Please keep in mind that this was our first time to China, for a long weekend. So, I am comparing this to how a 5-star hotel should be. On the upside: 1. The hotel's location is ideally located in the heart of the French Concession. There are lots of curious shops within walking distance; it's a great place to start a stroll. 2. The hotel itself is a magnificent old building and once inside the lobby, you feel a world apart from the Shanghai chaos outside. 3. We were keen to avoid a business-hotel feel. It certainly feels more boutique than the chains. 4. We had a Superior King room. The room was large and met specification. They've tried to give the rooms something of a period feel, by decking them out with (fake) antique furniture. On the downside: 1. We took the Weekend Package - stay 2 nights and get 3rd free. I noticed afterwards that the room rate/night that is used to calculate the price of two nights for this package was higher than the basic rate if I had just booked two nights (though it still came in slightly cheaper on the Weekend Package). 2. The service was terrible. The desk staff had no idea about what I would regard as basic knowledge for a 5-star hotel, eg the names or addresses of the best-known restaurants in town. We cannot have been their first customers to request a cab to Jean Georges. Worse still, one night the staff gave the cab driver the wrong address for the restaurant ... fortunately I had a guide book in my back pocket. Maybe the staff/concierge need more training. We also ran out of toilet paper one night . 3. It took a while for people to appear and things to happen, eg we waited a few minutes for someone to show us a table in the lobby for a drink. 4. The breakfast is expensive for what it is and not up to 5-star hotel standard. I'd recommend eating outside. Maybe these are all small points, but when you are paying more than $250 per night, with a 15% service fee on everything, this all counts.

We made our reservation at the Mansion Hotel with great expectations ... and could hardly have been more disappointed. Yes, the hotel has many beautiful features, but nothing could make up for the truly dreadful service and serious problems with our room. The hotel staff was consistently cold, unhelpful, and often hostile, especially those at the front desk. We were checked in without so much as a "welcome" or a smile. Because we had missed lunch and were hungry when we arrived, we asked if they could recommend something in the area. In response, we were given a map with the hotel circled on it, and were told that there were many restaurants in the area. After 45 minutes of walking (apparently we had headed in the wrong direction), we returned to ask for more help. We were then told that the restaurant on the 5th floor of the hotel was open, and we could have lunch there. Why this information wasn't initially offered is a mystery. Our room, while nicely appointed (although quite small), had serious issues that were never addressed. Most importantly, there was mold growing on the ceiling and an oppressive mold smell that permeated the room. The hall lights outside of our room were never turned on, making returning at night through a dark hallway a fairly creepy experience. There was no response to our repeated requests to have these problems dealt with. We booked a "VIP package", which was to include champagne upon arrival, flowers in the room, and two massages. There was no champagne (never did manage to receive it), the flowers were sad, and we received the massages only after our reminders that this was to be included in our package. Unfortunately, there was no glimmer of hospitality from the beginning of our stay until the end. The final blow was when someone chased us out to our car, as we were leaving for the airport, to say that housekeeping had reported that we consumed one more minibar coke than had originally been reported, and we owed them an additional five dollars (remember the champagne that we never received?). We are travelers who love small hotels and had hoped that this would be an experience to remember. Unfortunately, the Mansion was devoid of the kind of service and attention to detail that make staying in a small "boutique" hotel a special experience. The Mansion Hotel is not what it appears to be. I would suggest that you find a cool night to visit the top floor outdoor restaurant for drinks, but avoid staying at this hotel at all costs.

