Holiday Inn Shanghai Vista — Hotel in Shanghai

The location of the hotel is not close to the famous attractions, however, the metro station is about 7 min walk and can take metro to many attractions but would take about 20 min. The Holiday Inn Vista hotel is dated and could use a renovation as it shows its age. When we checked in, the front desk manager was friendly and helpful. However, there were a few incidents really disappointing.1. Since we used eSIM and didn’t have a local phone number and couldn’t register for local map app and other useful apps to find restaurants, malls and landmarks. We inquired about the directions and attractions with front desk staff, and some were friendly and helpful but others were rude and irritated with us. Believe me, we are very polite guests and always thank them for their help.2. A local friend tried to arrange a diner with us and had called the hotel multiple times and either couldn’t get through or was told that they couldn’t transferred the phone call to our room. After receiving text messages from our friend, we called the front desk and asked when our friend call, please transfer the call to our room. We were told that hotel guests can only dial out and can’t revive calls from outside. That made no sense at all, then we asked to be transferred to the front desk and was told the front desk staff was busy and we should call back in 20 min3. This is a 20+ story hotel and they only have two sets of washer and dryer. This is simply not adequate to serve hundreds of hotel guests. Granted, the hotel offers laundry services but prices are really expensive. Done hotel guests did their laundry in the washer and left for hours and other guests simply can’t use the washer.. we stayed at the hotel six nights and wanted to do laundry before coming home, and didn’t get to finish laundry until 2:30am. We had stayed at other cities, and no other hotels offer washers and dryers onsite so I probably shouldn’t complain. 4. TV is really small (40”?) with very limited channels. It was difficult to watch TV in bed so we didn’t watch TV for Six nights.For what we had paid, I believe we could have found a better or newer hotel somewhere else...

I recently stayed at this Holiday Inn for almost 20 days across five stays and encountered several issues:

Room Odor: Upon checking into one of the rooms, I was hit by a strong smell of smoke. The front desk was very eager to help and provided an air purifier. However, I discovered that the purifier's filter was extremely dirty and covered in dust, which did not help the situation.

2.Unfair Treatment: During breakfast, I saw someone using a takeout box. Since my daughter had only eaten a little and we were in a rush, I asked if we could take some food to go. The staff said it wasn't allowed. When I inquired why another guest was given a takeout box, I was told it was because they had connections. Thisunfair treatment was unacceptable. I later spoke to a male duty manager, who said takeout was allowed, but a nearby female employee, who seemed like a manager, contradicted him, saying they did not provide takeout boxes. This inconsistency and favoritism in the restaurant's management were very frustrating.

Discriminatory Service: On the second floor, after finishing our meal, I observed a female staff member eagerly assisting two white guests with the elevator, even though they clearly did not need help or understand her Chinese. She ignored me and my two children entirely, despite us standing right next to her. It seemed like she was prioritizing the white guests over us, perhaps assuming we were Chinese. In fact, my children and I are American citizens. What a shame!

Restaurant Hygiene: The yogurt straws in the restaurant were packaged together rather than individually. This meant each guest had to tear one off themselves, often resulting in multiple straws being torn off at once, leading to waste. I brought this up with the restaurant staff multiple times, but no changes were made during my stay.

Overall, these experiences left a negative impression of the hotel's service...

check in during chinese new year period. located relative downtown and cherch event nearby, so i tried this Hotel with IHG points. i did not receive any email or calls to confirm my stay and do some preparation. when i was there, they told me only one queen was available, all others are occupied. they told me they strictly follow IHG rules and cannot upgrade reward room, also no breakfast. I am offered welcome drinks and 60RMB voucher. the so called only room is quite old and with no bathtu. Contact frontdesk immediately, I need another room with bathtub, king Room also accepted in this case. they have one staff showing me another one, king room with a bathtub. the bath is old and yellow with ages. although facility is there, but nobody will use. I came to fronkdesk and ask for third room. this time they showed me a better one in club floor. still king room, but the bathtub is much better, not yellowed one, at least. Then I confirmed this room. spending time on seeking a room is really bad, especially in spring festival. although I am told this is an upgrade, but without respective benefit. its good they cleaned room under my eyes as requested.

I told Hotel staff on late check out and clean my bathroom asap. responce is slow even I pushed with another call. I got feeling that staff there is not friendly as they told me normally they cannot clean room on check out date, and they are very busy. cannot image this case happened in shanghai, no service sense at all. staff also challenge us one small tower is missing... no comment on this...did we stolen it??

upon above cases, I don't like this hotel. reward stay is...