Shanghai Luxury: Radisson Collection Xing Guo—Unforgettable Stay Awaits!
Shanghai Luxury: Radisson Collection Xing Guo – My Unfiltered Confession of a Shanghai Stay! (SEO Edition – Prepare to Be Amazed!)
Okay, folks, listen up! I just got back from the Radisson Collection Xing Guo in Shanghai, and I'm still reeling. Forget polished reviews for a second. This is the real deal – my brain-dump of a trip, complete with the good, the slightly less good, and the moments that made me want to hug the entire staff. This review is for you: the discerning traveler, the luxury seeker, the someone-who-needs-a-damn-vacation-and-deserves-it kinda person. Buckle up, because it's a wild ride!
Let's Talk Accessibility, Baby! (And My Stumbling Block…Literally)
First things first: Accessibility. This is HUGE for a lot of you, and rightly so. The Radisson Collection gets it. The website boasts Wheelchair accessible features, and I saw Elevators everywhere (thank the heavens, because my clumsy self almost tripped over an ornamental rock in the lobby… twice.). They also mention features for disabled guests (though I don’t have a detailed list, so make sure to check with them directly!). My only (minor) gripe? The cobblestone path leading to the main entrance? Not the most friendly for rolling luggage…or, let's be honest, even walking in heels. (I learned that the hard way.)
Internet Woes (or Triumph!)
Okay, so internet is a MUST. We're talking Internet Access, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! (Hallelujah!), Wi-Fi in public areas, Internet [LAN], and Internet services. No excuses for being offline here, people! I'm talking instant uploads of ridiculously aesthetic food pics (coming up!), and instant access to my doomscrolling newsfeed. It's a win. And honestly, the Wi-Fi was blazing fast. Thank you, Radisson, for understanding the modern predicament.
Spa Day Nirvana (And My Internal Monologue)
Oh. My. God. The Spa at the Xing Guo. Seriously. Prepare to melt. They have everything: Body scrub, Body wrap, Massage, Sauna, Spa/Sauna, Steamroom, Foot Bath. I spent a solid chunk of one afternoon holed up in there. I opted for the deep tissue massage, and… shivers… it was pure bliss. My masseuse, bless her heart, even managed to knead out the knots I didn't even KNOW I had. I honestly think I may have snored. And the Pool with a view? Stunning. I'm talking serious "Instagrammable" views.
The Fitness Freak in Me (And The Pizza I Ate Afterwards)
Alright, confession time: I attempted to hit the Fitness center. Okay, I went. I "worked out". The Gym/fitness setup was actually pretty good, a decent amount of equipment, and clean. I even managed a half-hour of cardio before thinking, "You know what? I deserve pizza." (See aforementioned fitness attempt and the pizza I scarfed down later).
Food, Glorious Food (And My Dietary Adventures)
Let's get down to the REALLY important stuff: Dining, drinking, and snacking! The Radisson Collection Xing Guo delivers. I'm talking Restaurants galore! Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant – you name it, they've probably got it.
- The Buffet Breakfast: Forget the diet. The Breakfast [buffet] was an absolute beast. Asian breakfast, Western breakfast – it's all there. And, you know, sometimes you just need a plate piled high with pastries, bacon, and scrambled eggs. I may have gone back for seconds. (Okay, maybe thirds.)
- Room Service 24-Hour: Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, and Room service [24-hour] were my best friends. The coffee was exceptional, and the room service menu included everything from a late-night snack attack to a full three-course meal… because why not?!
- Poolside Bar & Happy Hour: The Poolside bar was perfect for a relaxed afternoon, and I definitely took advantage of Happy hour with a few cocktails.
- The Other Options: A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Desserts in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, and Snack bar mean variety is the spice of life. I'm not much of a soup or salad person (I’m trying!), but the dessert selection? Deadly.
Cleanliness and Safety – Because We All Care Now!
Let's be real, we all care about Cleanliness and safety more than ever. And the Radisson, bless their hearts, takes it seriously. I spotted Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer everywhere, and Staff trained in safety protocol. They had Individually-wrapped food options, Safe dining setup, and Sanitized kitchen and tableware items. I even saw a sign explaining that I had the Room sanitization opt-out available. It felt safe, and THAT is a big win today.
The Room: My Temporary Shanghai Sanctuary
I’m a sucker for a beautifully designed hotel room. Available in all rooms: Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens. My room was, honestly, stunning. The Air conditioning was a godsend escaping the Shanghai heat. The Blackout curtains were essential for sleeping off my jet lag. The Mini bar? Well, let’s just say it got some use. The bed? The most comfortable thing I've ever slept in. It was a truly blissful experience.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things That Matter
The Services and conveniences: they are key! Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center.
