Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan

We stayed in the Deluxe Double Suite, and overall it was quite good. My only minor quibbles were that the nightstands were a bit too small – putting two water bottles and some medicine felt a little cramped. Also, with two queen-sized beds, the bedroom felt a bit small. For a staycation, the semi-buffet breakfast being served until 3 PM was definitely a huge plus.

Staying at the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan for a short break after the New Year, I truly experienced the quality of a top-tier luxury hotel. The spatial design is grand and elegant, and the dining and wellness facilities are comprehensive. The service from Ever was professional and genuinely warm. Its tranquil location, yet close to the bustling city, combined with the meticulous and thoughtful care, allowed me to unwind and feel completely refreshed and ready for the new year.

Overall, this hotel has many drawbacks and few highlights, completely failing to live up to the Waldorf Astoria name and reputation! **Complaint 1: Terrible Service.** This is the biggest issue, and it's consistently bad across all staff roles. The front desk staff are stiff, unprofessional, and their expressions and tone are cold – perhaps they're overworked. The lobby itself is quite hidden, making it difficult to find when driving in, and the security guards on the street don't offer any guidance. The greeters at the restaurant entrance in the morning were also very aloof and perfunctory. Even the housekeeping staff encountered in the hallway looked bewildered and didn't greet us at all. Across the board, service was unprofessional, uncommitted, and cold, with some staff even being arrogant. This seems to be a systemic issue. **Complaint 2: Flawed Lobby Entrance Design.** For first-time visitors, especially those arriving by car or ride-sharing service, the navigation only points to the adjacent road because the actual entrance is impossible to find due to lack of signage. Even if you manage to drive in, it's a dead end with no turnaround, making it a nightmare to coordinate with your driver when leaving. It's a hassle for everyone. **Complaint 3: Breakfast Issues.** Although breakfast is served until two or three in the afternoon, this actually leads to a concentrated rush of guests around midday, resulting in long waits. The crowd management is unprofessional and slow, food service is slow, and the food quality is only so-so. It's not all bad, though. The main highlight, and one of the few, is that the hardware (facilities) are decent. Overall, you're the Waldorf Astoria – a top-tier brand! Your expectations and standards should naturally be different. If this were an entry-level five-star hotel, I could overlook all these complaints because I wouldn't have high expectations or standards for it. I hope you take this feedback to heart and strive for improvement!

Ringing in the Year of the Horse at the Waldorf Astoria Qiantan was an excellent choice! First off, a huge shout-out to our dedicated concierge, Caroline, who elevated service to an art form. She was incredibly perceptive, quickly understanding our preferences and habits and adjusting accordingly. The front desk and concierge staff were also exceptionally polite and attentive, always anticipating our needs and ready to assist at a moment's notice. The guest rooms were spotless and comfortable, with attention to every detail – even the bathroom towel rack was heated, which was a nice touch. We were upgraded to a river view room, and the scenery, both day and night, was absolutely stunning. Each floor at the Waldorf also boasts the most beautiful elevator lobbies; it was a treat to sit there for a bit after coming back from an outing.

The hotel's exterior is uniquely designed like a cruise ship ready to set sail. The public areas are also very distinctive. The rooms are quite nice, spacious, and decorated in a vintage style that feels grand. The room views are fantastic, directly facing the West Bund Dream Center, offering different scenic experiences during the day and night. There was still a slight renovation smell in the room. I'd like to specially commend Caroline, the hotel's exclusive concierge, for her warm, thoughtful, and professional service. She promptly attended to guest needs, truly reflecting the hotel's service standards. The breakfast value for money could be improved, and the hotel should further consider and develop its dining specialties.

The hotel's location is quite remote, and there isn't a single bright, open space inside; the winding layout is just confusing. **Amenities:** The central air conditioning in the room couldn't be adjusted, and the TV couldn't screen mirror. Someone came to fix it, but it stopped working again after they left. The remote control couldn't adjust the volume, and I didn't want to bother with it anymore, so I just took it as a listening exercise. Even the Cokes in the minibar were chargeable and ridiculously overpriced. **Environment:** The first picture is of the Deluxe River View Twin Room I booked, which they said was an upgrade. As a hotel enthusiast, I know what quality to expect for a certain price point, and this experience definitely did not meet my expectations. **What's good:** The bright and spacious bathroom with its wet/dry separation was the highlight of the entire room, and the walk-in closet was also spacious and well-equipped. However, the toiletries were in large dispensers, which, for someone with a germaphobic tendency like me, I would never use. The breakfast was good, and the hotel's service was also commendable.