The Mansion isn’t a bad hotel. It’s clean and comfortable and its location in the heart of the French Concession is ideal for exploring Shanghai. However, the hotel’s prices (for rooms, food, laundry—most everything) are at the top of the line for China and it fails to meet an international 5 star level in some significant ways. Service 1. For reasons that I was unable to determine, most of the staff seems quite unhappy. There was no warmth or friendliness in the service, even from staff members that we saw several times during our three-night stay. One of the reasons we like to stay in smaller hotels (like the Mansion) is because we prefer a more personal experience. We felt as anonymous here as we would felt have at a Marriott with 1,000 rooms. 2. The hotel charges a 15% service fee on top of its already high prices on almost everything. In addition, the staff hover around after they perform every service and are clearly expecting tips. I suspect that little if any of the service charge goes to the staff and this may explain the unhappy staff attitude I mentioned in point 1. However, the practice of charging for service and then having the staff expect tips is outrageous and should stop immediately. 3. We encountered some glaring service gaps. For example, we arrived back at the hotel at 9.30 pm on a Saturday evening and wanted to have a drink. We went up to the bar on the fifth floor and it was closed for a private function. We went back to the nearly empty lobby lounge and sat down in full view of several staff members. No one came and asked us if we wanted anything. After 10 minutes I got up and told a staff member that we wanted to order a drink. Rather than take our order, the staff member said he would get someone from the bar. 10 minutes later no one had appeared and I had to get up and ask again. Someone finally arrived and took our order about 30 minutes after we sat down and our (expensive) drinks arrived 10 minutes after that. Again, the server clearly expected a tip even though the order included a 15% service charge. 4. Service in the restaurant on the 5th floor was disorganized—almost chaotic. I could never tell which waiter was in charge of our table (different waiters appeared throughout the meal), part of our order was forgotten and another part was given to the table next to us. Design Design preferences are very personal and I understand that other people may find the hotel’s design attractive. I did not. 1. The lobby is fussy and cluttered and it often has an unpleasant food odor wafting through it. 2. Our room was large but the space was not used very effectively. There was a very large bed (that’s fine) and an overly large (almost silly) desk, armchair and footrest. There was also a large, fake fireplace. The wardrobe for hanging clothes was too small and there were no drawers for clothes. If space had been used more effectively, there would have been room for a small, but cozy sitting area with a sofa and chairs and adequate room for clothes. 3. The lamps next to the bed do not provide enough light for reading—you have to keep the overhead light on. 4. The shower curtain is inadequate and water floods the bathroom floor. 5. Our room had many shiny/glossy/reflective surfaces and mirrors. It’s looks like a Chinese version of Las Vegas style and I did not care for it. To summarize, there is nothing seriously wrong with the Mansion and its location is excellent. However, for the prices being charged I expect better, friendlier service and the design of the hotel did not appeal to me.

I must admit that I was a little nervous about arriving in Shanghai alone, but all that changed when I saw the limousine driver from China Mansion Hotel holding up a sign with my name on it. From then on I was in heaven. From the moment I stepped into the romantic historical lobby I knew I had made the right decision to stay in the French Concession are rather than the space age Pudong side. The accomodation at the Mansion is reminiscent of the Peninsula in Hong Kong, with a much more intimate feel. The lobby is without retail outlets and feels like the entrance to a grand old home, which in fact it once was. As I was a little timid at the begining about wandering around alone until my husband was to join me in four days time, I think I treated every member of the staff as if they were my parents and should look after me !!! This they did and more.......I ended up wandering around the magical streets and laneways every night till late......very safe and always full of people. Taxis are so inexpensive if you don't feel like walking. A bubble bath in the evening was de rigeur before sitting at the bureau full of all the staionery you need and working at my computer. When my husband did arrive he said WOW and then how much is this costing?! Surprisingly, the Mansion is not expensive for a 5 star hotel. Don't let your taxi driver take you to the wrong mansion hotel though, as there are a few in Shanghai with the word mansion in them. Shanghai is a beautiful city with its colourful history ever present around every corner from the Bund back. Sitting in on of the many beautiful spots at the Bund looking across at the "Jetsons" space age architecture which we explored many times, I decided that the experience has been so good for my soul, business and social life, Shanghai is my new obsession and the Mansion my home away from home. Angela Batley. Double Bay. Sydney Australia