Shanghai's Ji Hotel: Meilan Lake Luxury You WON'T Believe!
My Shanghai Ji Hotel: Meilan Lake Luxury…Well, Let's Talk About It! (Brace Yourself!)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I’ve just returned from a stay at the Ji Hotel: Meilan Lake in Shanghai, and let me tell you, it's a… well, it’s something. The "luxury" part? Let's unpack that, shall we? Expect a slightly rambling review, because frankly, my experience there was as chaotic as a Shanghai taxi ride at rush hour.
Let's Start with the Basics (The Stuff You Actually Need to Know):
Accessibility: Okay, good news! I've got to give them props here. The wheelchair accessibility seemed decent. They have an elevator (thank goodness!), and I saw some facilities for disabled guests. The exterior corridor setup might make navigation a bit easier for some. Good start, Ji Hotel!
Internet Hell & Heaven: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms?! Music to my ears! And a dedicated Internet access - LAN option? Score! Unfortunately, the connection felt like it often went through dial-up. Internet access could be frustrating, so be prepared to pull your hair out if you're relying on it. At least they offer Internet services!
Cleanliness & Safety (The Covid Circus): Whew. Let's just say, they REALLY took the COVID thing seriously. Anti-viral cleaning products everywhere. Daily disinfection in common areas. Physical distancing of at least 1 meter… Which mostly meant awkwardly shuffling around the lobby. They seemed paranoid (and probably justifiably so!) with rooms sanitized between stays and staff trained in safety protocol. Individually-wrapped food options – you'll feel like you're opening a Christmas present every time. Professional-grade sanitizing services, hand sanitizer like it's going out of style, and safe dining setup. They take hygiene seriously, and I appreciate that.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (My Personal Waterloo): Okay, this is where things got interesting. Restaurants galore, with Asian and Western cuisines on offer. A buffet in the restaurant… shudders. (I'm not a buffet person!) The Asian breakfast was surprisingly decent, though. They also had a coffee shop, a bar (happy hour!), and even a poolside bar with a pool with a view. And a snack bar just calling my name. There were a la carte options, but after a while, it was a bit of a blur. Coffee/tea in restaurant made me happy! The alternative meal arrangement was helpful since the main restaurant was always busy. The poolside bar was beautiful, but the service was SLOW. Like, "contemplate-the-meaning-of-life-while-waiting-for-a-cocktail" slow.
The "Luxury" Experience (The Place Where Things Got Weird):
- The Room: Spacious? Yes. Clean? Mostly. Air conditioning worked, which was a lifesaver in Shanghai's humidity. Blackout curtains – a godsend! Bathrobes, slippers, and a mini-bar (yay!). But, and this is a big BUT, the decor felt… sterile. Like a perfectly curated Instagram feed with zero personality. The interconnecting room(s) available might be handy for families. The alarm clock was so complicated, it looked like it was designed by a Bond villain. The mirror and desk were functional. I noticed they had a laptop workspace, that was helpful.
- Spa, Sauna, and Relaxation (Where I Attempted to Unwind… and Failed, Hilariously): They touted a spa, sauna, steamroom, and even a foot bath. I went for a massage, thinking, "Aaaah, relaxation!" What I got was… a competent massage, but with the ambiance of a dentist's office. The masseuse was nice, but the music felt like it was plucked from a 1980s elevator. The body scrub and body wrap were tempting, but sadly the time didn't permit. Sigh.
- The Pool (Or, My Near-Death Experience with a Floating Foam Noodle): The swimming pool (outdoor!) was beautiful, it was a pool with view. It looked inviting. I cautiously approached the pool, the outdoor swimming pool, ready for some casual laps. Except, turns out, the pool was OVERRUN with these giant, brightly colored foam noodles. Which, in theory, are fun? But in practice, they were like… aquatic landmines, constantly bumping into you. I felt like I was in some bizarre water ballet of foam-related chaos. It's not a luxury I asked for!
Other Stuff:
- Services and Conveniences: The concierge was helpful when you could find them. Daily housekeeping. Laundry service. Luggage storage. The currency exchange was convenient. The car park [free of charge], that was a big plus! They also offered things like babysitting service and family/child friendly options.
