Shanghai's BEST Kept Secret: Jinjiang Inn Lujiazui Luxury on a Budget!
Shanghai's Budget Blitz: Jinjiang Inn Lujiazui Luxury (Sort Of!) - A Review Diary
Okay, folks, buckle up, because I just got back from Shanghai, and I'm still reeling from the sensory overload. But amidst the neon glow and bustling crowds, I stumbled upon a place that, frankly, surprised me: Jinjiang Inn Lujiazui Luxury - or as I like to call it, "The Unexpected Oasis." Now, don't go expecting a luxurious luxury experience. Think more… cleverly disguised comfort at a price that won't make your wallet weep.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag (But Mostly Okay!)
Let's be real, Shanghai isn't exactly known as the most accessible city. Finding a truly accessible hotel with all the bells and whistles can be a headache. I didn't specifically need accessibility features myself, but I still did some digging. Facilities for disabled guests are listed, which is a promising start. Elevators? Check. That's a HUGE win in a city where climbing stairs is a workout in itself. However, specific details on things like accessible rooms and bathrooms are a little murky. Would it be perfect for someone with severe mobility issues? Probably not. But for the average traveler, it's a decent starting point.
Cleanliness & Safety: Are We Safe from the Shanghai Shuffle?
Okay, this is HUGE, especially in the current climate. I walked in ready to sanitize everything, but honestly, the place was gleaming. Hand sanitizer everywhere. Staff wearing masks religiously. They're definitely taking things seriously. I noticed daily disinfection in common areas which gave me serious peace of mind. Room sanitization opt-out availability is a nice touch, too – gives you a sense of control. Individually-wrapped food options were a plus at breakfast (more on that later). Honestly, the professional-grade sanitizing services felt top-notch. And you know what else? Room sanitization between stays! That's a big deal, folks.
The Rooms: Comfort, but Not the Ritz
Let's be clear: this isn't a Four Seasons. Think… well-designed, clean, and functional. My room fell definitively under the "Available in all rooms" category: Air conditioning (thank GOD), a proper bed (extra long, even!), and a surprisingly good bathroom (separate shower/bathtub! Luxury, I tell ya!). Essential stuff was there, plus: Free bottled water, Slippers, a decent-sized TV with satellite cable, and Wi-Fi [free] (praise the digital gods!). They've got the basics right, and that's what matters.
Internet Access: Wi-Fi Warriors Rejoice!
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! This is a MUST for me, and Jinjiang Inn delivered. The connection was decent, and I had zero problems watching cat videos (priorities, people). Internet access – LAN was also available, but who uses LAN anymore, really? Haha. Internet services are standard (basically, they provide Wi-Fi). And again, Wi-Fi in public areas – a bonus.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Breakfast Adventures!
Now, the Asian breakfast was a mixed bag. They advertise Breakfast [buffet], but it was more of a curated buffet, if you get my drift. Think: a few hot dishes (noodles, congee), some pastries that were… well, interesting, and plenty of fruit. Let me tell ya, I had a certain noodle soup, which was… let's just say, memorable. But, the convenience of this and Breakfast service, was great! And, of course you can get Coffee/tea in restaurant and there is a Coffee shop if you are really desperate! A 'la carte in restaurant' is an option if you wanna kick it up a notch, so there is no issue for food at all times.
On-Site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges: Let's Get to the Bar!
Uh, honestly, the bar wasn't the most happening place. It was fine, if you just wanted a quick drink. No Poolside bar, but a simple Snack bar - so, I guess you could get your munchies on and just relax! It's not exactly the party scene, but it is convenient.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Spa Day Dreams?
Okay, my hopes for a spa day here were… dashed. No Body scrub, no Body wrap, no Pool with view, no Sauna, no Spa, no Spa/sauna, no Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor] - the whole shebang! BUT, there Fitness center, which is good. Massage and Foot bath will be available, which is a nice touch too! So, for relaxation, it's a bit limited. But for a budget hotel, I wasn't expecting a full-blown wellness experience.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
The concierge was super helpful, they tried their best, I'll give them that. Cash withdrawal - check. Currency exchange - check. The daily housekeeping was efficient. They also have Doorman ready to open doors for you, so you don't have to deal with it! Laundry service was reasonably priced. Having a convenience store right in the hotel was a lifesaver for midnight snack cravings. The elevator was also a blessing to get to/from your room.
