Shanghai's Hidden Gem: Holiday Inn Express Zhenping - Unbelievable Deal!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving DEEP into the rabbit hole that is the Holiday Inn Express Zhenping – the "Unbelievable Deal!" that, frankly, had me raising a skeptical eyebrow before I even booked. But hey, a cheap flight to Shanghai and a place to crash? Sold! So here's the messy, unpolished, truth-bomb review you actually want, sprinkled with my hot takes and questionable life choices.
Forget Your Preconceptions: Accessibility & Getting There (or, "Will My Suitcase Survive?")
First off, accessibility. This is HUGE for me, as I can’t use stairs so needing a hotel with a ramp, I'm a bit picky. The website claimed to be accessible. The reality? Mostly true. Elevators? Check. Wide corridors? Check. The entrance ramp was there but was a little bumpy and I may have almost tipped over my suitcase. Now, I am a little clumsy at times, but I managed, but it could be better. So, they at least tried. Getting there? Airport transfer is available, but I'm a cheapskate so I took the subway. It was an adventure – think packed like sardines, with everyone staring at you, and the slight fear of getting swept away in a Shanghai stampede. But I made it. And bonus, they've got bicycle parking – if you're brave enough to navigate Shanghai traffic on two wheels!
On-Site Eats & Drinks: A Rollercoaster of Flavors and Frustrations
Alright, let's talk food. This is where it gets interesting. They have a restaurant (duh), a coffee shop (hallelujah!), and even a poolside bar! (More on the pool later). The Asian cuisine was decent, leaning towards the "safe" side. I got a plate of noodles that was surprisingly decent. BUT… the coffee? Let's just say it was the kind of coffee that makes you question your life choices. I mean, come on, people! You can't mess up coffee. Well, they proved me wrong. Breakfast [buffet] was included but seemed less a feast and more a mild inconvenience. But hey, the eggs were edible! The happy hour sounds nice (even though I did not participate, but I love happy hours), and the service was great. So, if you're a picky eater, prepare for some strategic snacking before you make your way in.
Rooms, Glorious (and Sometimes, Slightly Disappointing) Rooms
The rooms. They are generally clean and spacious and the in-room Wi-Fi is free which is so nice. The air conditioning blasts like an arctic wind, which, in Shanghai's humidity, is a blessing. What was a real plus was the bathrobes in the closet. The TV has tons of programs, and everything seemed okay. But then… one thing that made it annoying was finding a desk to work at that was at a good height for my body. I had to use the bed! No big deal though, I managed. Overall, a good experience for a hotel room.
Things To Do (and, the Pool with a View…Maybe?)
They have a fitness center! I hit it up once, out of a sense of obligation to cancel out the buffet breakfast. It's… perfectly adequate. The pool with a view? Now, that I was excited for. The view was decent, I guess, if you like looking at the skyline. The pool? Freezing. Seriously. I lasted about five minutes before I was shivering and running back to the warmth of my room. Body scrub, body wrap… I'm pretty sure that's code for "We're not offering that."
Cleanliness, Safety, and the "COVID Dance"
Okay, let's be real: safety is a big deal. The Holiday Inn Express Zhenping seems to have things pretty buttoned up. They had the professional-grade sanitizing services, the daily disinfection in common areas, hand sanitizer everywhere, and the staff were always masked up. I’m talking full hazmat suits! So, for the risk averse folks, you may feel secure in this hotel.
Services and Conveniences: A Mixed Bag
Cash withdrawal is available. Daily housekeeping? They've got it covered. The elevator? Thank goodness. Laundry service? Yes! Essential. Business facilities exist if you are on business. The concierge was, I'll be honest, not the most helpful. Asking for directions felt like I was speaking another language. But hey, they tried! And this is what counts!
The "Unbelievable Deal" – My Verdict
So, is the Holiday Inn Express Zhenping an unbelievable deal? Yes, for the price point, it really is. It's not perfect, and it's got quirks, but it's clean, safe, and does the job. If you want a luxurious resort-style experience, look elsewhere. If you want a solid, affordable base camp for exploring Shanghai, this is a decent choice.
My Honest-to-Goodness, Unfiltered Offer for Shanghai's Hidden Gem:
Tired of Overpriced Tourist Traps? Crave a Real Shanghai Experience? Book the Holiday Inn Express Zhenping TODAY!
Here's the deal!
- Seriously Affordable: Get a surprisingly comfy room, conveniently close to the metro. We're talking about a bargain so good, you'll have more cash for delicious dumplings and questionable karaoke!
