‘My Favourite Hotel’ review – The Peninsula, Shanghai

Today, our ‘My Favourite Hotel’ review is The Peninsula hotel in Shanghai.

We are currently running this reader-written feature to provide some positivity and inspiration to Head for Points.  You can find all of the ‘My Favourite Hotel’ reviews so far by clicking here.  This was scheduled to be a series of about 25 hotels, but a good response from readers means that we have commissioned another batch and are continuing the series.

Today’s hotel is The Peninsula Shanghai.  It is reader Robin’s favourite hotel.  Here is his review:

Introduction

What better way to start a mini-tour of China (Shanghai > Beijing > Xi’an) and Hong Kong back in October 2018, than to stay at the glamorous and art deco-inspired The Peninsula Shanghai hotel?

Booking

As a regular reader of Head for Points, I found out about the annual Business Traveller charity Christmas auction and bid on a two night stay at The Peninsula Shanghai in a Deluxe Room with daily breakfast for two.  My winning bid came to £234 per night, while cash rates for the same room with breakfast at the time were double that.

Where is The Peninsula Shanghai?

Opened in 2009, the hotel is located at the end of the historic Bund (Shanghai’s iconic riverfront promenade) with views of the Bund, Huangpu River, Pudong and the former British Consulate gardens. The front of the hotel and bar faces the famous Oriental Pearl TV Tower and other tall skyscrapers. The Bund is extremely ‘Instagrammable’ and you will see many wedding photo shoots day and night.

(ROB’S EDIT: don’t underestimate the value of being able to walk from The Peninsula down the Bund.  Many Shanghai hotels, such as the Park Hyatt where I stayed on my last trip, are in the main business district on the other side of the river where there is far less going on around you.)

An added bonus was the Shanghai ‘City Sightseeing’ bus had a stop outside the hotel.  I recommend bus tours in any country you are going to visit; you get to see the majority of the city in a short time frame. Don’t get off at every stop though, have a plan to maximise your time.  The nearest metro station is a 10 minute walk.

The hotel does provide Peninsula’s signature Green Rolls Royce airport pick up/drop off service at additional cost (other vehicles are also available). A regular Sedan taxi from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to the hotel cost approx. £20 (170 RMB). From the hotel to Shanghai Hongqiao railway train station (for onward journey to Beijing) cost £12 (100 RMB).

Rooms at The Peninsula Shanghai

The Peninsula boasts 235 ‘rooms’ including 44 suites. We were staying in a deluxe room.

After checking in we were escorted to the room and the professional staff member proceeded with a tour of the room.

The Deluxe room (54-59 square metres) comprised of a (as per the hotel website description):

• Luxurious, comfortable, neutral and quiet bedroom with high quality bedding, a two seater sofa, coffee table, desk with a range of stationery, TV, mini-bar, Nespresso coffee machine and tea-making facilities, internet access with VOIP calls, multi-function bedside electronic control panel, bedside sockets inclusive of USB ports, fax/scanner/printer and daily fruit basket

• Spacious dressing/cupboard/luggage room area (wooden vanities) with safe

• Marble bathroom with separate shower cubicle, two sinks, small encased TV and Oscar de la Renta amenities

As well as daily housekeeping, there was an evening turndown service.

I was impressed with this opulent room that I would class it as a suite itself – I can only imagine how amazing the ‘real’ suites would be… and how amazing the associated price!

Breakfast

Breakfast was served between 6am and 11am in the elegant and cordial setting of The Lobby. The hotel was reasonably busy, but this was not noticeable because the tables were well spaced out.

There was a well presented breakfast buffet in the middle of the room, and additionally an extensive a la carte menu to order from. The breakfast and service was to a very high quality.

Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner were also served in The Lobby. In addition the hotel also boasts two further restaurants.

Bar

Sir Elly’s rooftop bar and terrace is not to be missed especially in the evening to view the neon lit skyline – phenomenal! It provides a 270 degree experience with magnificent panoramas of the Huangpu River, Suzhou Creek and Pudong skyline.

Wellness

The hotel had a small sized well equipped gym with on-site personal trainers. The gym equipment was from Life Fitness and the treadmills had built in TVs.

Enclosed in a beautifully presented indoor atrium was a heated swimming pool (25m x 7.5m x1.35m), complete with steam room, sauna and outdoor terrace.

There was a separate spa that offered a variety of massages and treatments.

Other points to note

• The service was at a superior level. You can tell the courteous legion of staff throughout the hotel have been highly trained.
• The air quality in and around the Bund was noticeably poor due to smog, but I didn’t face any breathing difficulties
• The entrance to the hotel from the Bund has a mini shopping arcade full of luxury brands
• The hotel has fully accessible rooms for wheelchair users
• Children are welcome

Conclusion

The Peninsula Shanghai is an ultra-luxurious hotel, boasting many facilities with impeccable service levels and arguably the best view in Shanghai.  I highly recommend it.

If you want to find out more, the hotel’s website is here.

How to book

You can get extra bonuses when booking The Peninsula Shanghai if you book via Emyr Thomas at Bon Vivant, HFP’s luxury hotel booking partner.

Bookings made via Emyr come with:

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