Taikoo Hui Atour X Hotel, Nanjing West Road, Shanghai

For a two star hotel, I thought the price was too high, especially when there are better options at lower rates. The rooms are small but clean, and the Chinese breakfast is what they serve. Laundry facilities are very good. Its best feature is the location, almost right at the subway station.

The staff were nice and the room was clean, and with four washers and four dryers there was more laundry capacity than I’ve seen at other hotels. Still, for this price I expected more from Atour. The building and lift seemed rundown, and my lower floor room had no windows. Wi-Fi was unstable and my mobile network was practically unusable there. Nanjing West Road is the nearest station, but getting there is quite a walk, especially with luggage or in bad weather. There weren’t many food options nearby. It might work for a short stay, but I wouldn’t want to stay longer.

After I raised the room issues with the front desk, they moved me to a cleaner room without an odor. The staff also apologized and gave me a small gift at checkout, though communicating in English was challenging. I spent two nights here, with a night elsewhere in between, and had a mixed experience. The location was convenient for getting around, and the room had the essentials, plus fresh fruit and good coffee. Room quality varied a lot: the first was modern but had a lingering smoke smell despite being non-smoking. The next was old, smelled terrible, and didn’t feel clean. I’d ask for a modern room when booking. I’d rate the first room 3 stars, the second 0, and the final one around 3.5-4.

The service team took great care of us, beyond what we expected. The rooms were comfortable, and I’d definitely suggest choosing an executive room. It’s very conveniently placed near the Bund and Nanjing East metro. Thank you, Atour X Shanghai.