CTS booked me here. The location is not central. The walk to the Bund is circuitous because of bridge construction. I took cabs everywhere and it was annoying to add the 5-10 minutes to each trip.
I have no idea how my prepaid room compared to other rooms. It was large with a big bed and a separate sitting room. The bathroom was fine, clean with excellent plumbing. The AC worked, sort of, but not up to international standards. The hotel supplied a floor fan which was essential. I heard that the _14 rank of rooms were cooler.
There was no minifridge, not good; the safe made me feel more comfortable. Good storage space, closet and drawers.
I found the staff to be most helpful with varying degrees of English. When they understood what you wanted they were quite accommodating. The uniformed bellhops, one always at a "concierge desk", were particularly friendly. They helped get cabs quickly.
Do check about the procedure for cashing travellers checks.
The always good breakfast was the usual array of international foods. Loading up in the AM meant there was no need for lunch.
The outside elevator to the roof led to impressive views of the Bund. There's an overpriced menu for snacks and drinks. This begins at 5 PM.
The 2 streets running south alongside the hotel had convenience stores as well as more locally focused shops. I needed a lidded tea container, a bungee cord and the strong plaid fabric bag ubiquitous in China. This was great for photography also as long as you made a polite pantomime request. People were generally very friendly.
There was usually someone with the "watch? watch?" line outside the hotel and at night "ladybah?ladybah."
I heard that the locker room for the pool was appalling.
As has been written, the carpets were noticeably soiled. My room also had a few bugs that disappeared when the lights were on.
I frequently used the automatic water boiler for tea, especially if you've used up the complimentary 2 water bottles.
The visitors to the hotel were an international mix on tours. Chinese people arriving often had rather large cars.
So, a mixed bag. I wouldn't stay here again if I had a choice. However for a mild adventure, I have to say I was satisfied. Chinese cities are so sprawling that I could have paid much more for a much less desirable location.
