Shanghai Travel Forum

I will be in Shanghai for about a month, arriving in June. I am on a budget and would like to know if it would be much less expensive to rent an apartment for a month rather than paying a daily hotel rate for a month. Also, is it possible to negotiate a monthly rate with hotels?
Your responses will be appreciated.

If you're talking NOT about serviced apartments, I don't think those would be easy to find as most landlords prefer to rent for a year, or at least half a year.
Some budget hotels would be willing to agree to a monthly rate.

There are a number of service apartments in Shanghai depending on what district you will be spending most of your time in. They will be cheaper than hotels unless you really go for the low end ones which may not be that great for foreigners. We used to lease apartment hotels in Pudong for as low as US$95 for a 2 bedroom unit (with kitchen and washign machine). Most of the apartment hotels will grand a "corporate rate" if you contact them ahead of time and do some negotiating (ie: tell them this is just the beginning of a long stay).

Apartment renting: It's quite difficult to rent an apartment for just a month, most landlords in Shanghai require at least about 6 months' renting contract.
Hotel: Shanghai hotels give an average price of about 700RMB/night, as you assumed staying in a hotel for a month is a lot more expensive. Besides hotels don't provide special monthly rate.

Service apartment may be a better choice. But you should be aware of the different prices given out according to different size and type of the rooms.

If you feel free to discuss, you can let me know your budget of the trip, the location you're going to stay and the number of the people with you, it could probably help me narrow down the info and find a suitable apartment for you.

Email&Msn: jill_lxz@hotmail.com
Contact me if you have further need.

Good luck!