Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai

The grounds are beautiful and well kept, and I spent over an hour wandering the garden paths. The buildings and interiors are lovely too. There are hourly shuttles to Disney and PVG airport. Breakfast had a good range of choices, though it was below average for this star range. I found the spa facilities off-putting: the walk there felt like going through an underground parking lot, and the reception smelled strongly of cigarettes, so I didn’t book a treatment. My room also smelled of both stale and fresh cigarette smoke. That might feel familiar to a smoker, but I’m a non-smoker and found it unpleasant. The hotel doesn’t seem geared toward Western foreigners, but it could still be a good choice for an average traveler wanting a different experience. I’d choose it again over a generic Hilton/Marriott brand, even with the cigarette smell.

The hotel’s Chinese restaurant has a varied menu, though it’s expensive. Chef Abdullah deserves special mention for going out of his way to accommodate our dietary needs. The breakfast could use more options, and the front desk staff could show more enthusiasm. The architecture and landscaping are lovely, in a style honoring old China. It’s quiet and pleasant to walk around the buildings and lake. The courtesy shuttle to and from the airport was comfortable and very handy for PVG, and it’s close to metro line 2 as well.

The kids loved the game room, and we had a good stay overall, even though we didn’t get a chance to go elsewhere. The buffet was fine but not especially good, and the pool is too deep for children. We booked high tea after reception said we could just go, but it turned out to require a booking. The waitress was kind enough to seat us anyway after a few minutes’ wait. We had two rooms; one smelled of cigarettes, and its phone kept ringing with nobody on the other end. Otherwise, the rooms were pretty good.

The hotel is beautiful, Chinese style, with buildings no more than two levels high, near a river. But cars and deliveries are allowed inside the residence, so it isn’t quiet or calm for children, and there’s nowhere outside for them to play. The pool is good, but bring a room towel if you don’t want to pay. The fitness center is good too. The kids’ club is so-so, just a small room underground. Breakfast was poor. Staff cleared plates so quickly there wasn’t time to finish coffee, and the breakfast room was cold, with everyone wearing parkas. It felt like they wanted guests to leave quickly. The mattresses are hard, which doesn’t work for me. Even with the windows closed, I could see the curtains moving, so the insulation is very poor. There’s no smile, especially at the lobby front desk. A five-star hotel.