For some, an accommodation is a place for rest before resuming on their trip. But for others, accommodation plays an important role and holds the power to affect one’s overall experience in a country. Replacing the basic minimalist interior and white satin bed sheets, here are 5 unique hotels in Shanghai that you should experience at least once in your life!
Toy Story Hotel
Everyone knows and loves the childhood film, Toy Story. This hilarious yet heart-wrenching film stole the hearts of many generations with it’s relatable and educational scenes. Lucky for us, Shanghai has its own Toy Story Hotel that’s perfect for families and nostalgic millennials! Furthermore, Toy Story Hotel doesn’t cost a bomb and it’s situated near Shanghai Disneyland - what a steal!
For a budgeted hotel, its theming is nicely done. Visitors can find Jessie and Woody wandering about in the hotel courtyard! Colour schemes from the film were coordinated and used in the lobby, on buffet tables, food trays and on the outside patio. Going the extra mile, the hotel was split into 2 themes: Buzz Lightyear and Woody. Additionally, all hotel rooms are decorated using the concept of Andy’s room, with his iconic light blue wallpaper with clouds. Furthermore, the rooms also include Story bed runners, a Rubix cube as a nightstand and Toy Story inspired slippers! With such detail on theming, customers are able to live the life of Andy with ease!
To make up for the absence of swimming pools and fitness centres, there are indoor playrooms for children under the age of 12. Parents are able to leave their children in the playroom if they have other urgent matters to attend to. There are also free shuttle bus rides to Disneyland! Guests of the Toy Story Hotel are allowed to enter the amusement park one hour in advance as well! Nevertheless, Toy Story Hotel is a delightful experience for those on a budget!
For more information on the hotel rates, click here.
Moller Villa
As the stereotype goes: Every girl dreams of being a princess while boys dream of being a knight. Whether you relate to the stereotype or not, everyone must have surely dreamt of rolling in money and sleeping in luxury! With Moller Villa, all your dreams can come true!
Straight out of a fairytale, Moller Villa resembles a fantasy-like European castle that looks exceptionally out of place in the urban jungle. Completed in 1936, the legend of the Moller Villa tells a story of a maiden’s wish. The daughter of the wealthy merchant, Mr Moller Eric, longed for a castle from Andersen’s fairy tale. Since Mr Moller loved his daughter to no ends, he hired architects to bring his daughter’s wishes to life.
Although the mansion is mainly Scandinavian, there are Chinese glazed tiles on the tall walls around the garden, and two Chinese-style stone lions at the gate. By combining infrastructures from both cultures, Moller created a perfect harmony between the East and the West. However, the biggest influence on the mansion would be the marine theme that can be found adorning the interior and exterior of the villa. Since the family was involved in the shipping and shipbuilding industry, Moller brought his knowledge over to the construction of the villa. The result? An infrastructural masterpiece with many interesting, unconventional details. As such, oval fence railings and decorative round windows can be found throughout the mansion.
With it’s hanging chandelier, wooden flooring and golden brown curtains, the rooms in Moller Villa exude elegance and grandeur. A night in Moller Villa can be pretty expensive. However, that’s a small price to pay to live like royalty.
On a side note, businessmen are welcomed to hold meetings or conferences in Moller Villa’s business conference room. Modern equipment such as projectors and the internet are also provided. With the dazzling infrastructure and interior of the Moller Villa, you’d be sure to wow your clients!
To find out more about the prices, click here!
Urbn Hotel
Ecotourism has been on the rise ever since travellers are more educated on the effects of overtourism and carbon footprint. This trend is growing even more rapidly as scientists warn about global warming. The growth in awareness made tourists opt for more environmentally friendly options and forgo environmentally hazardous options. For such travellers, Urbn Hotel can be one of the itinerary options to stay in!
Urbn Hotel is a four-star boutique eco-hotel that aims to contribute minimal carbon footprint to the environment. Featuring a “modernist zen” concept, URBN integrates natural elements such as plants and neutral coloured furnishing in its hotel rooms.
Committed to their craft, everything in Urbn is made either through reclaimed, recycled or natural materials. For instance, Urbn used locally sourced recycled wood and grey bricks to construct its interior. In addition, air purifiers and energy-saving mood lights were also installed.
Going even further, Urbn involves their guests in their environmental practices by donating to the Million Tree Project every time a guest writes a comment card. In addition, there is a recycling bin for clothes in the hotel lobby for guests to recycle their used clothes. The hotel normally uses the recycling bin to recycle their used linen as wekk.
Truly the epitome of going green, Urbn Hotel is a perfect match for eco-tourism. For information on the hotel rates, click here.
InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland
Most people have heard of themed hotels, underwater hotels and even space hotels (it’s said to launch in 2021). But how about a quarry hotel? The InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland hotel blows people’s minds with their new interesting underground concept.
Clinching the title as the world’s first quarry hotel, InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland has 18 floors that go 88m below sea level. The hotel is partially submerged with its bottom 2 floors lost in the depth of the quarry! The submerged floors give a unique proposition to guests as they can literally eat or sleep beside an acrylic saltwater aquarium while watching the fishes swim by!
InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is designed with the concept ‘adventure to the centre of the Earth’ in mind. Expanding their creativity, designers played around with different coloured stones and placements to immerse their guests in a cave-like interior. For the concept to work, the hotel uses state of the art technology and interesting geometric shapes for a prestigious and futuristic appearance. As the hotel is also inspired by James Bond films, there’s even a helicopter pad beside the lake that acts as an incentive for Crazy Rich Asians!
The hotel is so dedicated that they even went the extra mile to theme all facilities and amenities! Even the rooms are themed as well! All rooms follow a slick, clean and modern furnishing but are decorated according to the theme of their floors.
Being a 4-star hotel, the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is on the pricier side. For a luxurious hotel experience, visit their website here.
Shanghai Blue Mountain Youth Hostel Luwan
Are you travelling to Shanghai on a budgeted trip? Or are you going on a solo trip and are unsure of where to stay? Well, Shanghai Blue Mountain Luwan Youth Hostel is perfect for a cheap and interesting abode. The hostel is a great space for meeting new people with its facilities such as the billiard room, a bar/lounge area, shared kitchen and a leisure/ TV room.
Catering for more adventurous and open travellers, the hostel has a co-living concept where guests will be shuffled into single-sex rooms. However, private rooms are also available for those who value privacy! There’s even a 24 hours reception available in the hostel so guests can check-in and out anytime they want.
For an extremely affordable price, the convenience of Blue Mountain Youth Hostel is incomparable with only a 5 minutes walk to a metro station and 15 minutes walk to the famous Bund waterfront!
Curious? For more information, click here!
Are you the kind who likes staying in hotel rooms during your vacation? Or are you the type that thinks sleep is just a necessary evil? Tell us in the comments below!