- The Concierge: Absolute lifesavers. They arranged everything – from restaurant reservations to getting me those elusive Shanghai crabs (worth it!).
- The Staff: Seriously, the staff were beyond friendly. Always smiling, always helpful. They remembered my name! (Which is impressive, considering I'm terrible with faces.)
- The Location: It's right in the middle of it all. Easy access to public transportation, shopping, and cultural attractions.
For The Young & Young at Heart: (I was too busy indulging, so maybe next time)
For the kids: Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal. While I went sans-kids, I did notice a lot of family-friendly features and amenities. So if you're traveling with the fam, this place is a good bet.
Getting Around: Easy Peasy!
Getting around: Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking. Getting to and from the Airport transfer was smooth. And the options for Car park and convenient Taxi service and Valet parking make everything a breeze.
Extra Perks & Quirky Observations (because I'm me)
- The "Proposal Spot": They actually have an area specifically designed for proposals. Seriously. Romance is in the air! (I'll be honest, I was too busy eating to notice.)
- Souvenir Shop: I'm a sucker for a good souvenir.
- The Little Touches: The hotel had all the little touches that made the stay even more pleasant, from the incredibly kind staff to the beautiful design of the rooms.
The Minor Negatives (because I'm honest)
- Pricey Drinks: Drinks at the bar were a little on the expensive side.
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! This isn't your sanitized, brochure-perfect itinerary. This is the raw, unfiltered, probably somewhat jet-lagged account of my time at the Radisson Collection Hotel Xing Guo Shanghai. Consider yourselves warned.
Shanghai Shenanigans: My Radisson Rhapsody – A Trainwreck (Mostly Delightful)
Day 1: Arrival & Existential Crisis in a Lobby
- 14:00 – Arrival & Hotel Check-in: Oh, Shanghai. You are gorgeous. The Radisson Xing Guo? Even more so. Marble everywhere. The staff? Impeccably polite to the point of intimidation. (I swear, the bellhop looked like he was about to cry if I didn't tip enough.) The room? A spacious, modern haven…that immediately made me question my life choices. Like, am I really worthy of this level of luxury? I mean, I spent the last two weeks eating instant noodles. This is…different.
- 14:30 – Lobby Reconnaissance: Spent far too long just wandering around the lobby, taking in the sheer grandeur. The smell of fresh flowers, the faint murmur of conversations in languages I didn't understand, the way the sunlight hit the polished floors… I felt like I was in a movie. A movie where the main character is a slightly bewildered, perpetually under-dressed tourist.
- 15:00 – Room Exploration & Panic: The room itself was fantastic. But then the tech started. Lights, climate control, the curtains…all controlled by a tablet. I spent a solid twenty minutes fighting with the curtains. Eventually, I gave up and just used the old-fashioned pull cord. Victory! (And a renewed sense of existential dread, because, let's be honest, I'm technologically challenged.)
- 16:00 – The First Meal Disaster (and Triumph!): Found the hotel restaurant. Looked at the menu. It was…extensive. And, frankly, a bit intimidating. Wound up ordering something that looked familiar (fried rice, always a safe bet, right?). Turns out, it was loaded with something I'm pretty sure was…fermented bean curd? The first bite sent a shockwave of pure, unadulterated weirdness through my taste buds. I hated it. But! I also needed to conquer it. I forced myself to eat the whole damned bowl. (It wasn't fried rice. It was a lesson.)
- 17:00 – Shanghai Sunset Stroll (Almost): Intended to go for a stroll, see the Bund, soak in the atmosphere. Instead, crashed on the bed from exhaustion. Jet lag is a cruel mistress.
- 19:00 – Dinner - The Second Meal Disaster (and slight victory): Another stab at dining, this time at the hotel's more casual eatery, hoping for something less…intense. Ordered dumplings. Can't go wrong with dumplings, right? Wrong. The dipping sauce turned out to be a concoction that tasted vaguely of…earthworms? (Okay, maybe not literally, but the texture was unsettling). I powered through. Only got 3 dumplings down, but it was still impressive. I took a deep breath, laughed at myself, and ordered a delicious local rice wine. That, at least, was a victory.
- 21:00 – Bedtime & Despair: Too tired to enjoy the giant bathtub. Too ashamed of the whole fermented bean curd incident to journal properly. Passed out.