Staff: Friendly Faces and Language Barriers
The staff were, without exception, lovely. They were eager to help and always greeted me with a smile. The language barrier was present, but they made a genuine effort to understand, which made all the difference.
Getting Around: Location, Location, Location!
This is where Jinjiang Inn really shines! Taxi service is readily available. With Car park [on-site] and Car park [free of charge] is a big plus. The hotel's location in Lujiazui is GOLD. You're within walking distance of the Bund (and the photo opportunities that come with it!), various metro stations (the most efficient way to navigate Shanghai!), and plenty of restaurants and shops. Airport transfer is also available, but I didn't use it.
For the Kids: Family Fun?
Family/child friendly, is an option, however, there are Babysitting service available, which makes it more convenient.
Overall Impression: Worth the Price Tag?
Absolutely. Look, Jinjiang Inn Lujiazui Luxury isn't perfect. It's not the fanciest hotel I've ever stayed in. But for the price, the cleanliness, the location, and the basic comfort offered, it's a steal. It's a great option for budget travelers, anyone wanting to be close to the action, or anyone who just wants a safe, clean, and convenient base camp for exploring Shanghai.
Would I go back? Yeah, for sure. I'd recommend it, and I'd probably try to get that noodle soup again. Just for the memories!
Uncover Oaxaca's Hidden Gem: Hotel Don Nino's Luxurious Escape
Okay, buckle up, buttercup. This isn't your perfectly-filtered Instagram feed. This is REAL LIFE, Shanghai style, from the glorious, slightly-musty heart of the Jinjiang Inn Lujiazui. Let's do this:
Shanghai Shenanigans: A Slightly Chaotic Itinerary (AKA, My Sanity’s Demise)
Day 1: Arrival and the Perpetual Search for Decent Coffee
- 14:00 - 15:00: Touchdown at Pudong Airport (PVG). Jet lag already threatening to swallow me whole. Thank goodness for the airport wifi… which cut out just as I was about to hail a Didi (Chinese Uber equivalent). Cue mild internal panic. Finding the hotel shuttle… well, let's just say it involved a lot of pointing, miming, and praying to the travel gods.
- 15:00 - 16:00: Arrival at Jinjiang Inn Lujiazui. The lobby is… functional. Clean, maybe. But the decor screams "business traveler on a budget," which, let's be honest, is exactly ME. Check-in was painless, although I swear the receptionist gave me a look that said, "Another one…"
- 16:00 - 18:00: The Coffee Quest. My soul needs caffeine. Desperately. I’ve heard tales of amazing coffee shops in Shanghai, but my GPS seems to think the nearest Starbucks is in Narnia. Walked around, asked several people (mostly failing to communicate), and finally found a tiny, hipster-y place called "Bean Me Up" down a side street. The espresso was…decent. The wifi, however, was a mythical creature. Note to self: invest in a local SIM card immediately.
- 18:00 - 20:00: Dinner at "Lost Heaven," a Yunnan cuisine place. I heard great things. Oh. My. GOD. The spicy fried tofu was INSANE. Like, "I’m pretty sure I just tasted happiness" level of good. The cocktails… less successful. One of them tasted suspiciously like cough syrup. But the atmosphere? Magical. Lush plants, dim lighting, a slight sense of impending doom (in a good way).
- 20:00 - 22:00: Failed attempt to conquer the Bund. The dazzling lights and the crowds were too overwhelming. I got lost in the sea of humanity. Ended up back at the hotel, defeated, ordering a… well, let's not talk about what I ordered. Just assume it involved a small, overpriced bag of chips.
Day 2: Noodles, Skyscrapers, and the Curse of the Lost Umbrella
- 08:00 - 09:00: Breakfast at the hotel. Standard. Slightly questionable eggs. The noodles were surprisingly good, though. Definitely needed that energy.
- 09:00 - 11:00: Exploring the Pudong Area. Shanghai Tower. The views from the top were breathtaking. You could see the entire city, stretching out beneath you like a living, breathing giant. The elevator ride was…terrifyingly fast. My stomach did a flip or two. The architecture is stunning, even though its heights aren't for the faint of heart.
- 11:00 - 12:00: Walking around the Lujiazui area, and stumbled upon the IFC Mall, a shopping center, and got to see a stunning view of the Oriental Pearl Tower.
