Going to ShangHai for a break this Sept, any suggestion as to which tour to join? I am looking for a luxury tour that include staying in 5 stars but can’t seem to find one in the papers.Please help.
Go alone…tours suck…
I’ll also be traveling to Shanghai soon, shortly before you. I’m not sure of your nationality, but if you’re American, keep in mind you can’t get a China visa in Taiwan anymore and will need to get it in HK.
I won’t be going on a tour, but it would pay to check a few travel agencies - not necessarily the standard ones people use (such as Interlink) or the things posted in China Post, but others used by locals, which often have better luck setting up larger tours that save you money. Ask a friend or two. Most people have a favorite agent.
mesheel - the advantage of booking tours here is saving money. You don’t even need to join them on their sightseeing. At least I haven’t in the past. 
I always found tours to be more expensive, but then again, I’m good at travelling at a low budget…=) If of course you wish to stay in a 5 star hotel, then a tour could indeed be less expensive.
You can pretty much guarantee that if you go to a five star Shanghai hotel with a Taiwanese tour group you will be put on the Shitty Floor specially reserved for that purpose.
There is no cheap way to stay in a decent hotel in Shanghai.
In September ? You do know about the Shanghai Grand Prix don’t you ? Hotels all booked out months ago from 20 Sept onwards.
Thanks for the heads up about the Grand Prix. Fortunately I won’t be in the area that late, though it would be cool to check out the race! Then again, one probably has as much chance getting a ticket as for the upcoming Houston Rockets games in Beijing!
I can recommend the Regal hotel on Heng Shan Loo. Nice and central. In the French Concession. Not a bad hotel. Not the one at the stadium, although it is OK for the price. Stay in Pu Xi. You will get lured into staying in Pudong, but unless you’re at the Hyatt I wouldn’t bother. Hard to beat the Portman for location. It used to be a Shangri-la hotel but now I think it’s Ritz Carlton. Hilton’s a bit ordinary. Westin’s miles away. Marriot used to be dingy.
Yeah, I know about the race , but thanks for the reminder for I’ve not thought of booking ahead.Actually, I’m joining the tour because of the convenience, not for the price cut. In fact, for good hotels, you usually pay more with a tour. I think it only works to join tours for the ticket, ie you get a hefty price cut for the air-fare as compared to buying FIT.
The thing is, we’re planning to see a bit of JIANGNAN as well and I don’t see how we could do so without joining a tour. Hexuan is right, we would probably be put in the worst room they have with no view whatsoever, sigh.
By the way, I’ve found a tour that do the Four Seasons ,hope it’s OK.
Four Seasons is the new Marriot isn’t it? If so it is in a handy location (right on People’s Square) and very new and swanky looking. They did a Duvel promotion a few weeks back so I popped into the bar for a few 2 for 1 Duvels. No idea about the rooms, but they have a couple of nice bars with great views.