Day 2: Temples, Tears, and Taxi Trauma
- 08:00 – Breakfast & Redemption: Thankfully, breakfast was buffet-style. And while the offerings were still…unique (seaweed porridge, anyone?), there was also delicious coffee, pastries, and fruit. Civilization restored! I ate enough to fuel a small army.
- 09:00 – Taxi Ride (Almost Fatal): Decided to explore the Jing'an Temple. Naively, I thought catching a taxi would be simple. Wrong. The driver didn't speak English. The GPS went haywire. We were on the highway. I swore I saw him…drift. By the time we arrived at the temple, I was a sweaty, trembling mess. I swear I aged five years in that 20-minute ride.
- 09:30 – Jing'an Temple - Finding My Center (and Maybe Losing It Again): The temple was beautiful. The incense, the chanting, the sheer peacefulness…it almost made me forget about the near-death experience in the taxi. I wandered around, feeling strangely calm. Then, I saw a small child crying. Tears sprung to my eyes too. The sheer emotional overload of the morning had gotten to me. I had a full-on sob for a solid five minutes.
- 11:00 – Lunch & Dim Sum Delight: Shanghai Tang, the only restaurant I could find that had an English menu: It was AMAZING. So much better than anything I had at the hotel. I ended up ordering approximately 8 different kinds of dumplings, each more delicious than the last. I'd almost recovered from my taxi-induced trauma.
- 13:00 – Shopping Frenzy – That's not really that bad: Went to a market. Wandered around. Realized quickly that I did not know how to bargain, which did not help. I bought a silk scarf. I felt like a proper cliché, even if I will never wear a scarf again.
- 16:00 – Hotel Rest & Contemplation: The heat was unreal. Went back to the hotel, took a shower, and re-discovered the air conditioning. Thank god.
- 17:00 – The Yu Garden Mishap: Decided to visit the Yu Garden. Got horribly lost on the way - Shanghai is HUGE. Eventually, I got there and was immediately assaulted by a crush of people. It was beautiful, but… claustrophobic. Didn't enjoy it as much as I could have, and felt like a complete sardine. (Perhaps the taxi trauma was still affecting me).
- 19:00 –Dinner Went back to the hotel. It was a repeat of the second meal. Sad.
- 21:00 – Stare at ceiling and sleep.
Day 3: Culture Shock and (Maybe) a Little Bit of Culture
- 08:00 – Breakfast and the End of the Road: Buffet again. It will be my last one though: it's time to move on and explore more!
- 09:00 – The Shanghai Museum: Actually, this was a highlight. I spent hours wandering through the exhibits. I saw ancient pottery. The jade collection was astounding. I felt like I was actually learning something about the culture.
- 13:00 – A Brief Stint In A Tea House After walking around the Shanghai museum for too long, I was exhausted, but not ready to head back to my room. I decided to head to a lovely Tea House near the museum and ordered some tea. I didn't understand the tea ceremony, but I did enjoy the delicious tea.
- 14:00 – Back to Hotel. Time to Say Goodbye
Radisson Xing Guo Shanghai: The Verdict
Would I recommend the Radisson Collection Hotel Xing Guo? Absolutely. Despite the minor setbacks, the food disasters, the near-death experiences, and the moments of utter bewilderment, it was a fantastic base for exploring Shanghai. It's beautiful, comfortable, and the staff are genuinely lovely (even if you feel like you need to curtsy to the bellhop…). Plus, those moments of unexpected weirdness? They're what make travel truly memorable. Just…maybe pack some Pepto-Bismol. And learn how to use the curtains.
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Okay, Spill the Tea: Is the Radisson Collection Xing Guo REALLY as Fancy as They Say?
Alright, alright, settle down, gossipers! Let me tell you, yeah, the Xing Guo is pretty darn swanky. Think less "hostel with a mini-fridge" and more "movie star's weekend getaway." But is it *perfect*? Honey, nothing's perfect, not even me after a full night's sleep (which, let's be honest, rarely happens). It's got that old-world Shanghai charm, you know? Like, imagine a Gatsby party, but instead of everyone just knowing how to Charleston, they're all flawlessly fluent in Mandarin and know the proper way to wield a chopstick.
The lobby? Absolutely stunning. Chandeliers that could probably fund a small country, marble floors you could eat off (though, I wouldn't recommend it – germs, people!). But... and there's always a "but," isn't there? ... One time, I swear, there was a rogue construction worker's *boot* casually leaning against a pillar during check-in. Like, hello? Vibes, people, vibes! It was quickly dealt with, but it broke the spell a little. Made me feel like I was peeking behind the curtain. See? Not perfect. But still, VERY nice.