- Things to Do (Besides Questioning My Life Choices): There were meeting/banquet facilities, and I saw evidence of the Meeting stationery everywhere! Also, they offered seminars, which seemed popular.
The Verdict (Finally!):
The Ji Hotel: Meilan Lake… is a hotel. It's clean, it's safe (probably overly safe), and it tries to be luxurious. But, it feels… empty. Soulless. It's like they took all the potential for a great experience and neutered it with over-the-top Covid protocols and a general lack of personality.
Would I go back? Honestly? Maybe. If I needed a clean, convenient base in Shanghai and absolutely didn't want to experience risk, it would be okay. But for the "luxury" experience? I'd probably look elsewhere.
SEO and Metadata Stuff (Because I Have To):
- Keywords: Ji Hotel, Meilan Lake, Shanghai, luxury hotel, accessibility, spa, swimming pool, restaurant, Wi-Fi, COVID-19 safety, travel review, China hotel.
- Title: Shanghai's Ji Hotel: Meilan Lake Luxury You WON'T Believe! (My Honest Review)
- Meta Description: My brutally honest review of the Ji Hotel: Meilan Lake in Shanghai. Is it luxurious? Accessible? Safe? Find out in this unfiltered, slightly-chaotic travel experience!
- Relevant Categories: Travel Reviews, Hotel Reviews, Shanghai Travel, China Hotels.
Okay, buckle up, buttercup, because this isn't your grandma's pristine travel itinerary. This is the Ji Hotel Shanghai Meilan Lake Mei'an Road survival guide, my personal, very messy, and hopefully hilarious, account of conquering its… well, everything. Buckle up, because this is gonna get bumpy.
The Ji Hotel Shanghai Meilan Lake, Itinerary from the Abyss (and Back):
Day 1: Arrival & The Great Laundry Catastrophe (aka, How I Learned to Love the Laundry Bag)
- 14:00 - Arrival at Pudong Airport (PVG): Jesus, this airport is a beast. Finding a taxi was like navigating a poorly designed video game level. And the jet lag? Oh, the jet lag. My brain felt like scrambled eggs.
- 15:30 - Taxi to Ji Hotel: Let's be honest, the taxi ride felt longer than the flight. Traffic, honking, the general chaos of Shanghai… it all added to the delightful disorientation. I kept muttering to myself, "Am I really here?"
- 16:30 - Check-in & Room Scrutiny: Okay, the lobby is clean. That’s a good start. The room? Adequate, I guess. Clean enough. I always scope out the bathroom first. Always. Needed to confirm the existence of hot water. Yes! Success!
- 17:00 - Unpacking & The Laundry Bag Incident: Ah, the innocent act of unpacking. Until I realized my favorite silk shirt had a monster stain. Disaster! My attempt to wash it resulted in a whole lotta nothing. Luckily, there was a laundry bag. And my savior, the hotel laundry service… which took days. The shirt's still at the cleaners, the drama is real.
- 19:00 - Dinner: Local Noodles from That One Place: Found a tiny hole-in-the-wall noodle shop near the hotel. It looked sketchy, but smelled AMAZING. The noodles? Forget about it. I ate them with my face. Literally. Delicious. But the language barrier! The waiter looked at me like I was a crazy person but I kept pointing and smiling, which seemed to work.
Day 2: Culture Shock, Coffee, and the Quest for Karaoke (that failed, spectacularly)
- 08:00 - Breakfast: Breakfast buffets, the battleground of the weary traveler: The Ji Hotel offers a buffet. It was…fine. Not exactly a culinary masterpiece, but filled a hole. I went for the egg station, and the chef stared at me like I'd sprouted a second head when I asked for plain scrambled eggs. Lost in translation.
- 09:00 - Exploring Meilan Lake Park (attempt 1): Okay, this park is HUGE. It’s pretty, and I immediately got lost. I wandered around for an hour, taking pictures of everything. I think I saw a squirrel. Maybe. The air was thick with a strange perfume. Maybe from the flowers. Maybe not.
- 11:00 - Coffee Quest: Desperate for caffeine, I stumbled upon a tiny coffee shop. The barista, a young woman with pink hair, seemed amused by my frantic attempts at Mandarin. The coffee was strong, bless her heart.
- 13:00 - Lunch: Dumplings (again): Found another place, another delicious adventure. Dumplings are my new best friend.
