Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund

I've stayed at Banyan Tree properties in other locations before, and each one has its own unique style. The spa at this Shanghai hotel is really good, and the transportation nearby is convenient. I would definitely choose to stay here again.

The river view is absolutely stunning, and the cleanliness is impeccable. The environment is lovely, and the service attitude is absolutely perfect. From the moment we checked in, they helped us with everything we needed. I'll definitely stay here again next time I'm in Shanghai.

From the moment we stepped into the hotel, we felt a sense of comfort. The bellhops, lobby greeters, and front desk staff were all excellent and friendly. They were very accommodating, especially with our children, and were quick to respond to any request we had. They even upgraded our room, and the kids absolutely loved the big bathtub. We'll definitely be back to stay again. The experience was truly fantastic!

Before my stay, Cynthia reached out to me with thoughtful communication, and Lily provided warm and helpful service via WeChat. The room had excellent natural light and offered a wide, open view of the river. It's also within walking distance of the riverside promenade, which was perfect for an after-dinner stroll.

I chose this hotel because it was recommended by Ctrip as the number one hotel for room views. I often stay at Banyan Tree hotels when I'm vacationing abroad. However, the Banyan Tree Shanghai was quite a disappointment. First, I'm not sure how it topped Ctrip's list. There are many hotels with better views at the same price point. The standard rooms here only offer a view of the river. If you're going for a deluxe room, there are definitely better hotels to choose from. I arrived at the hotel around 9 PM, and the ambient lighting was very dim, which gave a poor first impression. During check-in, it was the first time a five-star hotel tried to upsell me a room upgrade. It felt like I was at an all-season hotel being pushed to sign up for a membership card. I mentioned that it was my birthday the next day and asked if the hotel could provide some decorations. The response was that I'd need to inform the front desk again tomorrow for the decoration service. Why do I need to inform them twice? Most hotels offer concierge services nowadays, but Banyan Tree requires me to go to the front desk again the next day for decorations. This really shows a lack of service awareness. Ctrip automatically offers room upgrades, and since it was my birthday, I rarely encounter situations where an upgrade isn't given. When I asked why I couldn't be upgraded, they said there were no rooms available. However, I checked the room availability and saw there were. When I asked again, they replied it depends on the situation and couldn't be arranged at that moment. Upon reaching my room, I ordered takeout, only to find that it could only be delivered to the entrance. I then had to call the front desk to confirm my order before staff would bring it up, which was very inconvenient. After opening the window, the view was actually mediocre – half river view, half of the offices in the opposite securities building (clearly visible). It was a far cry from the advertised scenic views. I wanted to upgrade my room and asked a staff member to show me around. After the tour, I was told there were no rooms available. I went to the hotel pool and found it to be an underground children's pool, also selling ** fitness packages. The pool walls were old and moldy. I really wouldn't recommend it. On the positive side: The staff member who showed me the upgraded room, the restaurant staff, the bellboy, and the rooftop bar staff were all very pleasant and provided genuine service. The hotel breakfast was excellent, plentiful, and delicious, and served until 12 PM. Check-out time could be arranged flexibly. Ignoring the view with the window closed, the room space arrangement was very good. In summary: It's an older five-star hotel, half of which feels outdated and the upselling felt a bit 'low-rent.' The other half still maintains the standards of a high-end hotel. Overall, the value for money is low, and the comfort level is also low.

This hotel is located in North Bund, directly connected to the North Bund promenade, offering breathtaking views of Shanghai's dazzling Pudong skyline, including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the Three-Piece Suit (Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and Shanghai Tower) at night. Our room had three windows, providing stunning vistas of Pudong's 'Three-Piece Suit'! The room itself was spacious and elegantly designed. The hotel staff were professional and attentive, leaving us with an unforgettable impression! We would definitely consider staying here again on our next trip to Shanghai.

1) The cleanliness was subpar, mainly because of a strong sewer smell in the room. Although they did move me to another room, the follow-up service wasn't great. 2) The welcome drinks and snacks during check-in were a nice touch. 3) There was a disconnect between the room change and the subsequent service. Internal communication within the hotel seems to be an issue. 4) Even though I was upgraded to a larger room, it was in the worst possible location (the most remote corner of the main building) with a poor view. 5) The hotel's location is excellent, and breakfast until noon is a welcome feature, but the quality was just average. The scallion oil noodles were dry and clumpy.

Having stayed at most hotels near the Bund, I can confidently say that Banyan Tree offers excellent value for money. What truly stands out is the huge bathtub facing Pudong's 'three-piece suit' (referring to the iconic skyscrapers). You can watch the clouds drift by during the day and enjoy the endless parade of boats on the Huangpu River at night – it's absolutely stunning and so relaxing! My only minor complaint is that my room was on a slightly lower floor. 🤣