Where to Stay in Shanghai: Charms Hotel + Other Picks
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A couple of summers ago, I spent 4 nights in Shanghai, China before heading to Xi’an and Beijing.
Since this trip was a study abroad program and most of the costs were covered by my school’s Confucius Institute, I had no say in where I’d be staying. In fact, I didn’t even know if I’d be staying in hotels, hostels, university dorms, or other accommodations until I arrived in China!
Are you planning a trip and wondering where to stay in Shanghai? Keep reading for a review of my experience at Charms Hotel and for other picks of where to stay in Shanghai for every budget!
REVIEW: Charms Hotel
I spent my first four nights in China at the Charms Hotel in Shanghai.
My room was nice and clean and had two single beds, a TV, decently fast WiFi, and a spacious bathroom with a large shower and a lot of counter space. My room also included a small seating area that was absent in the rooms of my other group members.
The location of this hotel was fabulous: steps from Nanjing Road and minutes from a metro station, the Shanghai Museum and the Bund, and many of the other top things to do in Shanghai. The location was definitely the biggest pro of this hotel.
TIP: If you stay at Charms Hotel, make sure to go to the nearby cafe Ruby for some cream cake! It’s right across the street if you go out the back door.
For $8 a day, you could add on breakfast at the hotel buffet. I wasn’t a huge fan, but I’m also picky with what I can eat for breakfast. If I eat anything too heavy or too crazy, it can upset my stomach. This buffet included tons of Chinese breakfast staples as well as some Americanized ones such as hash browns. I mostly stuck with fruit and toast.
The downside of Charms Hotel?
There were a couple of issues with our room. First, every night around 2 am, we would lose electricity. We later found out it was a breaker tripping, which wouldn’t have been bad except we couldn’t reset it on our own, it had to be the hotel’s maintenance who had a special key for it. Second, our toilet CONSTANTLY ran. We had to keep the bathroom door closed in order to be able to sleep.
Would I stay here again? Maybe, but it wouldn’t be my first choice. The price was not bad at around $50 a night and the location was perfect, but I wouldn’t want to worry about losing electricity each night! None of the others in my group had this issue though, so it may have been specific to my room. Luckily my phone would be fully charged before it shut off for the night!
Click here to check rates or book a room at Charms Hotel.
Hostels in Shanghai
Hostels in Shanghai are a great way to keep costs down. They’re also a great way to meet fellow travelers if you’re traveling solo. Shanghai is full of amazing and affordable hostels for your next trip to the city.
The Phoenix Hostel Shanghai-LaoShan
The Phoenix Hostel in Shanghai is one of Shanghai’s highest-rated hostels. It’s also conveniently located in the heart of Shanghai and is walking distance from The Bund, the Old City, People’s Park, and the People’s Square Metro Station.
At the Phoenix Hostel, you have the option of staying in a dorm with bunk beds with a shared bathroom or a private room with a private bathroom. Wi-Fi is free, reviews rave about the cleanliness and the friendliness of the staff, and there’s an awesome rooftop patio! What more could you ask for in a hostel?
Dorms average around USD $13, which is an exceptional price for this location. Private rooms average around $40-$50. Click here to check rates or book your stay.
Blue Mountain Bund Youth Hostel
Wondering where to stay in Shanghai so that you’re in walking distance to the city’s best attractions? Look no further than the Blue Mountain Bund Youth Hostel.
This hostel is located just steps from the riverfront. After just a few minutes’ walk, you’ll have the perfect view of Shanghai’s iconic skyline. Wanna stay in for the night? With a great bar, billiards, and the outdoor terrace, you won’t be bored!
At the Blue Mountain Bund Youth Hostel, you can choose between staying in a dorm room or a private room. Dorms start around USD $15 a night, while privates start at around $50. Click here to book a dorm or private room at Blue Mountain Bund Youth Hostel.
RELATED POST: 10 Essentials for Your Hostel Packing List
Budget Hotels
When I travel, nice hotels that are budget-friendly are usually my go-to for accommodation. The Charms Hotel, which I reviewed above, would fall into this category.
Shanghai has a ton of budget hotels in great locations that could be mistaken for something upscale – they’re really that nice!
SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund
If you can’t already tell, the Bund is my favorite part of Shanghai. I’ve never seen such an amazing skyline!
When I return to Shanghai, I definitely want to check out the SSAW Boutique Hotel, conveniently located near the Bund. This hotel is very close to Charms Hotel, but it looks to be worlds better.
The SSAW Boutique Hotel offers modern rooms, a spa with a sauna, a rooftop terrace, and a coffee bar – all amenities you’d expect from a luxury hotel, but at half the price! Rooms here average about $75-$100 (depending on the time of year/room type), making the SSAW Boutique Hotel definitely within my budget! The price gets even better if you’re splitting the room with a friend.
Want to add breakfast? You can do it for $13 a day, and reviewers say that it’s worth it! Click here to book a stay at SSAW Boutique Hotel on the Bund.
Amara Signature Shanghai
The Amara Signature Shanghai is a fairly new hotel in Shanghai, and it’s budget-friendly!
This hotel is a little further away from the city’s main attractions, but it’s super close to a metro station so you can get where you want to go quickly.
At this hotel, you can get a deluxe room for just about $77 – and that includes breakfast! The rooms are beautiful and modern and include free wi-fi as well as free parking if you plan on driving while in Shanghai. There’s also a swimming pool and a fitness center if you want to get in some exercise! Click here to check rates or book a stay.
Looking for great things to do in Shanghai? Check out these tours:
Luxury Hotels in Shanghai
If you prefer the finer things in life, Shanghai has plenty of luxury hotels for you! A lot of these hotels are WAY cheaper than they’d be in other cities too, so Shanghai might be the perfect place to get a taste of the high life without breaking your budget.
Les Suites Orient Bund Shanghai
My pick for luxury in the heart of Shanghai? Les Suites Orient Bund Shanghai, an incredible 5-star hotel without the high price.
Reviewers describe this hotel as “luxurious and chic,” which sounds like it’s right up my alley! The best part? You can get rooms here for as low as $140 – this is the price I got while checking for a Friday night in April. It also includes breakfast!
If you’re looking for a luxury experience with a reasonable price tag, this is the Shanghai hotel for you. Click here to check rates or book a room.
Banyan Tree Shanghai on the Bund
Wanna splurge for a little more luxury? Check out Banyan Tree Shanghai, which is also located on the Bund (as I said, it’s my favorite part of Shanghai!).
This hotel offers the full luxury experience: beautifully-designed rooms, an indoor pool, a salon & spa, an on-site club, and so much more. There are also two onsite restaurants – one serving local dishes and another serving international meals. Rooms here start at just under $300 – book your stay here.
Airbnb in Shanghai
When I’m traveling with a group of friends, we tend to gravitate to Airbnb. We can usually find a great apartment with enough room for us all, and when you’re splitting the cost by several ways, it ends up being very budget-friendly!
There are a ton of amazing and affordable Airbnb listings in Shanghai. Whether you’re looking for a shared room, a private room, or an entire place, you’ll be able to find something for you! Click here to check out all of Shanghai’s Airbnb options.
New to Airbnb? Click here to get $40 off your first stay!
As you can see, Shanghai is full of great places to stay for every budget. Didn’t see anything you like? Explore the rest of Shanghai’s options on Booking.com!
Have you been to Shanghai?
Do you have any recommendations on great places to stay?
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