The last time I was in Shanghai was 2014, and my recollections of the city were already quite vague—though I did remember well that Nanjing East Road and People’s Square were among the city’s hubs of action and shopping. Checking the options around those adjacent areas, I found the luxurious-looking Le Royal Meridien Shanghai, and being a fan of the Le Meridien brand, I was thrilled to be staying there.
Le Royal Meridien Shanghai sits squarely between Nanjing East Pedestrian Street and People’s Square, and it’s a short walk from the Line 2 subway stations of these landmarks. Being near Line 2 of the subway means easy accessibility to both airports of Pudong (where all flights to and from Manila and Cebu operate) and Hongqiao, since these airports have subway stations on the same line.
The Le Royal Meridien Shanghai is based on “a Paris-born global hotel brand targeting the creative and curious-minded traveler who is eager to experience something new in every destination and discover things with a new perspective.” If I’m not mistaken, the ‘Royal’ in its name sets it above its Le Meridien sisters worldwide, making it more luxurious than the upper upscale hotel category.
Sharing the Shimao International Plaza with offices on the lower floors, the hotel soars as high as 66 stories up. Upon arriving, I was escorted to its sky lobby, and I was instantly enthralled by the view.
After being handed my keys, I proceeded to my Bund View Room on the 38th floor. As indicated in the name, the room had a unobstructed view of the Bund, which was equally spectacular during the day and night.
The room sported a classic and refined design that was befitting for its Shanghai location. As expected of a five-star hotel, it had the best amenities, starting from the supremely comfortable bed fitted with high-quality linens and cozy pillows. For business travelers, I saw an audiovisual panel to complement the huge LED TV and the high-speed internet. The bathroom set in marble, on the other hand, had a tub and my favorite hotel toiletries by Malin+Goetz, which Le Meridien, as a brand, started rolling out from early 2017 (watch the video here).
I took my breakfasts at Le Bistrot, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant. The selection was overwhelming—there were so many Chinese, Asian, and Western dishes to choose from—so I enjoyed my mornings there.
Since my itinerary in Shanghai was light, I had the chance to check out the hotel’s facilities like its sizeable fitness center and its indoor swimming pool.
WHY STAY THERE?
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Its location is unbeatable—Nanjing East Road, People’s Square, and the Bund are just nearby.
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Its rooms exude luxury and feature great views to boot.
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Nightly rates aren’t actually that expensive, especially when compared to luxury hotels in Manila.
LE ROYAL MERIDIEN SHANGHAI
Nanjing Road East, Huangpu, Shanghai, China
Telephone: +86 21 3318 9999
Email: reservations.shanghai@lemeridien.com
Website: www.leroyalmeridienshanghai.com
