Week in the Clouds: Park Hyatt Shanghai

One thought and one question:
thought: very accurate about it being the second tallest hotel! The building is taller than the Hong Kong Ritz, but the Hong Kong Ritz has higher hotel floors, at least that's what this month's Hemispheres tells me ;-).
question: Is there an outdoor infinity pool at that property? For some reason, I thought there was one.

@ Kevin -- Unfortunately only an indoor one, unless I missed something very obvious!

Hey Ben - another enjoyable report, thanks. (did you get the rollaway bed I ordered you? 🙂

Quick question: When you go to a hotel like this, do you make a conscientious effort to 'dress up' more than you normally would for a more basic property?

How about the other guests? Dressed up? Or sweats and a t-shirt?

I definitely want to go check out this hotel - a round the world trip with stops here are at the PH Sydney along the way sounds like fun...

@ Lark -- Thanks! Hmmm, that's a great question. Most of the guests seemed to be business people so were in suits. I wouldn't say I dressed up, though I tried not to dress like total trash. I usually wore jeans and a collared shirt. And then I spent quite a bit of time at the pool, so just wore swimming trunks in a t-shirt.

Embarrassingly enough I decided to go to the pool one morning in a bathrobe given that it takes about 30 seconds to get between the two, and I just happened to run into the GM in the elevator. FML.

Looks like a nice property. Shanghai is one of the few major world cities I've never visited, so I'm always interested to read more about it.

Just curious, did you have any problems getting your journalism visa for China? Or did you travel on a regular tourist/business visa and keep the blogging under wraps?

@ Sean M. -- Journalism? Me? With my sixth grade English?

I was on a tourist visa...

Always enjoy reading your reports. Thanks.

Love the PH Shanghai too, although to me the Grant Hyatt next door is equally good on every aspect, but is only a category 4-15000pts and much cheaper. The Hyatt on the bund is cat 4 too and has IMO the best suite with best view of the bund and pudong skyline. And the new Andaz is in great location with many great dinning and shopping options in walking distance. So while PH is great, I find no reason to stay there choosing among the four hyatt properties in Shanghai.

The room actually didn't look that nice. A bit too minimal for my tastes, which is funny b/c I love minimalist modern decor. Also, the issue during checkout seems like it would've been really annoying.

The high tea looks very impressive.

no fourth night free at checkout they say...rediculous. love the restaurant design. put the toilet lid down!

@ caligal -- You can't lower the toilet lid! It has a motion sensor, so as soon as you enter the bathroom it goes up.

Hey Ben, great report! This is one hotel I really would have liked to stay as a Diamond (no longer Diamond now) and kind of regretted when I had an opportunity back in 2010. The suite looks amazing, not to mention its bath room. I'd figure that their standard room must be pretty decent as well.

Regarding your hick-ups at check-out. I don't think that's a minor issue and I am sure you handled it properly with the hotel. I've experienced similar issues in other hotels and it can be very stressful thing (that could potentially erase your positive stay experience) when one is on a specific time-schedule or on his/her way to the airport.

Glad that things worked out in your favor, but I am sure unknowledgable guests can be screwed by this easily.

I loved the Park Hyatt when staying there last April, so it was great going there again even if just for tea! 🙂

Enjoyed the Grand Hyatt (across the street) during our stay in November. Also had no issues with taking photos in the lobby, gym, etc..

@ Lucky: We thought you would have learned after the pajamas incident! Did the GM recognize you? I am sure they are a fan of your blog since you consistently give such high (and deserved) praise to their hotels.

Maybe I am old fashioned (or just plain old?), but when we stay at very nice hotels such as this one, I do make an effort to dress nicer than I might otherwise...

This hotel is definitely on our list. Maybe we'll stay here in October after our stay at the RC HK - we could knock off the worlds two tallest hotels on the same trip! 🙂

Lark

@ Lark -- Yeah, I try to dress up a bit, though within the realm of wanting to go sightseeing. I don't want to roam the city in a suit, though I try to at least wear nicer shoes and a collared shirt.

As far as the GM recognizing me? Heck no. I think he thought I was someone's kid. 😀

Even if you dislike or disagree with the hotel's policy regarding taking pictures, it's their policy. Don't like it, don't stay there.

@ Gary -- So I guess I can't provide the hotel any feedback?

I've been to the top of that building (reminds me of a bottle opener) and there are windows that look down into the check in area of the Hyatt. Very cool indeed! I would like to stay there some day if i go back but shanghai wasn't my kind of city. I prefer more traditiona older style Chinese cities.

Never judge a customer by their dress, or comment. A few years ago working as A PA to a billionaire (yup a real one) he always traveled in old Levis and Tee (though usualy Hugo, silk) He was put down several times by staff and management. We had to extend our stay and I had to reschedule massively and I wasn't told why! Though I could tell he was excited about something (a big deal massive profit)He dressed worse and worse in fact dirty. On the sixth day we had to meet someone in the lobby as this Japanese man walked over to us you could tell he was big in the Hotel staff were edgy as hell. To cut it short he bought the hotel and savaged the manager and senior staff in public in front of guests the lot before firing them. For months he would smile for no reason and still plays back the audio years later. It always amazed me how he could wear Armani linen jacket, Armani jumper (never wool), old 501's , scruffy loafers from a store in Milan, silk socks and under wear from a tailor in Bangkok never less than a 7,000 outfit and he looked like a bum. Always look at the watch and pen! A Japanese hippy Magna baron. Never judge a book buy it's cover.

Hmmm, looks like the Park Hyatt Shanghai is all show no substance...
The negatives mentioned are definitely not minor and would bug the hell out of me.

I was so excited to visit Shanghai but I just couldn't deal with the smog. It is truly the most unhealthy city I've ever visited (spitting in public, people urinating against walls, everyone smoking and the air quality beyond belief). I won't be going back.

Was this a case of combining an electronic suite upgrade cert with FHR booking? If so, do tell how it was done. Enquiring Diamonds want to know!

@ James -- Well suite upgrades aren't really electronic, as they need to be applied over the phone. But yes, I called to apply the suite upgrade to the reservation and had no issues.

Looks like you had a great stay in a 'wow' hotel. I'd be a bit giddy with delight after something like that too. But I think referring to fog of pollution blocking your views as pleasant 'clouds' is like tryin to polish a turd, as we say in the UK. It's great that you weren't terribly bothered by it, but call it what it is please and don't try to pass off a haze of pollutants as water vapour. 😉

@Lucky, next time you should wear your robe and go to the 100th floor of the observatory for a quick stroll. The view up there is all glass. I've seen men in PJs up there. It's China there's no public display rules but you just can't access Google (quickly) or Facebook (at all).

PS. by observatory I am referring to the Shanghai World Financial Center's Observatory Bridge. The entrance for this tourist trap is located at the opposite side of the hotel entrance if I remember correctly.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/antoniovi/4844368832/

Stayed 2 nights in July 2013, and I can confirm that the bellmen all speak very good English. No problems ordering taxis and asking for directions. What a difference a year makes I guess?

Staying at this hotel for 3 nights in October 2013.
I love it!
Amazing views from my room on the 83rd floor!
The breakfast buffet makes it really hard to restrain myself.
The concierge on duty is very helpful.

A little heaven in this crazy & crowded city of Shanghai.

I went to this article again and looking at the issues with photos made me wonder if this is not related to the fact that his building is a "Financial Center" and, in line with 9/11 there is some sort of issues with taking pictures in this kind of building?

Just a thought. I respect that...

Cheers

How did you manage to get an upgrade?

Reading this in 2022 and I wonder the same:
How did Lucky snatched a hotel with like 3 or 4 standard suites???