Shanghai Howard Johnson Huaihai Hotel, according to their website, it is a 5-star hotel, built according to international standard. One fact for sure, it is at an excellent location. The 17-storey building offers a total of 167 rooms with choices of Superior, Deluxe, Corner Room Twin and King, in addition to Suite. This hotel is one of the booking.com top pick.
I stayed in this hotel for a week (7 – 13 April 2018). During this period, we were informed that the hotel was fully booked.
Location
In the vicinity, the hotel is right behind Huaihai Middle Road with Iapm shopping mall right by the side. In addition, there are 2 subway lines (subway line 1 and 10) at Shaanxi South Road station which is a stone throw from the hotel. Xintiandi entertainment area is a 5-minute drive while People’s Square is a 10-minute away.
The nearest hospital from the hotel is Shanghai Youdian Hospital, approximately 470m away from the hotel.
Lobby
Nothing impressive as compared to last hotel I stayed in Shanghai, Shanghai Marriott Hotel Pudong East.
Check-In & Check-Out
Earliest check-in at Howard Johnson Huaihai Hotel is at 10am. Should you need earlier check-in, the hotel will charge half a day. Personally, this is my first time encountering such an inflexible policy which certainly inconvenience the guest.
Staff at the check-in and check-out counter could speak decent English, however they weren’t too professional. A staff didn’t know how to handle my early check-in request while on another occasion, a staff was shouting at a colleague while I was checking out.
Room
My room was at level 9, a Deluxe King Room. The rooms were built around the perimeters of the building. While my room was behind the elevators. There are 2 elevators leading to the rooms. Even though it was near the elevators and was during the high occupancy period, the room was relatively quiet. The only time, I heard noise in the room, coming from the corridors was once.
In my room, I counted 5 electric plugs. Only the China plug 2-pins or 3-pins with 220V, 50HZ, AC were offered. It is a shame that I couldn’t find an electric plug around the working desk.
The chair at the working desk was too flimsy, it seems like the chair might give way any time. I find it a risk to sit on that chair. The sofa was too soft and it didn’t support the back. The consolation was the bed was at a perfect firmness for me though the 2-types of pillow offer didn’t give good support to the neck.
Bathroom
Deluxe Room at Howard Johnson Huaihai Hotel offers separate showering area aside from bathtub. There is laundry line around the bathtub area too.
Both the hand shower and a head shower are available in the showering area. A pity, the unadjustable to the height of the hand shower. Furthermore, the nozzle from the hand shower offers only 1 type. Temperature of hot water supply was inconsistent. When the weather is colder, the water can’t heat up to the desire hotness.
Basic amenities such as shampoo, conditioner, showering gel, soap, shaver, toothbrush, shower cap, sewing kit and comb were available. Each room has 2 bottled drinking water too. A hair-dryer is also available.
Others Facilities / Services
Laundry and in-room dinning services were both offered.
In addition, a safe, an ironing board, an umbrella were found in the wardrobe is available too. Each room is also equipped with television and bedroom slippers.
A kettle with complimentary coffee and tea were provided. The coffee is as usual, Nescafe while tea offered were Twinning English Breakfast and Green Tea.
Mini Bar with beer, Pierre, Coke both normal and Light and Sprite and Evian.
Views
I only get to see a construction in progress and maybe a glimpse of sunset from my room.
Housekeeping
I noticed that the housekeeping did an extremely good job, at least for my room, I didn’t find any left-over hair on any corner of the bathroom.
However, I never understand why do the housekeeping crew always tend to place the bedroom slippers beside the bed and has to be on the side away from the entrance.
Facilities
A fitness centre perched at level 17 is the only available facilities. There isn’t swimming pool, nor sauna at Howard Johnson Huaihai Hotel.
Dinning
Previously, the hotel offers 2 dinning option, however, during the period of my stay the hotel was under renovation, hence both restaurants were unavailable.
Breakfast
Breakfast buffet is available at the hotel. My room package was inclusive of breakfast.
Since the hotel was under renovation, till May 2018, the breakfast buffet was held at a temporary location on level 3.
Both Chinese, Asian and International Spread were available at the breakfast buffet, however, there is not rotation of spread throughout the week. And it was highly unpalatable.
Security
Despite the fact that room card key allows only access to specific level, guest who forgets the card often requested the service staff for help. I notice that at times, they do not verify their identify and went ahead to get them to the requested level.
Other Services
Luggage storage facilities are available at the 24-hour front desk. The hotel also offers airport transfer to Pudong or Hongqiao Airport (via a mini-bus) at CNY 68 per person. The arrangement can be made with the concierge 30 minutes prior departure to the airport. Alternatively, there is Limousine service at CNY 200 to Hongqiao and CNY 300 to Pudong.
Price
The Deluxe King Room was at CNY 800 each night which include only breakfast for one.
Like all hotels, Howard Johnson Huaihai Hotel requested for a deposit but it is for a week. Hence if you are planning to stay there for long, you will be locked out from the hotel as the deposit isn’t enough to cover your stay. This happened to my colleagues whom were there for 2 weeks. So be prepared.
NAHMJ Verdict
For the location, cleanliness, I will recommend this hotel. For service and breakfast, I would say “No”.
Howard Johnson Huaihai Hotel
1 Feng Yang Road (Near Huaihai Road), Xuhui District, Shanghai, China, 200031
上海市汾阳路1号, (近淮海路), 徐汇区, 上海, 中国, 200031
Tel: +86 21 5461 9898
Website: http://www.howardjohnsonhuaihaihotel.cn/
Rating: 7/10