- Clean & Safe Sanctuary: Relax, knowing that cleanliness and safety are top priorities. They’re so serious about it, it may feel sterile, but that's not always a bad thing!
- Convenient Amenities: Free Wi-Fi! (A must in this digital age), Free breakfast (of varying quality), a gym (if you want to pretend you might exercise) and even a lukewarm pool (if you're feeling brave!).
- Explore Shanghai Like a Local: Use the savings to experience Shanghai, from bustling markets, to hidden alleyways.
Don't waste another minute! Stop overpaying. Book your stay at the Holiday Inn Express Zhenping and unlock the real Shanghai.
Click here to book your adventure NOW!
Escape to Paradise: Harry's Hotel, Bar & Restaurant in Thailand
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into my (potentially disastrous but definitely entertaining) Shanghai adventure, specifically, the glorious/slightly janky (let's be honest, probably mostly janky) Holiday Inn Express in Zhenping. Prepare for typos, tangents, and a healthy dose of "what-was-I-thinking" moments.
Shanghai Shenanigans: A Semi-Planned, Mostly Winged It Itinerary (with apologies to my sanity)
Day 1: Arrival and the Existential Dread of Wrong Luggage (aka "Where's my toothbrush, dammit?!")
- 7:00 AM (ish) Beijing Airport: The Pre-Shanghai Panic: Woke up in Beijing, realized I had a whopping three hours before my flight to Shanghai. Coffee was essential. Actually, life was essential. Airport coffee: lukewarm, expensive, but necessary. Started contemplating my life choices as I choked it down. Did I really pack enough socks? Crucial question.
- 10:15 AM: Turbulence Talk with the Guy Who Wouldn't Shut Up: The flight itself was relatively smooth…until the guy in 23B (wearing a suspiciously shiny tracksuit) decided to give me a blow-by-blow analysis of every single bump. "Oh, this? Just a bit of air pocket. Nothing to worry about, really. Been flying for years…" Ugh. Note to self: invest in noise-canceling headphones.
- 12:30 PM: Shanghai Pudong International Airport - Luggage Meltdown: Arrived in Shanghai, triumphant, until I realized…my luggage looked awful. Not what I packed, it had been, no, it was a clone. The kind of clone that had a weird stain on it and my toothbrush was nowhere to be found. Panic set in. Found the hotel contact number eventually. Deep breaths. Ordered a bottle of water.
- 2:00 PM: Taxi Terror! (or, "Is this a roller coaster?"): Taxi ride to the Holiday Inn Express Zhenping. The driver (who, bless his heart, seemed to have a different philosophy on lane markers and red lights) took me on what felt like a high-speed chase through the city. My internal monologue was a symphony of "Hold on! Oh dear God!" and "Is this legal?" Arrived alive, miraculously.
- 3:00 PM: Check-in Chronicles (and the Room of Mild Disappointment): The hotel itself…it's a Holiday Inn Express, so you know the drill. Clean, functional, and about as exciting as a well-organized spreadsheet. The room? Perfectly adequate. The view? Of another building. But hey, at least the A/C worked! After all the chaos of getting here, I was happy to flop down.
- 3:30 PM: The Toothbrush Incident and the Quest for Supplies: Okay, serious problem. No toothbrush. No toothpaste. No dignity. This is a major crisis. Wandered the area surrounding the hotel. Found a 7-Eleven, bless their little hearts. The sheer joy of finally securing basic hygiene supplies was overwhelming. Felt like I'd conquered Everest. Maybe the shiny-tracksuit guy was right, I had been flying too long.
- 5:00 PM: The First Meal - Dumpling Destiny: Fueled by a sense of accomplishment and a desperate need for calories, I decided to find some dumplings. Walked around, the Chinese was so fascinating, and the smells intoxicating. The dumpling place was busy, bustling, and the dumplings, oh the dumplings! (Maybe I should've taken some pictures.) A moment of pure, unadulterated bliss. This makes up for the baggage, right?
- 7:00 PM: Rest, Reset, and Resistance : The jet lag starting. But resisted the siren song of the bed for as long as I could!
- 8:00 PM: Attempted Sleep (or, "The Ceiling is Fascinating"): Exhaustion finally won. I collapsed into bed, only to discover… that the ceiling was incredibly interesting. (This happens to me in every hotel, FYI.) Stared at it for a good hour, contemplating the mysteries of popcorn texture, before finally drifting off.
