Mercure Shanghai Hongqiao South 4 étoiles

The hotel was new and clean, love the breakfast as it was with Korean style which is different from the typical breakfast in other hotels. The only thing is cafe operating hour is not stated clearly as went for lunch at 3 plus and was informed cafe was closed.

If you have been to China, you know that beds are not usually comfortable by western standards. The room was clean, the bed was comfortable. Breakfast was good but not great. The staff at the door of breakfast did not speak English and when our room number didn't come up.. it was a bit awkward. pointing and writing worked it out though. Same with front desk staff. I was with a tour that brings thousands of Aussies to China every month and this is one of the hotels they use. There were at least 60 of us on the two nights we were there but communicating with front desk staff was nearly impossible.Near a subway stop for the 2 line. Map available at the desk. Also a card with English and Chinese saying where you were staying the phase "please take me to the.... with several key sights written in Chinese so you could get in a taxi. I thought that was a nice touch.

The room was great, very spacious and good bathroom facilities. The breakfast was ordinary even for Chinese standards, hardly any fruit available, the bread section was a joke and what was there was not edible. The coffee machine needed a half hour expedition, obviously is the most expensive in China, with a queue already out of the dining area and so slow. The alternative was percolated coffee which looked like it had been there 10 days ago. No restaurant at any other time. Very disappointing.

I actually book my hotel through booking.com without paying. I understand mandarin and overhead the conversation. They seems like unable to find my booking using their booking.com but immediately arrange for a room and check in with the same pricing as I book. The room was clean and tidy. And have provided abundant of clean water bottle in the room. The area is quiet and nice. They provided shuttle service to Shanghai Hongqiao Station and the shuttle service is really punctual.

service was average. Although I pointed out that payment had already been made showing the account evidence on my phone the receptionist went ahead and processed the payment anyway. The mistake was later acknowledged and refund eventually made almost 2 months later. It shouldn't have happened in the first instance. At an International hotel receptionists should have a reasonable grasp of English.