Hebei Hotel

This guesthouse is located in an older residential area near Shanghai Railway Station, a bit off the beaten path. It seems to be an older establishment, so the facilities are quite basic, and the cleanliness is a bit lacking; there's a thick layer of dust on the window panes and frames. However, the bathroom has a water purification system, which is great as you can drink directly from it. For Shanghai, the price is quite affordable. It's also close to the railway, so you can hear some train noise.

As a hotel near the train station, I found the service to be very poor. Firstly, I didn't feel any service at all because I was traveling alone with my child and received no assistance whatsoever. Secondly, it was advertised as a double room, but there was only one chair. As you can see in the picture, only my child could sit on it, making dining and other activities very inconvenient. It was a very unpleasant stay.

This stay was a nightmare, to say the least! It was the first time I'd ever been blatantly humiliated and accused of trying to 'scrounge a meal'. Here's how it unfolded: During check-in, I asked the front desk staff where breakfast was served and at what time. They gave me the information. The next morning, I went to the restaurant at the hotel's specified breakfast time. I tried to use my room card to 'swipe' for breakfast, but saw no card reader, and there was no one else in the restaurant. So, I picked up some cutlery and started serving myself. I was only halfway done when an auntie in a uniform came running over and sharply asked, 'Do you have a breakfast voucher?' I truthfully replied, 'I don't have a breakfast voucher. My booking includes breakfast! I'm staying here for four days, and breakfast is included every day. The staff didn't give me a voucher yesterday when I checked in. I can show you my booking on my phone!' 'No voucher means no breakfast!' she loudly and firmly insisted. 'But I booked with breakfast! The staff didn't give me a voucher yesterday, and I thought I could just use my room card to enter.' 'Who doesn't have a room card!' the auntie retorted, visibly agitated. I had already shown her my booking on my phone, which clearly indicated breakfast was included. She was unyielding, firmly convinced I hadn't booked breakfast and couldn't eat. I then suggested, 'Let's go to the front desk and check the booking.' So, I was 'escorted' to the front desk like a prisoner for verification. At the front desk, an even more 'spectacular' scene unfolded. The dining hall auntie asked, 'Does he have breakfast?' The front desk staff, without even checking on the computer, simply said, 'No!' I immediately handed her my phone to show her the booking. She took my phone, checked it against her computer, and then said, 'He does have breakfast!' She also said she would immediately issue me a breakfast voucher. After that, they nonchalantly told me to go back to the restaurant and eat. Throughout the entire ordeal, they offered not a single word of apology, nor any gesture of remorse. My goodness! I was absolutely and openly humiliated by them! Firstly, during check-in, I clearly had breakfast included and asked about the breakfast location and time. It was their responsibility not to give me a breakfast voucher. Secondly, I clearly stated I had breakfast included and showed them my booking confirmation, yet the auntie remained relentless. Thirdly, when checking at the front desk, the staff didn't even verify my booking in the system; they just looked at me and outright lied, saying I hadn't booked breakfast. Fourthly, after confirming I did have breakfast, neither the dining hall auntie nor the front desk staff showed even a shred of apology. I was severely hurt! I have traveled to every province (municipality, autonomous region) in China, except for Taiwan Province, and I have never experienced such humiliating treatment. I was absolutely furious. I used to dismiss rumors about people looking down on outsiders, but after this incident, I believe that 'the eyes of the masses are discerning, and the internet does not deceive me!'

Traveling to Shanghai with my parents, we chose to stay near Shanghai Railway Station. This Hebei Hotel is an older, established hotel. We stayed in a triple family room, which was spacious. The location is convenient for getting around, with a large supermarket, breakfast shops, convenience stores, subway, and bus stops nearby. Taxis are also easy to catch.

Service: The lady at the front desk was very kind and welcoming. However, Google Maps was inaccurate, making it hard to find the location. I had to call and confirm, which led to a detour and wasted time.