Golden Tulip Shanghai Rainbow

The free breakfast was the one clear highlight. It was very good compared with other hotels, with fresh bread, cheese, proper ham, and some Japanese options that are uncommon in China, including miso soup, which I like. The hotel was cheap and fairly clean, but this was the worst place I stayed during my month in China. As a Radisson VIP member, I didn’t feel treated like one. There was no status recognition at check-in, no upgrade, and no fruit or other welcome gift in my room. I had to ask two different reception staff twice just to get a standard room on a higher floor. It had a better view than the one on the 10th floor, but nothing else was different. The reception staff were distant at best and simply unfriendly at worst. More than 10 days after checkout, I still hadn’t received points or night credits. I also couldn’t see executive-floor rooms in the Radisson app for the date I tried, even though they were available on trip.com. They seemed to be bookable there, but not through the app for that day. I hope I was just unlucky with my dates. I tried three rooms during the upgrade drama, and all smelled strongly because of damp, humid shower curtains. It was disgusting. I took the curtain off, then put it back after my stay because the room smelled damp without it too. The bed was okay, but there were no luxuries like a coffee machine. The executive rooms seem to be off limits to international Radisson VIP members, so I can’t comment on them. One day, the cleaning lady came into my room even though I had the DND sign out, and caught me naked on the toilet.

It feels more like a budget hotel than an average four-star place. My room was spacious, and breakfast was comprehensive. The staff seemed okay. On the downside, it smelled strongly of stale smoke, the thermostat was stuck at 25°C, and the nearest public transport was at least a 20-minute walk away.

I’m on my first night here and can barely breathe because the room reeks of cigarette smoke. The hotel has that smell in general, but it’s even stronger in my room. The concierge said it was a non-smoking room, so I don’t know where the smoke is coming from. If you have asthma like me, this place might not be suitable.

It’s a really nice hotel. It looks like an old building that’s been renovated, but the quality is top tier and the service is good. English is still difficult, though 😅.