Shanghai With My Tween (Teenage Boy) - Part 1 - Novotel Hotels

The last time I went Shanghai was 2 decades ago. The only memories left were Nanjing Road and Yuyuan. Unless one has friends or relatives in China, one seldom has the desire to want to visit that country. There are enough negative news circulating in the cyberspace about this country to turn us off. 

But I know we cannot afford to neglect this powerhouse. Not only is this country having one of the strongest economy, its technology (news) is advancing at lightning speed that taking over Silicon Valley could just be a matter of time (may not be very long). I don't want AJ to be a frog in the well, especially when he is so into technology. I want him to know and see how much China has advanced and why it is a country not to be belittled.

So during the past PSLE marking week, I brought him to Shanghai. Because I haven't been to China for over 2 decades, I felt this state is a good place to start. Shanghai, being the financial hub of China, is more cosmopolitan. And because of that, finding a decent place to stay when you have a young one with you wouldn't be cheap and good. Thus, staying in hotls located a little outskirt of the CBD will give you a more affordable pricing. Choose one that is near train station so that you have the convenience of transportation, without relying on taxi (roads in Shanghai can be very congested, especially in the city area and city fringe).

I spied on Novotel hotels because they are reasonably priced yet near the MRT stations.

Our first hotel was Novotel Atlantis along Fushan Road, it can be spotted if you walk along Pudong Ave. It is less than 10mins walk to Pudong Ave MRT station.

The rooms facing the Oriental Pearl Tower side will enjoy spectacular view in the night so do ask for the right facing if you choose to stay in Novotel Atlantis.

Not all the packages come with breakfast. If yours does not, fret not. Novotel Atlantis offers one free breakfast for child under 16 of age for every paying adult (RMB80; approx S$16). However, since Shanghai city has no lack of yummy food, you could always have your breakfast in the city area. And please bring along swimsuit, regardless Autumn or Winter, because Atlantis has an indoor pool! Your children will be overjoy!

Here's a tour of the Executive Suite that we stayed in and the day view:

I have planned the last item in our itinerary to be in Disneyland since it is very near Pudong International Airport. But I didnt want to stay in the expensive Disney hotel as AJ has grown out of the Disney craze, so the best hotel I suppose is, Novotel Clover.

Novotel Clover is 10mins car ride away from Disneyland and 40mins car ride away from Pudong International Airport, Best of all, the hotel provides free shuttle service to/fro Disneyland and Airport on their very own electric coach!

Novotel Clover is a business hotel since it is nested in an Industrial Park. The rooms are smaller than Novotel Atlantis, but the furnishing is of better quality. There is even an air purifier inside our room in Clover! Here's a tour of our room, which Clover has kindly upgraded us to the Premier floor and a video of the awesome hotel reception:

We are glad to have selected Novotel as our choice hotels in our stay in Shanghai. There was no slip of service, staff communicated well and proper, and food was decent. Do check out Novotel hotels should you choose to visit Shanghai.

Continue to follow us on this blog as I share our itinerary in the following posts.