Day 2: Bund, Bargains, and Backtracking (or, "Lost in Translation, Again")
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast Bonanza (with Potential Food Poisoning): Holiday Inn Express breakfast: the usual suspects. Scrambled eggs that may or may not have been real eggs. Mysterious sausages of questionable origin. Toast that tasted vaguely of sadness. Ate it anyway. Gotta fuel up for the day!
- 9:00 AM: Metro Mishaps (aka "Learning Mandarin the Hard Way"): Bravely attempted the Shanghai Metro. Got on the wrong train. Twice. Realized my Mandarin (which apparently consisted of "xie xie" and a lot of desperate pointing) was not going to cut it. Ended up miles away from where I wanted to be. Lesson learned: Google Maps is your best friend (and possibly your only friend) in Shanghai!
- 11:00 AM: The Bund - Awe and Awkwardness: Finally made it to the Bund! The view of the Pudong skyline was breathtaking, and honestly, as impressive as the postcard images. Spent an hour just staring, utterly mesmerized. Then, promptly walked into a selfie stick. Tripped over my own feet. Still trying to recover my dignity.
- 1:00 PM: The Market Madness (aka "How to Haggle Like a Pro…Or Not"): Found a market! I wanted a silk scarf. And maybe a fake designer handbag (don't judge). The haggling was intense, the stallholders relentless. My attempts at negotiating were pathetic. Ended up paying triple what the scarf was probably worth. I should have filmed it, tbh.
- 3:00 PM: The Backtrack and the Misguided Lunch: Realizing how far out the market was. Walked and walked back towards where I supposed to be. And I was hungry. Found a small local shop and ordered something. I didn't know what it was, but it looked delicious. It was not.
- 4:00 PM: Shanghai Museum of Art: After the lunch fiasco, I needed a reset. Went to see some art and architecture. The museum was cool and very pretty.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner and Decisions: What Should I eat? After a day of eating and walking, I had no idea what to do or what to eat?
- 7:00 PM: Return to the Hotel: Found my way back to the hotel.
Day 3: The Unexpected Joy of Laundry (and a Little Bit of Shanghai Magic)
- 9:00 AM: Laundry Day! (My Favorite): Used the hotel laundry service. Ahhhh, the simple pleasure of clean clothes! Spent the morning just relaxing. Sometimes the simplest things are the best.
- 1:00 PM: The Temple Trip and the Serenity (almost): Wandered through the city to find a Temple. Found one, not the one I wanted. Spent some time in the Temple, and was immediately surrounded by the loud clanging of the Temple bell.
- 3:00 PM: The Street Food Experiment: Saw a line of people outside a shop that had strange food. Join the line. Tried a strange snack. Maybe a mistake? Still, the experience was awesome.
- 5:00 PM: Walked Home: Walked and walked and walked.
- 7:00 PM: Packing Up: I'm tired. It was a tough trip, but I'm thankful.
Day 4: Departure and Reflections (or, "Goodbye, Shanghai - You Weird, Wonderful Place")
- 8:00 AM: Last Breakfast of Sadness: Breakfast. You know the drill.
- 9:00 AM: Uber Disaster: Tried to get an Uber. They're hard to find. And they're always late.
- 10:00 AM: Airport Bound (with a Touch of Nostalgia): Shanghai to Beijing. This time the plane didn't have a man in a shiny tracksuit. This time there wasn't a clone of my luggage.
- 11:00 AM: Goodbye Shanghai: Said goodbye to the city.
Overall Assessment:
Shanghai: A chaotic, challenging, and utterly captivating city. The Holiday Inn Express Zhenping: Adequate. I survived! And, strangely, I kind of loved it. Maybe. Probably. Definitely.
V-House Hotel Thailand: Your Tropical Paradise Awaits!
Shanghai's Hidden Gem: Holiday Inn Express Zhenping - Unbelievable Deal! (Or Is It?) FAQ - My Messy Truths
Okay, "Unbelievable Deal!" – What's the Catch (and Is It Worth It)?
Alright, let's be brutally honest. The "unbelievable deal" part mostly refers to the price. We're talking seriously cheap. Like, could-probably-buy-a-small-latte-with-the-money-you-saved kind of cheap. And yes, it's worth it... *if* you know what you're getting yourself into. Picture this: you're not exactly in the heart of glitzy Shanghai. You're in Zhenping. Think a more... *local* vibe. Which, for me, is part of the adventure. But yeah, there *are* catches. Like, the tiny, slightly cramped room. And the slightly... let's call it "robust" air conditioning. And the fact that one time the elevator smelled suspiciously of fried food (ahem, *mystery*). But hey, for the price? I'm surprisingly forgiving. Mostly.
