Hanting Express — Hotel in Shanghai

Since I took a taxi from the Hongqiao International Airport to the hotel (paid about 115 Yuan which is a very good price). When the driver stopped and told me "we're here" I was surprised because the pictures on Booking.com were slightly different. It was still the same hotel but the sing with its name, which was red on Booking.com, was blue in reality. They probably renovated it and didn't update the pictures anymore.||||After walking into the hotel I was greeted with the traditional "Nin Hao" but that was it. The receptionist kept working on the Computer while I was standing there with my passport in my hand. Maybe she was looking for my reservation? After literally 2 minutes (whuch felt like an eternity after a long journey) of starring at her, she finally asked for my passport. After updating it and making a copy of my passport details it has been taken a picture of me with a little camera. I was negatively surprised because I wasn't in the best conditions for a photoshooting specially after a 14 hours journey. ||After that a prepayment for the reservation has been asked, which happens in most hotels in China. However the price I had booked for prior 4 months was different from the price mentioned by the receptionist while checking in. The difference was about 300 Yuan. I was surprised because it never happened to me before and I had worked aswell at the Front Office Desk in a 5-Stars Hotel in Germany so I know such a change of price mustn't happen once you receive your booking confirmation. After showing the receptionist my Booking.com reservation confirmation with the price I booked for, she still insisted their prices had changed and that I was supposed to pay more. I could understand it if she tried to offer me a higher room category for some addictional amount per night but it didn't look like that. In the end, after checking and re-checking all the information on Booking Extranet aswell as in the Hotel System, the receptionist agreed on the price I booked for. No apology has been given for that "misunderstanding".||After that I paid the full amount for the accomodation. Luckily this hotel accepts Visa Cards and I could aswell split the payment into Cash and into my Credit Card aswell. I haven't been asked for a Cash Deposit but my credit card details have been saved in the Hotel System instead.||||After about 12 Minutes the checking-in process was done and the room keycard has been given to me with the number 8210 on it but no direction to the room has been pointed. I was surprised because this hotel didn't look like to have 8 floors. After asking which floor my room was on, the receptionist just showed me the elevator. ||I wondered about 5 long minutes on different floors until I found out my room #8210 was located on the 2nd floor. ||After walking into the room my first impression was not that positive: the room was dark and small (literally 12-14 square meters) witt no view outside because the windows were small and located righ under the celling, like in a restroom. I had a useless TV in my room but no wardrobe or cupboards to put my clothes into. At least they left me 4 hangers by the door. The bathroom was ok and the bed was comfortable.||||During the stay I found everyday some Escorts offers which I wasn't intersted to. Even after comunicating that the the hotelstaff I kept finding the brochures and visiting cards anyway.||||Since I always came back very late at night I wanted to rest during the day. However vven if a "Do not disturb" sign had been placed outside the door, Housekeeping staff still knocked the door and tried to enter the room. This happened two times in one day (1st time at around 12:30 p.m. and the 2nd time at around 2:45 p.m. For what do I hang the sign if they ignore it anyway? Luckily that never happened again after mentioning it to the Reception.||Also the cleaning service is not that high. I had spilled some orange juice on the bed to check if Housekeeping would change the bedsheets. After cominng back to the room i saw they made the bed but didn't change the sheets at all. I wonder if they did the same with dyrty towels.||||In the room itself I missed some little amenities such us a city map, a phonebook as well as a tv channels list, toothpaste & toothbrush, some extra snacks which you could pay for while checking out and soap by the sink. I had to literally enter the shower everytime I wanted to wash my hend after using the toilet.||||To connect to the complimentary WiFi you will need a chinese phone number which you dial to go online. After that you receive a confirmation code via SMS. This didn't work with my German phone number but luckily the Front Office staff was very kind and used their personal phone numbers everytime I needed to connect to the Internet. ||||Two days before my departure I decided to organise a transportation the Pudong International Airport. She didn't seem to understand anything but she took her private cellphone and she gave a call. After a moment, Moses (who introduced himself as the General Manager of the hotel) showed up with his good English and took personally care of the order of the transportation. He explained me very carefully that the taxi can be paid only with cash and he ensured me he would take care of everything. He also suggested to come to the reception some minutes before on the day of departure just to do the check-out without rush. Two wake up calls has been set aswell. In the end Moses left me his personal Phone Number and asked to give him a call in case of anything.||||A requested wake up call was punctual and efficient. The ordered Taxi came aswell on time. However as we arriver to Pudong International Airport I had a discussion with driver. The price which I aas supposed to pay was 364 Yuan but the driver insisted he wanted 400 Yuan. As a reasonnhe said it is easier like that. In the end I paid 370 Yuan because the driver didn't...

