The private dining room at Yi Long Court
With this week’s announcement of the first-ever Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star ratings of hotels and spas in Shanghai, it makes sense that we would rave about one the Five-Star winners, The Peninsula Shanghai. Between the gorgeous Art Deco décor, the high-tech rooms and the hotel’s fine dining, there’s plenty to write home about. Here are the five things we love most about the Shanghai hotel:
1. The service. It is impeccable from the moment you arrive at the hotel until you check out. When we checked in, an employee overheard us talking about a Bund cruise and had all of the relevant boating information ready for us by the time we received our key. When we put our “privacy please” light on during our stay, the staff sent us a message through our in-room fax to avoid being intrusive. And don’t worry if your Chinese is limited to ni hao (“hello”): Everyone on the staff speaks English well and could not be more gracious or more readily available to help.
2. The technology. Rooms come packed with so much technology that the bellman will give you a quickie lesson on how to use it all when you first enter the space. On top of offering digital controls for everything from the blinds to the humidity, all the rooms include free VOIP international calls, an electric nail dryer built into the wall and personal faxes.
3. Fine dining. The Peninsula Shanghai’s Western fine-dining restaurant, Sir Elly’s, is a go-to for visiting gourmands. You will walk out absolutely sated. Though, if you want to go Eastern, Yi Long Court serves excellent Cantonese fare. Chef Tang Chi Keung offers local specialties, like the seasonal hairy crab.
4. Kid-friendly. Though the Five-Star hotel caters heavily to business and luxury travelers, it warmly welcomes kids. The staff refers to kids as “junior guests” and gives them the same high level of service that adults receive.
5. The location. The Peninsula’s spot directly on the Bund affords you easy access to tourist destinations and the city’s Financial District, as well as sweeping night views of the city’s futuristic-looking Pudong-side skyline.
Photo courtesy of The Peninsula Shanghai.
