Sofitel Luxury Hotels hotel signs new Shanghai hotel

by Melanie Nayer on

Shanghai is becoming quite the envy of hoteliers. Just this week, the Ritz-Carlton opened its second Shanghai property, The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, and earlier this year The Peninsula Shanghai opened its doors to China travelers. Both hotels come just in time for the flood of tourists descending on Shanghai for the World Expo 2010. Now comes word another luxury hotel group is hot on the heels of Shanghai hoteliers.

Sofitel Luxury Hotels announced it signed a new flagship hotel in Shanghai – Sofitel Shanghai Jing’an – which will open early 2011.

This will be the fourth Sofitel in Shanghai and will be located in the center of the city. The Sofitel Shanghai Jing’an will stand at the intersection of Beijing Road and Jiangning Road, steps away from the famous Nanjing Road and near the museums and the Shanghai convention center.

The future Sofitel Shanghai Jing’an will occupy 32 of the building’s 61 floors, offering 515 rooms, 82 of them suites, on levels 29 through 54. Guests will have the option of dining in the Lobby Lounge or one of two restaurant. The top level, on the 55th floor, will feature a bar with views of both the east and west of the city.

We want to know what you think: With all the luxury hotels opening in Shanghai, is Shanghai the new jewel of China?

Shanghai Nights: 24 hours in the Expo City

by Melanie Nayer on


Shanghai is a city of complications and successes. It’s one of the most modern cities in China, yet still holds sacred its roots in China’s history. It’s lived in the shadows of Beijing and Hong Kong for centuries but today offers travelers a new experience, thanks in part to its hosting the World Expo Shanghai. Shanghai is a juxtaposition of old and new on every street. A five minute walk from the world’s largest Louis Vuitton store is one of Shanghai’s oldest parks, where locals converge to practice the art of Tai Chi and take part in morning dance rituals as a form of expression and exercise.

Imagine you have exactly 24 hours to explore one of the world’s most historical and modernized cities. What do you do first? Whether you’re heading to Shanghai as a stopover to somewhere else in China, or your spending your vacation in the Expo City, make sure to save a day for the following:

Early morning in Renmin Park 7 – 8 a.m.
Only a short walk from The Portman Ritz-Carlton at Shanghai Center (where I stayed during my trip to Shanghai), Renmin Park at People’s Square of Puxi offers a unique glance at the life of old Shanghainese. Early Sunday mornings are filled with generations of Shanghainese taking part in familiar rituals including Tai Chi and ‘disco’ – their version of what Americans would consider “line dancing.” Join the dance or just stop and take it all in. Everyone is wonderfully friendly in the park and welcome tourists to join the dance or take part in Tai Chi.

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Morning visit to the World Expo 9 a.m. – noon
No trip to Shanghai would be complete without a visit to the World Expo. The “Better Life, Better City” motto is felt through all the pavilions, but beware: you’ll stand in line for a while. Choose one or two pavilions you want to see before you go and head straight there. A few things to note before you arrive:

  • No outside food or drink will be permitted into the Expo
  • You can buy your tickets at any of the booths outside the Expo when you arrive, but you’ll save time if you buy ahead and pick up your tickets at one of the “will-call” windows
  • The Expo is mapped out by zones – A, B, C, D, and E. It’s wise to choose the pavilions you want to see in the same zone, but if you must travel to different zones there is a shuttle bus that will take you around.
  • Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll do a lot of walking at the World Expo, and a lot of standing around in line, so make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes.
  • If you’re in Shanghai for longer than one day, buy a 7-day pass to the Expo and map out a few other pavilions you want to see during the remainder of your visit.
  • The China pavilion is the most popular pavilion, and unless you’ve got a VIP pass you’d better get in line early. Only 1000 passes are handed out on a first-come-first-service basis daily to the China pavilion.
  • Forget the gift shops and take photos instead. Cameras are allowed in each of the pavilions and you can take photos of any and all exhibits.

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Afternoon visit to Zhu Jia Jiao, renowned water village in Puxi 2 – 4 p.m.
Located about a 45-minute drive from Shanghai is Zhu Jia Jiao, the renowned water village in Puxi. The traditional water canal town dates back to the Ming and Qing dynasties and has some of the best market shopping and authentic Shanghai food in the city. Take a walk through the markets and purchase a few souvenirs before boarding a water taxi to visit the Taoist Temple, the great Qing Post Office and the old Chinese Pharmacy. The markets sell local produce and traditional Chinese gifts including jewelry, fans and silk.

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Candle lighting ceremony at The Portman Ritz-Carlton
The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai, was the first luxury hotel in Shanghai, but still retains the values of old Shanghai. After a day out exploring, spend a few moments in the lobby watching the traditional Chinese candle lighting ceremony. The ceremony takes place in the lobby and lasts only a few minutes, allowing plenty of time for you to relax in the lobby bar for a before heading out to the famous Bund for the evening.

Evening on the Bund 8 p.m.
Shanghai’s Bund is one of the most areas of the city. With spectacular views of the city and surrounded by restaurants and bars, the Bund is always lively on any night of the week. Start with a walk along the bridge by the river to capture photos of the city skyline on one side, and the old buildings on the other. Dine at Lost Heaven, a traditional Yunnan Chinese restaurant that serves family-style entrees for every taste and palette. After dinner, head to New Heights, located at Three on the Bund. The restaurant has an outdoor terrace that offers spectacular views of the Bund and the Shanghai skyline.

