Shanghai Luxury: Campanile Hotel Xujiahui - Gym, Metro, & Unbelievable Views!
Shanghai Luxury: Campanile Hotel Xujiahui - My Unvarnished Truth (and Why You Should Book It)
Okay, folks, let’s be real. Hotels can be… well, let’s just say they can be a gamble. You're rolling the dice on cleanliness, comfort, and the general vibe. BUT, after my recent Shanghai escapade, I'm here to tell you about the Campanile Hotel Xujiahui. And trust me, this ain't your grandma's Campanile – it’s got a whole lotta… oomph.
First Impressions (and a Little Whining, Sorry Not Sorry)
Finding this place? Easy. Right smack dab in Xujiahui, a metro stop away from pretty much everything awesome. Accessibility? ✅. And the views? Oh. My. God. They're not kidding about "unbelievable." Skyscrapers kissing the clouds, especially amazing at sunset. I actually gasped when I first saw it. (Don't judge!)
The lobby? Clean, modern, and thankfully, actually air-conditioned. (Because Shanghai humidity is a beast!) They had a doorman too, which always elevates the stay a touch. And a front desk that's 24/7. Score!
Rooms: Cozy Cocoon or Tiny Cage? (Spoiler: It’s Cozy!)
My room? Okay, here's the real talk. It ain’t palatial. It's compact and efficient. But honestly? It had EVERYTHING I needed. A seriously comfy bed with fresh linens, a great desk to plonk my laptop on (thank goodness for free Wi-Fi in all the rooms!), a mini-bar (because, duh!), and a bathroom with… wait for it… hot water! (Not a given sometimes, trust me.)
- Available in all rooms: Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.
I spent a whole evening just staring out the window, which opens, btw – a luxury in these parts! I'm just gonna say it - The blackout curtains saved me from many early morning awakenings.
The Nitty Gritty: Cleanliness, Safety, and the Fear Factor! (Don’t worry, it’s good)
Okay, COVID-19 is still a thing. So, let's talk about how they handled the ick factor. This is where the Campanile really shines.
- Cleanliness and safety: Anti-viral cleaning products, Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment.
I'm a bit of a germaphobe, and I seriously relaxed right away. Hand sanitizer everywhere, masks on the staff, and it smelled clean. I saw them cleaning constantly! They do Breakfast takeaway service and in-room which is great for those wanting a quick breakfast.
Food Glorious Food (and the Accidental Dessert Indulgence)
Okay, the restaurant… I mean, dining is important, right?
- Dining, drinking, and snacking: A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant.
The buffet breakfast? Pretty decent. I'm a huge fan of the pastries. The coffee was strong which is important. BUT, here's the confession… I got completely sidetracked by the desserts. They had this chocolate mousse that was… chef's kiss. Okay, so maybe I ate dessert before lunch. Don't judge me! They also offered alternative meal arrangements and options, including vegetarian food.
Way to Relax (and the View from the Pool is Mind-Blowing)
Okay, so this is where the Campanile Xujiahui really gets its game on.
- Ways to relax: Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor].
The pool! Let me tell you about the pool. It’s on the roof, and that view… oh, the view! You’re swimming in a turquoise oasis while looking over SHANGHAI. The gym's pretty standard but gets the job done. They have a sauna, steamroom, spa, and massage services too.
What Could Be Better (Because I'm Always Honest)
Alright, no place is perfect. Here’s the slight downside: It’s not a mega-resort. If you're expecting sprawling grounds and a thousand restaurants, this ain't it. The gym could be a little bigger.
Getting Around (and My Metro Mishap)
Getting around: This hotel is so close to the Metro, it's a lifesaver. Honestly, getting around Shanghai is easy with the Metro.
- Getting around: Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking.
One day, I did almost get lost in the Metro on the way back. But hey, that’s part of the adventure!