- 15:00 - Attempted Karaoke (the epic FAIL): Tonight was karaoke night! I am a terrible singer. I am also a legend in my own mind so I found a karaoke place. The whole thing was a bizarre experience. The place was deserted, the song selection was limited to obscure Chinese pop, and my voice… let's just say the cat wouldn't be my biggest critic. I slunk out after two songs, thoroughly humiliated.
- 19:00 - Dinner: Pizza, a moment of sanity: Sometimes, you just need pizza. Found a Pizza Hut. Don't judge me. It was familiar, and comforting.
Day 3: Lake, Laundry, and the Realization That I'm Actually Enjoying This Mess (and the Laundry Still Isn't Back)
- 08:00 - Breakfast: Okay, breakfast. Let's see if there's more than just eggs this time, please. The buffet, again. I'm starting to recognize the other guests. We have this silent camaraderie born of shared hunger and mild bewilderment.
- 09:00 - Exploring Meilan Lake Park (attempt 2, with a purpose): This time, I actually made an effort to navigate the park. Found some beautiful pagodas, and even managed to get a decent photo. Though I still swear I saw a squirrel giving me the side-eye.
- 12:00 - Lunch: Street Food Adventure!: Decided to bravely try some street food. I pointed, I smiled, I ate something that looked… questionable. It was surprisingly delicious! My stomach survived to tell the tale.
- 14:00 - The Moment of Truth: I asked about my shirt. Still at the cleaners. I felt like I was being personally singled out.
- 16:00 - Meilan Lake View, just basking in the sunshine: Just sitting down to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. It was quiet and serene. The perfect thing to do after all the stress.
- 19:00 - Dinner: Back to the Noodle Shop (because it's safe): The noodles, again. It felt like coming home. It's my comfort food. At least something is familiar and dependable in this whirlwind.
Day 4: Departure and the Farewell to the Laundromat (maybe)
- 08:00 - Breakfast: The Breakfast Ritual: Eggs, toast, the quiet desperation of a solo traveler. Today would be my last day.
- 09:00 - Last Look: Last walk in the park. Saying goodbye. Enjoying the scenery as much as I could.
- 10:00 - Packing & Panic: Gathering all my belongings.
- 11:00 - Check Out & Final Thoughts:
- The Ji Hotel? It's a place. Not perfect, but it's clean and has hot water. The staff were patient with my terrible Mandarin. It's a base, a starting point.
- The Laundry Situation: I’m leaving without my shirt! A fitting end to a chaotic adventure.
- Shanghai? A whirlwind of sensory overload, delicious food, and moments of pure, unadulterated weirdness.
- Would I go back? Absolutely, but maybe with a phrasebook, a better sense of direction, and a whole lot more laundry detergent.
Final Thoughts:
This trip was not a flawlessly planned vacation, more like a beautifully messy adventure. It was hard. Frustrating. But also, absolutely unforgettable. I learned how to navigate a foreign city. How to try new things. How to laugh at myself. And maybe, just maybe, how to enjoy the chaos. So, to Shanghai, and the Ji Hotel, thank you for the (occasionally) hilarious experience. And my shirt, wherever you are, I miss you.
Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Sari Bali Resort Awaits!
Ji Hotel: Meilan Lake – Luxury? Hold Your Horses (and Flip-Flops)! My Truly Messy Review
Okay, is this Ji Hotel *actually* luxurious as they claim? I'm seeing the pictures...
Alright, buckle up, buttercup. "Luxury" in Shanghai? That word gets thrown around more than free dumplings at a festival. Let's just say, the promotional photos are giving it the *hard* sell. It's... well, *aspiring* luxury. Think less "Bora Bora overwater bungalow" and more "nicely appointed Ikea catalog come to life." The building itself looks pretty swanky from the outside, all glass and angularity. But the second you step inside... *ping* goes that little voice in your head. You know, the one whispering, "Did they *really* put enough thought into the details here?"
Like, that lobby chandelier? Gorgeous. But the plastic-wrapped water bottles near the elevators? Come on, Ji! We're aiming for aspirational here, right?
What's the deal with the rooms? Comfy? Cramped? Give me the REAL scoop!