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It’s a packed day in Shanghai, but with a little planning and a lot of energy, you’ll see the beauty of old and new in 24 hours.


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*The Portman Ritz-Carlton sponsored my trip to Shanghai, but the opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own.

Daily Pampering: Cathay Pacific Business Class flights

by Melanie Nayer on

If you’re going to fly to China, you might as well fly in style. After all, the 15-18 hour flight (depending on flight path and departure city) can seem like an eternity in a 777.

Having just completed a round-trip flight to Australia I was mentally prepared for the long flight across the Pacific. I’ve learned that if you’re going to make the journey, you want to be comfortable, thus, my first trip to China started in Business Class on Cathay Pacific. I stepped into pod 27A, and prepped for the 16-hour flight from New York’s JFK airport to Hong Kong: eye mask, noise-cancelling headphones, cashmere wrap, lip balm, iPod, computer – check. What I didn’t expect was an amenity kit, courtesy of Cathay, filled with face wash, lotion, more lip balm, another eye mask and eye cream.

Cathay’s business class seats feature an amenities sections – everything fits neatly into compartments around your pod or under your foot rest so you don’t have to go far to get your in-flight necessities. The flight attendants, who are all impeccably dressed, continuously make their way through the cabins offering bottled water and champagne cocktails and within minutes you forget you’re 35,000-feet up in air.

The in-flight entertainment options offer dozens of movies, TV shows, radio stations and CDs to keep you occupied. I watched two movies, ordered a few snacks, indulged in some quiet time (otherwise known as “sleeping” for those who can sleep on planes), and thanks to the size of the pods, was able to comfortably stretch without invading anyone else’s space.While I didn’t indulge in any full means in flight, the menu was rather extensive. Each meal in business class came with three options and usually included a vegetarian option in addition to the typical salad that accompanies the meal. Desserts included fruit cups, cakes and cheese platters and when I got hungry about 10 hours into the flight, the flight attendants warmed up a cheese sandwich for me – the perfect midnight snack.

The combination of adrenaline and excitement kept me from sleeping on the flight to Hong Kong, but the comforts of business class made up for the lack of sleep. I arrived in Hong Kong at 6:30 a.m. local time, freshened up in the business class lounge and boarded the 2-hour flight to Shanghai. I arrived the Expo City by noon, ready to take on China.

Want more? Get your dose of Daily Pampering right here.

*Cathay Pacific sponsored my flight to China, but the views expressed in this post are strictly my own.

Photo of the Day (6.9.10)

by Melanie Nayer on

Maybe it’s in memory of Dennis Hopper, maybe it’s my new found fascination with China, or maybe it’s that I just think motorcycles are downright sexy – whatever the reason, today’s Photo of the Day seems to capture a moment I can’t refuse.

This cool ride was captured by jrodmanjr and is named ‘easy rider’ (maybe, again, in honor of Hopper, or maybe because the man on the bike makes it look so easy). The photo was captioned “Motorcyles ruled the road in China”, and even on a vintage bike this one, there’s something compelling about this ride.

Have a shot with a certain amount of sex appeal? Upload it to our Flickr pool and we may choose it as a feature in our Photo of the Day.

Hyatt continues global expansion of Andaz hotels

by Melanie Nayer on

Hyatt’s boutique brand, Andaz, is climbing its way up the hotel chain and making an impact on travelers. The response to Andaz has been bountiful, so much so that Hyatt announced today the company will add three new Andaz properties in Sanya Sunny Bay, China; Delhi, India; and Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.

Andaz, which has only been operating for three years, is Hyatt’s new hotel concept that caters to the urban professional seeking a more trendy experience without luxury prices. The new international properties will join Andaz Liverpool Street, London, Andaz West Hollywood, Andaz Wall Street and Andaz San Diego, the soon-to-be-opened Andaz 5th Avenue New York; Andaz Austin, Texas; Andaz Amsterdam; and Andaz Papagayo, Costa Rica.

The 183-room Andaz Sanya Sunny Bay will be the first Andaz property to feature a resort community. It’s located on the southern oceanside of China’s Hainan Island, and will stand next to the 196-room Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay and branded villas. Andaz Sanya Sunny Bay will offer five restaurants, as well as a 2,500-square-foot ballroom and three meeting rooms. The hotel will share a variety of amenities with Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay, including a Spa Village featuring an outdoor swimming pool, beach club, fitness center, extensive spa facilities and treatment rooms, as well as a restaurant, tea house, and bakery.Andaz Delhi is scheduled to open its 323-rooms and 118 Andaz-branded apartments in 2013. The hotel will feature a variety of amenities including a lounge, theme bar, two restaurants, spa, and fitness center. Additionally, the property will offer a 7,000-square-foot ballroom and seven meeting rooms. This will be Andaz’s first project in India.

The last of the three new properties, the 170-room Andaz Turks and Caicos, will open in 2014 and will include approximately 76 Andaz-branded condominium residences and three villas which owners can choose to place into an Andaz-managed rental program. The hotel will feature a variety of amenities including several restaurants, an outdoor pool, spa and fitness center. Additionally, the property will offer several options for events and meetings, including five Andaz Studios, two trellised courtyards, an event gallery, and a studio display kitchen. The hotel, which will be developed by the Cloisters Group, will be located approximately 15 minutes by car from Providenciales International Airport.