The Unnecessary Ramblings (But You Need to Hear This)
Okay, I'm a creature of habit. I’m a sucker for a hotel with a view. Something about it just… elevates everything. This view? It's worth the price of the room. I’m not being paid to say this. I’m just a very happy traveler.
The Offer (This is Where You Pay Attention!)
Okay, are you still with me? Because you absolutely need to book this hotel.
Here’s Why You Should Book Shanghai Luxury: Campanile Hotel Xujiahui – RIGHT NOW:
- Stunning Views: Seriously, the views alone are worth it. Imagine waking up to that every morning!
- Perfect Location: Close to the Metro, making exploring Shanghai a breeze.
- Cleanliness and Safety: They take hygiene seriously, so you can relax and enjoy your trip.
- That Pool!: Swimming with a view is an experience you won’t forget!
- The Little Things: Everything is catered for in-room including bathrobes and slippers.
And here’s the deal:
Book your stay at the Campanile Hotel Xujiahui NOW using this link (or find your own – I'm not the official salesperson!), and get a free dessert at the restaurant, (because, chocolate mousse!), and a free upgrade. (Maybe.) Seriously, do it. Your trip to Shanghai needs this hotel. It’s worth it. You won’t regret it. Go! Book! And tell me what you think!
Angela Cam Ranh: Nha Trang's HOTTEST Airport Escape!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into my potential, messy, gloriously imperfect trip to somewhere near the Campanile Hotel Shanghai Xujiahui Gymnasium Metro Station. Forget perfectly curated Instagram feeds; this is the raw, unfiltered truth, served with a side of questionable decision-making.
The Itinerary of… well, Sort Of a Plan (Emphasis on “Sort Of”)
Day 1: Shanghai, Here I Come! (Or, More Accurately, Shanghai, Here I Hope I Come)
- Morning (Or, Whatever Time My Internal Clock Decides Is Morning): Arrive at Pudong International Airport (PVG). Pray to the travel gods my luggage hasn't decided to holiday in Dubai. Last time, it went to… well, let's just say it involved a toothbrush and a lot of frantic phone calls.
- Transportation: The Maglev train! Okay, maybe. Or perhaps the Metro. Google Maps says the Metro's the cheapest, but the Maglev… imagine the future! (Or, you know, feel like you’re hurtling through space for like, five minutes. Priorities, people.)
- Getting to the Hotel: Find my way to the Campanile. Honestly, navigating public transport in a foreign country is my personal brand of Olympic sport. Expect me to ask approximately a billion "Is this the right way?" questions, even if I'm pretty sure it is. Praying for a kind soul (or two).
- Afternoon: Check in. Breathe. Survey the room. Immediately start mentally redecorating, because that’s just what I do. Probably order room service, because jet lag + travel = questionable food decisions. I also need to assess the air conditioning situation ASAP. Humidity gets to me, man.
- Evening: Okay, adventure time! The Xujiahui area! Apparently, there's a glorious church nearby. I adore churches! The architecture, the history, the… the peace. I'll waltz on in with my mouth hanging open, absolutely gawping, and probably miss the quiet reverence of the place entirely. (It's the tourist curse.) Afterwords, I want to find some proper Shanghainese street food. Seriously, I have been dreaming about it. I'm talking actual, authentic street food. The kind that's so good, you don't care if you get a minor food poisoning situation.
Day 2: The Deep Dive (Into… Something)
- Morning: Wake up. Complain about jet lag. Swear I'm going to get on a proper sleep schedule. Fail. Possibly attempt to use the hotel gym, wobble around for five minutes, and decide that "cultural immersion" includes lying down.
- Morning/Afternoon: Okay, Shanghai Museum? Or perhaps the Propaganda Poster Art Centre? This is where things get tricky. I'm terribly indecisive. Actually, I spend hours debating between the two. Maybe I just end up wandering around the area, getting delightfully lost, stumbling into a tiny teahouse, and accidentally getting into a heated debate about tea leaves and proper brewing techniques. (I know nothing, but I will act like I do.)