- 12:00 - 13:00: Lunch near the metro station with local noodles. Oh man, the perfect Shanghai noodles!
- 13:00 - 15:00: Attempting to navigate the metro. It's efficient, clean, and I managed almost flawlessly. Until I got off at the wrong stop and walked 20 minutes in the sweltering heat, desperately trying to figure out how to get back. Learned a valuable lesson: always double-check the exit number. Also, I’m pretty sure I lost my umbrella somewhere during my metro adventure. Goodbye, trusty rain protector.
- 15:00 - 17:00: Trying to find the Nanpu Bridge, one of the largest architecture accomplishments.
- 17:00 - 19:00: Dinner (again) at Lost Heaven. I may have a problem. The food is THAT good.
- 19:00 - 21:00: Back at the hotel. Exhausted. Emotionally drained. Contemplating life choices. The air conditioning is working, which is a win. Might order room service (again). Chips, perhaps?
Day 3: Gardens, Tea, and Unintentional Cultural Immersions
- 09:00 - 10:00: Breakfast at the hotel. More noodles. Still good. Starting to feel like I'm finally slightly adjusted to the time difference. Maybe.
- 10:00 - 12:00: Yu Garden. A beautiful oasis of tranquility. The architecture is stunning, the water is serene, and for a moment, I forgot about the chaos of the city. Until a particularly persistent vendor tried to sell me a jade pendant. Aggressively. I fled.
- 12:00 - 13:00: Lunch at a nearby restaurant. Tried to order "something local." Ended up with a plate of… things. I’m not entirely sure what they were, but they were delicious. And the waiter was incredibly patient with my terrible Mandarin. (I'm trying, I really am.)
- 13:00 - 15:00: Tea ceremony at a traditional teahouse. It was a moment of calm. The tea was fragrant, the ceremony was graceful, and for a blissful hour, I felt like a sophisticated, cultured person. Until I spilled tea all over myself.
- 15:00 - 17:00: Wandering around the local streets, and finding the old French Concessions area.
- 17:00 - 18:00: Quick stop at a small cafe near my hotel for an afternoon coffee.
- 18:00 - 20:00: Dinner back at Lost Heaven. The staff now recognize me. I'm pretty sure I'm going to become a regular.
- 20:00 - Late: Trying to get good sleep before getting back home tomorrow, I am so excited to sleep on my bed.
Day 4 : Departure
- 08:00 - 09:00: Last breakfast at the hotel. The noodles are starting to feel like a comfort food.
- 09:00 - 10:00: Final, frantic packing. Where did all this laundry come from? And where did my umbrella go?
- 10:00 - 11:00: Check-out. Saying goodbye to the Jinjiang Inn. It wasn’t perfect, but it was home for a few days.
- 11:00 - 12:00: Airport shuttle to Pudong Airport (PVG).
- 12:00 - Onward: Flight home. Shanghai, China, you were a whirlwind. A chaotic, beautiful, delicious, and slightly overwhelming whirlwind. I survived. And I can't wait to come back… eventually.
Jinjiang Inn Lujiazui: The "Luxury on a Budget" Secret? Let's Spill the Tea (and Maybe Some Instant Noodles)
Okay, spill it. What's the *real* deal with Jinjiang Inn Lujiazui? "Luxury" and "Budget" in the same sentence? Seriously?
Alright, alright, settle down! Yes, the buzz is real... kinda. Look, it's not *actual* luxury. Don't expect a personal butler handing you caviar with a diamond-encrusted spoon. BUT. For the price, and *especially* for the location – smack-dab in the dazzling heart of Lujiazui, with the Oriental Pearl practically trying to get into your window – it's a freakin' steal. Think of it as... well, strategic budgeting. You're sacrificing a bit on the "hotel-y" experience to bankroll your skyscraper-gazing and Shanghai-street-food-binging madness. And trust me, the location is key. More on that later, *much* later.
So, location, location, location. Is it *really* that good? Does the view even matter? I mean, it's Shanghai, I'll be out all day, right?
