Top 5 Luxury Hotels in Shanghai

Shanghai is quickly becoming a city of opulence. From Cartier on the Bund to Gucci on Nanjing Road, five-star treatment is not difficult to find. "The Paris of the East" has no shortage of luxury 5-star hotels, and more are being built as this is written. Here are the best of the bunch (in no particular order).

1) The Portman Ritz-Carlton
Address: Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, Shanghai, 200040, China
Transportation: metro line 1 stop people¡¯s square and you can call a taxi
Tel: +86 21 6279 8888
In-country toll-free reservation listing
Fax: +86 21 6279 8800
Website:http://www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/shanghai/
The Portman, as it's locally called, is located centrally on Shanghai's Nanjing Xi (West) Road, one of the main arteries of downtown Shanghai. Beautifully appointed rooms with traditional Chinese silk accents and the availability of in-room massage make jetlag a non-issue.

2) The Westin
Address: Bund Center, 88 Henan Central Road, Shanghai, 200002, China
Transportation: metro line 2 stop Henan zhong Road and you can call a taxi
Tel: +86 21 6335 1888
Fax: +86 21 6335 2888
Email: rsvns-shanghai@westin.com
Website:http://www.westin.com/shanghai
Shanghai's Westin is famous for its brunch, a free-flow Veuve Cliquot champagne affair highlighted by a sushi and sashimi buffet that might only be topped in Tokyo. So make sure your flight doesn't leave until Sunday afternoon, and you'll enjoy a food-induced slumber as you make your way to your next destination.

3) The Four Seasons
Address: 500 Weihai Road, Shanghai 200041, China
Transportation: Metro line 2 stop Shimen Yi Road and you can call a taxi
Tel: +86 21 6256-8888
Fax: +86 21 6256-5678
Website:www.fourseasons.com/shanghai/

The newish Four Seasons is the talk of the town these days and is the place many 5-star dwellers choose when they decide to stay in Puxi (east side of the river). Rooms have views of the skyline downtown and you can relax to your own music as rooms have connections for your portable music player.

4) The InterContinental
Address: 777 Zhangyang Road, Pudong, Shanghai 200120 China
Transportation: metro line 2 stop Lujiazui and you can call a taxi
Tel: +86 21 5835-6666
Fax: +86 21 5835-7777
Website:http://www.shanghai.intercontinental.com

The InterContinental is one of the best choices if staying in Pudong and is conveniently located in the shopping district. Rooms overlook an open atrium where Chinese lanterns hang down reminding you that you are, indeed, in China. Book yourself into their recently renovated spa, the Signature Treatment comes highly recommended.

5) The Grand Hyatt
Address: Jin Mao Tower, 88 Century Boulevard, Pudong, Shanghai 200120 China
Transportation: metro line 2 stop Pudong Century Boulevard and you can call a taxi
Tel: +86 21 5049 1234
Fax: +86 21 5049 1111
Website:http://shanghai.grand.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp
Stay at the Grand Hyatt, if for no other reason, the view. Currently housed in the tallest building in Shanghai, the Jin Mao Tower, and the Grand Hyatt's rooms command views over the new and old of Shanghai. Venture up to Cloud 9, the highest bar in Shanghai for a nightcap overlooking the Bund.