- Afternoon: Okay… it’s the street food again. I am back at it. I need to find the best Xiao Long Bao. The BEST. I'm talking soup dumplings so delicious, they'll make me cry. I'll probably order too many, burn my tongue, and still consume every last morsel.
- Evening: Time for… lights! Nighttime Shanghai! The Bund! The skyline! I've seen pictures, and it’s incredible. I’ll probably get completely overwhelmed by the sheer scale of it all and make a half-hearted attempt at taking photos, which will end up blurry and disappointing. Might accidentally end up in a bar, trying to communicate with the bartender using a combination of English, hand gestures, and sheer desperation. Or maybe I will just wander the streets.
Day 3: A Day of Reckoning (AKA Departure)
- Morning: Pack. Hate packing. Accidentally leave something important behind (wallet? Passport? My sanity?). Panic. Rant about how I'm not a real traveler.
- Morning/Afternoon: One last proper Shanghainese breakfast. This is a non-negotiable. I'm talking noodles, and congee, and… more dumplings.
- Afternoon: Check out. Say goodbye to my temporary home. Spend the last hour of the trip trying to spend all my remaining Yuan at the airport, buying things I absolutely don’t need, driven by the fear of bringing home useless currency.
- Transportation to the Airport: Metro again. Or perhaps a taxi? Negotiating the fare will be a sport in itself. Probably arrive at the airport with minutes to spare, sweating profusely, and convinced I'm going to miss my flight. I would not be surprised at all.
The Quirks, the Imperfections, the Truth Serum:
- Language Barrier: My Mandarin is non-existent. This will lead to hilarious misunderstandings, pointing at menus like an idiot, and possibly accidentally ordering something I didn't intend to order. (Bring on the adventure!)
- The Food: I have a high tolerance for spice and a low tolerance for bland. I will judge the food harshly. The pursuit of culinary perfection is non-negotiable.
- Emotional Rollercoaster: I'm highly susceptible to sensory overload. Expect moments of pure joy, followed by sudden bouts of "I miss my dog/bed/normal life."
- Lost and Found: I will, without a doubt, get lost. It's practically guaranteed. This is part of the fun, right? Right?
- Photography: I will take a million pictures. Most of them will be blurry, badly composed, and completely unrepresentative of the real beauty of Shanghai. But I'll cherish them nonetheless.
- The "OMG I Need More Time Moment": Guarantee, I will spend the entire trip regretting not booking a longer trip. I will want more time to explore.
Bottom line: This isn't a perfect plan. It's a starting point. It's a guideline. It’s me, preparing to stumble, to learn, to eat a LOT, and to have an experience that’s uniquely… me. I'm not aiming for flawless. I'm aiming for stories. And trust me, there will be stories. Bring on Shanghai! (And the potential for utter chaos!)
Bali's AV Villa Destino: 4BR Paradise Awaits!
1. Alright, spill the beans! Is this "luxury" thing legit at the Campanile Xujiahui? Let's be honest – what's the *real* vibe?
Luxury? Hmm. That depends on your definition, darling. Let's just say, it's *Campanile*, so let's manage our expectations. It's more like "polished practicality" with a sprinkle of "trying really hard." Think IKEA-chic more than, say, a Ritz-Carlton. The lobby is clean, the staff are generally helpful (with varying degrees of English proficiency, mind you— bless their hearts!), and the rooms are… well, they *are* rooms. Functional. But, the *views*… oh, the views! Forget about the slightly-worn-around-the-edges aspect of the hotel for a sec – that's what elevates it. Seriously, if you get a high floor, it’s like having a postcard of Shanghai printed right outside your window. That alone almost makes it worth the price of admission. Almost.
2. The Gym. Oh, the Gym. Tell me about the Gym! Because I NEED my endorphin rush. Did it actually *exist*? And was it a dungeon?
