Shanghai Travel Forum

We are a group of 12 who plans to visit Shanghai and Beijing for a period of one week. (3 days Shanghai, 3 days Beijing, plus 1 day allotted for train travel from Shanghai to Beijing). We are on a budget since only 2 people will shoulder for the expenses and our group have 8 children ages 5 to 15 but these kids have already experienced staying in hostels or backpakers place in different countries that also include the 5 year old kid. We are looking for a clean hotel, hostel or backpackers place. Airconditioned room and elevated toilet is a must (not those kind of toilet that is flat on the floor since the children are not used to this kind and they refuse to use it). Our budget is about US$40/room that is near bargain shopping markets, near to MRT and attraction places, in short, City center. We have experienced travelling to China but not Shanghai and Beijing and the US$40/rm per night in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhuhai, Zhongshan,Xiamen, are already good hotels.

Thanks,
May

There are lots of budget hotels located in downtown area in Beijing and Shanghai. Usually a standard room costs abt $20/night, it's clean and safe. The most renowned ones are Jinjiang Inn, Home Inn, Super8, Motel168. They do have branches located in the center of the city, quite convenient.

Check out their web sites:

http://www.jinjianginns.com/en/?Language=Res_English

http://english.homeinns.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=203641&p=irol-homeProfile

http://www.motel168.com/english/index.htm

www.super8.com

Thank you so much for your fast response.

I will take into consideration your suggestions except for the motels. I don't want to book in motels since we have children. Backpackers place for me is a decent place than motels. That is only my opinion. I know that there are 3 star hotels in Shanghai that will only cost about US$40/rm. I just don't know the names and if it is the proper location.

Again, many thanks for your help.

Jinjiang Inn seems a nice place based on the photos that I have seen. Their rate is 289 for twin and 359 RMB for Suite. This is the Shanghai Bund. Sounds good to me. Is this a good location?

I would suggest Shangfu Holiday Hotel, on Nanjing Lu. Otherwise Etour IYH and Hiker IYH. All are well-located.
Please choose somewhere that's close to a metro stop, or else you'll all have trouble trying to take taxis everywhere. You'll have to split into 3 taxis and that can be expensive and inconvenient since you only have 2 adults.

Thank you so much.

Is there a website where I can see information details with photos of the Shang Fu Holiday Hotel?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I have some candid photos of the hotel exterior and also of one of the rooms -- went in with one of the travellers whom I helped to get a booking at the hotel.
Sorry, don't have time recently to put them up as a tip on my VirtualTourist Shanghai travel page, as I don't like half-baked/rushed work. But if you want, email me at ellyse99@yahoo.com and let me know you want them. Do put "VirtualTourist" and your own username (eg mayt) in the subject line, thanks.

Also the cheapest double bed (1 double bed) room is usually around 250 RMB; twin beds (2 beds) around 280 RMB.