As the most populous city in China, Shanghai is the welcome host to not only large-scale events, such as the upcoming World Expo 2010, but the city is also a hotbed of tourism with people flocking from all over to see all that Shanghai offers. And, with all those people, Shanghai also happens to have some of the most luxurious hotels to house you in style and comfort. So whether you’re in Shanghai for business or leisure or a little worse for wear, you’ll want to try one of these top hotels.

Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai

Location: 500 Weihai Road

Neighborhood:Jing’an

Phone: +86 21 6256 8888

When you hear the words “Four Seasons” in reference to hotels you immediately equate it with luxury. The branch in Shanghai is no slouch when it comes to upholding only the highest standard of comfort, service, and accommodation for all your needs. As a true five start hotel you would expect nothing less than the best and the Four Seasons will exceed your expectations. With a professional and efficient staff that is eager to help you, you’ll find the concierge here will be extremely helpful in navigating the city. However, you don’t have to navigate too far as the location of this hotel is in the heart of downtown Shanghai close to the shopping and business locations and only three blocks away from People’s Square. However, you might not make it out to the city with the amenities offered at this hotel which include a must-try luxurious fitness center and pool complete with steam bath, sauna, and jacuzzi. Top it off with day beds, an individual min LDC TV, teas, and other snacks and it is the perfect place to be for some detox.

Park Hyatt Shanghai

Location: 100 Century Avenue

Neighborhood: Pudong

Phone: +86 21 6888 1234

When a hotel has you feeling like you’re on cloud nine you say so figuratively. At the Park Hyatt Shanghai, you’re literally that high, in fact you may even be above the clouds depending on your room. The hotel resides on the 79th to 93rd floors of the Shanghai World Financial Center making it the highest hotel in the world. But it isn’t just a lofty location that “elevates” this hotel to the upper echelon of luxury hotels in Shanghai, with a theme of exclusivity surrounding this elegant resort that reminds you this is no ordinary hotel. If you’re looking for space in the congestion of Shanghai, you’ll find the largest hotel rooms in the city at the Park Hyatt combining with equally spacious tall ceilings that would be sure to eliminate any feeling of claustrophobia. As impressive as the space of these rooms is the amenities. With an exquisite layout and furnishings, including walk-in dressing chambers and a magnificently comfortable bed, you’d probably be content to stop right there. However, you shouldn’t especially once you’ve experienced the bath chamber complete with an Oriental bathing area with a monsoon rain shower, a overflowing soaking tub, and marble sinks. In addition, the Park Hyatt provides excellent service and check-in is a breeze. However, your experience here might be so amazing that you may not want to check-out.

URBN Hotel

Location: 183 Jiao Zhou Lu

Neighborhood: Jing’an

Phone: +86 21 5153 4600

Centrally located in downtown Shanghai, the URBN Hotel is an exemplary example of a five-star eco-friendly hotel. Though it implements several green concepts and is environmentally conscious, the hotel also boasts some of the most innovative and fresh designs when it comes to decor. Whether you’re in Shanghai travelling for business or leisure it can get busy, but a stay at this hotel will  have you feeling relaxed and pampered. The URBN hotel itself is discreetly enclosed in a garden of white stones and bamboo and affords you a zen view from the window of your room. In terms of service, the hotel staff could not be more accommodating and in keeping with a boutique hotel fare, the staff is filled with fresh young faces who are also adept at multiple languages to erode any barriers.  When it comes to the rooms the ones at the URBN hotel are elegant and well designed complete with a lounge area and free internet. The tactile qualities of the decor are from reclaimed wood and stone materials to create a pleasing modern decor that makes this hotel the standard that other hotels should follow. Truly an intimate and relaxing hotel stay.

Peninsula Shanghai

Location: 32 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu

Neighborhood: The Bund

Phone: +86 21 2327 2888

Nestled in between the modern skyline of Pudong and the historic architecture of the Bund, the Peninsula in Shanghai is the pinnacle of glamour when it comes to hotels. Having recently opened in October of 2009, this fairly new hotel has already garnered rave reviews. It’s art-deco inspired decor is meant to invoke memories of Shanghai from the ’20s and ’30s and also remind travelers of why Shanghai was once known as the “Paris of the East.” With 235 rooms, this new building on the Bund takes opulence to another level. If ever a hotel were to surpass the five-star rating and merit an inclusion of a sixth star, The Peninsula would likely be the leading candidate. When it comes to luxury and service, the hotel is unrivaled. When it comes to the rooms, the views of the Bund, the Huangpu River, Pudong, and the gardens of the former British Consulate are stunning to say the least. Having just celebrated it’s opening gala in March 2010, the hotel is without a doubt the hottest spot to stay at and is not to be missed if you’re looking for a hotel that exemplifies the highest standard of classic luxury.

JIA

Location: 931 West Nanjing Road

Neighborhood: Jing’an

Phone: +86 21 6217 9000

If you’re looking for a hip, stylish, and unique boutique hotel then look no further than JIA Hotel in the Jing An district of Shanghai. What separates JIA from other hotels is it’s attention to detail right down to the convertible power plugs that do away with the need of having converters. If you’re all about location, location, location, then JIA is only a couple of minutes away from major shopping areas and food streets. The hotel is small and intimate, with a contemporary Asian influenced interior. With a name like JIA, or “home” in Chinese, the hotel runs on the theme of the hotel as your home. It certainly is decorated and stocked with amenities that  creates a more domestic space almost to the point where the rooms feel like apartments. There is a certain intimacy and exclusivity at the same time when you stay at one of the rooms at the JIA hotel. Another highlight is the excellent Italian restaurant Issimo on the second floor. So if you’re looking for a home away from home, this is your hotel.

Source: www.privy.net/shanghai

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