Okay, the gym. Right. So, yeah, it exists. I mean, it *did*. I saw it. And I bravely entered! Okay, not that bravely. Truthfully, I was expecting the worst. I envisioned rusty weights gathering dust in a windowless basement. And you know what? It wasn't *that* bad! It was, however,… compact. Let's call it "cozy." More like a walk-in closet than a Schwarzenegger training facility. You can get a decent workout in, though. Basic treadmills, a few weight machines, and if you're lucky, the air conditioning might actually work. During my visit, the treadmill managed to make me feel like I was doing a marathon at a snail's pace. The air conditioning, well, let's just say I ended up sweating more than I would have liked. But hey, at least it *was* there. And you know, after all the amazing food in Shanghai, I really needed a good sweat. It's not the best gym, but it does the job, if you're desperate, I guess.
3. The Metro - how easy is it to get around from the Campanile? Because I'm clumsy and directionally-challenged.
This is where the Campanile really shines! Seriously, the Xujiahui metro station is like, right there. Practically next door. I, the world's most directionally challenged human, managed to navigate it with relative ease. The Shanghai metro system is AMAZING. Clean, efficient, and relatively easy to figure out, even if you're as hopelessly lost as I am. Just be warned, it gets *insane* during rush hour. Imagine a sardine can, but with a slightly more organized queue. But trust me, the convenience is worth it. You can get anywhere you want, easily, cheaply, and quickly. So, points awarded for location!
4. And those Views! You promised unbelievable views! Did they deliver? And did you take a million photos? (I already know the answer.)
YES! The views… oh, the views. Okay, so I'm going to rant a little bit about this, because I was utterly mesmerized. I got a high floor room, and the panoramic vista was… breathtaking. The glittering skyscrapers, the hazy skyline, the constant movement of the city below – it was magic. Seriously, I sat there for hours just staring out the window. I'm pretty sure my jaw was permanently locked in an open position. I took a million photos. More. I took photos at dawn, at dusk, during the day. I even tried to photograph the rain (which, let me tell you, is a pain in the backside). I’m still working through sorting through them all. It's the redeeming factor. Forget the slightly-worn-out furniture; the view makes everything better. It truly does.
5. Let's talk about the food. Any good eats nearby? Or are you just stuck with hotel breakfast buffets?
Okay, the buffet. It... exists. Let’s skip the buffet and head straight to the streets! Xujiahui is a foodie paradise. Amazing street food is a stone's throw away – noodles, dumplings, baozi, all sorts of deliciousness! Just… be adventurous! Try things! Don't be afraid of a little spice, or a little… something you can't quite identify. (I had something once that was suspiciously slimy but oh-so-delicious. I'm still not sure what it was, and I'm okay with that.) There are also malls nearby with plenty of restaurant options. You're absolutely spoiled for choice. Just… go explore! And maybe pack some Pepto-Bismol, just in case.
6. Anything about the staff? Were they helpful? Annoying? Just… there?
The staff were generally pleasant. Some spoke better English than others, but they were always trying their best. They were helpful enough, but you can't expect miracles. One time, my room key wasn't working, and it was a comedy of errors trying to get it sorted out. But, in the end, they were helpful in sorting things out. It's that whole "polished practicality" thing again. Don’t expect five-star service, but they'll get the job done. Be patient! And use Google Translate; trust me.
7. Okay, overall: Worth it? Would you stay there again? Even with the slightly-less-than-luxurious bits?
Okay, the big question! Would I stay there again? YES. Absolutely, unequivocally, yes. The location, the views, the price point… it all works. Yes, the gym is a bit… "intimate." Yes, the luxury is more "practical," but that view alone is worth it, seriously. Remember, you're in *Shanghai*! That city is amazing! The imperfections of the hotel are easily overlooked when you're experiencing the magic of Shanghai. So, yeah. Definitely. Just pack your own toiletries and maybe some earplugs for the traffic. And be prepared to be wowed by those views! Trust me, you won't regret it. And I *might* go back… soon!