Since I took a taxi from the Hongqiao International Airport to the hotel (paid about 115 Yuan which is a very good price). When the driver stopped and told me "we're here" I was surprised because the pictures on Booking.com were slightly different. It was still the same hotel but the sing with its name, which was red on Booking.com, was blue in reality. They probably renovated it and didn't update the pictures anymore.||||After walking into the hotel I was greeted with the traditional "Nin Hao" but that was it. The receptionist kept working on the Computer while I was standing there with my passport in my hand. Maybe she was looking for my reservation? After literally 2 minutes (whuch felt like an eternity after a long journey) of starring at her, she finally asked for my passport. After updating it and making a copy of my passport details it has been taken a picture of me with a little camera. I was negatively surprised because I wasn't in the best conditions for a photoshooting specially after a 14 hours journey. ||After that a prepayment for the reservation has been asked, which happens in most hotels in China. However the price I had booked for prior 4 months was different from the price mentioned by the receptionist while checking in. The difference was about 300 Yuan. I was surprised because it never happened to me before and I had worked aswell at the Front Office Desk in a 5-Stars Hotel in Germany so I know such a change of price mustn't happen once you receive your booking confirmation. After showing the receptionist my Booking.com reservation confirmation with the price I booked for, she still insisted their prices had changed and that I was supposed to pay more. I could understand it if she tried to offer me a higher room category for some addictional amount per night but it didn't look like that. In the end, after checking and re-checking all the information on Booking Extranet aswell as in the Hotel System, the receptionist agreed on the price I booked for. No apology has been given for that "misunderstanding".||After that I paid the full amount for the accomodation. Luckily this hotel accepts Visa Cards and I could aswell split the payment into Cash and into my Credit Card aswell. I haven't been asked for a Cash Deposit but my credit card details have been saved in the Hotel System instead.||||After about 12 Minutes the checking-in process was done and the room keycard has been given to me with the number 8210 on it but no direction to the room has been pointed. I was surprised because this hotel didn't look like to have 8 floors. After asking which floor my room was on, the receptionist just showed me the elevator. ||I wondered about 5 long minutes on different floors until I found out my room #8210 was located on the 2nd floor. ||After walking into the room my first impression was not that positive: the room was dark and small (literally 12-14 square meters) witt no view outside because the windows were small and located righ under the celling, like in a restroom. I had a useless TV in my room but no wardrobe or cupboards to put my clothes into. At least they left me 4 hangers by the door. The bathroom was ok and the bed was comfortable.||||During the stay I found everyday some Escorts offers which I wasn't intersted to. Even after comunicating that the the hotelstaff I kept finding the brochures and visiting cards anyway.||||Since I always came back very late at night I wanted to rest during the day. However vven if a "Do not disturb" sign had been placed outside the door, Housekeeping staff still knocked the door and tried to enter the room. This happened two times in one day (1st time at around 12:30 p.m. and the 2nd time at around 2:45 p.m. For what do I hang the sign if they ignore it anyway? Luckily that never happened again after mentioning it to the Reception.||Also the cleaning service is not that high. I had spilled some orange juice on the bed to check if Housekeeping would change the bedsheets. After cominng back to the room i saw they made the bed but didn't change the sheets at all. I wonder if they did the same with dyrty towels.||||In the room itself I missed some little amenities such us a city map, a phonebook as well as a tv channels list, toothpaste & toothbrush, some extra snacks which you could pay for while checking out and soap by the sink. I had to literally enter the shower everytime I wanted to wash my hend after using the toilet.||||To connect to the complimentary WiFi you will need a chinese phone number which you dial to go online. After that you receive a confirmation code via SMS. This didn't work with my German phone number but luckily the Front Office staff was very kind and used their personal phone numbers everytime I needed to connect to the Internet. ||||Two days before my departure I decided to organise a transportation the Pudong International Airport. She didn't seem to understand anything but she took her private cellphone and she gave a call. After a moment, Moses (who introduced himself as the General Manager of the hotel) showed up with his good English and took personally care of the order of the transportation. He explained me very carefully that the taxi can be paid only with cash and he ensured me he would take care of everything. He also suggested to come to the reception some minutes before on the day of departure just to do the check-out without rush. Two wake up calls has been set aswell. In the end Moses left me his personal Phone Number and asked to give him a call in case of anything.||||A requested wake up call was punctual and efficient. The ordered Taxi came aswell on time. However as we arriver to Pudong International Airport I had a discussion with driver. The price which I aas supposed to pay was 364 Yuan but the driver insisted he wanted 400 Yuan. As a reasonnhe said it is easier like that. In the end I paid 370 Yuan because the driver didn't...

The property looked great on booking.com .. but I wondered what the heck I'd stepped into once I arrived there. Now, this has nothing to do with the front office staff or the housekeeping staff, because they are so wonderful. (But I did employ a guide while I was there .. and he helped me to converse because there is no English spoken at the property.) But the staff cannot make up for the state of the property. It's terrible. ||The hallway carpets are filthy. What was once a gold carpet is now black. The front reception .. I don't know what is used to mop it but it smells like faeces. ||The hotel is probably 99% accommodated by domestic tourists who ignore the 'no smoking' signs and the floors smell of cigarette smoke, plus guests are always clearing their throat outside the main reception area (perfect for putting you off your breakfast and saving you calories for the day). ||But perhaps the grossest thing was the continual supply of 'girlie cards' being thrown under your door (about 10 cards per day). So you have this icky feeling that you are staying in a 'rent me by the hour' hotel, which is really off. ||Sorry Hanting Express .. I'd like to be complimentary, but I simply cannot be accept for your staff and the excellent location of the property (about 6 mins walk from East Nanjing Road station). It's located about another 6 minutes walk from the amazing Bund ... a true spectacle...