About those Rooms...Are They Actually Worth the Price Tag? Don't Lie to Me!
Oy vey, the rooms! Okay, the rooms are... *impressive*. Spacious, comfortable, and that feeling of pure, unadulterated luxury – the kind that makes you want to immediately toss your suitcase onto the ridiculously plush bed and just... *breathe*. The beds themselves? Pure heaven. Like sleeping on a cloud made of marshmallows and winning lottery tickets. Seriously, I almost missed my flight because I couldn't get my lazy bum outta bed!
BUT… and this is a big but… they're not exactly "cheap eats." You're paying for the experience, the location (seriously, the location is GOLD), and the (mostly) impeccable service. Would *I* pay the full rate every time? Probably not. I'm a budget queen at heart, remember? (Don't tell my credit card company!) But if you're looking for a splurge, a romantic getaway, or just a serious pampering session? Yeah, they’re worth considering. Definitely. Just... try not think about the bills too much, okay?
Oh! And the bathrooms! Marble, double sinks, the works. One time, I tried to take a bubble bath but, get this… I couldn't figure out the fancy, high-tech water system initially! Took me about 15 minutes to get the temperature right and another 5 to figure out the jets. I felt so utterly inept! But hey, finally figured it out, and then… it was pure bliss. That bath changed my entire mood. Just go with it, even if you feel like a total tech-illiterate idiot for a moment. You'll get there.
So, Where *Exactly* Is this Place? I'm All About That Prime Real Estate.
Location, location, location! The Xing Guo is nestled in the French Concession, which is basically the coolest, chicest, greenest part of Shanghai. Think tree-lined streets, gorgeous old villas, and a general air of effortless sophistication. It's PERFECT for exploring. You're close to all the good stuff: shopping, restaurants, bars, and the super-photogenic former residences of some very wealthy people from way back when. I spent an afternoon just wandering around, getting lost, and taking a *million* photos. It's pure, walkable Shanghai bliss!
The only slightly 'meh' part *might* be the accessibility with a taxi to some of the big tourist spots. Sometimes traffic in Shanghai is, well, a nightmare. So, be prepared to factor that in. But honestly, the French Concession itself is so amazing, you might not even *want* to leave. I certainly didn’t.
The Food! Give Me the Dish on the Eats! Is the Hotel Restaurant Worth the Hype?
Okay, FOOD! This is where things get… complicated. The Xing Guo has a few restaurants, and they're all generally very well-regarded. The breakfast buffet? Oh. My. Goodness. It’s a *feast*. Everything from dim sum to Western staples is there! You can definitely fill up and skip lunch. I loved it. Absolutely loved it. I ate so much dim sum, I almost burst. And the coffee was actually decent, which is a huge win for hotel breakfasts, in my humble opinion.
However, the other restaurants vary. The Chinese restaurant is supposed to be AMAZING, but I only ate there once and, well, it was one of those experiences that left me feeling a little… confused. The food was beautifully presented, the service was impeccable, but I didn't quite understand the dishes (and they were *pricey*). It was a very refined experience, but a bit… perplexing, if I’m being honest. I should have brought someone who knows more about Cantonese cuisine. I feel like that would have been key.
My advice? Definitely go for the breakfast buffet. It's a winner! Then, maybe explore the amazing food scene *outside* the hotel. Shanghai is a culinary wonderland, and you'd be missing out if you didn't try the local restaurants and street food. I had some of the best soup dumplings of my life at a tiny place down the street! Don't be afraid to get lost and try new things – that's half the fun!
What About the Service? Are the Staff as Polished as the Marble?
Generally, the service is excellent. The staff are genuinely friendly and helpful. They try to be super attentive. Checking in and out was easy. They speak English, which is a godsend if your Mandarin is as nonexistent as mine. They're all very polished and professional. They really go out of their way to make your stay pleasant. They’ll happily help you with anything, from booking a taxi to giving you directions.
That said… there's always a small chance of little imperfections. One time, the room service order arrived with the wrong dressing for my salad (a small thing I know, but it was the *wrong* dressing!). And while the staff were genuinely apologetic, it did make me feel a little silly. It happens, right? Nobody is perfect. But on the whole, it's a very well-run operation. They clearly invest in their staff.
Okay, Real Talk: Does the Hotel Actually Have Enough to Keep Me Entertained? Gym? Pool? Spa? Give Me the deets!
Oh, the amenities! Okay, let's start with the fitness center. It's decent. Not the most amazing gym I've ever seen, but it has all the essentialsSearch Hotel Guide
