The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong is a luxury hotel overlooking the Bund river from high above the city; guests feel, literally, on top of the world.
Location
Shanghai’s Pudong business district was built from scratch in just the last few decades from nothing. It borders the bending Bund river and is home to some of the largest companies in Asia with representative offices from all over the world. As such, excellent restaurants, transportation connections (like high-speed rail), and top-flight shopping start at the Ritz-Carlton’s lower lobby floor.
Address: 8 Century Ave, Lujiazui, Pudong, China
Phone: +86 21 2020 1888
The Ritz Carlton Shanghai Pudong is part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. Be sure to read – Everything You Wanted to Know About Marriott Bonvoy.
Property
The base entrance to the property (inside of the International Finance Center mall) is on the ground floor, but as the hotel occupies the upper floors of Lujiazui tower, the hotel’s lobby is on the 52nd floor.
Reception, Aura, and the Sena Italian restaurant are all connected to the 52nd-floor lobby. The theme of the hotel is Art Deco, and the massive booths and sweeping windows only further ensnare guests in the 1920s.
During my visit, Aura lounge and Jazz bar were consistently busy. For those that have been in the Orient for an extended period of time, the western menu delivers a quality experience every bit that will momentarily transport you back to New York City.
Suite
It’s important to note that Ritz-Carlton properties make an effort to accommodate Bonvoy members (especially with the, now, unified loyalty program) but the brand has different obligations toward elites than the rest of the brand.
That said, the property was kind enough to upgrade me to a very impressive suite for which I was incredibly grateful.
Living Room
Upon entry into the suite, the space is split by a central island with a minibar and Nespresso coffee machine. A closet is in the entry way.
The living room was designed to enjoy the beautiful views provided by the floor-to-ceiling windows rather than focused around the TV. A couch against one wall provided room for a few but my favorite was a leather chair set off on its own facing out the window. It set the tone of the serenity of the room and where guest attention should be targeted.
The light of the afternoon sun brightened the light tan and gold accents in the room.
Bed
The bedroom was separated from the living room but the space is open without doors. That said, there was a sense that the rooms were distinct and personal spaces could be left private in the event of a guest.
The desk was a glass dining room table which served a dual purpose. Another reading chair was between the bed and window overlooking beautiful Shanghai.
The bedside table utilized a cordless phone in a box and while charming, reflected antiquated room technology. It also consumed much of the space next to the bed.
As expected at a quality property such as the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong, the bed was incredibly soft and comfortable with near silk sheets and pillow covers.
Bathroom
Each aspect of the bathroom was exceptional. The vanity featured a beautiful marble slab, premium toiletries, and bright lights.
Dual vanities mirror each other on each side of the deep soaking tub which was clearly designed to be the centerpiece of the bathroom. With views of the city in front of it, a thin sheath curtain could be enclosed for minimal privacy. A marble and stone chandelier lit it from above.
Independent of the tub, a marble and glass shower with sprayer and rain showerheads made the suite feel more like a million-dollar penthouse than a hotel room.
Marriott Bonvoy’s Service and Benefits
As a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium member, I earned more bonus points for my stay over standard members, was upgraded to a suite, and offered a late checkout. I had access to the executive lounge in which breakfast was offered.
Executive lounge seating
Staff took both menu orders and delivered food, though a buffet was also on offer for guests who prefer to help themselves or are short on time.
Virtually all cuisine was available in some capacity. For Japanese guests, an entire section was supplied. For European guests, charcuterie and a full English breakfast were put out. Chinese dishes including fried rice and congee as well as baked goods and made-from-scratch doughnuts gave every guest something to look forward to.
For more information on the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, see this post.
Value
The ultra-luxurious Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong Cash rates range from $300-350/nt for a standard room. Pudong is an expensive, glitzy, business district. At this price point, the hotel is among the best values in the Marriott system and certainly amongst the Rtiz-Carlton brand.
For Marriott Bonvoy members, prices start at 60,000/nt for a standard room. This provides a value of 0.5¢ to 0.58¢/point, just above Suites and Lobbies valuation of 0.45¢/point. Bonvoy members should weigh whether they’d prefer to spend points or cash based on their Bonvoy balance or cash position, though on paper this is a good stay to utilize points assuming the guest has a sufficient balance for their stay.
Get points to redeem at your next stay even faster with a Marriott Bonvoy credit card. Read – Why The Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card May Be The Best For Travel.
What do you think? Have you stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong? How was your experience?
