land-based tour in 2010, we flew into PVG and stayed overnight at a Howard Johnson Hotel by the Hongqiao Railway Station - considered 5 stars with a 4 stars rating on TripAdvisor, rather surprisingly nice rooms, etc. - being driven, still almost an hour from PVG airport with traffic. SFBH is similarly rated and a bit closer to downtown, but still - from a tourist standpoint - and without a rental car (LOL) - in the middle of nowhere, so free parking is useless.

 

Our HJ has hourly free shuttle to the Rail & nearby Metro Station (that's within walking distance) - and, of course, one can call for a taxi to get around. SFBH, checking their website list of offers - has no transfer or shuttle services, none complimentary or for a fee. Not going to be fun to try to get around on your own to sightsee, unless you plan to get a tour package from Princess, or , make your own independent arrangement. Flying home or what not - between hotel & airport for international departure is going to cost time and $$$ as well, there's a Hongqiao Airport nearby, but it's domestic flights only - fine if you are going to Beijing next.

 

There are hundreds of hotels all over greater Shanghai region, population of 20 million residents++ give or take a few (ROC... I am sure you know the details far better) - I would strongly urge & recommend booking something close to the Bund & by the river, even if it's on the "other" side, where it is much, much easier to get around on foot, bus, Metro & short distance by taxi, etc.

 

I will see if I can Baido more info about this area, it is rather developed & busy, just for a good "staging" area for tourists on a short stay, trying to maximize their sightseeing dollars & time. In-house at this hotel, dining options sounded good but it is really limited - not sure what's out the front door and around the corner. HoJo we stayed at included at least, for the morning - a full AYCE breakfast of East/West selections, before we checked out (bellhops came upstairs to transfer our luggage) & boarded our luxury motorcoach to nearby Hongzhou.

 

Is this a packaged deal and bundled with tour guides & ground transfers, etc. ?? If not, tell Princess to book you closer - even if there's an upcharge - just for convenience.

[John U]

I thought I had replied to this thread, but it doesn’t seem to have been posted so i’ll try again!

 

A big thank you to all who have replied, your thoughts mirror our own and have prompted a request to our TA for a change of hotel

 

Princess is not to blame on this occasion, our TA put the package together and has confirmed that a change of hotel will be possible and has provided a list of more central hotels within the original package budget. Sadly that doesn’t include the Grand Central Hotel as the only available rooms for our dates are premium grade and very expensive. The Baron Business Bund looks promising and within budget, but an unspecified number of their standard rooms are without a window which would be unacceptable to us. The Radisson Blu New World is available to us for a small additional premium so we will probably opt for that.

Best wishes

John & Jennifer

[ROCruiser]

The Radisson Blu New World would be a good choice. At least you will be much closer to the pedestrian street.

[awestover89]

Radisson Blu is nice. We stayed at Les Suites Orient Bund last time we were in Shanghai and it was amazing as well.

[budbo]

Radisson Blu is a much better location! Twice we've stayed at the Shanghai Marriott City Centre, which is right around the corner from the Radisson. Staying in that area allows you to get around so easily....either on foot or by subway. Peoples Square is right there and is a hub for different subway lines. There is a HOHO bus stop at Peoples Square too.

[John U]

Radisson Blu is a much better location! Twice we've stayed at the Shanghai Marriott City Centre, which is right around the corner from the Radisson. Staying in that area allows you to get around so easily....either on foot or by subway. Peoples Square is right there and is a hub for different subway lines. There is a HOHO bus stop at Peoples Square too.

 

 

 

Thank you - we’ve now gone firm and changed our booking to the Radisson Blu - really looking forward to our trip now [emoji106]

Cheers

John & Jennifer

 

 

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[astrocat]

do the hotels in Shanghai book out early? I just tried Grand Central online for early Feb next year and it said unavailable? I hope I was looking at the official website ...

[mking8288]

Early Feb. 2019 ... hmmm, well - Feb. 9 (Thursday) is the Lunar Chinese New Year's Day - a week-long + national holidays. Getting around - transportation is going to be challenging but for upscale hotel stays, not sure if it's affecting availability (IMHO, unlikely but I shall stand corrected) ... where a sizable segment of the country's working population take part in this annual migratory movement, jamming up airports, trains, buses & hitting the roads, ferries, etc.

[astrocat]

Early Feb. 2019 ... hmmm, well - Feb. 9 (Thursday) is the Lunar Chinese New Year's Day - a week-long + national holidays. Getting around - transportation is going to be challenging but for upscale hotel stays, not sure if it's affecting availability (IMHO, unlikely but I shall stand corrected) ... where a sizable segment of the country's working population take part in this annual migratory movement, jamming up airports, trains, buses & hitting the roads, ferries, etc.

 

Is 1 - 3 Feb. Will give it a go tonight, I was only looking on my phone the other day :-)

[astrocat]

Grand Central consistently showing as full, booked Radisson Blu New World - thanks for advice!