Sushi Light Luxury Hotel (Shanghai Bund Chenghuang Temple Branch)

Pros: The location is excellent, with bus and subway stations nearby, making it very convenient to visit attractions like the Bund and the pedestrian street. There are also plenty of restaurants right downstairs. The rooms are spacious, facilities are new, and the cleaning staff are friendly and provide great service. Cons: The hotel occupies just one floor of a building, so it doesn't have its own independent storefront, only a reception lobby on the fourth floor, which feels a bit humble. The staff also seem a bit disorganized. Furthermore, there are no bellhops or other reception staff (only the front desk), which gives it a somewhat distant feel – but then again, this is Shanghai, so it's understandable. Also, a heads-up for everyone: we booked a group deal package, which incurred an extra 50 RMB for weekend stays. Our room was an inner-facing one; we didn't quite understand this when booking but found out upon arrival that the window was blocked by a billboard. For those who care about ventilation and natural light, please consider this carefully.

My flight was delayed, so I booked a by-the-hour room last minute, and my stay was excellent. I've stayed at hotels in Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai, but even for a short stay, this one felt like the best.