Dude. The view matters. Seriously. Picture this: You've been battling the throngs of Nanjing Road, surviving the dumpling onslaught, and finally, finally, you collapse in your (admittedly compact) Jinjiang Inn room. You open the curtains... and BAM! The financial district explodes at you. The Pearl Tower, the skyscrapers... it hits you like a shot of... well, something strong. It's a reminder that you're *in* it. In the middle of the crazy, overwhelming, electrifying energy of Shanghai. It's the perfect "I made it" moment after a brutal day of travel. I remember one time, I was so knackered after a flight I basically wept with relief just looking at the lights. And the location? Literally minutes from everything. Subway, shopping, that crazy Bund walk... You literally stumble out and you're *there*. This isn't a "get a taxi to the city centre" situation. You're *in* the centre.
Alright, I'm intrigued. But what are the *actual* rooms like? Is it a cockroach palace? Be honest.
Okay, let's be brutally honest. The rooms are… functional. Think: Clean, compact, and probably what your college dorm room *wished* it was. The beds are decent, the bathrooms are clean (praise the Lord!), but you're not going to be luxuriating in a giant soaking tub. Space is at a premium. You'll learn to pack light. And storage? Forget a walk-in closet. But, they do a good job of keeping things tidy. I've never encountered any creepy crawlies, thankfully. And the air conditioning... a lifesaver! Trust me, when that Shanghai humidity hits, you'll be thanking the design gods for that AC.
What about the "luxury" part? Where's the free champagne and caviar service?
Ha! The "luxury" is more about the *implied* luxury of being in *Lujiazui* at a reasonable price. Think of it as a sneaky marketing trick, which is what I love about it. Think of it like this: Your luxury comes from being *in* the heart of the fancy-pants district. You're steps away from Michelin-starred restaurants (that you can't afford, but still), glitzy shopping malls, and the general feeling of being in a truly iconic city. You *might* get a free bottle of water. That's about it. But you can *definitely* afford to treat yourself to that fancy cocktail on the skyscraper rooftop bar, because you saved on the hotel. (And you *will* need a cocktail after navigating a Shanghai subway rush hour.)
The Internet - is it bearable? I need my Netflix fix, okay?
Ah, the Wi-Fi question. It's...hit or miss. Look, China's internet is a beast of its own. It's probably going to be better than the really cheap hostels. It works. *Usually*. Sometimes you'll have a stellar connection, streaming Netflix with no problem. Other times, it'll be a frustrating slow crawl. Download your essentials before you arrive (VPNs are your friend!), and be prepared for some digital patience. Honestly, it's not a deal-breaker BUT be prepared to have an offline life. Maybe read a book. Crazy, I know.
Breakfast? Is there Breakfast...? And, more importantly, is it any GOOD?
Yes, there is breakfast. Generally, it's a standard hotel breakfast. Expect a mix of Asian and Western options. The coffee, let's be frank, won't blow your mind. But there's usually some kind of congee (rice porridge, which is good if you're feeling a little delicate after a night out) and some questionable bacon. Its job is to fuel you for the day, and for that, it does a decent job. It's nothing to write home about, but it's... there. And when you've been wandering Shanghai all day, a relatively familiar breakfast is sometimes a comfort. Plus, you're already saving so much money, maybe go grab a *delicious* breakfast at a local cafe nearby instead. Win-win!
Is it *really* suitable for families? Or is it more of a backpacker/solo traveller kind of place?
Hmm. Okay, this is a tricky one. While perfectly *okay* for families, it’s not necessarily the *most* kid-friendly place. The rooms are small. There's nothing particularly geared towards children (no playrooms, no kiddie pools, you know). It's more geared toward a solo adventurer, a couple on a budget, or a professional looking for a convenient base. If you have young children, you might want to consider something with a bit more space. But for older kids or teens? Absolutely doable! The location is phenomenal, and they'll be blown away by the city.
Final verdict: Would you recommend this hotel or not? Be honest!
Okay, deep breath. YES. Absolutely, unequivocally YES. With caveats, of course. If you're expecting five-star luxury, you'll be massively disappointed. But if you're smart, travel savvy, and value location and convenience above all else, the Jinjiang Inn Lujiazui is a total game-changer. You're essentially renting a perfectly clean and functional box in the coolest part of Shanghai. You're freeing up your cash for the *real* Shanghai experiences: the food, the views, the culture, the life! I've stayed there multiple times. I will probably stay there again. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to book my next trip. Shanghai, here I come! (And yes, I'm already cravingChicstayst
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