Okay, the rooms... Here's where it gets interesting. First, they are CLEAN. Spotless, even. Which, in Shanghai, can be a godsend. The bed? Surprisingly comfortable. I actually slept *really* well. Bravo, Ji, bravo. (But I’m a heavy sleeper, so, grain of salt).
But "spacious?" No. Unless you're a minimalist, the term "cozy" applies. Think efficiently designed. Think every square inch accounted for. Seriously, I swear I bumped my shin on the bed frame at least three times a day. And the bathroom? The shower was… *challenging*. Let's just say, the water pressure resembled a gentle drizzle, unless you were aiming for the ceiling tiles. Then, *WHAM!* Full-blown, power-washing experience. And the placement of the toilet? Let's just say I had to sit sideways. It was a tight squeeze. I’m a normal-sized human, I swear!
**The Great Towel Debacle of '23:** One morning, I went to grab a towel... and there were *none*. Zero. Zilch. I mean, seriously? I had to call housekeeping. Twice. Finally, after about an hour, they showed up with a single, slightly damp towel. I’m still not sure where it came from. It was like a magic towel. Or possibly a sad towel. The whole towel situation was a comedy of errors. My shower ritual was seriously impacted. My hair became… a work in progress.
Is Meilan Lake actually *that* pretty? Because pictures can be deceiving.
Okay, the lake. This is where the Ji gets its "wow" factor. And yes, it *is* pretty. Very pretty. It's a genuinely lovely escape from the concrete jungle that is Shanghai. Picture this: calm water, lush greenery, walking paths... very Instagrammable, for sure.
However… (and there's always a "however" with me, isn't there?)… the lake is a bit outside the city. Getting there takes effort. Expect a taxi fare or some serious subway time. Once you're there, though, you're pretty much stuck around the hotel and the lake. There's not much else going on in the immediate area. So, if you're craving nightlife or a bustling city vibe, this ain’t it.
**The Great Mosquito Apocalypse of '23:** Oh, and pro-tip: BRING MOSQUITO REPELLENT. Seriously. I got DEVOURED. I'm talking like, mosquito buffet. My ankles looked like a connect-the-dots activity. I'm not exaggerating! This completely ruined my evening walk around the lake the first night.
Let's talk food. Breakfast? Any good options? Or should I just bring my own instant noodles?
Breakfast? It's… breakfast. It’s included, so you can't complain *too* much. There's a pretty standard spread: some Chinese staples (congee, noodles), some sad-looking pastries, and the usual scrambled eggs.
The coffee? Let's just say it won't win any awards. Think lukewarm brown water. But hey, I didn't starve. The congee was actually pretty decent, and the lady serving it was super sweet. So, that’s a win, right?
The one morning, I saw this small, sad-looking banana. I ate it. It was better than nothing. Maybe not luxury, but fine for a quick-grab bite.
Were the staff helpful? Did you feel properly pampered?
The staff were… generally helpful. Most of them were lovely and tried their best. The language barrier can be a challenge, of course. My attempts at Mandarin are… well, they exist.
However, I did feel like there were a few instances where service was a bit… lacking. Like, the towel incident. Or the time I asked for an extra pillow and it took about 3 calls and 45 minutes. The word "pampered"? Not really. "Efficient"? Maybe. "Friendly"? Mostly, yes.
**My Personal "Service Fail" Story:** On the third night, I ran out of shampoo. (I'm still blaming the tiny shower head for my excessive shampoo use). I called down to ask for more. They said yes, very politely, but it never arrived. I ended up using the hand soap to wash my hair. It was a moment. A moment that solidified my "slightly-less-than-luxurious" experience.
So, overall? Would you recommend the Ji Hotel: Meilan Lake?
Okay, here's the deal. If you're looking for a quiet, comfortable hotel outside the city with a beautiful lake view and you’re willing to accept some minor imperfections, then yes, sure, I *might* recommend it.
But if you're expecting true, five-star luxury? Temper those expectations. It’s more of a solid 3.5 stars. Maybe. I’m still kind of on the fence...
Is it *bad*? No. Is it a complete rip-off? No. But is it the most luxurious experience you'll have in Shanghai? Definitely not. Pack your own shampoo, bug spray, and maybe a sense of humor. You'll need it.
Oh- and for the love of all that is holy, bring a good towel! Seriously!