Where *Exactly* is This Place? Because "Zhenping" Doesn't Exactly Scream "Central Shanghai," Does It?
Okay, so Zhenping is in Putuo District. Think... *slightly* outside the Ring Road. It's not *remote*, per se. The metro is your best friend, which gets you pretty much everywhere in the city. The hotel is like, a 5-minute walk from the Metro station, which is perfect unless you're lugging a suitcase the size of a small car like me. (Note to self: pack lighter next time). It's not smack-dab in the touristy heart of things, but that's kind of the charm, right? You get to experience a more "real" Shanghai, away from the crowds. Plus, the metro is crazy efficient, so you're never *that* far from the action. But yeah, plan your trips accordingly. It's not a stumble-out-of-the-hotel-and-bam-you're-at-the-Bund situation. I learned that the hard way. Seriously, I think my feet were still recovering a week later..
The Rooms – Are They Basically Prison Cells? Or Usable?
Okay, let’s talk about the rooms. “Prison cells” is a *slight* exaggeration, but let's be real, they’re not palatial suites. They are... compact. Like, “can't-swing-a-cat-without-hitting-something” compact. The beds are comfortable enough, though. The bathroom? Functional. Cleanish. Don't expect luxury, people. It's a Holiday Inn Express. Remember the price? You're not getting Shangri-La. The shower pressure is usually decent, which is a win. The TV works. The air conditioning, as I mentioned, is… enthusiastic. Prepare to either freeze or sweat, there's really no in-between. But hey, it's clean (mostly!), and I’ve always managed to sleep. Which is the main thing, right? Though, one time the remote control was kinda sticky... I shivered a little. But hey, let's not talk about that.
Breakfast – Is It a Tragedy? Or, Dare We Hope, Decent?
Breakfast! Ah, the eternal travel question. So, the breakfast is *included*. Which is a HUGE plus. (Free food - score!). It's a buffet, so it's got everything you'd expect at a Holiday Inn Express: scrambled eggs, toast, some sort of mystery meats, a few sad-looking pastries, and a rotating selection of Chinese breakfast items. The coffee is… well, let's just say it's strong and gets the job done. The congee is usually pretty good, actually. And I always load up on the little steamed buns. They're delicious! My advice? Lower your expectations a *little* bit and you won't be disappointed. It's fuel. Free fuel. And honestly? Sometimes, after a night of Shanghai adventures, that congee has saved my life. Definitely saved *my* stomach. I also discovered that I really, really like a fried egg with a little chili sauce there. Perfect combo, honestly. A happy memory.
Is the Staff Helpful? Or Are They Basically Robots?
The staff are generally pretty helpful. Their English proficiency varies, but someone is always willing to help, even if there's a bit of a language barrier. (Google Translate is your friend!). I've had some really lovely interactions with them. They're polite and generally friendly. They are not robots, but they are efficient. They’re very good at checking you in and out quickly. I once needed help figuring out how to get to a specific restaurant, and the front desk staff managed to decipher my terrible map and give me (mostly) clear directions. Honestly, I felt like such a fool, but they were so patient and helpful. A* for them! Not always the warmest, fuzzies, but they do the job, and do it well. I give them a solid B+. Or A- for the helpfulness.
Anything *Really* Bad? Any Dealbreakers?
Okay, here’s the brutally honest part. The noise can be an issue. Especially if you get a room facing the street. Shanghai is a *loud* city. You get the beeping of cars, the general hubbub of the neighborhood, construction (always construction). Bring earplugs. Seriously. Or, like, wear noise-cancelling headphones. It's a must. I’m a light sleeper, so the noise almost ruined my trip the first time. And the air conditioning. I mentioned that, right? It's either on full blast, or off. No in-between. Oh, and the Wi-Fi. It's... sometimes unreliable. Prepare to tether to your phone occasionally. And, well, there was that one time the elevator smell… But overall? The location being a bit out is manageable, and for the price… it's a decent trade-off.. I'm still not sure if I want to ask what was fried in that elevator...
Should *I* Stay Here? Be Real.
Okay, here's the final verdict. If you're a luxury-seeking traveler who demands silence and perfect Wi-Fi, run screaming. Don't even consider it. Go somewhere else. But... if you're on a budget, if you're adventurous, and if you're okay with a few minor inconveniences, then absolutely, yes! It's a good base to explore Shanghai. You get a clean, comfortable-ish room, free breakfast, and easy access to the city. You’ll save a ton of money,Easy Hotel Hunt
