I just got back from our trip to China, in which we stayed at the Shangri La for seven days - April 13 to April 20, 2008. Prior to leaving for this adventure, I had read the prior reviews and, as a result, could not wait to get to Shanghai. Needless to say, the Shangri La missed a golden opportunity to add to its already long list of rave reviews (please see my review of the Moevenpick in Amsterdam).
I had three major problems. First, they do not offer free wireless internet in the old tower rooms. For a business traveler needing to communicate effectively and constantly with their company back in the US, it is not 21st century service to require your guests to sign-up everyday for ethernet connections. Yes, it was only $18 US per day, but still.... Second, the carpeting in the room is in serious need of replacement. Third, and most problematic, was the noxious smell that permeated the old tower for several days. One day it was so bad that my wife and I thought we had mistakenly signed up for a reality TV show that required us to stay and live in an oil refinery - it was so bad one night that we had to turn off our air conditioning system because the fumes were making us nauseous.
I would like to commend and recommend the staff of the hotel, however. Everyone I interacted with at every level of the organization was top notch in my book. It is only because of them that I can give an overall neutral evaluation of the Shangri La.
